So what is NAS? NAS is a small storage server system that is connected to your PC through network. Basically, it is a headless (no monitor) system that is configurable using browser. File transfer is done using share folder or network mapped drive letter.

A NAS can do a lot of things but mostly it is used as file server, media server, torrent client and streaming server.

Hardware

This brand new RM439 DNS-323 can be used as above but for my purpose, I want to turn it as a torrent PC, media server and of course storage system. It has 2 drive bay and users are able to slot in 2 SATA hard disk into it. DNS-323 support up to 2TB hard disk capacity through it’s latest firmware 1.08.

DNS-323 has a 500Mhz Marvell ARM Processor and 64MB RAM. Basically it has an average processing power of Pentium 3 PC but severely lack in mathematical process but not that we want to use it in that capacity. 64MB RAM is not too much to play around but should be sufficient for its role.

For more information on its performance, read it here: http://wiki.dns323.info/information:benchmarks

DNS-323 also able to support USB printer and USB external storage using its Shareport ability (though I didn’t use it).

Installation

DNS-323 is very easy to install. Use both hand and push the face plate up. It will disengage with a click and pull it toward you gently.

The drive bay can fit standard 1 inch thick 3.5″ SATA drive so most of the 1TB, 2TB and 1.5TB can fit nicely. For drive with lower capacity or less amount of disk platter, they usually has less thickness. Use the included springy cardboard to fit the in the gap and make it snug. Make sure you have the correct facing so the pin will fit by comparing both the bay and the drive pin.

After that, attach the face plate by pushing it from in front about one third making sure it slot in the locking mechanism and then push it down.

Plug in the power and the network cable and turn it on by pressing the square “dlink”. A blue LED will lit around the switch and on the HDD icon and the network icon to show it is working fine. If the HDD icon turn to amber, it means there is something wrong with your hard disk.  Check your connection.

The switch LED will flicker or blink to indicate that it is starting up. When it turn to constant lit, the DNS-323 has completed its loading. You can now point your browser to the DNS-323 ip. Refer the manual on how to do this. The IP might be different from default if you has a DHCP server on your network. You’re recommended to run the Easysearch utility for easy connection.

Functionality

DNS-323 has a FTP server, bit torrent and iTunes server built in. But the bit torrent client that come with it is very lacking in functionality. It doesn’t have encryption (This is very important in order to bypass throttling), slow download and cannot move its downloaded file to a new location.

I haven’t test the iTunes server but the FTP server used is Pure FTP. The latest firmware update add plug in functionality and allow torrent plugin and firelfly to be run.

I do some research on how to hack the dns-323 and there are 2 ‘easy’ way to do this. The hard way require JTAG/serial installation but allow the DNS-323 to run linux natively bypassing its firmware completely. I might do this in the future provided I have the time.

The 2 easy ways to run your favourite linux software on the DNS-323 are fun plug and chroot debian. Fun plug is like an extension to the built in linux and allow software to be run with limited dependencies. The only con of this is that the the software must be compiled and tailored for the fun plug. Fun plug is simple to use and to install but it may not be suitable for people who are familiar with linux.

Chroot debian is basically ‘linux in linux’. It is like running a windows xp in windows xp again. Like fun_plug, it cannot harm your shiny DNS-323 if you mess up as the original firmware or built in linux is not touched at all. Chroot debian allows more flexibility such as giving you ability to compile software straight using DNS-323 without depending on a host enviroment ( you have to compile on other linux PC before you can run it on DNS-323). Chroot also allow more control as everything is the same as a linux PC. The only things you have to watch out are the library path which can be rectified easily using export command. I’ll detail the installation of chroot and transmission bt and mediatomb in my next post.

Since I don’t use fun plug, you’ll have to find it somewhere on the net. The best place to start is here: http://forum.dsmg600.info/index.php

So far so good but my contract with current hosting has ended where he no longer desire to host this blog. Anyway, I’ve already have a new host and currently learning on how to control the site and how to script in Joomla. Tired with wordpress anyway and want to try something new.

As usual coupled with time constrain due to my job, who knows that the new website will be up. One thing for sure I’m still figure out how to import all the post into the new CMS. If come to worst, I start from scratch.

As for the new site, it will use a new name called:

Pekasam.com

Soon soon.

Got my second copy of windows 7 rc for 32 bit after the failure of 64 bit version last time. This time it is a direct install from official microsoft dvd. Even got the colorful thingie on it.

The installation takes a long time as usual. Then as expected, this copy too cannot access the internet. All attempt to connect to internet is greeted by time out screen. But I came prepared, armed with knowledge gathered from the net using the trusted XP. It seems that not just I that having this issue.

Simple diagnose said it can’t reach the primary dns server. Yet the icon beside the speaker and clock said I already connected to the net. All those netsh and ipconfig commands are used without any reserve and yet still I failed.Opendns? other isp’s dns? All tried and failed.

Maybe it is just my network card issue but then I found that some user that use same card as me realtek rtl8168b manage to get it work by using spoofed MAC address. I tried it and it works and make me wonder, why the fxxk does it works?

And not to mention I came to this same DNS issues in Vista and have yet to try the solution.

So here it goes for anybody who want to try their luck at fixing the typical small and micro software blunders. (Click on the picture to enlarge)

1.  Go and open the network sharing center and then click the “Change adapter settings”

2.  Then right click the network card icon and select properties.

3. After that click configure then advance tab.

4.Click the network address and then enter any 12 alphanumeric digit from 1 to 7 and A to F

5.Then click OK and try to browse internet again. If it didn’t work then try these command:

Open the command prompt with admin right by typing cmd in the search bar or go to accessories>command prompt right click then “run as administrator”

Type each of these commands:

ipconfig /flushdns

netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=highlyrestricted

netsh int ip reset

If it still doesn’t work, too bad. Hope Microsoft doesn’t fuxx up during retail release and this issue is fixed. Meanwhile, you can always use XP.

Ciao.

At last my first handheld. No, it truly my first game device that can be carried away (other than my handset snake game). Behold, PSP 3K aka Brite. It is a 3rd revision of Sony popular handheld and the best thing is, it has been cracked at last.

Well, sort off. The CFW (custom firmware) reside in the RAM and will be lost when the PSP turn off or reset or BSOD (Black screen of death). The downside is it need official firmware to be version 5.03. If you upgrade it to the latest 5.5X, that’s it. You can no longer play ehem games or use custom software (careful dude. any custom software that touch your flash may ‘bricked’ your psp).

So what make it different from the ‘old’ one? It has shiny new LCD with vibrant rich color especially when you watch anime and movie on it.

Top is the old 2k and bottom is the new 3k.

It also has mic, built in skype software, better tv output, better sound, better curvy figure, small silver ring on the umd panel and anti glare screen (reduced glare actually when in bright room condition) .

So already have a PSP 3k and want to crack it? (Proceed at your own risk.If you bricked it, blame your incompetence to follow order and your luck and your blablabla)

Get these 3 files off the net first (use google):

1.  Official version 5.03 firmware update

2. ChickHen R2

3. CFWEnabler 3.51

Once you get all these files, get a MS Duo Pro and format it using the PSP. Better yet use a separate MS  for your flashing purpose. Then copy the EBOOT.PBP from the official firmware update file to PSP/GAME then run it. How do you do this? You’ll need to connect USB cable to the PSP or use card reader to copy the file. If folder didn’t exist, create it. Read here for more info: http://www.wikihow.com/Upgrade-Your-PSP-Firmware

Check your system information screen and make sure it is 5.03 and you’ll need at least 78% battery capacity to do update. After all update done and verified, delete the eboot.pbp.

1. Copy the Chickhen r2 images file from the slim folder to the photo folder PSP/PHOTO/ and the h.bin to the root of the MS.
2. Then copy the CFWEnabler folder to PSP/GAME.
3. After you reinsert the MS back or disconnect the usb cable, go to the xmb photo option (the one with camera). Select the MS (the most bottom one) then press down and hold then press the circle or cross (depend on your psp version).
4. If you did it correctly, the PSP should reset/restart. If you did it wrong, it will just turned off. Try step 3 again if you failed.
5. By this time if you failed many timealready, fret not. Go to the system settings>restore default setting. Just accept yes/ok and it will restart. Then press right until the end and press ok/o/x. (It is a screen to set date, nick and other things. Just use default). Remember not to change your nickname. Use the default nickname PXXX.
6. If you manage to reboot it ok, the system information screen should shows “5.03 ChickHen R2″ not “5.03″
7. Then go to xmb game (joystick icon) and select ms then CFWEnabler 3.51. It will start like normal game. Then select “write to flash etc”. Forgot the correct line. You’ll only need to do this once the first time. The next time you reflash, it will start and return to the xmb screen.
8. Accept all prompt and it sort of reset and xmb menu screen will appear.
9. You did it!!! Check the system information again. It should now show “5.03 MHU” or “5.03 M33-6″ if you use CFWEnabler 3.50.
10. Copy all your ehem game copy to the iso folder and it will appear in the xmb screen.
11. Good luck. You can retain your CFW by putting it to sleep mode. Just slide the power switch once and don’t hold. If you hold it,the PSP will turn off and you will have to redo all steps again from step 3 till 9.

Still stuck? Watch this then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5VLVmIEvsE

1. You and I will be wearing same shit, no branded items.
2. You won’t be reading my blog right now because all internet have been censored or there aren’t any to begin with.
3. All of us will be cycling to works instead.
4. Big potrait of Chin Peng at home and chant ‘Ooo Great Leader’.
5. Great leader this great leader that, he is saviour.
6. Chin Peng will be drinking whiskey and smoking cigar in Istana Negara right now.
7. Made in Malaysia items will be scattered all around the world. Oiyooo.
8. 1 malaysia, 1 party.
9. You guys will be speaking in Mandarin instead.
10. 3 star logo is the trend. You will be seeing it everywhere.
11. Will there be a country called a Malaysia? Instead we will have a Republic of Malaya or North Malaya and South Malaya.
12. Those Sarawakian will be speaking Indon and Sabahan will be speaking Tagalog.
13. No more Malaysia boleh.
14. During election, you can’t see anymore dacing/bulan/rocket/mata. Instead there is only one box and 1 logo to cross/pangkah.

If you ask if I agree Chin Peng to be allowed to return home, I said why not? He should said ” Forgive me, I’ve seen the light and I regret what I did. I will answer for my action and received suitable punishment”. And to the gallow he goes. Forgiveness? I don’t see any reason to forgive considering how arrogant he declared that what he did is not wrong and he did it for his country. Indeed which country? Killing innocent is not wrong? Killing babies is not wrong?

Well, let those who suffered the most to decide if he can comeback. Chin Peng should be grateful that he managed to keep his life.

Dragonica return in OBT today after a long wait since the CBT by the fans. Unfortunately it is not without a hitch. After a system maintenance that took somewhere 8 hours since 10 am this morning, the official site went down after a surge from visitors. A visit to the official site greet you with this screen ” SQL error system out of memories”. Wah, I wonder how it will be in the game? Will there be a lot of KSer?

For sure there are a lot of cries for those who didn’t download their client yet. As for me, during the time this blog is written, I’m still waiting for my CBT client to be updated to OBT. Fortunately the patch server is not down yet since lots of people can’t even get a hand on the client yet.  Wonder if the main play server is still up? One thing for sure, the official website will be expected to be down till tomorrow. (It 9pm here in Malaysia and there won’t be any people working at nite in Singapore)

So what is Dragonica exactly? It is a MMORPG button smashing 3D side scrolling game. A little bit like the Survival Project years ago albeit little more advanced. You control a chibi hero in the quest to save the world. Bla Bla Bla.

You can choose from 4 basic class, warrior, magician, archer and thief. So 2 close and 2 range. And each class will branch into 2 2nd class job with different set of skill at lvl 20. There are 3rd and 4th job level in planning and secret job class for each class. Though I doubt we will see the 3rd and 4th so soon.

Dragonica will span multiple world and you will advance progessively when you following the quest and storyline. Starting from basic town (for sure it will be swamped right now), you will visit cities and a lot of field and dungeon to be explored.

Dragonica sports 2 mode for player to enjoy. The first one is arcade mode or basically you move around in the field killing things and racking kill count for bonus items. The second one is star mission mode where you can tackle 1 to 4 star mission single handed or with party and the 5th one is usually the storyline mission. (lot of noobs don’t understand this and keep searching for it). Star missions grant you higher exp and better loot than the arcade mode.And it best if it tackled by 2 to 3 people in a party.

Quest are pretty much strewn around in Dragonica. During CBT, some of the quest is not very clear especially it mention wrong field and didn’t mention who to report the finished quest to. Hope this is already fixed in OBT. Basically quest is your source of income and basic items for you to use. So don’t be in a hurry and but that armor from the shop. Instead, go and take the quest. Most of the quests are hunt quest, kill XXXX monster and report.

Dragonica also will have partner system, clan system and clan war or emporium war. As for the PVP aspect, there are PVP lobby for this. You can join PVP lobby once you reach level 10 and become cannon fodder for merciless higher level player.

Ok, that should cover it all. So if you are interested, head out to:

http://dragonica.iahgames.com/site/default.aspx

Though I doubt you can play tonight. Hahahaha, Sparta tonite we will dine in hell!!!!

Meanwhile, enjoy this final images and drop some comments.

VS

Not so recently my internet connection fuck up screaming. So I have to abandon all oversea online game and instead focus those that near me geographically. But as usual, the games near me are not interesting with some exception such as Dragonica and Exteel. I’ve also abandoned Eve Online after the sub expired and look for alternatives. But looking at the current situation, anything that is not in SEA is out of question.

So far I’m followed these issues closely. You can read other’s screaming and meeting with the ISP here:

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1024067

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1040300

No engineer present at the meeting nor the higher up. All they sent are PRs to spin and spin. Btw, I haven’t watch Terminator yet.

Back to the topic at hand, it is a comparison of two similiar MMOFPS games that located near me.

First is Sudden Attack licensed by Asiasoft, a Singapore based company. And the second one is the Blackshot online by Garena. Garena is a game portal that is popular among DOTA players.

Sudden Attack

The story line is the usual CS clone Terror vs CT. Not so great graphic and hideous player character graphic. You can change the uniform/camo by buying a new one from the shop using collected points or topped up real money premium point or cash. Has the usual mode, deathmatch, team deatmatch, bomb and defuse.

Great selection of weapon but the weapon graphic is poorly rendered. As for the connection, quiet OK considering the low graphic and system requirement.

The one thing that I must complained is the weapon rental, both games sport weapon rental where the weapon you bought is not permanent but have an expiration period. Sudden Attack weapons is bloody expensive and the time period is by days. Considering that I play only 2 to 3 hours perday, it would be a waste for me to buy it. And also the timer run its course regardless you use it or not. So if you bought 7 days weapon, and play 2 days, imagine how much point you waste. And not to mention that is bloody hard to aqcuire points. Each game awarded you points depending on your kills and damage and usually it about 50 to 100 points per game. And a weapon cost thousands. Imagine that.

And the sound? So CS like.

Pro:  Lagless, lot of weapons, frequent update, CS clone

Cons:Expensive weapon, meager point, weapon rental time, bad graphic, bad sound and music

http://suddenattack.asiasoftsea.net/

Blackshot Online

A great game that feature nice and busty graphic. Nyam nyam. It is about war between corporation.

Blackshot online has 4 char that you can choose from when you first time login. This will become you avatar on the ranking list and in the game.

2 speed and 2 defence. Same hp except speed type walk faster and the def one sport more def point. Speed type suitable for SMG toting players and def type is for camper sniper and rifle toting maniac.

Have 4 mode currently, Search and destroy, team deatmatch, CTF, and bunker defense.  Bunker defense mode allows up to 4 people defend a bunker from terrorist and suicide bomber.

Also have clan and partner function but none ready yet. And weapon experience which basically the more you use it the higher damage you deal and also not implemented yet.

Weapon graphic is nice and it has an ok range of weapon to be choose from. And like COD4, it also have tactical abilities and perks. You can rent perks and you can acquired abilities once you rise up in rank.

As for the ranking, it also has color ranking. Not sure how this work yet. Newcomer start white and old veteran usually black. Mine currently is a white Staff Sargeant.

Different from Sudden Attack, the weapon rental time is by hours instead of days.

And lastly, to play this you need to download and register Garena.

Pro: Good graphic, interesting game mode, abilities and per, COD4 clone

Cons: Lack of update, most function unusable, must install Garena, funky music but repetitive

http://www.blackshotonline.com/

Ciao.

Sorry for the lack of update. It is not that I’m lazy just that I didn’t have the time to write and then forgot about the issue that I’m about to raise. I should write down all the idea and get back to it later.

So the topic for today. I got this idea while taking a bath. Aha, you dirty mind. Anyway when I tried to wiki the said issue, guess what “This website has been blocked”. In other word you’re not allowed to learn about sex at work. Keep that in mind guys. The company didn’t want you to use contraceptive. :p

When did you first learn about sex? How did you learn that your abdominal organ is not just to be used to drain unwanted water but can instead produce different water ( for male lah)? And have you ever wonder why yours is different from the opposite sex. Why girls got hole? Why they need to sit to pee (unless there are peoples who did different. Yes, some people do but I will not discuss on how to do that)? Yes, turn back the time. If you’re parent, then someday your kids will bound to ask you these question. “Ayah, condom tu apa?(what is a condom) “. “Condom tu kondominium (Condom is a condominium)”.

The question is when is the best time to explain this to your children? The time she got knocked and have a “big stomach”? By that time it is already too late.

You see, when I was small I always tought that I have this unique organ in order to pee easier. Just point and shoot. And never that my mom tells me anything until high school. The only thing I know was to have a child you must have father and mother. And never a mention of how you are “manufactured”.

By the time I was twelve, I know that people have sex to make children but how? That the question until one of my friends said ” You put your penis in her vagina” or the exact word ” Kau cucuk kote dalam pantat dia” and he showed a demo using his finger.

You see, I was not raised in internet era unlike this days that you bound to see a  porn pop up while surfing the internet. And no picture too. So it is really hard to imagine.

Until that I got a hand on a porn tape. VHS during that time is like a blue ray player today. So expensive that not all can afford. Mine was about 1000 and that was a lot of money that time. A computer? Thousands.( now i remember one of the forgotten blog ideas).

It was a japanese porn flick and american ones. Uncensored. And so I watch this guys thrusting the girl without using any contraceptive device. The feeling? Err nauseous and excited? :p.

The enviroment during that days was very conservative. You can’t see any penis or vagina’s picture anywhere. Even in the school textbook.

All that school textbook shows are these:

Then it describe the sperm and the ovum and blaa blaa blaa and never it mention on how the sperm is going to the ovum. The sperm can fly? Now that would be a sight to see. Every woman will be pregnant.

And then I found a book in a library that shows a cross section of penis inside a vagina. Now that is what I call educational.

All this talk of using condom to prevent pregnancy will be nothing if that guy doesn’t know how to use that simple rubber contraception.

Why should people be shame of sex education? They should put this in at least at school level and warned the girls especially that uncovered penis is no no. Well, sex before marriage is bad. Kids, you should learn that. Don’t let them only to find out about this when it is too late.

Got to go. It’s already late. Till then.

Currently I’m busy playing this new online game. It is called Atlantica Online. The server is based in US so expect some lagginess when in the game. And there are no SEA version yet that I can found. Atlantica Online is a mmorpg with turn base battle system. Kind like Heroes of Might and Magic style of game. In 3D.

Basically the battle system use point and click the enemy to attack them. Yo can issue magic command, pickup item and move order during battle. There are a turn time limit that depends on your merc quantities. Yes your army consists of yourself as the hero and mercenaries as your underling. You can hire mercenaries to fight for you. Current there are 2 classes to choose from. C class and D class. You started the game with D class.

Getting Started

AO allows you to control 9 character at once in a 3×3 formation. You can use less of course and there will be bonus depend on the vacancies in your formation.

You started the game by choosing which hero type you want to be. Swordie? Spearman? Axeman? Archer? Gunner? Cannonner? or lastly Shaman.

Each have different magic ability and attack type. Take Cannonner for example. He/she can attack the whole group  at once but has very low action power which limit the frequency of her attack. Check the official website first for detail before you decide which type you want to be. Once selected, you can’t change it anymore or not at very high expense in the game. There is certain item that allow you to repick your class later in game.

After you pick your hero, on you go to the tutorial quest. Be advised to turn off your torrent before playing this game or there wil be problem starting up the intro. Last time I got black screen nearly 15 minute before I decide to turn off torrent and restart.

During your tutorial quest, you can pick 3 mercenaries on the course of tutorial. Choose wisely but for starter I recommend you take at least 1 archer to help you later in dealing with your first boss fight, hellish fairy. Archer can be very useful for its silence magic which can cause problem to magic caster.

In PVP archer can rule too by taking out the main char out during early round of free league but not so useful against swordman type main char. Last time I use shaman as my main char during my early trial run and got pwned repeatedly. But shaman can rule in the later part of the game provided you live long enough.

Recently a new server called Argos had been launched. I restart anew on this server as it will have even playing ground and not so inflated economy. But you will have trouble crafting though. More about crafting and item enchanting on my next post if I’m not lazy.

Atlantica Online also have party system where you can have a party of up to 3 members. So the biggest battle you can do is  3 vs 3 where 27 char vs 27 char at once. See picture above.This is common during war and later enemy encounter where enemy can reinforce themselves and gang up on you. In party you can get bonus exp in form of small exp book. This small exp book can be used to lvl up your just acquired char.

Oh and not to say about town management. I have no idea yet how to gain a town for the guild but it have something to do with guild point. Guild point can be collected through training centre run, attendance and guild quest.

Lastly my advice is follow the quest. Atlantica doesn’t need grinding on early level and just focus on completing the quest as it will provide item, money and exp. And do remember that to hire a new merc, you can hire them through merc manager (each merc hire cost 10000 gold so be sure to keep 10k gold and don’t spend it all on items.)  or get the merc sealed orb/item from quest. For example, to get a monk you need to do monk quest. Monk can be useful with his awakening skill that can heal stunned character.

Next chapter:

Will and Craft

OMG. I’m getting mellow mellow. Well, here another interesting anime that I just watched recently. I like the plot and it is a mix of romance, despair, comedy and reality of life.

Summary:

Sana Hidaka returns to his hometown after 5 years away living in Tokyo. Although there are some changes to the town, most has remained the same. On a detour to his apartments, he notices a girl in a shrine maiden outfit watching him when he visits the shrine. He finds out, the next day at school, that this girl is actually Nanaka Yatsushiro, his old childhood friend whom he gave a bracelet to before he left, that she still wears, even to this day.

When he was a child, Sana Hidaka left his town, and his childhood friends Aoi, Nanaka and the twins Syou and Syuri held a farewell party, everyone giving presents to him. Then Sana, after five years, comes back to his town, where he’ll meet his childhood friends again, but slowly discovering that some of them have changed while having deep troubles, so he’ll try to do his best to help solving them.

Ecam thinks (Warning!! Spoiler) :

Interesting actually although the story itself can be a little bit slow. I like the part that of how Nanaka have to cope with her problem. She then try to commit suicide but failed because Sana saved her. She angry with Sana saying that he doesn’t understand how’s she feel. But Sana said he understand and reveal the secret behind his wristwatch. And nearly all support character have their own problem.

This girl have love problem and loneliness and started to cling to Sana. And the twins themselves accused of incest and finally they run away from the town.

Oh and I also love the story behind the teacher’s sweet. Nicely done.

If you have nothing to do at the moment, I suggest you grab a snack and started watching this. It’s worth it.