We’ve Released Some of our Nagios Plugins

Posted on October 26, 2011 by barryo

We create a lot of Nagios installations for our own systems, for customer systems which we manage and as a service. We’ve written a lot of custom Nagios plugins over the years as part of this process.

We are now making a concerted effort to find them, clean them, maintain them centrally and release them for the good of others.

To that end, we have created a repository on GitHub for the task with a detailed readme file:

They main goal of Nagios plugins that we write and release are:

  • BSD (or BSD like) license so you can hack away to wield into something that may be more suitable for your own environment;
  • scalable in that if we are polling power supply units (PSUs) in a Cisco switch then it should not matter if there is one or a hundred – the script should handle them all;
  • WARNINGs are designed for email notifications during working hours; CRITICAL means an out of hours text / SMS message;
  • each script should be an independant unit with no dependancies on each other or unusual Perl module requirements;
  • the scripts should all be run with the --verbose on new kit. This will provide an inventory of what it finds as well as show anything that is being skipped. OIDs searched for by the script but reported as not supported on the target device should really be skipped via various --skip-xxx options.
  • useful help available via --help or -?

Posted in Open Source | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

ViMbAdmin :: New Release 0.3.4

Posted on September 6, 2011 by barryo

Since our last announcement, we have had three version bumps and releases of ViMbAdmin:

0.3.4   2011-09-06
 - fix: https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/issues/3
 - add: Support new mailbox password hashes: crypt, sha1 and
        salted sha1 and md5. Issue 9 from Google Code:

http://code.google.com/p/vimbadmin/issues/detail?id=9

 - fix: Changes in 0.3.2 prevented wildcard aliases
 - add: MD5-CRYPT hashing used by, for example, Dovecot.
        This addresses:

http://code.google.com/p/vimbadmin/issues/detail?id=6

0.3.3   2011-09-02
 - fix: Critical regression introduced in 0.3.2 preventing the
        editing of aliases

0.3.2   2011-09-01
 - fix: https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/issues/1
 - add: optional parameter in application.ini (skipVersionCheck)
        to tell ViMbAdmin to skip the version check on login
        See: https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/issues/2
 - fix: we now check for duplicate mailboxes (and aliases)
        rather than letting Doctrine throw exceptions for
        uniqueness constraints. Thanks maysara for the report.
 - fix: validate new aliases and mailboxes which was not being
        done previously
Posted in New Release, ViMbAdmin | Tagged | Comments Off

ViMbAdmin :: New Release 0.3.1

Posted on August 31, 2011 by barryo

We haven’t announced a new release in a little while and, following the migration to GitHub, we feel now is a good time.

0.3.1 was released on August 23rd and it’s the sixth release since our last announcement.

Changes include:

  • Various changes required for the migration to GitHub.
  • A major fix of a bug preventing users to edit aliases.
  • New favicon based on logo from Limeworks Australia – http://www.limeworks.com.au
  • New autocomplete functionality (used on the Edit / Add Alias page)
  • New logo thanks to Limeworks Australia – http://www.limeworks.com.au
  • New login screen designFix a critical bug fix preventing email being sent during first use set up

As always, the full change log is available at:

https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/blob/master/CHANGELOG

 

Posted in New Release, ViMbAdmin | Tagged | 1 Comment

ViMbAdmin – Migrating to github

Posted on August 31, 2011 by barryo

I, Barry, have recently been converted from and SVN user to a Git user. You can read about my road to Damascus moment over in my personal blog.

As such I have converted my co-workers and we have migrated ViMbAdmin to GitHub. We feel that the project is in an early enough stage to not cause too much annoyance with the current user base. We do sincerely apologise for all and any inconvenience caused.

Do you want to continue with your SVN installation?

Feel free to svn switch your base from Google Code to the following which tracks our master (i.e. stable / production / release) branch:

http://svn.github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin.git

Migrating to Git

Just follow the instructions at:

https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/wiki/Install-using-git

and skip the database setup. Just copy over your application/configs/application.ini file to the new Git clone.

Using Official Packaged Releases?

No problem – you’ll now find new versions at:

https://github.com/opensolutions/ViMbAdmin/archives/master

 

Posted in Open Source, PHP, ViMbAdmin | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

We have moved…

Posted on July 6, 2011 by barryo

Open Solutions have moved offices as of Monday July 4th 2011. Our new offices and visiting address is:

Lynx House
Old Church Road
Lower Kilmacud Road
Stillorgan
Co. Dublin.

Our phone and other contact details remain the same.

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We Are Hiring: PHP Developers

Posted on June 13, 2011 by barryo

Open Solutions is currently seeking full time PHP Developers to work on new projects and support existing ones. The roles are full time permanent and based in our Dublin 18 offices.  These positions are also available to be filled immediately.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities associated with this role include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Writing well structured, secure and scalable web applications;
  • Supporting existing web applications for our customers;
  • Problem resolution on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack;
  • Project management and initiative to work productively without constant supervision;
  • Excellent testing and quality assurance abilities;
  • Superb customer service;
  • Assist in resolving issues out-of-hours through participation in an engineer on-call roster.

Skills / Knowledge

  • Exceptional knowledge of the PHP programming language (up to 5.3);
  • Deep understanding of OOP design;
  • Proven experience developing large web applications;
  • Good understanding of web application security.

In Open Solutions we typically develop applications using the following frameworks (of which experience with some or all is desirable but not necessary):

  • the Zend Application / Bootstrap / Controller;
  • the Doctrine ORM;
  • the Smarty templating engine;

We also use the following technologies and experience with these is also an advantage:

  • JavaScript / JQuery;
  • HTML / CSS (to an advanced level);
  • Linux as a development and production environment;
  • the MySQL database server;
  • the Apache web server;
  • Subversion / SVN and Git for SCM.

Personal Attributes:

  • Excellent communication skills;
  • Must be forward thinking and have good planning skills;
  • Excellent troubleshooting, judgment, and decision-making skills;
  • High level of self-motivation and proven ability for self-study and learning on the job (note that this is strongly emphasised!);
  • Flexible and dependable, on-call work and out of hours duties may be required from time to time;
  • Team player.

Salary

Negotiable, between €25,000 and €35,000 and depending on experience.

How to Apply

Please send a CV in an open document format (PDF, Open Office, HTML, RTF, etc) to jobs (at) opensolutions (dot) ie for the attention of Barry. Please ensure to include availability to start, any visa / legal requirements or limitations and a portfolio of past projects.

Unsolicited CVs, phone calls and / or emails from recruitment agencies are not welcome.

Posted in Jobs, PHP, PR | Comments Off

Data Centre Technical Services

Posted on May 24, 2011 by barryo

We’ve added a new service to our website: Data Centre Services. In reality, this is a service we have been providing since our inception in 2007 and our employees have been doing for other companies long before that.

By data centre technical services we mean that Open Solutions provides a full data centre service portfolio including:

  • data centre selection, negotiation and management;
  • supply and installation of all necessary data centre equipment including racks, patch panels, cable guides, optical distribution frames, managed and unmanaged PDUs (power distribution units);
  • IP transit provider selection, negotiation, set-up and management;
  • installation of a resilient fault tolerant network edge (see case study);
  • installation of management and out of band access;
  • remote hands for installation and configuration of customer kit;
  • consultancy and advice;

And, of course, intelligent engineers with problem solving ability!

We’re very familiar with all the carrier neutral data centres around Dublin as well as most of the carrier owned data centres. We also have good relationships and contacts with data centres in Cork and Galway.

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ViMbAdmin – We Have a Logo!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by barryo

As an example of open source in action, we had a note on our Google Code page for ViMbAdmin with a wanted section asking for a logo. Yesterday morning I received a mail from Robert Bell, self professed Head Nerd of Limeworks Australia offering some of his designers time to create one.

24 hours later, we proudly present the new face of ViMbAdmin:

ViMbAdmin Logo

With a cool new logo, we decided we needed to overhaul the login page. You can see the new face of ViMbAdmin at our updated live public demonstration page: http://www.opensolutions.ie/vimbadmin/. This has also been incorporated in a new release version, 0.2.4, which can be downloaded from here.

A sincere thanks to Robert Bell and his team Limeworks Australia for the logo.

 

Posted in Links, New Release, Open Source, PHP, ViMbAdmin | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

We’re IPv6 Ready! Are you?

Posted on March 29, 2011 by barryo

IPv6 ReadyOpen Solutions has been certified by INEX to their Platinum standard. This means both our website and our DNS name servers are IPv6 enabled.

We should of course disclose that not only do we contract services to INEX, we also developed the website and web application that powers IPv6Ready.ie!

It is vital that content owners and businesses that generate even a small proportion of their revenue through an online presence become IPv6 Ready.

To this end, IPv6 Ready is an initiative by INEX to promote the uptake of IPv6 in the Internet and broader business communities. While IPv6 has been available and in active use for over 10 years, its take up has been stunted by the continued, but increasingly limited, availability of IPv4 address space. INEX, with the IPv6 Ready initiative is encouraging businesses to delay no longer and invest in IPv6 to ensure the future of their Internet related activity.

Even if you’re not IPv6 Ready just yet, you can still make your users and customers aware that you realise the importance of this by displaying the IPv6 Pending badge which you receive by signing up at IPv6Ready.ie.

Test your site now: www.ipv6ready.ie.

–

Open Solutions has been a part of INEX’s operations team since April 2008, working with the expanding number of INEX Members and ensuring the smooth running of the exchange. We assist with the administration of the switching frabic, provide member support, and develop INEX’s provisioning and management systems.

IPv6 Ready is a PHP application using our standard application framework of Zend, Doctrine ORM and Smarty running on a FAMP stack.

Posted in Customer News, IP Networking, IPv6, Open Source, PHP, PR | Comments Off

ViMbAdmin :: New Release 0.2.2

Posted on March 29, 2011 by barryo

We’ve had a busy few weeks updating ViMbAdmin, the virtual mailbox administration web based application we announced earlier this month. Version 0.2.2 reflects a number of bug fixes and new features including:

  • you can now conveniently add a new email alias in the “Aliases of [emailaddress]” popup window;
  • when adding a new mailbox or alias, the domain is pre-selected when available;
  • you can now set the number of rows to display in the configuration file;
  • we’ve added a link to the login page to the mailbox password change page;
  • you can now conveniently add domains to admins through the Administrators -> Domains screen;
  • the system will now check and alert super admins if a new version is available as well as display the version in the footer;
  • many bug fixes.

A full list of changes can be found in the change log and updating instructions can be found here.

Posted in New Release, Open Source, PHP, PR, ViMbAdmin | Tagged , , | Comments Off