Adapted from a Berkeley Guide, if you want to be able to SSH from unix or linux boxes (e.g. FreeBSD) without having to repeatedly put in the password, this guide will show you how to do that.

First step, on the client do the following:

mkdir -p ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh
ssh-keygen -t rsa


Have it use the default location (~/.ssh/id_rsa), and make sure there is no passkey. This creates a file containing the public key (id_rsa) and a file containing the private key (id_rsa.pub).

There should be one line of text in id_rsa.pub. Copy it to the server, putting it in ~/.ssh/authorized_keys2. Then execute this command:

chmod 600 authorized_keys2


That’s it! Now connection from the client to the server with this command

ssh server


If that doesn’t work (i.e. it prompts for your password), you may have to try a few things. On one box that I tried, it worked as above. On another, I had to do the following.

ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa server


If that works, add or create the file and insert these two lines to ~/.ssh/config

Host server
{tab}IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa


If you SSH as much as I do, this can save lots of time.

I have made a lateral and slightly upward career move from GiftTree as a Web Programmer to Dotster as a Software Engineer. I start on Monday. I updated my About page accordingly.

I finished my HTPC today, thanks to my father-in-law and my numerous consultants for their help. I said it was done awhile ago, but I didn’t include surround sound in that original assessment. So now it is DEFINITELY complete .

The setup involves, first and foremost, the computer: Apple Mac Mini, Intel Core Duo 1.66GHz, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD (base system).

Relevant software on the Mac is

• OS X latest version (currently 10.4.9)
• VideoLAN Client Media Player, plays all media types.
• Sofa Control, allowing system control from the Apple Remote.

Cost: $599 – 25% discount – $85 (thanks bro and person who traded me Best Buy gift card for Apple gift card) = $364 shipped.

Next, the TV: Samsung HL-S4666W 46″ DLP 720p HDTV

The Mac Mini is connected via VGA, and my XBoX 360 is connected via component cable. Price was $1000 shipped from Amazon.

Next, audio went from from the Mini to my AV Receiver via a Digital Optical Cable with Mini-TOSLINK adapter, like this one.

I was able to get the cable for $1 shipped from a nice guy over at [H]ard|Forum.

As far as the AV Receiver, I bought a JVC RX-6030VBK 5.1 on Craig’s List. Obviously, it was used, and it didn’t come with a remote, which I’m hoping won’t be a problem in the long run.

It was $70 local pickup.

Finally, I received 5 speakers and a subwoofer, hand-me-downs from my wife’s parents’ old broken surround sound setup. Their receiver and one speaker was broken, but everything else is fully functional. My living room came pre-wired for 5.1 surround sound. With my father-in-law’s help, I removed the set face plates and mounted the speakers to the wall. The speakers were free, so no complaints.

Overall price was $1435, and the setup sounds and looks awesome. There are plenty of pictures, and I’m sure there will be plenty more.

I was looking for a receiver for my HTPC setup, and I found one on Craig’s List, a JVC RX-6030VBK 5.1 receiver (link to manual). Then I bought a Digital Optical Cable with Mini-TOSLINK adapter (like this) to connect from the Mac Mini to the receiver. I was given 5 hand-me-down speakers that I’m going to connect to my pre-wired living room. The only thing I have left is a way to mount the speakers to the wall. I’ll buy something within a week to mount it, then the HTPC will be completed!

I haven’t touched my HTPC in awhile, I’ve been too busy using it, and loving it like mad.

The next and perhaps final addition to the HTPC will be an audio receiver to transmit to my 5.1 wired living room. I’ve been consulting and doing some research and am now in the purchase mode. I hope to have the 5.1 setup within a week.