Posterous

the runoff

an eclectic collection of life and geekery

What Is Time?

I’m trying to understand how time works. And that’s a huge question that has lots of different aspects to it. A lot of them go back to Einstein and spacetime and how we measure time using clocks. But the particular aspect of time that I’m interested in is the arrow of time: the fact that the past is different from the future. We remember the past but we don’t remember the future. There are irreversible processes. There are things that happen, like you turn an egg into an omelet, but you can’t turn an omelet into an egg.
via wired.com

Time is always a "wow this is fascinating; ouch my brain hurts" subject. This interview at Wired is a great read.

Check it out and tell me what you think. Is time liniar? Is it circular? Is it a myth?

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Filed under  //   geek   links   science   time   wired  
Posted February 26, 2010
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iPhones Vulnerable to New Remote Attack

There are several flaws in the way that the iPhone handles digital certificates which could lead to an attacker being able to create his own trusted certificate and entice users into downloading malicious files onto their iPhones. The [vulnerability] is the end result of a number of different problems with the way that the iPhone handles over-the-air provisioning, trusted root certificates and configuration files. [This potentially means] a remote hacker may be able to change some settings on the iPhone and force all of the user's Web traffic to run through any server he chose and also to change the root certificate on the phone, enabling him to man-in-the-middle SSL traffic from the iPhone.
via threatpost.com

While advances in technology have made mobile access to the internet easy to use and readily available, it's easy to forget the security risks that exist. This write up at threat post brings to light a potentially serious risk in the iPhone.

Security risks exist on all platforms; the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is be aware of what we're doing. Pay attention to what we're clicking on. It may be the provider's responsibility to offer as secure a platform as possible, but we are ultimately responsible for how we use that platform.

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Filed under  //   Apple   geek   iPhone   security   SSL  
Posted February 3, 2010
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More Detail on the CCNP Changes

Cisco starts by removing roughly half the topic breadth from the old CCNP: most every topic from ONT and ISCW is gone. Cisco then adds back a Troubleshooting exam that focuses on routing and switching with a few other topics.
via networkworld.com

Wendell, over at Cisco Subnet blog, put up a helpful look at what's new in the CCNP. Most notible is the replacement of ONT and ISCW with a troubleshooting exam.

The new CCNP track will consist of 3 tests, Route, Switch, and Troubleshooting.

The last day to test under the current 4 test track is July, 31, 2010. The new 3 test track becomes available on March 10, 2010.

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Filed under  //   certification   cisco   geek   networking  
Posted January 26, 2010
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IPv4 Addresses Running Out

This week it was announced that IANA has allocated 1.0.0.0/8 to APNIC. This prefix must look familiar to many as we see it often in examples and documentation. And let’s be honest haven’t you used 1.1.1.1 on one of your test routers to quickly test something?
Receiving a prefix from this range might result in some issues in regards to duplicate announcements and duplicate address usages.

via bgpmon.net

An interesting post on the ramifications of the recent allocation of the 1.0.0.0/8 IP range from the people at bgpmon.net.

How's your hexadecimal?

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Filed under  //   geek   networking   news  
Posted January 25, 2010
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Cisco Refreshes CCNP Track

Cisco has updated its CCNP certification with a significant amount of new content through a comprehensive process involving customers and partners from around the globe. The revision focuses on the competencies that are needed to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot the networks of today and is designed to be more predictive of job readiness.
via newsroom.cisco.com

New course track and new tests. I need to get going on this cert. Anyone else out there work in this field?

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Filed under  //   CCNP   certification   cisco   geek   networking   news  
Posted January 25, 2010
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Routers In Space!!!!

Cisco this week said it successfully tested a router and its IOS software while it was in orbit in space. Cisco said the test is the first deployment of an IP router aboard a commercial GEO satellite, which was launched Nov. 23, 2009.
via networkworld.com

This is a significant step forward for satellite communications. To this point, satellites have been used as relay points and are unable to make forwarding decisions. Adding routing functionality to the satellite effectively removes an extra hop in the communication path.

Of course, when ever you say, "Routers In Space," it must be said in Pigs In Space voice-over voice.

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Filed under  //   cisco   communication   geek   networking   satellite   telecom  
Posted January 22, 2010
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