芳草苑

Author: 芳草苑主

  • 关于WordPress一次安装，多处使用的构想

    首先，我不能用WordPress Mu版。因为某些plugin 和 theme不支持Mu版。况且，WordPress Mu版相对于WordPress的特有功能是用户自助申请Blog功能，而我所谓“多处使用”，只需要集中管理一个WordPress框架下多个网站，多个网站能同步升级WordPress程序部分，所以，Mu版在此没有优势。

    其次，我肯定不是有WordPress一次安装，多处使用需求的第一人。我参照了前人的做法，但觉得它们不够完善。不完善之处主要是前人的想法要求多个网站指向同一个document root，而不同的网站很可能装有其他程序，还会有不同的图片等其他文件。例如，domain1和domain2共用一个WordPress，那WordPress以外的静态页面或静态文件，比如domain1/static-page-or-file-outside-of-wordpress，就会被domain2/ static-page-or-file-outside-of-wordpress访问到。

    再次，我的构想适合在独立服务器LAMP环境下实现。以下是具体的实现步骤：

    1. 在一个主控域名上按常规安装WordPress。假设主控域名是domain1，它的document root是/www/domain1。
    2. 假设第二个域名是domain2，它的document root是/www/domain2，WordPress甚至可以安装在子目录/www/domain2/wp。
    3. 除.htaccess和index.php以外，把/www/domain1下WordPress其他文件和文件夹用软连接的方式连接到/www/domain2/wp。多数情况下，不同网站会有不同.htaccess的要求，所以我建议.htaccess还是单独建立为好；domain2的index.php则需要稍作修改（大家看着改吧，应该是很简单的）。
    4. Domain1的wp-config.php则需要为新增的domain2添加一些配置，为不同的域名启动不同的数据库、表、keys等。
    5. Domain2的WordPress安装完成后，进入后台，调整uploads目录的位置，默认是wp-content/uploads，应该改为绝对路径，如/www/domain2/wp/wp-uploads。Full URL path to files (optional)不再是optional，必须作相应修改以便前台能访问到上传的文件。我曾经为隔离domain1和domain2的uploads考虑得死去活来，为了属于domain1 的 static-page-or-file-outside-of-wordpress 不被 domain2/static-page-or-file-outside-of-wordpress访问到，我想过在domain1下建立软连接到domain2的uploads目录，然后用防盗链的方式防止 domain1 和 domain2 对各自 uploads 目录的相互访问。但最后才发现，WordPress uploads folder本来就支持绝对路径（默认值是相对路径），一个复杂的问题就这样轻松解决了。

  • 播放器画面偏暗

    不知道从什么时候起，我的播放器（K-Lite）不管放电影或电视剧，色彩总是很暗，再好的片源看起来都像抢先版。

    听从网上的一个建议，把显卡的驱动更新了一下，播放器的画面立即清新了起来。我的心情也好了起来。

  • 奇妙的价格

    买一送一我已经见惯了。今天发现一个标价更有意思：Tesco卖海飞丝 shampoo，买一瓶£4.59，买两瓶共£4.50。

  • 802.11n果然不同凡响

    我不是追新族。在802.11g还大行其道的今天，我本没有打算升级至802.11n。但因为需要在一幢大楼内组网，我想了好多方案，比如：

    • 用homeplug（怕途中电表太多干扰太大，觉得这个方案不好）
    • 用WDS，也就是wireless repeater（买了belkin的802.11g repeater，经常死机，换了一个也是如此，退货；linksys也有一款repeater，贵于belkin，但我对linksys的产品没信心，懒得买来再退了）
    • 用高增益天线（ebay HK有人卖得很便宜，贪便宜买来发现是烂货，教训啊，千万别上ebay买东西——其实我知道的，但就是禁不住便宜的诱惑，抱着反正几镑钱，就当扔水里也不太心疼的心理又去买了个教训）
    • 用高功率无线路由（恰好我有一台2Wire 2700HGV，但就算调到100mw效果也不理想）

    802.11n的优越的传输性能我有耳闻，但百闻不如一见，我用买一个linksys repeater同样的价格买了一套Tenda 802.11n (draft 2)无线路由加USB无线网卡，两地用802.11n接通以后，效果出奇得好，已经完美解决我中长距离组网的需求。尽管走了很多弯路才落实这个方案，但我还是非常高兴。

    而且，我发现Tenda的无线路由还带有WDS功能，这可是802.11n级别的WDS啊，比起单纯一个linksys repeater，仅是802.11g级的，要划算好多好多啊。

  • Godaddy mod_rewrite

    I have two Godaddy accounts now. One is for a dedicated server, the other is for a deluxe share hosting package. Actually I do not need any share hosting once I get a dedicated server, but someone bought this for me, so I spent some time inspecting how good / bad it is.

    I should regard myself as a Godaddy loyal client. I am 100% satisfied with their dedicated server service, and also, Godaddy domain management is the most powerful and convenient I have ever seen. However, Godaddy share hosting is definitely not something workable for me.

    I am recently struggling at setting up magento in Godaddy share hosting. Magento setup is 50% successful. I mean, magento can run homepage, wishlist, popular search, etc all right, but it run into blank pages at many points, e.g. about us, customer service, etc. Initially I thought it was mod_rewrite problem, so I used phpinfo to check. I did not find mod_rewrite enabled. I quickly installed wordpress to double check, and if I enable wordpress search engine friendly url features, it runs into 404 error. I searched Godaddy Knowledge Base (FAQ centre). It says:

    Mod_rewrite is an Apache web server module installed on all of our Linux servers by default; it does not have to be installed or enabled. Our Linux hosting accounts support most mod_rewrite functionality.

    You do not need to enable mod_rewrite in your httpd.conf, as this is handled at a global level. All you need to do is add the desired code to the body of your .htaccess file.

    For more information about mod_rewrite see the Apache Module mod_rewrite documentation.

    NOTE:The .htaccess file containing the rewrite rules must be in the same directory as the target files.

    This article did not help me. So I had to submit a ticket. Within several hours, I got the reply (I am satisfied with Godaddy support reponse speed) but it only contained the same words as the answer from Godaddy Knowledge Base. I googled “godaddy mod_rewrite” after I could not get a clear reply from Godaddy. I should have googled it earlier because soon I found someone mentioned rewrite rules in .htaccess with Godaddy share hosting DO NOT TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

    This solved all my queries. Although I still do not know how Godaddy hide mod_rewrite from phpinfo, after several hours of being installed, wordpress is working properly.

    However, magento is still not running properly. I assume it has nothing to do with mod_rewrite settings. By all means, to my opinion, magento is not suitable to run on a share hosting package. Installing magento on Godaddy share hosting account is only for my curiosity. I have been running magento successfully on my dedicated server.

  • 英国的立秋日

    google autumn logo
    google autumn logo

    今天留意到google的logo换了一个，alt说明这是为the first day of autumn制作的。

    中国的中秋节都已经过了，英国怎么还刚入秋？英国秋天的第一天是怎么计算的？google了一下才知道，英国是拿autumnal exquinox (秋分日) 作为the first day of autumn。

  • Gmail Gcal Integration

    Gmail可以以Contact为单位，列出与某个Contact来往的Conversions。Google Calendar也可以搜索Who，把与某个人有关的Events都列出来。Google Contacts Management是以email address为identifier，而Google Calendar的客人名单也可以从Google Contacts里选取，可见Google Contacts, Google Email, Google Calendar可以三位一体。

    但我研究了一天也没找到一个办法：选定某个Google Contact后，把Conversation (Email) 和 Events一起按时间顺序列出来。我知道很多人用 Gmail 和 Gcal 做 Business Diary，针对一个Google Contact的history可以视不同情况分别记录到Gmail或Gcal，但如果能合并查看的话，将会方便很多。

  • Linksys Minimum Requirements

    因为要中长距离传输Wifi信号，我买了个F5D7132UK Belkin Range Extender，但它的稳定性实在令我失望，一天之内得重启无数次！我去调换了同型号的，仍是如此。没有办法，今天准备多花点钱买个贵一点的WRE54G Linksys Range Extender。

    我对Linksys没什么好感，一是因为以前买过一个Linksys ADSL Router，也不是很稳定（当然，还不至于一天要重启，否则我早就去退货了），后来升级了Router，那个Linksys Router就送人了。二是因为Linksys – A Division of Cisco，哈，我不喜欢的就是Cisco。Linksys想用Cisco来沾光？在我这里就没门咯。

    但是，在Range Extender领域，我可以挑选的范围非此即彼，所以我没得选择。

    在PCWorld我抓起WRE54G Linksys Range Extender又放下了，因为包装上写着：Minimum Requirements: Linksys WAP54G, WRT54G, WRT54GS，搞得我以为它只认自家的Router 或 AP。回家做了几下research，得知根本不是这么回事，可以兼容其它品牌。我想可能它在连接其它品牌的Router 或 AP可能需要一些额外的手动设置而已。

    搞不懂Linksys写这个Minimum Requirements什么意思！Nevertheless, I decided not to buy it. I will use other solution to extend my wifi network rather than using range extender.

  • Printer Server Should Be Called As USB Device Server

    公司有台超高级的复印机。我想把它的高速扫描功能用起来。

    但是，复印机没有网络接口，买一个原装的Network Kit附件被报了一个杀猪价，立马被我回绝；复印机边上也没计算机，用一根超长USB连接线也不现实。我想到用Wired / Wireless Printer Server，但看遍网上介绍都没有说Printer Server能否当Scanner Server用。此事就搁浅。

    今天去了一趟Currys，不经意中看到一款Wireless Printer Server，就拿起来仔细阅读包装上的说明，发现它完全支持Wireless Printing, Scanning, or Faxing。这样，一直以来都叫它Printer Server，是不是太委屈它了？

  • A Challenge of Address Book

    Today I got a call from someone I met 4 years ago at Canton Fair, but never met after that. He was a friend of my friend’s customer in Poland (complicated relationship, ehh?). My friend could not attend Canton Fair that year, so I escorted them, taking them to the fair, dinner, party, everywhere.

    We became friends but lost connection after that. I have difficulty to remember a foreigner’s name. I had his business card, but can not find it now. I knew it would happen. That was why I was desperate for an effective way to manage my address book.

    Unfortunately my Google Contacts was not built 4 years ago. I feel awful when I can not call his name.