Prior to my experiences with the Suzuki GSX650F, I was the semi-proud owner of a Hyosung GT250R. I loved the body styling, aggressive riding position, cheap price ($3300 OTD) and gas mileage, but I realized something more powerful was necessary for longer trips (and riding 2-up with the Mrs.).  This brought me to my evolving 2008 GSX650F, which has the power, speed, and styling qualities that I was looking for, but still lacked the aggressive riding position I had with the Hyosung.

Vortex Racing had the answer to my commuter bar problem: 41mm clip-ons. They’re available in three different colors: silver (aluminum), black, and gold. Additionally, Vortex manufactures after-market bar ends (weighted or unweighted) for their clip-ons — which are certainly necessary after losing the dampers. The install took less than 45 minutes, but I’ll admit I made the mistake of loosening one of the fork bolts too much while lowering the front-end (required for installation on the GSX650F). This inevitably resulted in a lopsided front after the left fork pushed right through the triple-tree clamp. An extra 10 minutes of jacking the bike up and re-adjustment was required. Here’s a concise set of steps used to complete the project:

Materials:

• (1) Pair of Vortex 41mm Clip-on handle bars (clamps and bars)
• (1) Pair of new grips (optional)
• (1) Pair of bar-end sliders, preferably weighted (optional)
• Set of allen keys/wrenches
• Philips-head screwdriver
• Rubber mallet or lightweight hammer wrapped in cloth
• Patience, maybe some coffee

As mentioned elsewhere, make sure to take it slow and easy on your first ride. Turning is much easier (and quicker) with the new bars. Also be sure to carry a set of allen keys for any adjustments (or clamp tightening) while out on your first ride.

Sources:

http://www.gsx650f.biz/lowering-t915.html?highlight=triple

http://www.squidbusters.com/sb/showthread.php?threadid=682

If you haven’t heard, RSTickets! is an advanced Joomla! Help Desk ticketing system that allows you (or a team of yous) to manage and keep track of your clients’ issues. It’s actually one of the few effective, useful Help Desk systems available for the Joomla! 1.5+ framework that I would personally recommend. Unfortunately, it’s still under development and lacks certain features that one may desire, such as a read-only listing page that displays tickets already submitted to you or your department.

My Problem:

I noticed internal network clients were submitting several duplicate tickets related to a shared problem (i.e. printer trouble, network outages, etc.). I couldn’t blame them since they couldn’t view previously submitted tickets, so I decided to create a quick + dirty page that pulls “open,” or “on-hold,” tickets from a specific department’s table of submitted [active] tickets and displays them on a Joomla! article page (using the Sourcerer plug-in to execute custom PHP with {source} tags). Pasting this code into an article without the Sourcerer plug-in [or some sort of plug-in for executing PHP] will do nothing. Also note the include file for making a raw connection to your MySQL database. This is required (and should be stored in a directory with the appropriate permissions to prevent outside read access).

If you’d like to simply list the number (amount) of tickets (open, closed, on-hold) for all departments, you might want to check the unreleased version of RSJoomla!’s RSTicket Module.

{source}
<?php

include ("includes/connect_custom.php");

$result2 = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM jos_rstickets_tickets WHERE DepartmentId=3 AND (TicketStatus='open' OR TicketStatus='on-hold') ORDER BY TicketTime ASC") or die(mysql_error());

echo '<br />';

echo '<tr><td style="padding-bottom: 10px;" colspan="6">Please check the open, pending, or on-hold tickets listed below before submitting a support ticket. The list below can be utilized as an informal gauge for IT response times. If a duplicate support ticket is submitted, you may cancel it yourself or it will be deleted by the IT Department upon review. Thank you for your cooperation.</td></tr>';

echo '<tr><td style="font-size: 16px;font-weight: bold;padding-bottom: 10px;" colspan="6">SUBMITTED SUPPORT TICKETS:</td></tr>';

echo '<tr><td style="text-align:left; padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Submitted:</strong></td><td style="padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Username:</strong></td><td style="padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Ticket Code:</strong></td><td style="padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Subject:</strong></td><td style="padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Status:</strong></td><td style="padding-bottom:7px;"><strong>Priority:</strong></td></tr>';

while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result2))

{

$custid =  $row['CustomerId'];
$userquery= mysql_query("SELECT name FROM jos_users WHERE id=$custid") or die(mysql_error());

$username = mysql_fetch_array($userquery);

echo '<tr style="font-size: 10px;vertical-align:top;"><td style="width: 102px; overflow: hidden;padding: 3px -10px 3px 3px;">' . date("Y-m-d H:m", $row['TicketTime']) .  '</td><td>' . $username['name'] . '</td><td>' . $row['TicketCode'] . '</td><td style="width: 235px; overflow: hidden;">' . $row['TicketSubject'] . '</td><td>' . strtoupper($row['TicketStatus']) . '</td>';

if ($row['TicketPriority']=='high'){

echo '<td style="background-color: red; color: white; font-weight: bold;padding-left: 5px;">';

} else if ($row['TicketPriority']=='normal'){

echo '<td style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-weight: bold;padding-left: 5px;">';

} else if ($row['TicketPriority']=='low'){

echo '<td style="background-color: yellow; font-color: black; font-weight: bold;padding-left: 5px;">';}

echo strtoupper($row['TicketPriority']) . '</td></tr>';

}

echo '<tr><td style="font-size:16px; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px" colspan="6"><strong><a href="index.php?option=com_rstickets&Itemid=59"><img src="images/M_images/onsite_support1.jpg"></a><br /><a href="index.php?option=com_rstickets&Itemid=59">SUBMIT A NEW SUPPORT TICKET</a></strong></td></tr>';

echo '<br />';

?>
{/source}

connect_custom.php :

<?php

// Script:	connect_custom.php
// Author:	JR
// Date:	20080218
// Use:	    Utilized for custom DB connections to our current database for Fabrik Forms + Joomla 1.5

$hostname="localhost";
$mysql_login="thedude";
$mysql_password="sumpasswordhere";
$database="datablah";

if (!($db = mysql_pconnect($hostname, $mysql_login , $mysql_password))){
die("Can't connect to database server.");
}else{
if (!(mysql_select_db("$database",$db))){
die("Can't connect to database.");
}
}
?>

As a result of my frugality, I got my hands on an Adtran Atlas 550 to be used for partitioning a single PRI into two PRIs at my workplace. In addition to the partitioning, this system provides the added bonus of dynamic number substitution. What’s this mean for me? Substituting costly 411 directory service for free Goog-411 service (which I prefer over traditional 411). I’m also able to create a number rejection list to block those NSFW 900* calls [or variation thereof], but the number substitution templates seem much more interesting…

How to do it:

• Telnet to yohost.yodomain and log-in
• Dial Plan > Network Term > Interface # (1 in my case) > Enter
• Select Substitution Template
• Enter the Original DNIS number (the phone number originally dialed)
• Enter the Substitution DNIS number (the phone number you’d like to dial)
• Go back to the main menu and log-out

Remember, this change is transparent (and instant — no need to write/commit the config to startup), so the next time callers decide to hit up the 411 directory service, their call should be automagically routed to 1-800-goog411 (1-800-4664411). Since we’re a fairly small office I don’t think this number substituion presents a problem with Googles Terms of Service, but if you’re considering this change on a massive scale  I’d consider reading over Google’s TOS agreement (particularly section 5.3).

EDIT: I have since removed altermime after installing a MailScanner spam relay for our Zimbra server to use. Because, by default, MailScanner appends a default signature to all outbound email, it was very simple to modify the signature rules to accomodate our mandatory disclaimers for different domains.

I had the pleasure of applying mandatory disclaimers to all [outbound] emails at my workplace today… ~Joy~ … I had the assumption it’d be rather easy, but Altermime and Postfix were a bit finicky to work with. After editing the master.cf I ended up customizing my own ‘disclaimer’ shell script.

#!/bin/sh
INSPECT_DIR=/var/spool/filter
SENDMAIL=/opt/zimbra/postfix/sbin/sendmail

# Exit codes from
EX_TEMPFAIL=75
EX_UNAVAILABLE=69

# Clean up when done or when aborting.
trap "rm -f in.$$" 0 1 2 3 15

# Start processing.
cd $INSPECT_DIR || { echo $INSPECT_DIR does not exist; exit $EX_TEMPFAIL; }

cat > in.$$ || { echo Cannot save mail to file; exit $EX_TEMPFAIL; }

# Verify this mail is not incoming or internal-only
# We don't need disclaimers for either one of these cases.

# Debug:
#echo "output: $from_address" >> /tmp/tempoutput.txt

#Grab the from address:

from_address=`grep -m 1 "From:" in.$$ | cut -d "<" -f 2 | cut -d ">" -f 1`

#Verify whether your domain is in the from address.
#If it is, proceed to distinguish WHICH domain is sending outgoing mail and tag it appropriately:
#If not, then that would be incoming mail, so leave it alone:

#Additional (else if) conditional checks will be added to determine if the email is inner-office comm:
# to_address= `grep -m 1 "To:" in.$$ | cut -d "<" -f 2 | cut -d ">" -f 1`
# if [[ $from_address == *domain* && to_address == *domain* ]]; then ....
#
# This additional condition requires more debugging...

if [[ $from_address == *domain* ]]; then

# Debug:
#echo
#echo "FROM: $from_address" >> /tmp/tempoutput.txt
#echo "THIS GETS ALTERMIMED" >> /tmp/tempoutput.txt
#echo

#Check to see which domain is sending outgoing email,
#then tag it with the appropriate disclaimer:

if [[ $from_address == *subdomain.domain* ]]; then

# Debug		echo "THIS GETS APDD" >> /tmp/tempoutput.txt
/usr/bin/altermime --input=in.$$ \
--disclaimer=/opt/zimbra/postfix/conf/disclaimers/apd-disclaimer.txt \
--disclaimer-html=/opt/zimbra/postfix/conf/disclaimers/apd-disclaimer.txt \
--xheader="X-Public-Record:" || { echo Message content rejected; exit $EX_UNAVAILABLE; }
else
# Debug		echo "THIS GETS COAD" >> /tmp/tempoutput.txt
/usr/bin/altermime --input=in.$$ \
--disclaimer=/opt/zimbra/postfix/conf/disclaimers/coa-disclaimer.txt \
--disclaimer-html=/opt/zimbra/postfix/conf/disclaimers/coa-disclaimer.txt \
--xheader="X-Public-Record:" || { echo Message content rejected; exit $EX_UNAVAILABLE; }

fi
fi

# Might need to remove -i switch for truncation problems depending on your MTA version...

$SENDMAIL -i "$@" < in.$$

exit $?

I did not remove the tail before cutting. I used only a razor knife (with new, clean blades) following a hand-drawn [penciled] line. I did have to change the blade out about half-way through, and I did slice the crap out of a finger, but it was still worth the end-result.

My plate is not actually at an angle, but if you purchased the same tail light w/ the integrated signals and plate light, you don’t need it at an angle. It’s clearly visible at night without bending or angled mounting. Also, you may need some additional hardware (2 X bolts, 2 X nuts, 2 X lock-washers) to re-mount the OEM plate bracket to what’s left of the tail after the chop. Depending on how small your hands are, you might have to remove the tail piece (not the rear fender, just the painted tail) to attach lock-washers and nuts on the inside of the ‘trunk’.

Figure 1) Profile view of the chop-shop job and license bracket

Figure 2) These black bolts secure the bracket to the bike trunk.

Figure 3) No need to bend your license plate. The LEDs from the aftermarket tail-light project perfectly.

Figure 4) Again, view the bracket mounted to the protruding trunk.

Figure 5) Using a razor knife gave a perfect, clean edge. No need to sand or grind.

Figure 6) You can still see my pencil marks :S

I enjoyed the coffee cover included with the barebone system, but opted for something customized that would allow remote clients to phone in service-calls with all the important information (Local/WAN IP, MAC, FQDN, etc.) required for troubleshooting. Hope this helps someone out who might be looking for a better template than the one provided by Shuttle’s site.

DOWNLOAD MyKover Word Document Template (.DOC – Created w/ Microsoft Office 2003)

Zimbra (FOSS) provides one hellaciously clean, organized web client on Apple’s iPhone Safari Browser, nearly resembling a native application.

mysqlbackupwrapper.sh

#!/bin/bash
#Wrapper script used to call the primary backup script and output to a specified file
sh /home/administrator/scripts/mysqlbackups > /home/administrator/scripts/sql.backup.log 2>&1

mysqlbackup.sh:

#!/bin/sh
#Timestamp for your logs:
date

#Dump the databases - Make sure to specify your root or user password following the -p switch:
mysqldump -uroot -p --opt intraforum > /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata/intra_apdforum.sql
mysqldump -uroot -p --opt joomla_intranet > /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata/intra_intranet.sql
mysqldump -uroot -p --opt mysql > /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata/intra_mysql.sql
tar -zcvf /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata.tgz /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata/*.sql
echo
echo "Backup completed successfully for: "
echo
echo "MySQL - PHPbb3 Forum"
echo "MySQL - Joomla 1.0.X Intranet"
echo "MySQL - Intranet MySQL Tables"
echo
echo "Copying to SERVER.yourdomain.local . . . ."
echo

#Use SCP to transfer to file so you can verify successful backups -- Make sure to use identity/keys for SCP instead of a password:
scp -v -i /home/administrator/identity /home/administrator/scripts/sqldata.tgz administrator@this.host:/backup/sqldata_backup.tgz

perl /home/administrator/scripts/emailsql.pl

emailsql.pl (I did not write this one):

Instead of just sending the text of the log file, this script attaches the file and sends the message:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use MIME::Lite;

$msg = MIME::Lite->new(
From    => 'Backup Log',
To      => 'liveaverage@yourdomain.org',
Subject => 'MySQL Data Backup - Intranets',
Type    => 'text/plain',
Data    => "See the attached log for details on the most recent MySQL Database Dumps.");

$msg->attach(
Type       =>'text/plain',
Path       =>'/home/administrator/scripts/sql.backup.log',
Filename   =>'sql.backup.log',
Disposition        =>'attachment');

$msg->send;

!/usr/bin/perl

# ZCS IMPORT SCRIPT
#       Provided by : ZCS Wiki
#       Modified by : J.R.
#       Last Change : 2008.04.09
#
# Lookup the valid COS (Class of Service) ID in the interface or like this
my $cosid = `su - zimbra -c 'zmprov gc apd |grep zimbraId:'`;
$cosid =~ s/zimbraId:\s*|\s*$//g;

while (<>) {
chomp;

# CHANGE ME: To the actual fields you use in your CSV file
my ($email, $password, $first, $last) = split(/\,/, $_, 4);

my ($uid, $domain) = split(/@/, $email, 2);

print qq{ca $uid\@$domain $password\n};
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain zimbraCOSid "$cosid"\n};
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain givenName "$first"\n};
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain sn "$last"\n};
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain cn "$uid"\n};
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain displayName "$first $last"\n};

#Set the user's reply or canonical address
print qq{ma $uid\@$domain zimbraMailCanonicalAddress $uid\@cityof*****.org\n};

#Add e-mail account alias for multiple domains
#Verify domain is correctly working for provisioning aliases

print qq{aaa $uid\@$domain $uid\@cityof*****.com\n};

#Add all users to a general distribution list and terminate
#Add multiple distro-lists if desired
print qq{adlm dept.all\@cityof*****.org $uid\@cityof*****.org\n};
print qq{\n};

}