How to rebrand the pfSense® software
If you’ve ever wanted to add your own touch to the pfSense®
software, then you might be very interested in our new tutorial on rebranding the pfSense®
software.
This tutorial is a crash course in everything you need to do to replace the pfSense® brand in the pfSense® package, without needing special tools or access to pfSense® source code or repositories.
It’s kind of a laundry list of “everything you need to do”, which should get you going in the right direction, and we’ll be gradually adding other tutorials that explain some of the steps in more detail.
How to switch between Rident and pfSense®
As promised, we’ve also posted tutorials on how to switch between pfSense® and Rident™ and back again, so you never have to feel locked-in to one particular solution.
We’ve given you options, and highlighted some tips and traps to be aware of.
You can check out these handy instructions here:
- How to switch from Rident™ to the pfSense® software
- How to switch from the pfSense® software to Rident™
Shortage of ALIX 2-3 boards
Due to unexpected demand and a shortage at our supplier, we find ourselves completely out of ALIX 2-3 boards for a few weeks. Ouch!
The next batch is due in mid October, and unfortunately we can’t get any more before then.
We do, however, have lots of shiny, new, super-fast APU’s available, if you just can’t wait that long.
And of course there’s all of our other ALIX servers, and the net servers as well, plus all of our super-tiny desktops, so you really are spoiled for choice.
You might also be interested to know that the ALIX boards will be going “End of Life” towards the end of 2015.
So if you’re planning a project around them, you might want to either buy lots, or consider changing over to the awesomely powerful APU, which will be available in the long-term.
In other news
New Rident images
We’re now offering the latest version of Rident, v 2.1.5, on all of our Rident products, and for download.
Rident 2.1.5 is our optimised version of pfSense 2.1.5, which is is a primarily a security release. For full details of the changes in v2.1.5, please read the pfSense® documentation.
First donation made to Voyage Linux
We are thrilled to have made our first donation to the Voyage Linux project, on behalf of our newsletter subscribers.
All you have to do is sign up for our monthly email newsletter, and stay subscribed for at least three months, and we’ll donate $5 to support the ongoing development of Voyage Linux.
A big thank you to our loyal subscribers for making this possible.
Please encourage anyone you know who’d be interested in our tiny computers to sign up for our email newsletter as well.
Thank you for planting thousands of trees
We’ve decided to discontinue our ‘Four Trees’ offset program for our energy-efficient desktop computers.
We are thrilled to have planted thousands of trees on your behalf over the last four years.
If you would like to continue offsetting the already minimal carbon emissions of your desktops and servers, please consider purchasing trees directly from Greenfleet or your favourite offset provider.
Changes to same-day shipping and hard copy invoices
We’ve had to make some changes to the way we process your orders, to accommodate changes in our staffing arrangements.
As a result, we can’t guarantee same-day shipping any more.
We’ll certainly continue processing your orders as fast as we can, and in many cases they may still go out on the same day, but we just can’t make any promises.
To help speed things up, and to further reduce our carbon footprint, we’re now also emailing all invoices unless you specifically ask us to post a hard copy to you.
To minimise any impact of these changes on you, please place your order as early in the day as possible (or even the night before), and pay promptly by credit card or direct deposit.
Please allow up to 24 hours if you need an invoice before you can pay.
Thank you for your understanding.
Tips & resources
Computers remain exposed to boot-up vulnerability
Apparently there’s a vulnerability in the start-up process for many computers based on Intel chips that allows hackers to access and modify the BIOS on boot-up.
So why aren’t manufacturers taking it more seriously?
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/390598,computers-remain-exposed-to-boot-up-vulnerability.aspx
Own your own personal open-source cloud with Sandstorm.io
Ever wanted to run your own hosting, or just want to create your own cloud?
Sandstorm.io promises a radically easier way to run personal instances of web apps and offers privacy, security, and control of your cloud data as a pleasant side-effect.
https://opensource.com/life/14/8/sandstorm-open-source-web-apps
Planes can be hacked via inflight WiFi
A cybersecurity researcher says he’s figured out how to hack the satellite communications equipment on passenger jets through their WiFi and inflight entertainment systems.
In theory, a hacker could use a plane’s onboard WiFi signal or inflight entertainment system to hack into its avionics equipment, which could interfere with the aircraft’s navigation and safety systems.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/planes-can-be-hacked-via-inflight-wifi-researcher-says-1.2726912
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And have a wonderful day!
