iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations is in the works for Linux!

Quote from iRacing.com forums by staff member Steve Myers:

 "Some of you may be happy to know that we have been working on porting iRacing to run on Mac and Linux. By rough estimates Apple and Linux make up between 15% - 25% of the market space and as far as we can tell nothing like iRacing exists on those platforms. We are actually far enough along with this project that we have our first build to test. This is exciting for iRacing because we could see a nice jump in members with this port.

 If you are a Mac or Linux user and want to get involved with testing we would appreciate the help. Please email chris.weidner@iracing.com with your system specifications and what controllers you have for these systems and he will get back to you if we would like your help."

Quote from iRacing.com forums by staff member Chris Weidner:

 "Thanks for the huge response to Mac / Linux testing. I've chosen the ones that I'd like to help us test and will be emailing you soon to get you started."

 What is iRacing?

 We are the world’s premier PC-based motorsports racing simulation. An iRacing.com membership provides entry into the newest form of competitive motorsport: internet racing. Internet racing is a fun, easy, and inexpensive way for race fans, sim racers and gamers alike to enjoy the thrill of the racetrack from the comfort of their home.

 We are the ultimate place to go racing online. From NASCAR, to IndyCar, GRAND-AM, Aussie V-8 Supercars to sports cars and Grand Prix racing, iRacing has it all. All you need is a PC, a gaming wheel or game pad that simply plugs into the USB port of your computer and an Internet connection. iRacing organizes all of the racing for you with over 40 official series , or you can choose to host your own race or race in one of over 400 private leagues.

My Notes: Install, Configure, Set as Default, and Restart BASH session on OpenBSD.

1.) Install binary package:

    # pkg_add -i -v bash



2.) Find BASH path: 

    # which bash

Output:

    /usr/local/bin/bash



3.) Set your user shell to BASH:

    # chsh -s /usr/local/bin/bash monsterb

Set root shell to BASH:

    # chsh -s /usr/local/bin/bash root



4.) To customize your BASH prompt add this line to .profile:

    PS1="\u@\h:\w$ "; export PS1



5.) Restart BASH session for changes to take effect:

    $ . .profile

Get your external IP address from the command line.

This one is from BSDGurl. Dependencies: curl,wget

$ wget -q -O - checkip.dyndns.org|sed -e 's/.*Current IP Address: //' -e 's/<.*$//'

These two are from Aaron B. The first one (ftp -V -o - http://ip.qbit.io) works with base OpenBSD and FreeBSD with zero external dependencies! The second one needs 'curl'.

$ ftp -V -o - http://ip.qbit.io

and

$ curl ifconfig.me

You can find a few more at http://www.commandlinefu.com/commands/view/5427/get-your-external-ip-address

My Notes: Installing and using APCUPSD on OpenBSD 5.2

Things I learned on OpenBSD 5.2:

1.) Install binary package(s).
2.) Configure Apcupsd.
3.) Start daemon at boot time.

 I purchased a "Uninterruptible Power Supply" to protect my modem, router, and server from power source failure (protects connected loads from surges, spikes, lightning, and other power disturbances). I found a great deal on the "APC Back-UPS ES 550MC". Setting it up on OpenBSD 5.2 is drop dead simple. All you need is Apcupsd (a daemon for controlling APC UPSes).



1.) Install Apcupsd:

# pkg_add apcupsd

 

2.)  Configure /etc/apcupsd/apcupsd.conf:

 Now it's time to edit the config file. Use your editor of choice and load up /etc/apcupsd/apcupsd.conf. My editor of choice is nano.

# nano /etc/apcupsd/apcupsd.conf

 Scroll down to the "UPSCABLE <cable>" section and define the type of cable connecting the UPS to your computer. I use "usb" for my model. Most new Uniterruptible Power Supplies are USB.

UPSCABLE usb

 Comment from acupsd.conf: "To get apcupsd to work, in addition to defining the cable above, you must also define a UPSTYPE, which corresponds to the type of UPS you have (see the Description for more details). You must also specify a DEVICE, sometimes referred to as a port. For USB UPSes, please leave the DEVICE directive blank. For other UPS types, you must specify an appropriate port or address." 
 Scroll down to UPSTYPE and change it to the appropriate port or address. The choices are usb, net, snmp, netsnmp, dumb, and pcnet. Once again mine is usb.

UPSTYPE usb
DEVICE

 

3.) Start Acpupsd:

# apcupsctl start

 

4.) Edit /etc/rc.local so that the apcupsd service will start when the system starts up. In the rc.local file add the following:

if [ -x /usr/local/sbin/apcupsd ]; then
        echo 'Starting apcupsd'; /usr/local/sbin/apcupsd
fi
 

 

5.) Documentation, Commands, and Monitoring:

 To monitor the events of your UPS you should enter (in a separate terminal) the command ( tail -f /var/log/apcupsd.events ) and you may watch what is going on:

# tail -f /var/log/apcupsd.events
2013-02-16 17:18:15 -0600  apcupsd 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) openbsd startup succeeded

Ctrl-C to exit tail.


You can also check /var/log/apcupsd.events:

# cat /var/log/apcupsd.events


2013-02-16 17:18:15 -0600  apcupsd 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) openbsd startup succeeded

 Type "apc" and hit Tab key twice and you will see the Apcupsd commands. Four commands should be listed (apcaccess, apctest, apcupsctl, and apcupsd):

# apc
apcaccess  apctest  apcupsctl apcupsd

 "apcaccess" is a program that permits you to print out the complete status of your UPS. Take a look at the apcaccess output of my APC Back-UPS ES 550MC:

# apcaccess
APC      : 001,034,0884
DATE     : 2013-02-16 21:02:53 -0600 
HOSTNAME : puffy.my.domain
VERSION  : 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) openbsd
UPSNAME  : puffy.my.domain
CABLE    : USB Cable
DRIVER   : USB UPS Driver
UPSMODE  : Stand Alone
STARTTIME: 2013-02-16 17:18:13 -0600 
MODEL    : Back-UPS ES 550MC
STATUS   : ONLINE
LINEV    : 121.0 Volts
LOADPCT  :   8.0 Percent Load Capacity
BCHARGE  : 100.0 Percent
TIMELEFT :  31.4 Minutes
MBATTCHG : 5 Percent
MINTIMEL : 3 Minutes
MAXTIME  : 0 Seconds
SENSE    : Medium
LOTRANS  : 092.0 Volts
HITRANS  : 139.0 Volts
ALARMDEL : 30 seconds
BATTV    : 13.5 Volts
LASTXFER : No transfers since turnon
NUMXFERS : 0
TONBATT  : 0 seconds
CUMONBATT: 0 seconds
XOFFBATT : N/A
STATFLAG : 0x07000008 Status Flag
SERIALNO : 3B1020X12871 
BATTDATE : 2010-05-11
NOMINV   : 120 Volts
NOMBATTV :  12.0 Volts
FIRMWARE : 885.K1 .D USB FW:K1
END APC  : 2013-02-16 21:03:35 -0600
# 
 

 "apctest" is a program that allows you to talk directly to your UPS and run certain low-level tests, display all know values from the UPS's EEPROM, perform a battery runtime calibration, program the EEPROM (serial connection only), and enter in TTY mode with the UPS. You have to stop Apcupsd before running apctest ( apcupsctl stop ):

# apcupsctl stop
Stopping apcupsd power management  Done.

#apctest                                                                                                                                                                                                  
2013-02-16 21:30:50 apctest 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) openbsd
Checking configuration ...
Attached to driver: usb
sharenet.type = Network & ShareUPS Disabled
cable.type = USB Cable
mode.type = USB UPS Driver
Setting up the port ...
Doing prep_device() ...

You are using a USB cable type, so I'm entering USB test mode
Hello, this is the apcupsd Cable Test program.
This part of apctest is for testing USB UPSes.

Getting UPS capabilities...SUCCESS

Please select the function you want to perform.

1)  Test kill UPS power
2)  Perform self-test
3)  Read last self-test result
4)  View/Change battery date
5)  View manufacturing date
6)  View/Change alarm behavior
7)  View/Change sensitivity
8)  View/Change low transfer voltage
9)  View/Change high transfer voltage
10) Perform battery calibration
11) Test alarm
12) View/Change self-test interval
 Q) Quit

Select function number:

monsterb's Famous Quad Bean Salad

 Here is my fast and easy way to make four bean salad.

Ingredients:

1 (15-oz) can dark red kidney beans

1 (15-oz) can cut green beans

1 (15-oz) can cut golden wax beans

1 (15-oz) can chickpea/garbanzo beans

1/2 cup whole black pitted olives

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup vegetable or corn oil

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons Greek seasoning

Directions:

1.) In a medium to large bowl add all the beans, black olives, and red bell pepper.

2.) In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and Greek seasoning. Pour over bean mixture and cover. Chill for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

 Warning! This bean salad will attract cats.