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Comment: Re:dd (Score 1) 295

Not really. Since a long time ago, hard drives have spare sectors to reallocate the bad ones when a read error is encountered. If the disk has reallocated sectors, faulty sectors could keep data because they are not accessible or writable through the IDE/SATA interface anymore. After sequentially erasing the drive with dd, those sectors could be read using vendor specific commands, by manipulating the reallocation table or using a modified firmware on the drive, etc.

This does not mean that an HDD cannot be erased without damaging it, just that dd alone is not enough. Chances are small, but disks with reallocated sectors (specially 4K sectors) can still contain sensitive data.

Comment: If it's not broken, don't fix it. (Score 4, Informative) 197

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#43239061) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Dealing With Electrostatic Contamination?

That's a golden rule.

Most consumer equipment does not need or tolerate frequent maintenance. Cracking open an LCD monitor is not going to make it last longer, on the contrary, you are putting stress on plastic tabs (specially if it doesn't have screws), and on marginal quality harnesses and connectors that are meant to be assembled once.

Comment: Re:You don't (Score 2) 683

On the contrary! it is your duty and responsibility, as a team member, to check your colleagues work and the code quality. Otherwise you are not only a bad team player, you are also unprofessional as a developer. Just a solo code typist.

Of course, It would be easier to avoid confrontation, do your s*it and home like parent does. Just easier, not right.

His code is the team code and therefore your code as well. Code reviews are to critique code, not to criticize team mates, however, if you cannot even make a remark like 'Do WE see how much better...' you have a bigger problem than just bad code, you have a rotten team, and if you STFU, you are only making it worse.

For the sake of your project, your company (and then your job), you must do all you can to shed light on these team issues. Talk with other team mates, learn how to organize a team retrospective, ask for help on this matter. Care.

And specially, don't count on managers to solve these issues by themselves, they can help, but they are not your babysitters.

Comment: Not ready (Score 1) 110

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#41124739) Attached to: Can Android Revolutionize Spacecraft Design?

Many Android users have to remove the battery now and then to restart their phones when an offending application completely freezes Android. IMHO, if you need to run a custom (and only) app, it is not worth the hassle. As for the cost of the hardware, there are many cheap SBCs that could do the job running an OS more fit for the job, like Linux or any other free OS, maybe with real-time scheduling and proper GPIO to wire-up a satellite.

Comment: Re:Move to Azure, spend on connectivity (Score 1) 284

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#40479369) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Low Cost Way To Maximize SQL Server Uptime?

It is not our case, we have both Amazon and Azure deployments and when including licensing costs Azure is cheaper. It's probably not linear as you scale up, so it may be the oposite depending on size. In any case, what I wanted to point out is that it's cheaper than having expensive iron or a private cloud.

Comment: Move to Azure, spend on connectivity (Score 1) 284

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#40443079) Attached to: Ask Slashdot: Low Cost Way To Maximize SQL Server Uptime?
  • - Move your application to Azure if migration is possible, if not, evaluate Amazon costs. (Amazon will provide you with something more similar to your current server, but it's more expensive).
  • - Spend some bucks in a second backup internet connection from another provider and technology (ie: If you have Cable get DSL, Wireless, etc.).
  • - Get a decent SOHO router with WAN failover capability.
  • - Forget UPSs, your restaurant won't probably work without electricity anyway.
  • - Keep it simple! Restaurants existed since ancient Rome, it wont hurt training your people to use good ol' paper and pen if everything else fails.

Comment: Will it work? (Score 1) 53

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#40158577) Attached to: Sprint To Shut Down Nextel iDEN Network Next Year
I had many iDEN phones ten years ago in Argentina, I was always amazed by how fast the connection is made, as soon as you press the PTT button the beep comes in and you can already speak, it takes less than hald a second. It was also very fast for international connections. Part of the trick is that your voice is already streaming even before the other peer has been found (that's why you could also get an error tone over your own voice when already 3 seconds into your speecBEEEEEEEEP!).

In the other hand, other two providers tried to implement PTT over GSM, it was a total dissaster. The main problem being that you had to hold the PTT button for almost 4 seconds in the first connection. I guess that GSM was not designed for such low latency operation. The question is...

Is CDMA be fast enough to replace iDEN?

Comment: Re:Not that small (Score 3, Insightful) 84

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#38345140) Attached to: Scientists Create World's Smallest Steam Engine

One part of the "engine" is apparently a laser beam. But the laser itself weren't measured in, as it's far bigger than a few micrometers. This kind of engine can't be used in a nanobot or in any practical application if it requires an external laser beam to work.

One part of a reciprocating gas "engine" is apparently an oil extraction platform in the middle of the sea. But the platform itself wasn't measured in, as it's far bigger than a few centimeters. This kind of engine can't be used in a car or in any practical application if it requires an external oil platform to work.

Comment: Re:Hacked != Independent Drivers Available. (Score 2) 47

by Ivan Stepaniuk (#34834580) Attached to: Microsoft CEO Says Kinect To Support PCs Eventually
Currently, "hacker" is used in two main ways, one positive and one pejorative. It can be used in the computing community to describe a particularly brilliant programmer or technical expert (for example: Linus Torvalds). This is said by some to be the "correct" usage of the word (see the Jargon File definition below). However, in popular usage and in the media, it generally describes computer intruders or criminals. "Hacker" can be seen as a shibboleth, identifying those who use it in its positive sense as members of the computing community. You are assuming that only the second definition applies, however Slashdot is one of the places in which the first definition generally applies, not the second. Hacked = Independent drivers made available.
NASA

+ - NASA sold PCs without wiping secret data->

Submitted by Ivan Stepaniuk
Ivan Stepaniuk writes ""NASA has been left red-faced after selling off computers without ensuring that highly sensitive data had been removed." The BBC Reports An internal investigation found 10 cases where PCs were sold despite failing data removal procedures. Their report (PDF) in to the incidents says its impossible to know what data was left on the sold-off equipment. They also found dozens of PCs at a disposal facility that had external markings listing their network configuration details."
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