Create a Video Using DeVeDe

DeVeDe is a CD/DVD creator package for Linux. In Ubuntu sudo apt-get install devede, this will install the package.
Run the program in Gnome by selecting Applications -> Sound & Video -> DeVeDe CD/DVD Creator.
In the program I chose Video DVD. Changed the title by right-clicking on Title. Add the video vob file from the mini DVD source. In the advanced options I chose "FMMpeg deinterlacing filter" as I found that using the default "Don't deinterlace" gave horrible comb effects when the video was playing. The final file created by DeVeDe is an iso file that can be burned on a DVD using K3b.

VirtualBox

Create a VM
VBoxManage –help


VBoxManage createvm --name "MyvmServer" --register
VBoxManage modifyvm "MyvmServer" --memory 256 --acpi on --boot1 dvd --nic1 bridged --bridgeadapter1 eth0
VBoxManage createhd --filename MyvmServer.vdi --size 10000 --register
VBoxManage storagectl "MyvmServer" --name "IDE Controller" --add ide
VBoxManage storageattach "MyvmServer" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium MyvmServer.vdi
VBoxManage storageattach "MyvmServer" --storagectl "IDE Controller" --port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium /home/MyvmServer.iso


Start a VM with VboxHeadless
VBoxHeadless --startvm "MyvmServer"
VBoxManage controlvm "MyvmServer" poweroff
VBoxManage controlvm "MyvmServer" pause
VBoxManage controlvm "MyvmServer" reset
VBoxHeadless –help

Import an existing VM
VM with the name myvm that needs to be reused. A directory contains myvm in the VirtualBox directory. The myvm directory will contain the myvm.xml file. Copy the myvm directory (including the myvm.xml file) to the new Machines directory.
In addition copy the myvm.vdi file from the old VDI directory to the new one.
Register the imported VM:
VBoxManage registervm somedirectory/myvm/myvm.xml

Reference Page
The above link contains more info on VM's.

Remove CentOS Xen

Install Standard Kernel
yum install kernel

Remove Xen Kernel
yum remove xen kernel-xen

Edit Grub to Select Correct Kernel
/boot/grub/grub.conf

Wine Install IE7 Problems

Info from Wine HQ App Testing Info
To install use the commands below :
Install with "export WINEPREFIX=~/.wine_ie7" then "winetricks ie7"

1Password using Wine in Ubuntu

This program would not run properly in Ubuntu 10.10 it would not allow the creation of a 1Password folder but installing DirectX9 seems to have fixed this.

Dell Poweredge 2950 Failure

Server failure
This server failed with the error "E171F PCIE Fatal Err B0 D3 F0" during power up. Upon inspection it was found that the 5/I PCIe SAS Controller card model no UCS-51 had a swollen electrolytic capacitor. This was replaced with one from an old PC motherboard, it had the same value (1500uF) and voltage rating (6.3v). After replacement the server booted and completed all it POST and began booting the OS. The server was soak tested and appeared to be operating fine. Hopefully saved an engineer call-out that probably would cost ~£500. By the way the machine was out of warranty. Below are pictures of the board and the repair.

Swollen Capacitor

Capacitor Repair

Supplemental Info A further 5 Dell servers came up with the same error and these were fixed by replacing the capacitors, bad batch of electrolytics.

Sheevaplug Shenanigans

I was loaned this particular Sheevaplug V1.3 with ESATA by Alex Voss, many thanks Alex. I plan to install a large hard drive and use this to boot the Sheeva plug from and install standard Debian rather than the Ubuntu it is supplied with. It seems to be relatively easy but requires a custom Kernel.