Sunday Funnies: Using a smart phone as a diagnostic tool
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android? Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else? If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work? (My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-) Cheers, -- jra
Related topic - ACM's CHIMIT (Computer Human Interfaces for the Management of Information Technology) workshop 2010 was co-located with the Usenix LISA conference this year (http://www.chimit10.org/home.html); I was on a panel discussion on mobile devices in system administration. This topic and the workshop could use more networking people participation. On Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 6:00 PM, Jay Ashworth <jra@baylink.com> wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work?
(My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-)
Cheers, -- jra
-- -george william herbert george.herbert@gmail.com
On Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 09:00:18PM -0500, Jay Ashworth wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work?
(My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-)
Cheers, -- jra
Nokia N900. Slide-out, physical keyboard. Debian Linux based OS. Fair amount of free packages/apps available and then there's always GCC. No hackery needed for full system access. IPV6 capable and actually working on T-Mobile. Not quite as slick as newer Android phones and iPhones but more of a workhorse. LaDerrick
On 2/27/2011 9:00 PM, Jay Ashworth wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
I have a Droid2 with the "WiFi Analyzer" freebie app by Kevin Yuan. Compared to dragging around a real analyzer, it's helpful in the field. Certainly haven't gone to any great lengths to "find" more, or purposefully use my phone as a test device, but at least that one is handy (was discovered by our WiFi guy) and the price is right. Jeff
I have a Droid2 with the "WiFi Analyzer" freebie app by Kevin Yuan.
i run it on a nexus one. way coolquite useful. i just can't excuse the $600 cost of a wi-spy. but it sure would be nice to have a general rf peek at the wifi ranges. two weeks ago, in hk, we had rf interference that essentially killed the wifi, but it did not show on wifi analyzer. randy
On 2/27/11 10:09 PM, Randy Bush wrote:
I have a Droid2 with the "WiFi Analyzer" freebie app by Kevin Yuan.
i run it on a nexus one. way coolquite useful. i just can't excuse the $600 cost of a wi-spy.
http://ubnt.com/airview 2.4ghz model is more Like $50 and works nearly as well as the wi-spy. wi-spy DBx is stll about the cheapest I've seen for a 5ghz spectrum analyzer, and is worth it for that alone but the interference problem you're trying to nip in the bud is is likely in 2.4ghz anyway.
but it sure would be nice to have a general rf peek at the wifi ranges. two weeks ago, in hk, we had rf interference that essentially killed the wifi, but it did not show on wifi analyzer.
randy
Joel Jaeggli wrote:
On 2/27/11 10:09 PM, Randy Bush wrote:
I have a Droid2 with the "WiFi Analyzer" freebie app by Kevin Yuan.
i run it on a nexus one. way coolquite useful. i just can't excuse the $600 cost of a wi-spy.
2.4ghz model is more Like $50 and works nearly as well as the wi-spy.
wi-spy DBx is stll about the cheapest I've seen for a 5ghz spectrum analyzer, and is worth it for that alone but the interference problem you're trying to nip in the bud is is likely in 2.4ghz anyway.
but it sure would be nice to have a general rf peek at the wifi ranges. two weeks ago, in hk, we had rf interference that essentially killed the wifi, but it did not show on wifi analyzer.
randy
If you need some directionality (and more gain), get the AirView-EXT model and get one of these: http://www.superpass.com/SPDG11F.html Mine came without the S/S mounting plate and I just velcroed the thing to the lid of the laptop (~4x2x1 in.). I also have a higher gain omni that goes on the same velcro, so after you identify the interference, switch to the Sector ant. to get the direction if needed. --Michael
Jay Ashworth wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work?
(My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-)
Cheers, -- jra
Please get one that has a mail app that posts to these lists correctly.<g>
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On 02/27/2011 06:00 PM, Jay Ashworth wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Yes. Had all 3. Android is my only tool now. It's superb. I've used/supported and developed applications for all 3 platforms. Android has been the most pleasant by far.
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
Yes. All the time. For out of band connectivity at customer sites to various diagnostic applications on the phone.
If so, what kind of phone,
My Touch 3g from t-mobile. and what (if you don't mind letting on) are
your magic apps for this sort of work?
Built in browser on Froyo (often times need to search something when a network is down), mail client (k9mail). Also netSwissTool. Oh and of course I tether my phone.
(My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-)
I keep meaning to pickup a cheap android tablet. Load ubuntu on it (android os is quite nice on a phone. larger system i would prefer to have ubuntu). (before you sneer at me, i've been using linux for almost 15 years, and want something that just works :) - -- Charles N Wyble (charles@knownelement.com) Systems craftsman for the stars http://www.knownelement.com Mobile: 626 539 4344 Office: 310 929 8793 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iQIcBAEBAgAGBQJNayE2AAoJEMvvG/TyLEAtV7oQAI8Ezh8ZUmB4HaAM28gyC4UV aD4KTMSxwDyAKXpGdWzgWMe1kqFcKCmswN4NDhpIkXMi0y1t03B3ZTdlOK+gUYiG i7ZKVD4SusZKJE5QzQpAHPvwQue5Hg1tciD3EeHZHbfg4AhIGF6QnYQFtOdsaPQO WyuTmJ4oNJYqOXCEVmZyEq+kbgl0KEZwhYlDV7kzHFkQSyooYs4+Opq1Evoi0Tbg 9+2vrNpEButSKld2Av2vG+nSXg4Um8qCnU/QepOmHiHcXxC/9KM54xsrABLC66d1 7pc4PncurON8sO6xd0Fzi3mzGHUeaVBqm3V01gT2INOrP0gGE+tYUajoLRmvSmii re0s94Wpaw8WLMYvzLSaOBSJVkFqYPWPyutuj+iYwiKHdqOJhXYXV4jB+tnFXDbB 5Z9U2+WfBpD5WUZrQHhAr/LVRfjE8KPyfFFCQ2bxx78qCQv0KwsLdSFPFnU9gpIj FpAe8V0GAi0nLaItw6sAIsgjgAA52UV0jGYZo6VT0UAKVOQJWe5c6Ofcm3eAZTBi +GAn1Jl8iELbeFkTD+UPNoBCgpz3YuelF4qdhK8mMhjV9Sx1T5PsTwW9nMmQFYpr oOrnOkqUsisz2AHKKg8CvjMeKXA7/od9N6l6Uu0XIlh9+8znbGai2Rs9FbbWquiX /fVRLQ0aSScb6xRF1DLJ =vOOX -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
On 2/27/2011 4:00 PM, Jay Ashworth wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android? Android, a Nexus One.
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else? If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work? Absolutely, I use it on a regular basis. ConnectbotSSH is small, simple and just works. Integrated VPN on the OS enables me to get in safe and secure, then I can ssh to whatever box I need to. There are various password safe types of programs with native smartphone apps (mostly Android and iPhone as far as I'm aware). USB Tethering and Wireless Hotspot ability (currently no extra charge on T-Mobile network) also enable me to do a quick bit of easy checking from outside infrastructure without need for a separate 3G dongle or similar. (My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-) I think ultimately I'd prefer a physical keyboard on my phone. Most of the time it's fine with a touch-screen keyboard, texting, e-mailing and surfing, when the keyboard can predict what you're typing (alternative keyboard swiftkey is excellent and learns from SMSs etc.) However with ssh it can occasionally be a little irritating (alternative keyboard "Full Keyboard" helps.) I'd be a lot faster with a physical keyboard. I often still keep my old Nokia Internet Tablet around, just in case, then pair it to my phone using wifi.
Paul
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 2:00 AM, Jay Ashworth <jra@baylink.com> wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Try a Nokia N900 Maemo device, Brief History it is a pet project of Nokia, it is 100% Linux (Debian Based), you don't need to hack it or do anything or install any apps on it, full Linux ie, ssh, lamp stack , name it, you can get it for about $300 this a full fledge site for it http://maemo.org/
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
yes if ur a real IT person and your very well versed in terms of knowledge and you use gadgets then you should know it is a swiss knife among all mobile devices.
If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work?
Android, BB, iOS are cool OS but compared to a real Linux OS stack (Debian)
(My motivation? Well, um, Lee, I'm looking at buying an HTC Thunderbolt, if everyone can get their thumbs out, and I want to get a feeling for the lanscape, if you'll pardon the pun. :-)
HTC thunderbolt is not a bad looking phone. one most important thing about all the mobile
you can easily compare the difference, with N900 you don't need all those APP markets you have all the apps develop for Linux at your disposal, just use apt-get and then ur done. phone devices out there it is only Nokia that support full networking stack of IPV6 on it no hacking needed to get it running.
Cheers, -- jra
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joshua William Klubi" <joshua.klubi@gmail.com>
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 2:00 AM, Jay Ashworth <jra@baylink.com> wrote:
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Try a Nokia N900 Maemo device,
I've had an n800 for about 3 years now. Original battery, even, though it is time for a replacement. I passed on the n810 for a bunch of reasons, though. Didn't like the carrier selection for the n900.
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
yes if ur a real IT person and your very well versed in terms of knowledge and you use gadgets then you should know it is a swiss knife among all mobile devices.
I'll use here a phrase that's current at the TV network where I work, used when someone who's getting paid to make the show suddenly discovers something everyone else in the room already knew: "Welcome to the show."
you can easily compare the difference, with N900 you don't need all those APP markets you have all the apps develop for Linux at your disposal, just use apt-get and then ur done.
Though as with all Application Managers, they make backout hell; I use FBreader on my n800 as probably my primary app... and the newest build has a couple of *really* nasty bugs. And it's a pain in the *ass* to go back to an older build, without getting married to every detail of how the appmgr works. Or going off the reservation, after which you'll be prompted to 'upgrade' forever...
HTC thunderbolt is not a bad looking phone. one most important thing about all the mobile phone devices out there it is only Nokia that support full networking stack of IPV6 on it no hacking needed to get it running.
Note that the Thunderbolt will be an LTE700 phone, and therefore (or so I'm told) natively IPv6 on the air-interface; this will likely make that less of a problem than on older phones. Cheers, -- jra
Subject: Sunday Funnies: Using a smart phone as a diagnostic tool Date: Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 09:00:18PM -0500 Quoting Jay Ashworth (jra@baylink.com):
Do you have a smartphone? Blackberry? iPhone? Android?
Do you use it as a technical tool in your work, either for accessing devices or testing connectivity -- or something else?
If so, what kind of phone, and what (if you don't mind letting on) are your magic apps for this sort of work?
Nokia n900. The only apps I installed was a sudo and vpnc; the rest IIRC is in there already. With Nokia shoving its collecitve head into the dark rear end of Microsoft, I have few if any hopes for a successor from Esbo[0]. My guess would be a r00ted Androidish device next time around. -- Måns Nilsson primary/secondary/besserwisser/machina MN-1334-RIPE +46 705 989668 The FALAFEL SANDWICH lands on my HEAD and I become a VEGETARIAN ... [0] Swedish for "Espoo", the small suburb west of Helsingfors (Helsinki) where the HQ is.
participants (11)
-
Charles N Wyble -
George Herbert -
Jay Ashworth -
Jeff Kell -
Joel Jaeggli -
Joshua William Klubi -
LaDerrick H. -
Mans Nilsson -
Michael Painter -
Paul Graydon -
Randy Bush