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Finally! The QuickGPS Fix!

Stargazer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:46:29 +0000

I am not sure if I may believe my eyes, but since I was ranting about TomTom not delivering the QuickGPS fix back in 2008 and about a year later, they finally did it: the QuickGPS Fix for my TomTom Rider II is out – it just showed up at the list of updates to be applied.

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AC/DC in Wels

Stargazer — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:33:37 +0000

Saturday was a big day – in fact it was THE big day, as it was the day when AC/DC performed in Wels (Austria). I have to admit, I have never seen a place that muddy – but to be hones – even a hailstorm couldn’t wreck the feeling at the concert as they played Thunderstruck.

Multitasking

Stargazer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:08:22 +0000

Out for hunting

Stargazer — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:40:15 +0000

You know, it is hunting season and it is wonderful weather. As I am doing reenactment of the medieval scene, perfect weather to step out for a hunting trip. But regarding the financial crisis, my budget is cut down so I cannot afford an eagle to go on a hunting trip. But I am always a creative mind. Birds are birds, isn’t that the case?

No animals were harmed.

29

Stargazer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:43:22 +0000

Another year has passed by and I grew older again, closer to the 30th birthday. Glad that getting older happens just once a year, although such days are always great fun!

Messing around with an eToken

Stargazer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:13:03 +0000

Security is a very nice topic – especially if you are allowed to mess with them (or even break them). Today’s toy is an eToken by Aladdin.

Looking at it, you might mistake it for an USB Stick, but nevertheless – let’s plug it in and see what ‘lsusb’ might tell:

Bus 003 Device 003: ID 0529:0600 Aladdin Knowledge Systems eToken Pro 64k (4.2)

usb 3-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 2
usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0529, idProduct=0600
usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
usb 3-1: Product: Token 4.28.1.0 2.7.195
usb 3-1: Manufacturer: Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd.
usb 3-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

The Token itself is – as far as I know – a SmartCard and a Reader packed together into one device. A good reason to install OpenSC, the SmartCard tools for Linux:

[ebuild N ] sys-apps/pcsc-lite-1.5.5 USE=”hal usb -static”
[ebuild N ] dev-libs/openct-0.6.17 USE=”pcsc-lite usb -doc”
[ebuild N ] dev-libs/opensc-0.11.9 USE=”nsplugin openct pcsc-lite -doc”

As soon as this has happened, it is time to launch the services and see if we can read some data from our unknown device:

# opensc-tool -l
[opensc-tool] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[opensc-tool] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
Readers known about:
Nr. Driver Name
0 openct Aladdin eToken PRO 64k
1 openct OpenCT reader (detached)

The sweet thing is, that we got something like a result – disregarding the error message so far. So let’s start by clearing the Token and doing a plain initialization:

# pkcs15-init -E
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
Using reader with a card: Aladdin eToken PRO 64k

I doubt that this worked, but I am an optimist. For checking the result I will try to generate a X.509 Certificate on the token. If I can read it again, things worked:

# pkcs15-init -r 0 –erase-card –create-pkcs15 –no-so-pin –label ‘Stargazers’
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found

No message so far. What now? Well – let’s check:

# opensc-tool -r 0 -f
[opensc-tool] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[opensc-tool] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
3f00 type: DF, size: 1024
select[N/A] lock[NONE] delete[NONE] create[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] list[N/A] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00:67:8C

3f005015 [\xA0\x00\x00\x00cPKCS-15] type: DF, size: 4096
select[N/A] lock[NEVR] delete[NONE] create[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] list[N/A] sec: 00:FF:00:00:00:00:FF:00:00
prop: 00:67:8C

3f0050154401 type: wEF, ef structure: transpnt, size: 256
read[NONE] update[NONE] erase[NONE] write[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00

00000000: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000030: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000090: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
3f0050155031 type: wEF, ef structure: transpnt, size: 256
read[NONE] update[NONE] erase[NONE] write[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00

00000000: A8 0A 30 08 04 06 3F 00 50 15 44 01 00 00 00 00 ..0…?.P.D…..
00000010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000030: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000080: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
00000090: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000D0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000E0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
000000F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 …………….
3f0050155032 type: wEF, ef structure: transpnt, size: 62
read[NONE] update[NONE] erase[NONE] write[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00

00000000: 30 3C 02 01 00 04 06 27 92 7A 13 21 2C 0C 0E 4F 0<.....'.z.!,..O
00000010: 70 65 6E 53 43 20 50 72 6F 6A 65 63 74 80 0A 53 penSC Project..S
00000020: 74 61 72 67 61 7A 65 72 73 03 02 04 10 85 0F 32 targazers......2
00000030: 30 30 39 30 39 32 30 31 35 33 37 32 32 5A 0090920153722Z
3f0050154946 type: wEF, ef structure: transpnt, size: 128
read[NONE] update[NONE] erase[NONE] write[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00

00000000: 01 06 70 6B 63 73 31 35 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..pkcs15........
00000010: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000030: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
3f002f00 type: wEF, ef structure: transpnt, size: 128
read[NONE] update[NONE] erase[NONE] write[NONE] rehab[NONE] inval[NONE] sec: 00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00:00
prop: 00

00000000: 61 20 4F 0C A0 00 00 00 63 50 4B 43 53 2D 31 35 a O.....cPKCS-15
00000010: 50 0A 53 74 61 72 67 61 7A 65 72 73 51 04 3F 00 P.StargazersQ.?.
00000020: 50 15 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 P...............
00000030: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000040: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
00000070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

The test showed a ton of data on the token. So I continue by adding PIN and PUK:

# pkcs15-init -r 0 –store-pin –label ‘Stargazers PIN’ –auth-id 01
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
New User PIN.
Please enter User PIN:
Please type again to verify:
Unblock Code for New User PIN (Optional – press return for no PIN).
Please enter User unblocking PIN (PUK):
Please type again to verify:

Correct me if I am wrong, but what I did was generating a PKCS#15 structure with PIN/PUK – the basics for doing the first certificate which will be the next thing to do:

# pkcs15-init -r 0 –generate-key ‘rsa/1024′ –auth-id 01 –label ‘StarKey 01′ –public-key-label ‘Public StarKey 01′ –split-key
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-init] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
User PIN required.
Please enter User PIN:

The only familiar thing here is the error message but as soon as the PIN is accepted I am able to relax and check. This doesn’t happen without the mandatory error message – but see for yourself:

# pkcs15-tool –reader 0 –list-pins
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
PIN [Stargazers PIN]
Com. Flags: 0×3
ID : 01
Flags : [0x32], local, initialized, needs-padding
Length : min_len:4, max_len:8, stored_len:8
Pad char : 0×00
Reference : 1
Type : ascii-numeric
Path : 3f005015

# pkcs15-tool –reader 0 –list-keys
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
Private RSA Key [StarKey 01]
Com. Flags : 3
Usage : [0x4], sign
Access Flags: [0x1D], sensitive, alwaysSensitive, neverExtract, local
ModLength : 1024
Key ref : 16
Native : yes
Path : 3f005015
Auth ID : 01
ID : 45

# pkcs15-tool –reader 0 –list-public-keys
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:906:pcsc_detect_readers: SCardEstablishContext failed: 0x8010001d
[pkcs15-tool] reader-pcsc.c:1015:pcsc_detect_readers: returning with: No readers found
Public RSA Key [Public StarKey 01]
Com. Flags : 2
Usage : [0x4], sign
Access Flags: [0x0]
ModLength : 1024
Key ref : 0
Native : no
Path : 3f0050153048
Auth ID :
ID : 45

As far as I can see, things worked and I should continue thinking about Authentication and saving stuff on the Token. But that’s a topic for a different day.

This is getting awkward

Stargazer — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:11:19 +0000

Quite some time passed by since I ranted about the missing quick-gps-fix for the TomTom Rider and I was about to forget about that missing feature. But as it seems, it’s us bikers again who are ignored again. Isn’t that an unkind behavior? Maybe time to look for alternatives that survive driving in the rain?

If you return from traveling

Stargazer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:16:52 +0000

Sometimes life sucks. Especially if it hurts: I was about to do a trip to Hamburg to see an old friend again. For keeping things simple I have decided to go by car which would grant me some more freedom.

But due to various things I was able do depart quite late in the evening. But that wasn’t the worst issue. Just as cruising along the highway a yellow light showed up stating a ‘general motor failure’. So I did a POI Search for the next garage.

To be sure to do the right thing I got me the manual of my car and read the passage about the warning lights again which told me that I shouldn’t drive any further. As it’s already past midnight and there was nearly no traffic on the road I decided to push my car. 12 Kilometers – not a big deal but better than waiting.

Hours and Kilometers passed by and I arrived at the gates of the garage but as it was quite soon they were still closed. So I had to wait. If I would have known the answer which was that they weren’t able to help me. But at least I got a new address to push my car to. As I arrived at the next garage the salesman explained me, that I wouldn’t have to push the car as it’s got an emergency program which prevents damage to the engine and it would be possible to drive across a longer distance doing so…

The car gets hooked up to the computer and the diagnostics don’t find a clue except for an entry in the log which gets cleared.

Then I could move on after paying 50 bucks for the service. Slightly pissed I kicked down the pedal to hit the same problem just a few kilometers later.

As it’s already daytime I started by putting on my safety vest. Next step: breakdown triangle and some phone calls.

The car blinked and I had some time to look around me. There was a small parking area and – may it be my lucky day? – a car stopped just as I was preparing the car for being pulled away.

A man got out of that car, looking at me, turning away and walking to a tree for using it as a toilet. Then he drove away again. Some hundred cars passed by – a few ones stopped… but nobody asked if I could need some help. And they did notice me as everybody passing by turned his head. It’s our greedy and selfish society giving their best.

About an hour later I was being pulled to the next garage and my vacation could start at Mixter’s while the car’s being fixed. Two days later I got my car back and I was happy to be able to go back home. I could already feel my bed at home. But that dream ended just 28,7 km later as that damn yellow light showed up again.

As I already know the steps to take, the vest, the triangle… fed up with all that problems I called the Citroen emergency service who sent me someone to tow the car. Hours passed by and nobody cared – same procedure as everytime. The service guys finally called back to give me a status report which wasn’t quite amusing.

They offered me a hotel and a car – but they’d need a credit card number. So I thankfully refused and went on by foot until I was picked up again…

Some days later I got my car back again. The error description was quite fascinating: The plug at the high pressure pump was damaged.

Next time I’d go by plane. Promised.

Statistics

Stargazer — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:29:36 +0000

As I am watching the numbers on my blog, I realize that I have written quite many postings. 684, including the one you’re currently reading. Those postings caused 1797 comments. A huge number, if you’d ask me. But if you don’t believe me, feel free to start counting…

Is eBay cutting the ground under their feet?

Stargazer — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:48:58 +0000

Since my server move is now completed, I even had some time to sort out my hardware and got a some components which are not needed anymore although in a good shape. So why not selling them on eBay? Well – this is an article found on heise.de:

… Ebenfalls ab Mitte Juni müssen Verkäufer von Artikeln, die in eine von 26 Produktkategorien fallen, kostenlosen Versand nach Deutschland anbieten. Bei den Kategorien handelt es sich um Zubehörartikel wie USB-Sticks oder Fernbedienungen. eBay begründet die Maßnahme damit, dass zu hohe Versandkosten für viele Käufer der häufigste Grund seien, doch nicht online einzukaufen …

The quote says that eBay germany doesn’t permit shipping costs on 26 product categories for making prices more attractive to people. This makes me think as it soon might be cheaper throwing such parts away instead of selling them on eBay…