Category Archives: tech

nginx/php 404 proper handler

Posted on by
Reply

If you find “No file specified” error message disturbing (as I did), here’s the configuration to remove it!

location ~ .php$ {
try_files $uri =404;
include /etc/nginx/fastcgi_params;
fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:55555;
fastcgi_index index.php;
fastcgi_param  SCRIPT_FILENAME    $request_filename;
}

Don’t use `if (-f $request_filename)` – it won’t work and if is evil. Also the `try_files` will ensure that the file actually exists – effectively disabling possible vulnerability with public file upload on certain conditions.

_Last update 2011-07-10 20:16: working version, markdown-fied_

nginx links

Posted on by
Reply

Here are the links I find useful:

* [Why nginx](http://hostingfu.com/article/nginx-vs-lighttpd-for-a-small-vps)
* [WordPress with nginx](http://elasticdog.com/2008/02/howto-install-wordpress-on-nginx/)

Note that the latter link should not be followed anymore.

_Last update 2011-07-10 20:24: markdown-fied_

Easy way to create rather secure and easy to remember password

Posted on by
2

Long title is looooooooooooong. LOL.

The steps:

* Create (long) sentences (usually two) that’s easy to remember and contains numbers and symbols (ex: I have smartly bought & waste money on manga that the anime has just aired this season, Zettai Karen Children, for $10. It’s a good read though!)
* Take first letter of each words, except for numbers and symbols (from above: Ihsb&wmomttahjats,ZKC,f$10.Iagrt!)
* That’s it, LOL. (and the example above is too long. 2 sentences with 5 word each should be sufficient 😛 )

Last update 2011-07-11 10:32: markdown-fied, tagged and categorized

Software choices (I): Archiver

Posted on by
Reply

Here’s a new section of this blog: software choices. In this I’ll mention software(s) I have tried ever (mostly for Windows) and share my experience and thought of them and mention which one I prefer most.

Archiver: software to compress/decompress files (losslessly).

In no particular order.

PowerArchiver (last version tried: 7)
————————————-

Probably the best shareware archiver ever. Supports MANY type of files (from zip, rar, ace, 7z, and many more). Good integration with Explorer, very good interface (last I checked its interface looks like Office 2007).

The bad thing is, it is shareware. And interface is the last thing I wanted from a shareware.

WinZip (last version tried: 9)
——————————

It is used to be THE archiver software. Used. It haven’t improved much since version 6. Not many file type supported (no rar, ace, 7z, last time I checked). This is software from the past. Good only to be remembered, not good to use.

WinRAR (last version tried: 3.61)
———————————

Good archiver software overall (just like PowerArchiver). It also has archive recovery (which is good to be used when desperately trying to recover an archive). That’s about it though. I never prefered rar, so being a shareware means that it is not for me to use.

IZarc (last version tried: FORGOT, lol)
—————————————

Freeware! Too bad it has bad Explorer integration (last time I tried, that is). Everything else is good 🙁

7-Zip (last version tried: 4.57)
——————————–

Now THIS is the compression software of choice for me. Good Explorer integration, good software, many file type support (minus .ace). Basically this is the archiver software I used for years now. 😀

Highly recommended. Except if you already have license for PowerArchiver or WinRAR… :p

That’s it for archiver!

Conclusion: *7-Zip* for freeware, *WinRAR* or *PowerArchiver* for shareware.

_Last update 2011-07-11 10:41: markdown-fied, tagged and categorized_