I've got XenCenter 7 running a Ubuntu 14.04 x64 box headless/GUI-less with Seafile.

I was initially just testing Seafile but now I want to test further and move toward production use. I started with a 16GB single VD. Even with only light testing, I've already used up this space.

I shut down the VM and used Xen to expand the disk to 50GB, that worked fine.

Now I just can't figure out how to extend the partition in Ubuntu. Some various tutorials I've read just didn't work.

It would seem that because it's just one VD, and it's the system drive, that I have to completely delete the partition in order to extend it? I'm not sure about that.

Here is fdisk -l output:

Disk /dev/xvda: 53.7 GB, 53687091200 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 6527 cylinders, total 104857600 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0000a051

    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/xvda1            2048      499711      248832   83  Linux
/dev/xvda2          501758    33552383    16525313    5  Extended
/dev/xvda5          501760    33552383    16525312   8e  Linux LVM

Disk /dev/mapper/seafile--vg-root: 15.7 GB, 15699279872 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1908 cylinders, total 30662656 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/seafile--vg-root doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/mapper/seafile--vg-swap_1: 1195 MB, 1195376640 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 145 cylinders, total 2334720 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/mapper/seafile--vg-swap_1 doesn\'t contain a valid partition table

I have no idea why it's saying "doesn't contain a valid partition table". Nothing is making sense now.

At the top it says /dev/xvda is 53.7GB, this seems right since I changed the drive to 50GB. But the seafile--vg-root being 15.7GB is where the extra space needs to go.

I'm not sure if this can be expanded in place, or I have to delete and recreate it, or if it has to be done by booting to a recovery disk, etc.

/dev/xvda1 is ext2
/dev/xvda5 is LVM2_member
/dev/mapper/seafile--vg-root is ext4
/dev/mapper/seafile--vg-swap_1 is swap

Lastly, I was thinking maybe I should start over if I'm going to use in production and switch to CentOS7 instead of this old Ubuntu. If I wipe it all out, that kind of solves that problem, I can create my partitions differently too, or separate Seafile data on different VDs or something like that.

Found Alan Walker just recently. This song has become my 1yr old son's favorite. As soon as the music kicks in he's dancing and staring at it.

Youtube Video

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@guyinpv said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

RMM type tools do sound like what I'm looking for. It's just silly because doing MSP stuff is not what I'm trying to go in business for, I just want a way to help out my company for however many months I hang on to them.

I guess in my mind I thought I could just install some "cleaner" tools to keep the systems maintained. Install a little system monitor to send me email reports about various stats, and then a decent remote control app so I can hop in as needed.

It's almost like, all or nothing regarding this type of software, no middle ground.

Well sort of, I do need to give Comodo a test.

Kind of hard to imagine what a middle ground would be. If an app could do what you mention, you'd want it as an RMM tool. If it can't work as an RMM tool, it won't do enough for your needs. What you are doing with the one company here is acting as a traditional MSP and need a traditional MSP tool. You are doing "MSP Lite" but... not lite enough to make you not need a tool.

Sounds about right.

At worst if I just keep my remote log in options open and access to accounts/passwords, that should get me there, even if it means I have to bill more time.

I know about the TeamViewer issue, it even happened to me. I opened up the computer and there was a dialog box about the session being over. I couldn't find that anything had happened, everything was exactly as I had it, open programs, same window positions, no additional URLs in browser history, same email open etc.

I also use Remote Utilities but it's not as robust as TV. For example, RU will fail to connect or say the computer is offline, so I open TV instead and it gets right in.
I like RU, it has some cool abilities, but it keeps failing to connect for no reason I can find.

RMM type tools do sound like what I'm looking for. It's just silly because doing MSP stuff is not what I'm trying to go in business for, I just want a way to help out my company for however many months I hang on to them.

I guess in my mind I thought I could just install some "cleaner" tools to keep the systems maintained. Install a little system monitor to send me email reports about various stats, and then a decent remote control app so I can hop in as needed.

It's almost like, all or nothing regarding this type of software, no middle ground.

Well sort of, I do need to give Comodo a test.

@JaredBusch said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@guyinpv said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

That's a bit tough because different engagements will need different tools. A traditional MSP uses an RMM. But other kids of work normally do not.

Of course, but think of it as very informal. I'd rather get notified that the USB drive is out of space, then to find out months later it's not been doing backups for months.
That's kind of a bad example since our backup program itself can email reports, but you get the idea.

I'm just trying to do two things. 1) "know stuff" before someone calls me to report disasters. And 2) make it easier to work on the issue.
They are requesting a way to submit tickets.

The remote access and management of passwords is a bit tricky. And computer "maintenance" apps are really sketchy.

Atera for $79/month billed annually.
https://www.atera.com/pricing

I've heard of that one, and Comodo, almost had that one set up for testing some time ago.

I would just pass the costs along. If they want some kind of remote management and monitoring tools, it would cost $x a month plus some extra for the time it takes me to constantly have to read the reports and notices. I bet they would say no to that.

And that means, really the only tool that would be the most helpful is easy remote access. If I can remote in on a regular basis to do updates and clean things, as long as I can reconnect after restarts and such, be able to log the user in, etc, then I'm good with that.

Of all the tools I've tested, TeamViewer has been the most solid.

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

That's a bit tough because different engagements will need different tools. A traditional MSP uses an RMM. But other kids of work normally do not.

Of course, but think of it as very informal. I'd rather get notified that the USB drive is out of space, then to find out months later it's not been doing backups for months.
That's kind of a bad example since our backup program itself can email reports, but you get the idea.

I'm just trying to do two things. 1) "know stuff" before someone calls me to report disasters. And 2) make it easier to work on the issue.
They are requesting a way to submit tickets.

The remote access and management of passwords is a bit tricky. And computer "maintenance" apps are really sketchy.

@magroover said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

I don't know that we ever answered the matter of automation. I'm assuming the OP was looking for a god RMM tool?

I have been looking myself at what would be a fit for a small company like my current employer.

Thank you.

Yes the idea is:

1. Good tools for keeping systems running smooth. So paid copy of ccleaner maybe? Or some other "maintenance" tool that checks for updates and does some cache cleaning and such? It would be nice to force them to do a system restart at least once a week too.
2. Basic system monitoring where I could at least get an email over things like new programs that are installed, disk out of space, RAM filling up, or AV finding something.
3. Remote control (preferably for free, but I've found almost all free options to not be very robust).
4. Tickets for issues. Must be extremely non-tech friendly. As easy as sending an email, not having to have accounts to log in to to generate a ticket. Ideally this would be a ticket system I can use for my own business universally, not just something set up for this one company. I'm already connected to free Zoho, just haven't tested extensively. Also I use Freshdesk at work but it has some issues I don't like.
   I even wonder if I can use my Producteev project management/todo app for this. Like shuffle an email into a task.
5. Slack. The company already has a slack account, but so do I. Is it more appropriate for me to be a member of their domain, or to make them a member of mine as a business? If I add them to my network (or any/all clients) it keeps my Slack clean. But if I'm adding all my client's Slack domains, it makes me have to keep a crap load of accounts open all the time which is annoying.
6. Access to company data. Mainly I'm talking about things like passwords. I have all my accounts stored in either my own LastPass, or a KeyPass file. What's the best way to maintain access to accounts, while keeping it fully in their control? For example I guess I could keep the KP file in their Box account and get at it from there? I wouldn't want to run in to sync issues if too many people have access to such a file. Or I could keep my own KP file as a clone of theirs, and then they have to update me on all new password changes?
7. Billing. Once I go independent, I'll have to bill them and track my time. There are a million ways to do this. I already have been using NutCache for quite a long time for billing so I could keep using that. They can even pay the bill by clicking a link on the invoice.

These are not only concerns for managing the company I'm easing out of, but certainly these methods could be used for any new clients I start working with.

I'm a sucker for organizing data, and using apps and such. I just don't want a completely new toolbox for every company I work for. Standardizing on tools is pretty important.

@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:

In Romania, it's all like that. We get our eggs from the neighbour.

In America, you can't fart in public without some government oversight group creating rules and regulations and taxes. And some bottom feeder who can figure out how to sue you for doing it, and win.

@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:

@guyinpv said in Weekend Plans:

@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:

@guyinpv said in Weekend Plans:

I have to finish building a chicken run. Then put in about 6 hours of freelance work. Clean the car. Figure out what to do for 5 year anniversary in a week.

A chicken run! LOL

Not what I was expecting to hear.

We have 6 little chickens that do not like living in their cardboard box any more. We are probably not supposed to have them in the city here, but my daughter is crazy for them and maybe we can get some eggs before a rotten neighbor turns us in.

But the real question is, do I need an LLC for selling my eggs

I would... one person claims to get sick from an egg you sell them....

I wouldn't. I have no interest in destroying other peoples' lives or businesses over my own personal inconveniences.

I've had food poison from most restaurants and fast food joints at some point or another in my life.

But actually we aren't selling eggs, that's why we only got 6 of them. Just a fun little backyard experiment.

Or we lose the house cause frivolous lawsuits are still bloody expensive and drown us into homelessness and bankruptcy anyway?

@scottalanmiller said in Weekend Plans:

@guyinpv said in Weekend Plans:

I have to finish building a chicken run. Then put in about 6 hours of freelance work. Clean the car. Figure out what to do for 5 year anniversary in a week.

A chicken run! LOL

Not what I was expecting to hear.

We have 6 little chickens that do not like living in their cardboard box any more. We are probably not supposed to have them in the city here, but my daughter is crazy for them and maybe we can get some eggs before a rotten neighbor turns us in.

But the real question is, do I need an LLC for selling my eggs

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@guyinpv said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

I consider having a good business plan and a way to actually make money to be a top priority.

A business plan? That's just playing around. I'm serious. Sure, you need a business plan if you are in a high school business class or you are trying to make a pitch to an investor. But for running your own business? You are talking about wasting time with the most critical thing that there can be for a business, and then suggesting that a business plan is even worth doing? I'm so confused.

You're confused cause you have things backwards

I have to finish building a chicken run. Then put in about 6 hours of freelance work. Clean the car. Figure out what to do for 5 year anniversary in a week.

It's about $50 in Arizona.

Cost was not my concern. Just surprised to be pounced over it like it's the most important thing.

Everything is a risk, it's all risk. It's not russian roulette risk, it's not 1 in 6. Maybe not even one in one million? I don't know.

I consider having a good business plan and a way to actually make money to be a top priority. Not fuss over admin/legal work. Yes I know, it's not that hard to file, I'm just being difficult about it.

To be perfectly honest, I can't file one yet because I don't know if I'm going to keep my DBA. I created a name a couple years ago thinking I would stay in the IT business and try to do service work. But now I'm actually getting more opportunity with development and less IT.
Now I'm back to square one, trying to figure out exactly what my new undertaking is going to be, and whether I need a new name for it.

It would be like if you are a landscaper and then call yourself "Bob's Handiwork". I mean, "Handiwork" isn't exactly the same as landscaper, but it kinda can be, just not excited about it.

@Carnival-Boy said in Was It the Last IT Guys Fault:

Probably the main thing that puts me off moving jobs is that it means moving in to someone else's shit, which you then have to spend months, or even years, sorting out.

This is actually my favorite part.

If the new boss is open to upgrades and fixing everything up and implementing better documentation and records and stuff, it can be a lot of fun "restoring" the old thing, or "modernizing".

To me it has the same appeal as restoring a car or a run down house project or something. There is some enjoyment in tinkering everything back to life and putting on a fresh coat of paint and blowing out the dust. Plus there is just a lot of work to do, versus when everything is smooth and automated and you find yourself getting bored.

I just don't think of it as living on the wild side.

Again I'm not hosting people's data, no contracts, agreements. Most work is short term, jobs or tasks that I bill an hour or two or three through arbitration.

I'm also considering full time remote work, those steady jobs have their appeal.

I've done "side work" for a decade+ with no issues, usually word of mouth, normal human beings, not those scum bottom dwellers. But certainly as I consider ramping up my game, the LLC was always on the table, just didn't think of it as an immediate first thing. Too many people attempt to start businesses and then die immediate in too much administrative crap before actually doing any work or creating any product!
We need our business card, flyers, mailers, ads, website, we need lots of tech and services and trackers and reporters and a CPA and S Corp and a company car and and and and.....and then the business dies

I had this idea that I would focus on the core, actually making some money and finding good clients, and build the "businessy" stuff over time. I don't want to drown in startup costs and administration before I have a chance to deposit some cash!

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

Have you not been following this case?

https://www.channele2e.com/2017/02/06/can-you-get-arrested-for-turning-off-customer-it-services/

If you think your LLC doesn't matter, any client can claim ANYTHING they want and possibly send you to jail. Refuse to work for free when they stop paying... go directly to jail Mr. Unlimited Liability. Nothing to limit what they can claim that you are responsible for.

Something everybody says but I never see actually happen. And what does it have to do with LLC? I mean, if the customer wants to sue over their data or create some bogus lawsuit, it's not like he can just smile and be like, naaaaawww, I got my red and blue LLC suit on so I think I'll just relax at home instead!

Sole proprietorship is perfectly valid for a sole freelancer, and DBAs are perfectly valid for SPs to work under. OK so there is some risk, but I don't intend to create contracts, loans, legal agreements or whatever, with my clients. I'm not becoming a hosting company or storing peoples data or white-labeling services.
If I did ANY of that, then for sure.

I mean, if an LLC is cheap or doesn't take much to maintain, then no big deal, but working as a SP is also just fine in certain circumstances too.

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@guyinpv said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@IRJ said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

Why even create an LLC? Just see if you can stay on as a part time employee at the same rate of $20/hr. Even at $35/hr after taxes you'll be lucky to clear $20/hr

They decided that if I work less than 32hrs it would not be considered full time but part time, and they would want me to go independent at that point.

This is only taking one day off a week, or working a couple half days. It's not much but I can do this for a couple weeks just to help continue finding more business. Ultimately I'd like to work 20hrs if my freelance takes up the rest. But they can't keep on me on W-2 that way.

The problem that they are going to face at that rate is that it is going to take you almost no work coming in as a freelancer before you will just drop them. You should find them to be a problem, almost overnight, to keep servicing at that price. Make sure that any contract that you have allows you to drop them in a heartbeat. Because that's SO little money.

I'm sure I'll drop them eventually, or just keep them as a customer in my new business, sticking to the complicated stuff as needed, at my higher rates.

What I'm afraid of is if I go independent but they continue to demand me and my time and basically treat me like I'm still their staff. Obviously, they would not even be allowed to tell me what my hours should be, or when I am to show up or when I can leave. I absolutely refuse to be treated like staff if I'm working for myself!

As for rates and other stuff. I only have a DBA for a year and a half now. My business checking account is opened under that. This will be the first year I've made enough money to significantly change anything about my taxes just by working at night.

I normally do break/fix and random stuff for $40/hr but my freelance rates are $60-$100 or flat project-based.

There are a lot of questions. I have a home office with a designated room. I don't know what business deductions would look like at this point, or how much I'd make and how much overhead there is, none of it.

All I know is I've been here 6 years and there are no jobs in this town. I've got to run my own gig and do something with more opportunity.

If I go 1099 with my company, I would only be offering them "nice" rates as a friend. probably not $40 or $60 but the $30-$35 area sounds nice, unless my hours are cut back lower than 20, at which case I'll just bill them my full rate. I'm not sure how that will work out. They kind of need a full time nerd because nobody there can do computers.

I made 60% of my full time job take home pay just working nights and clocking 9 or 10 hours a week. I'm passing up opportunities to apply for remote work at $80/hr just because I'm still working full time. I'm avoiding looking for new clients because I just don't have the time for more projects. I already have a few clients in limbo due to time constraints.

The ultimate goal is to be able to double my income, or triple it! I need to work backwards how to get to that point. Liability isn't a huge concern, I doubt I'm getting sued any time soon because someone doesn't like the shade of blue I picked! I know it's important.

@IRJ said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

Why even create an LLC? Just see if you can stay on as a part time employee at the same rate of $20/hr. Even at $35/hr after taxes you'll be lucky to clear $20/hr

They decided that if I work less than 32hrs it would not be considered full time but part time, and they would want me to go independent at that point.

This is only taking one day off a week, or working a couple half days. It's not much but I can do this for a couple weeks just to help continue finding more business. Ultimately I'd like to work 20hrs if my freelance takes up the rest. But they can't keep on me on W-2 that way.

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@IRJ said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@scottalanmiller said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

@guyinpv said in Moving from full time to part time, what can I automate?:

Are you talking about incorporating or creating an LLC?

Creating an LLC is incorporating. It's one of several forms of that. Yes, some form of forming a proper business, otherwise, how will YOU get paid?

Not to mention that you could be sued for everything you have if you don't incorporate.

Yes, can't be overstated how important this step is.

That's not the advice I generally read online. Even if I'm a sole proprietor, which I would be, I can still get "sued for everything". So generally it's not to worry about until I really need the liability protection or start hiring people or whatever the case may be.

Which LLC are you suggesting for a freelancer? Surely I don't need to be a C corp for this?