Document Vendor (Homework) Progress

For my distributed systems class, we are to make a document vending system.  The system consists of three separate components:

• Client


• Server


• Data store

The data store is playing the role of a typical database server (except with less features and only storing flat file data).  The server provides access from the client to the files stored in the data store (with some caching) and the Client is the front end GUI for the whole system.

I have the Server (minus the caching) and the data store working independently with only some minor integration for the connection between the two.  The client and caching components are going to take a little more work to get completed (but should be relatively easy).

CNR - Broadhop - ISG Integration

Working on integrating the Cisco CNR server with Broadhop and ISG functions on a Cisco ASR-1004.  The current design is to utilize the syslog functions of the CNR to trigger updates / deletes on the Broadhop.  Initially, the plan was to use the integrated functions of the CNR (using either TCL or C++ libraries).  However, the issue is that if the Broadhop is slow to respond (or is unreachable), the CNR DHCP process will no longer be able to hand out IP addresses (or will be very slow).



The diagram shows the high-level initial process flow.  Everything is written in Java and the process is going much faster than I was expecting.  So far, I have the Syslog process listening for connections, logging to files and talking with the Broadhop server.

Hopefully, I will finish all of the testing tomorrow and we can implement the L3-TAL (versus the L2-TAL that we are currently using and running into some small quirks).

Working on Homework Today

Worked on getting some homework done for my university studies today.  Created the server component for the book vendor project.  The project is basically creating three separate applications.  The first is the data store application (responsible for storing information about the books).  The data store in the real world would be replaced by a database server (such as MySQL or PostgreSQL) in the real world, but since it is a little more complicated to do setup multiple database servers for the instructor (or force everyone to use a specific type), we have to create our own data store server.

The next application is the server itself.  The server is responsible for interactions from the client to the data store.  The server is responsible for providing catalog functions (taking data from the data store and providing the information for the client), allowing the client to purchase books if there any books available and other such things.  The server must also have a cache mechanism.  The cache allows the server to cache the data from the data store in a reliable manner (with all of the fun things related to cache maintenance).

Finally, the client is the client facing application.  There is not a significant amount of detail about the client.  The client can either be command line or GUI and must talk to the server on a reliable transport mechanism (i.e. TCP).

The server I have created so far is a multi-threaded application (one thread for each of the client connections).  I need to still work out how to handle the caching on the server and the data store interaction.  I will probably make the data store in a similar manner of the server (with a multi-threaded approach to the creation of book vendor server connections).

Upgraded to Wordpress MU

I have successfully upgraded to the Multi-user edition of Wordpress (Wordpress-MU).  This allows me to only have to support a single installation of Wordpress instead of the 3+ that I have been trying to support on the server.

I have noticed that the site is a little slower than before (at least the initial connection), but overall everything seems pretty good with the installation.

To get my data moved from the old single install install, I followed the instructions at: http://welcome.totheinter.net/2008/10/04/how-to-migrate-from-wordpress-to-wordpress-mu/.  Follow those instructions and the process is pretty straight forward.

Working on Method to Track Workout Data

I used to use the site http://www.fitsync.com to track my workout data and bio data (weight mainly).  However, when I had an unfortunate incident with my Palm Centro phone (zip closure bag failure at Oceans of Fun), I have no longer been able to update my workout data over the air.  This is because they do not have an application that works on my Blackberry (I am getting a Java error message when I try to run the Java application).   I liked the fitsync application and would recommend giving them a try if you have one of their support phones as it worked well for me.

I have been investigating different methods of entering workout and bio-data into an easy to manage method so I can track my progress.  I am looking at creating a new web-application that can be accessed via small form factor devices (i.e. cell phones, Zune HD, iPhone/iPod touch, etc).

My goals for the project are the following:

• Track bio data (primarily weight, but also other data)


• Track workout statistics


• Provide graphical feed back on the progress


• Provide multiple user entry


• Define workout schedules


• Setup a schedule for work outs

After the initial installation process, I am going to look at other features such as the ability to connect with social networks (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, etc), native applications (for offline sync and easier access), and possibly reminder access (i.e. you have the following workout schedule for today).