After the release last night, I sent the code to a fellow sysadmin from LISA who had e-mailed me with interest in the MachDB. He's already got it running, and with not too much effort. My first user, cool! I'm very excited to see it working somewhere else other than my 2 environments. To that end, I worked diligently tonight to document the XML spec that describes what info you can send to the MachDB. You can find the doc linked off the main project website, or you can click here.

Comments on this are welcome, so let me know what you think.

Also, I set up a temporary wiki page at http://www.mybrainhurts.com/wiki/MachDB. You can go there for information from other people that have installed it. I will be keeping a FAQ and install instructions there. Once the permanent wiki is up, all docs will go there.

And if anybody knows of an easy way to syntax highlight code on a web page, you must tell me. ;)

Labels: machdb

Yes, yes, 2 weeks longer than I expected...thanks for your patience. I had to fix a few last minute bugs and clean it up for general consumption. My instructions are not complete, and I have yet to define the XML spec (my next task), but the code is out! Go download version 0.50 at the project site: http://www.machdb.org

OK, so what is next. Here is my near term task list:

• Document XML Structures
• Improved Search
  
• Machine Readable Interface
• Tags, Comments, Logging
• Administrative Tools (audits, etc)
• Host vs Host comparison. Mmmmm, Tasty.
  

I am very much interested in ideas, feedback (good and bad) and bug reports. How can it be improved? And if you use it and like it, let me know too!

Labels: machdb

Well, Thanksgiving is over and I've had a bit of time to apply to MachDB. I spent a few hours tonight digging back into the code. It's funny how fast you forget what you've worked on. Fixed a few bugs that I found, and worked on syncing everything to the latest greatest.

I've also got to figure out how to use the UUID instead of the MAC for hosts that have that. And provide a way for it to change. Should it be automagic? I don't know, I almost feel that it shouldn't.

I'll upgrade VMIX to the latest version of the dev code and at the same time I'll put out the release. w00t! Almost there people, bear with me! :)

Labels: machdb

Well, I didn't get time this week to clean up the code. If I have any downtime/alone time while I'm visiting with family over Thanksgiving, I will see what I can get out. Otherwise, look forward to something in late Nov/early Dec.

I must now finish packing, attempting to travel on the worst (travel) day of the year means being extra organized. T minus 7 hours till my plane takes off. And I still need sleep.

Have a good holiday!

Labels: machdb

I spent tonight putting up a up a website. Thank goodness for OSWD. Now I can communicate with the people that want to know about the MachDB. Yay! I also put up some basic info and a list of current features. Still need to put up the planned features, but need to decide on the rank and order first. Hopefully, if this work week goes well, I can have a night to work on the code cleanup and get something out before Thanksgiving.

Labels: machdb

At LISA 2007 this year, I gave a WIP (Work In Progress) talk on the MachDB. I got some positive feedback on it, and have been inspired by the things people have said. I was told that the chatter on the IRC back channel at LISA was good, I'd be interested to see that if anyone has a log. Otherwise, I have taken a few notes on things I'd like to do:

Labels: machdb

I decided to start blogging my development on MachDB. Seems the appropriate thing to do.

Labels: machdb