Update on Installation of Demo System (Unit 8)

I'm happy to say that I've finished without any problems the required Unit 8 Demo System Installation assignments:

• Assignment 3 - Connect Remotely to Your Demo System (Connecting both from Windows and also my VM Ubuntu Desktop)
• Assignment 5 - Setting Up Your Web Site (including Setting Permissions and Creating Web Space for Your User)

See http://tumamoc/ and http://tumamoc/~jeanne

I tried working through Assignment 4 - Headless Mode, but got confused and am waiting for clarification on what to do with the KVM switch, etc.

Aside from that (Assignment 4), I think I'm ready to move on to Unit 9 (just as we are supposed to be starting on Unit 10 - oh well - I'm getting closer!). ;-)

Changing the CMOS battery on the motherboard

I'm learning more troubleshooting skills. The problem is that the troubles are hardware problems and aren't directly related to things I'm supposed to be doing for the Unit assignments. Nevertheless, I've identified some online help for how to replace the CMOS battery:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm
and
http://www.ehow.com/how_8159_change-battery-computer.html

I also got out the Dell Dimension 8300 Series Owner's Manual and it gave similar step by step instructions.

Now I'm going to go buy a replacement battery.

...The battery replacement was successfully completed and my workstation is working as it should be (so far, so good). For whatever reason, it is much quieter than it had been! (We blew out a lot of dust from inside the machine. Maybe that has something to do with the noise - or lack thereof now.)

Learning XML

I am just finishing up creating my XML Document. To learn enough to get this assignment (Unit 8, Assignment 2) done, I've mainly relied on the W3Schools XML tutorial. I scanned some of the pages for the W3Schools DTD and XML Schema tutorials. I've also taken a look at the Intro to XML by Rick Ells and Larry Gales (UW). I am such a beginner and so far behind in this class that I haven't had the luxury of working through any intermediate, much less advanced modules on XML.

When I first tried (and failed) to bring up my XML document in a browser I learned several things. One is that Firefox gives you details on where you went wrong on your coding (line & column numbers and a little arrow pointing). Internet Explorer isn't so helpful. After staring and staring and fiddling with my document and then going back to the W3Schools tutorial, I finally figured out my mistake was putting a space in my element names ("common name" as opposed to "common_name").

I like the XML Validator and the Syntax Check validator that are part of the W3Schools tutorial. I hadn't gotten to that part of the tutorial before I was trying to figure out the problem with my XML document. (I was trying to take short cuts!)

Although I understand the difference between the purpose for HTML and the purpose for XML, I'm still feeling like I don't "get it" yet on the real benefits of XML. Maybe once I have more experience and learn more about style sheets, etc. it will make more sense.

Status report on installation of my demo system: As you might guess from my frequent references to being so far behind, I am just getting ready to start with Unit 8, Assignments 3-5.

Success with Pinging Static IP Address!

It finally works! I think it must have been the Sygate firewall that was causing the problem with this - as well as with the WinSCP.

(re)Learning HTML

It's been a long time since I've posted! I'm trying to catch up after several "interruptions" (ALA and a family medical situation) and a huge number of "technical difficulties".

Nevertheless, I will now address Unit 7, Assignment 7 - "Discuss briefly how you went about learning HTML..."

In some ways this was a re-learning exercise. Back in the mists of time, I did learn and use HTML for my work as a librarian here at the University of Arizona. In more recent years we've used web editors such as Contribute and the UA Libraries instituted templates for our subject guides, etc. that have put limits on how "creative" we can get with any web pages that we create. ...So my HTML coding skills are a bit rusty - but as I read through the materials in Unit 7 about HTML, things started to come back or at least sound familiar.

I really liked the self-paced tutorial at http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp It wasn't pretty or "sophisticated" but it was effective. I liked the "Try It Yourself" editor that let you practice and see the results easily and quickly.

I haven't gotten around to viewing the UACBT HTML courses. Also, I've been focused on just getting the basic web page up (trying desperately to catch up to Unit 9 before 7/21 when we start Unit 10!) so I haven't reviewed any of the intermediate or advanced modules on HTML. Sorry! :-}

Speaking of desperately catching up... a brief status report on installation of my demo system: I have a successful test for Apache on my demo system ("It works!") but I seem to still have problems with Webmin. When I ping Webmin on my demo system I just get "request timed out".

I haven't tried pinging Webmin since I removed the Sygate firewall (which solved my problems with WinSCP) so maybe I'll have better luck this next time. I'll go try that now. If it still doesn't work, I guess I'll reinstall (again! for the third time at least) Ubuntu Server on my demo system.

When I finally get the Webmin install to test successfully then maybe I can finish the rest of the Unit 7 assignments (name resolution and wiki post).

I can only hope that Unit 8 will go more smoothly. This may be only a fantasy hope but regardless, I'll keep plugging along.