Epoch & Unix Timestamp Conversion Tools

Yes, this is just a shameless prop for a utility I happened to like.

Long story short - I was running a ping with a "-D" (timestamp) option and I wanted to see how to turn something like this:

[1480443528.089965] 1208 bytes from 1.2.3.4: icmp_seq=21548 ttl=244 time=781 ms
[1480443529.079493] 1208 bytes from 1.2.3.4: icmp_seq=21549 ttl=244 time=771 ms
[1480443530.119068] 1208 bytes from 1.2.3.4: icmp_seq=21550 ttl=244 time=811 ms

into something where I would know when the ping happened without counting off seconds since the start of 1970.

So I started searching and found this utility site:

http://www.epochconverter.com/

I think it is quite useful and so - have at it!

Sparse Files

OK, I heard the term before but never had to really delve into them. That's an interesting concept, though. First delved into it needing a large (multi-terrabyte) file to house a file system. See here.

Then came across this article:

Sparse files – what, why, and how

I like the concept - though it does come with a few pitfalls, it seems. More on that later.

Solaris the tree killer

Now how's this for a fun experience - I have got this Solaris 8 machine which for some reason finds it necessary to send a title page with every print job. It does not run its own spooler and prints via a print server instead so I am clueless as to where to look for relevant setting to turn this on. So, in the spirit of waste and insanity so characteristic of our times, the machine seems poised to turn a whole forest to waste in no time as it sends quite a few print jobs.

The only configuration it seems to have is contained in the /etc/printers.conf file which looks roughly like the following:

#
# If you hand edit this file, comments and structure may change.
# The preferred method of modifying this file is through the use of
# lpset(1M)
#
caslon:\
:bsdaddr=kiev,caslon:

garamond:\
:bsdaddr=kiev,garamond,Solaris:

bodoni:\
:bsdaddr=kiev,bodoni:\
:job-sheets-default=none

_default:\
:use=gutenberg:

gutenberg:\
:bsdaddr=nrims-fs,gutenberg:

Now exactly where to tell it to knock off that title page nonsense is anybody's guess... But if you know feel free to tell me in the comments and I will be eternally grateful!