GOOD extensions for Firefox 3

Have been migrating my favourite browser Mozilla Firefox from version to 2 to version 3 weeks ago. It seem to be more features and 'upgrades' from the earlier version but the most headache thing is that many of the extensions I used is not compatible with this version yet!

In order to optimize the usage of this version, I had found some good extensions that can be used with Firefox 3.0.

1. Googlepedia

Shows you a relevant Wikipedia article along with your search results. Clicking links in the article will trigger new Google searches, making it a very useful research tool...

This is a good extensions for those who always seek for Uncle Google on their research especially thru Wikipedia.

2. FoxMark Bookmark Synchronizer

If you use Firefox on more than one computer, you'll want Foxmarks. Install Foxmarks on each computer, and it will work silently in the background to keep your bookmarks synchronized. You can also log in to my.foxmarks.com to manage your bookmarks from any computer.

3. FireFTP

FireFTP is a free, secure, cross-platform FTP client for Mozilla Firefox which provides easy and intuitive access to FTP servers.

4. IE Tab

IE Tab is an extension for the Mozilla Firefox, Flock and SeaMonkey web browsers. IE Tab allows users to view pages using the Internet Explorer rendering engine from within Firefox. This may be useful for viewing pages that only work in Internet Explorer (e.g. Windows Update) without exiting Firefox. Pages viewed through the IE Tab extension will be recorded in Internet Explorer's history, cache, and so on, as if they had been viewed directly in Internet Explorer. It appears to function by calling the installed version of Internet Explorer on the user's computer, and then running the output within a tab in Firefox.

5. Scrapbook

ScrapBook is a Firefox extension, which helps you to save Web pages and manage the collection. Key features are lightness, speed, accuracy and multi-language support. Major features are:  Save Web page, save snippet of Web page, save Web site (In-depth Capture)  etc.

6. MeasureIt

Draw a ruler across any webpage to check the width, height, or alignment of page elements in pixels.

7. GSpace 

Gmail gives you nearly 7 GB of free storage. With Gspace, you can turn some or all of that into free online storage of files that you can access from anywhere.

8. FlagFox

See a flag in the status bar that tells you what country the server is in for the website you are on. You can then look up more detailed information on the server, giving you some extra security in case the site is a fake

9. Broadband Speed Test and Diagnosis

This extension includes a set of tools for broadband users. It can measure the bandwidth of Internet connections and perform diagnostic tests (connectivity, ping and traceroute etc).

10. Facebook Toolbar

The Facebook Toolbar for Firefox is a free extension for Firefox that lets you extend your Facebook experience into your everyday browsing.

11. Google Preview

Inserts preview images (thumbnails) of web sites into the Google and Yahoo search results pages.

12. Webmail Notifier

Get notifications of new email in your status bar for services such as Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail and more.

13. Reload Every

The Reload Every extension adds an option to the context menu (the menu you obtain by right clicking on the web page you're currently viewing) to reload the web page you are viewing every so many seconds or minutes. You can also access reload every by using the dropdown menu next to the reload button on the toolbar  This can be handy if you have a page with for example sports scores, news or stock quotes and want to refresh them automatically.

14. Color Zilla

An extremely handy tool for Web developers to let them see the RGB and Hex values of any color on a Web page.

15.  PDF Download

PDF Download relieves the pain experienced when encountering PDF files on the Web. Whenever you click on a PDF file, PDF Download lets you know before trying to open it, and then offers you choices such as downloading, opening, or converting it straight to HTML.

16. Meebo

Instant messaging across all major IM networks like MSN, Yahoo!, Goole Talk etc. built right into Firefox.

"nslookup" Command

The nslookup command can be used in Windows and Unix-based to find various information related to DNS ( Domain Name Server ) including the IP addresses, MX records for a domain or the NS Servers of a domain.

1. To look up the reverse for an IP address :

C:\>nslookup
Default Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

> set q=a
> 203.158.28.18
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Name:    cdns1.bizsurf.net
Address:  203.158.28.18

>

2. To make query using another server :

> server 202.188.1.5
Default Server:  [202.188.1.5]
Address:  202.188.1.5

> www.justk2.com
Server:  [202.188.1.5]
Address:  202.188.1.5

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    justk2.com
Address:  202.75.41.193
Aliases:  www.justk2.com

>

3. To look up the forward for a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) address :

> set q=a

> www.justk2.com
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    justk2.com
Address:  202.75.41.193
Aliases:  www.justk2.com

>

4. To look up the Server of Authority (SOA) record :

> set q=soa
> justk2.com
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Non-authoritative answer:
justk2.com
        primary name server = ns1.everydns.net
        responsible mail addr = hostmaster.justk2.com
        serial  = 1214570007
        refresh = 3600 (1 hour)
        retry   = 900 (15 mins)
        expire  = 1209600 (14 days)
        default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
>

5. To look up the Mail Exchanger (MX) record :

> set q=mx
> justk2.com
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Non-authoritative answer:
justk2.com      MX preference = 5, mail exchanger = mail.justk2.com
justk2.com      MX preference = 50, mail exchanger = bkpmail.localdns.com

bkpmail.localdns.com    internet address = 202.75.41.58
mail.justk2.com internet address = 202.190.203.180
>

6. To look up all records for a particular FQDN address :

> set q=any
> justk2.com
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Non-authoritative answer:
justk2.com
        primary name server = ns1.everydns.net
        responsible mail addr = hostmaster.justk2.com
        serial  = 1214570007
        refresh = 3600 (1 hour)
        retry   = 900 (15 mins)
        expire  = 1209600 (14 days)
        default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
>

7. To look up what name server handles the reverse for a particular class network ( i.e. 202.75.41.* ) :

> set q=any
> 41.75.202.in-addr.arpa
Server:  cns3.tm.net.my
Address:  202.188.0.133

Non-authoritative answer:
41.75.202.in-addr.arpa  nameserver = ns02.myloca.com
41.75.202.in-addr.arpa  nameserver = ns01.myloca.com

41.75.202.in-addr.arpa  nameserver = ns02.myloca.com
41.75.202.in-addr.arpa  nameserver = ns01.myloca.com
ns02.myloca.com internet address = 202.75.34.2
ns01.myloca.com internet address = 202.75.34.1
>

The Father of Spam

Do you know the guy below ? Probably almost all of us ( or should I says none of us ) know who he is? But he had be an important people in IT networking world.

Gary Thuerk, he was the FIRST SPAMMER in the world. On the 3rd May 1978, he sent out the first spam over the network of government and university computers known as the ARPAnet. A marketing manager for Digital Equipment Corp., he wanted to publicize open houses in Los Angeles and San Mateo where the company's latest computers would be unveiled. There are several thousands of scientists in ARPAnet and he want to invite all of them!

Read more from...

Reaction to the DEC Spam of 1978 ,

The Father of Spam

Network Attached Storage

Network Attached Storage, also known as NAS, is a file-level computer data storage that connected to a network and providing data access to data clients.

The NAS is solely a computer that connected to a network with own installed stripped down and minimal operating system. The unit is oftenly not and unable to carry out other functionalities as other computer may have. NAS unit normally do not have keyboard+mouse and display, it is controlled and managed over network by using web-based browsing.

NAS uses file-based protocol i.e. NFS ( Sun Network File System ) on linux system or SMB ( Server Message Block ) on windows-based system. NAS units rarely limit clients to a single protocol.

More info on NAS : http://compnetworking.about.com/od/itinformationtechnology/l/aa070101a.htm

The benefit of using NAS

Availability of data might potentially be increased with NAS if it provides built-in RAID and clustering.

Performance can be increased by NAS because the file serving is done by the NAS and not done by a server responsible for also doing other processing. The performance of NAS devices, though, depends heavily on the speed of and traffic on the network and on the amount of cache memory (RAM) on the NAS computers or devices.

Buffalo

The Buffalo network-attached storage series are network-attached storage devices sold around the world, for example by US, European and Japanese computer retailers, and have been reviewed by the computer press. They can be modified into miniature general purpose Linux-based computers. The LinkStation and TeraStation are intended for the general public, while the Kuro Box is intended for expert hackers as a cheap platform for Linux development.

<-- Click me

One of it famous product is Buffalo TeraStation.

List of NAS manufacturers

My experience on Buffalo....

"I used this product once for my office, the system was CRASHED and the RAID system was failed. Suppose by using RAID5, it should be able to recover the lost data from the redundant hard disk but the worst thing was the data inside was TOTALLY LOST and the support told me, it is unable to recover....damm!"

Ever since that, I have lost my confidence on this product and the support as well.

Just found out an open source NAS system...think gonna get a computer and try it on. Be back on the configuration steps and the experience once I had tried it....

[Update: 21st July] Click here, to find out more on how to build your own Network Attached Storage

Build you own SIP server : Asterisk

With these applications, you can configure your own IP PBX easily at office, or even at your own house! It is easier than you think~

Trixbox

It has FREEWARE! Now you no need to know and crack your head to figure out how to look into MANY MANY config files in linux...it is all GUI, for standard feature if you are looking for.

http://www.trixbox.org

AsteriskNOW

This is another open source freeware that just came across, an open source that built up with customized linux distributions that includes Asterisk! AsteriskNOW is much more easier than Trixbox, you can create your own voice sip server within a day! Easy to install, and offer flexibility, functionality...but it is not advanced type. If you are looking for some 'great' features, then it is not suitable for you.

http://www.asterisknow.org

If you are looking for Analog FXO/FXS Gateway ( What is FXO & FXS ? ), maybe you can try Digium or Planet for home user. Definately, you may go for Cisco as well...