splee.blog

I’m still having issues with lighttpd on my server. Apache2 is serving pages well, but I don’t have PHP5, nor do I have the increased speed of page generation.

The only thing that is holding me back is the rewrite rules for wordpress. I can bodge them so that the server displays pages to browsers, but the server actually returns a 404 error in the headers. This means that any software that actually acts on those headers, rather than just waiting for the connection to close and displaying the output, is broken. This includes quite a few feed readers.

“Why not just stick with Apache!?”

I can hear the cries now (the force is strong with this one). Well, the main reason is this: Because I don’t have to. I have the power to switch server software and, because I like to take things apart, fiddle around, then wonder why it doesn’t work quite as well as it used to, I’m going to use that power. The real benefits are mainly in page generation time and memory footprint.

Because I’m on a virtual server (multiple servers that act like a single machine on a single piece of hardware) memory constraints are fairly absolute. Using swap is a no-no and the server will simply stop spawning processes. Using lighttpd I can have an extra 10 - 25 mb of RAM free over Apache. Also, the page generation is around 1/3rd that of Apache, even under heavy load.

As soon as I get this rewrite rule thing sorted I’m going to write a Howto document for those who don’t wish to struggle through the issues and hassles as I have.

I’ve seen it before but it still makes me chuckle: Proof that girls are evil!

Gratuitously theived from ColRonRay

I’ve got a little problem with my feeds at the moment (actually it’s the whole site, but you won’t notice it normally). I’m on the case, but I don’t know when I’ll have it fixed. Sorry to deprive you feed readers. :)

Update: I’ve kinda fixed the issue, for now at least, by switching back to lumbering ole memory hog, Apache2.

This weekend is going to be a busy one. Tonight is going to require large amounts of drunken debauchery as it’s a friends birthday. We’ll be going to the best (read: only) club in town and drink the bar dry.

Tomorrow I have an early start to get into London for the O2 Wireless Festival. Basement Jaxx are playing along with Roots Manuva, the two sole reasons for going. It’s going to be a blast and I’m sure more alcohol will pass my lips than is healthy.

Sunday, I’ll be recovering. Playing WoW and maybe taking a look at Brody’s theme template.

I don’t care who you are, that’s a pretty action packed weekend.

Oh my word, I’m so glad we had air-con installed at the office over the winter period. The building I work in was, I’m sure, designed in such a way as to bake it’s occupants and provide the architect with an evil chuckle every time he drove by.

Of course, since the inauguration of the new system, the building temperature hasn’t been an issue but the temperature outside didn’t make you think about air-con at all. It just sat, quietly humming in the background while taking the lions share of the moisture and heat out of the air.

Now the weather has turned itself up a notch or two you can really tell just how well it’s regulating the temperature. When I walked out of the office to go and get my lunch I was confronted by a wall of heat.

It reminded me very much of when I was a little tike and the family went to Orlando, Florida for our summer hols. Walking out of the airport was like walking into a massive oven. I remember literally gasping for breath at the sudden temperature change as my lungs screamed “ow, ow it’s hot”!

On the downside, I have noticed that my skin is drier, and I’ve heard that air-con can do this. However, slightly dry skin is a) a girlie thing to be worried about and b) not in the slightest a reason to sit in the swealtering heat getting hot, bothered and sweaty for the entire day.

If it means Nivea for Men get more money out of me I’ll gladly pay the price.

MIT are running a weblog survey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and it is… interesting.

It seems that I am, more or less, a “normal” blogger. Most of my answers were in the normal distribution, bar one or two. Give it a go, help em out and possibly learn about your blogging practices in relation to everyone else who’s taken the survey.

Via Owen