Coherent Ramblings » Quick Tips

Getting python-ldap installed on OS X

plathrop — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:13:25 +0000

If you want to use Fink, and build a bunch of crap you don’t need, follow these instructions.

If you are like me and prefer to use the libraries that are already installed, just do this:

If you haven’t already, install XCode.
Download python-ldap

and extract it.

Edit setup.cfg. The relevant lines are below:

library_dirs = /Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.5.sdk/usr/lib/
include_dirs = /Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.5.sdk/usr/include/ /Developer/SDKs/MacOSX10.5.sdk/usr/include/sasl

sudo python setup.py install

That’s all!

SSH tab completion

plathrop — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:57:08 +0000

This is awesome. Put the following into your ~/.bash_profile file:

complete -W "$(echo `cat ~/.ssh/known_hosts | cut -f 1 -d ' ' \
| sed -e s/,.*//g | uniq | grep -v "\["`;)" ssh

Open a new shell and type ssh tab tab. I love tab completion, don’t you?

FreeBSD Update

plathrop — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:32:13 +0000

I just followed these instructions to update my server from FreeBSD 6.2-RELEASE to FreeBSD 7.0-RELEASE.

Aside from taking almost a day, it went flawlessly. I’m extremely impressed!

Bash History

plathrop — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:35:54 +0000

Here are a couple of tips for more effective use of your Bash command history. I think the Ctrl-R trick will save me a lot of typing.

I have some articles planned, but have been busy starting my new job. Those few of you who actually read this, don’t worry – I’ll be back.

Useful SSH-isms

plathrop — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:53:07 +0000

Two useful SSH-isms

Simple SSH speed-up

plathrop — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:35 +0000

I just discovered something that is very simple but saves a significant amount of time. Specifically, the SSH ControlMaster feature, which allows you to re-use an existing SSH connection whenever you connect to a host you are already connected to.

In your ~/.ssh/config file, add:

Host *
        ControlMaster auto
        ControlPath /tmp/%r@%h:%p

Whenever you connect to server.example.com as user joeuser, SSH will create a named pipe at /tmp/joeuser@server.example.com:22. If you open another connection to the same server (as the same user), instead of creating a new TCP/IP connection, SSH will automatically multiplex the new session with the existing connection (through the named pipe)! This reduces time spent setting up new connections. Although this usual only saves a couple of seconds per connection, I’m constantly opening several simultaneous sessions; this will definitely add up to a significant savings over the long term!