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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 13, 2022 19:41:23 GMT -5
The computer issues are simplified by the following factoid - The Mac mini to run Roon is a one-trick-pony machine that is not needed for any other purpose. It’s ONLY function will only be to run Roon.
The “business Mac” in another room runs MS Office and Adobe Photoshop. The Roon machine is not connected to iCloud and is essentially isolated from all other connections that might interfere with Roon. The four USB ports are occupied as follows:
USB 1 - External 2TB HDD with Roon’s music library
USB 2 - “Speaker” output to DAC
USB 3 - Open for whenever the Umik-1 microphone is needed for REW
USB 4 - trackball for machine (keyboard is Bluetooth)
Boom
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Post by leonski on Jun 13, 2022 19:53:52 GMT -5
I just had an 'out of the box' moment. While what I see, above, about Adobe IS sort of off-putting, there IS one more place to check..... I'd call Leo LaPorte, 'The Tech Guy'. He has a couple hours each day on weekends. He has a huge background and knowledge base. Also? Many of his listeners ALSO have quite a background and may offer something useful. twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guyI think this link should put you on the track....than you need to find your Local Radio outlet and tune-in. Odds? I make it even that he can be of help. but you never know! Some insight might put you on the trail of a solution..... |
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Post by novisnick on Jun 13, 2022 19:56:26 GMT -5
The computer issues are simplified by the following factoid - The Mac mini to run Roon is a one-trick-pony machine that is not needed for any other purpose. It’s ONLY function will only be to run Roon. The “business Mac” in another room runs MS Office and Adobe Photoshop. The Roon machine is not connected to iCloud and is essentially isolated from all other connections that might interfere with Roon. The four USB ports are occupied as follows: USB 1 - External 2TB HDD with Roon’s music library USB 2 - “Speaker” output to DAC USB 3 - Open for whenever the Umik-1 microphone is needed for REW USB 4 - trackball for machine (keyboard is Bluetooth) Boom Now you have it. Future diagnosis should prove much easier if such an occasion arises. I’ve run my Mac Mini as that one trick pony since day one. My Ipad and PC handle the rest. Enjoy the music! 🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶 |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jun 13, 2022 23:57:29 GMT -5
OK.... just FYI....
REW is an audio app... although, being JAVA based, we might hope that it doesn't cause issues when it isn't running.
Things like trackballs (unlikely) and Bluetooth keyboards (more likely) BOTH use drivers that could possibly cause issues.
If you want to try "a totally clean install first"..... Then ALL you want to be using is the O/S, Roon, and a hard-wired keyboard and mouse (or trackball that doesn't need any special drivers). (And starting with some audio files stored on the local hard drive.)
Then, after you confirm that it all works perfectly with that alone, start adding other stuff. The computer issues are simplified by the following factoid - The Mac mini to run Roon is a one-trick-pony machine that is not needed for any other purpose. It’s ONLY function will only be to run Roon. The “business Mac” in another room runs MS Office and Adobe Photoshop. The Roon machine is not connected to iCloud and is essentially isolated from all other connections that might interfere with Roon. The four USB ports are occupied as follows: USB 1 - External 2TB HDD with Roon’s music library USB 2 - “Speaker” output to DAC USB 3 - Open for whenever the Umik-1 microphone is needed for REW USB 4 - trackball for machine (keyboard is Bluetooth) Boom Now you have it. Future diagnosis should prove much easier if such an occasion arises. I’ve run my Mac Mini as that one trick pony since day one. My Ipad and PC handle the rest. Enjoy the music! 🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶 |
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Post by novisnick on Jun 14, 2022 1:56:47 GMT -5
OK.... just FYI....
REW is an audio app... although, being JAVA based, we might hope that it doesn't cause issues when it isn't running.
Things like trackballs (unlikely) and Bluetooth keyboards (more likely) BOTH use drivers that could possibly cause issues.
If you want to try "a totally clean install first"..... Then ALL you want to be using is the O/S, Roon, and a hard-wired keyboard and mouse (or trackball that doesn't need any special drivers). (And starting with some audio files stored on the local hard drive.)
Then, after you confirm that it all works perfectly with that alone, start adding other stuff. Now you have it. Future diagnosis should prove much easier if such an occasion arises. I’ve run my Mac Mini as that one trick pony since day one. My Ipad and PC handle the rest. Enjoy the music! 🎶❤️🎶❤️🎶 Don’t do it Boomzilla . I agreed with @keithl right up to the point where he said to “start adding other stuff”. Why would you do such a thing. As you stated you have other resources for your computing needs. Let it be happy in it’s solitude and ignorance, let it do its one job well. Let that older Mac Mini sit on the front porch and think its “The Big Dog”. |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jun 14, 2022 9:37:10 GMT -5
You're probably much better off running the Adobe software on a nice Windows computer.  I'm sort of ribbing Apple users... but not really... Too may people these days seem to forget that the purpose of a computer is to run software. The computer is simply a platform for running the software - and not the other way around. Therefore you DO NOT "buy software that runs on your computer". Rather you "buy a computer that runs the software you need to run". The software is far more important than the computer it happens to be running on. I've also heard that a lot of software runs better on the new M1-based Apple computers... So odds are good that's where most of the serious effort is being put with serious software... My Mac experts in the local McIntosh users group assure me that Adobe IS the most likely culprit. Adobe software of recent origin is written for Windows OS and then (often clumsily) ported to Mac. Unlike virtually all other Mac programs that uninstall by simply dragging the program icon to the trash, Adobe uninstalls MUST use a version-specific Adobe uninstall program. In some cases, multiple Adobe uninstall processes are required to get all traces of Adobe software off a machine. This is particularly true if you’ve installed newer versions of Adobe programs over the older versions. Adobe software has powerful features, but getting a divorce is expensive and complicated. |
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Post by KeithL on Jun 14, 2022 9:41:00 GMT -5
I agree entirely... If a machine is having problems... especially if there is any doubt as to the amount of processing power and resources it has or needs... The less stuff you have running on it the better. (And, yes, any program you install has the potential to cause issues, even if it isn't running, and even if you think you've uninstalled it.) I also should have mentioned that you should make sure any network drivers are completely up to date. A bad network interface, or bad network drivers, are definitely on the list of "things that can cause timing problems". (Although, for testing with local files, you should probably not even connect the network to begin with... and, hopefully, Roon will run "standalone" if you ask it to.) OK.... just FYI.... REW is an audio app... although, being JAVA based, we might hope that it doesn't cause issues when it isn't running.
Things like trackballs (unlikely) and Bluetooth keyboards (more likely) BOTH use drivers that could possibly cause issues. If you want to try "a totally clean install first"..... Then ALL you want to be using is the O/S, Roon, and a hard-wired keyboard and mouse (or trackball that doesn't need any special drivers). (And starting with some audio files stored on the local hard drive.) Then, after you confirm that it all works perfectly with that alone, start adding other stuff. Don’t do it Boomzilla . I agreed with @keithl right up to the point where he said to “start adding other stuff”. Why would you do such a thing. As you stated you have other resources for your computing needs. Let it be happy in it’s solitude and ignorance, let it do its one job well. Let that older Mac Mini sit on the front porch and think its “The Big Dog”. |
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Post by novisnick on Jun 14, 2022 11:18:10 GMT -5
I agree entirely... If a machine is having problems... especially if there is any doubt as to the amount of processing power and resources it has or needs... The less stuff you have running on it the better. (And, yes, any program you install has the potential to cause issues, even if it isn't running, and even if you think you've uninstalled it.) I also should have mentioned that you should make sure any network drivers are completely up to date. A bad network interface, or bad network drivers, are definitely on the list of "things that can cause timing problems". (Although, for testing with local files, you should probably not even connect the network to begin with... and, hopefully, Roon will run "standalone" if you ask it to.) Don’t do it Boomzilla . I agreed with @keithl right up to the point where he said to “start adding other stuff”. Why would you do such a thing. As you stated you have other resources for your computing needs. Let it be happy in it’s solitude and ignorance, let it do its one job well. Let that older Mac Mini sit on the front porch and think its “The Big Dog”. Absolutely @keithl My whole point is that if (like my Max Mini ) it’s not needed for other duties then why take a chance? Now, if I didn’t own other resources like a PC or Mac Book Pro then I wouldn’t have a choice. Boomzilla has a choice I believe. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 14, 2022 11:50:28 GMT -5
You're probably much better off running the Adobe software on a nice Windows computer. I'm sort of ribbing Apple users... but not really... Too may people these days seem to forget that the purpose of a computer is to run software. The computer is simply a platform for running the software - and not the other way around. Therefore you DO NOT "buy software that runs on your computer". Rather you "buy a computer that runs the software you need to run". The software is far more important than the computer it happens to be running on. I've also heard that a lot of software runs better on the new M1-based Apple computers... So odds are good that's where most of the serious effort is being put with serious software... I'd agree. And if I were a professional graphic artist who used Adobe software every day (or if I earned a living with it), I'd buy a Windows machine for that purpose. My graphics needs, however, are limited to getting this manuscript (with illustrations) to my publisher by mid-July. I'm done with the graphics and ready now to submit the manuscript, so I've no further need for Photoshop. I'll leave it on the business machine in case of future graphics, but I'm essentially finished with the software. I stick with Apple products not because I'm anti-Windows, but rather because I'm now familiar with them. Why scale another learning curve for no good reason? Cordially - Boom |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 14, 2022 11:54:33 GMT -5
While reinstalling Mac-OS on my mini, I encountered a screen saying: "This Mac will be automatically configured by Cabela's." Since I'd completely reformatted the drive, I'd no idea where this was coming from.
This morning, I dropped by my favorite computer store & spoke with their Mac expert. He knew what it was!
Large organizations like hospitals, school systems, and, apparently Cabela's, that buy large numbers of computers from Apple can have their machines customized. Apple puts a ROM chip somewhere on the motherboard that will default (on all OS reinstalls) to putting the organization's VPN information and configuration into the reinstall. The ROM can't be overwritten, deleted, or reformatted - it's in hardware.
You can, however, proceed to install and when asked whether to load the organization's configuration, you have the option to skip that step. I did, and now everything's fine.
I was worried that some strange malware was on the machine, but apparently it's just that this Mac mini was originally a Cabela's computer. Their administrators will not have access to this machine (unless I take it to their store and connect to their wireless network), so no issues there.
I'd never seen this before, but thought y'all might like to know.
Thanks (as always) for your help - Boomzilla
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Post by leonski on Jun 14, 2022 12:24:41 GMT -5
So? You tossed this computer in the cart when you were out getting some Ammo? How does Cabela's get there hooks in YOUR machine? I'm still trying to figure ut 'mediasharingd' which appears on my startup screen, sometimes so quickly (it flashes) that it is impossible to 'deny'....... Windows has taken a couple hits lately. I don't remember the particulars, but one OS version was soundly panned while latest stuff has privacy issues and allows too much intrustion from MicroShaft. www.techadvisor.com/article/746319/windows-11s-latest-update-is-causing-yet-more-issues.htmlI wish I could find that article about privacy concerns and permissions..... |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jun 14, 2022 13:21:50 GMT -5
That's cute... and it's not really all that surprising...
I'm also guessing that this is a relatively old Mac Mini... And I suspect that Roon sort of likes a lot of processing power... So that's probably one more reason to not put anything else on that machine besides Roon...
While reinstalling Mac-OS on my mini, I encountered a screen saying: "This Mac will be automatically configured by Cabela's." Since I'd completely reformatted the drive, I'd no idea where this was coming from. This morning, I dropped by my favorite computer store & spoke with their Mac expert. He knew what it was! Large organizations like hospitals, school systems, and, apparently Cabela's, that buy large numbers of computers from Apple can have their machines customized. Apple puts a ROM chip somewhere on the motherboard that will default (on all OS reinstalls) to putting the organization's VPN information and configuration into the reinstall. The ROM can't be overwritten, deleted, or reformatted - it's in hardware. You can, however, proceed to install and when asked whether to load the organization's configuration, you have the option to skip that step. I did, and now everything's fine. I was worried that some strange malware was on the machine, but apparently it's just that this Mac mini was originally a Cabela's computer. Their administrators will not have access to this machine (unless I take it to their store and connect to their wireless network), so no issues there. I'd never seen this before, but thought y'all might like to know. Thanks (as always) for your help - Boomzilla |
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Post by KeithL on Jun 14, 2022 13:26:54 GMT -5
Just Google it... there are LOTS of articles about Windows 11 and privacy (as in "What privacy?). And there are lots of things you can block, disable, or kill... and a bunch you can't. And we all know that it's getting worse...
But, face it, you're going to connect to the Internet... And use a program whose purpose is to scavenge information and present it to you... So, remember the quote by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, when he was asked whether his software would threaten our privacy:
"The privacy you're concerned about is largely an illusion.
All you have to give up is your illusions, not any of your privacy."
Aug 25, 2008
The thing I would add is that, when you share information with ANYBODY, you are trusting not only their "ethics" but their competence. Yes, you are trusting that they won't share your information if they promise not to. But you are also trusting that they will do a good job at keeping it safe from being stolen. Note that MOST credit card numbers are NOT stolen from people's computers by hackers. MOST data breaches occur at legitimate businesses, like banks, or hospitals, or the last store where you used your credit card. So the last thing you need to worry about is who Microsoft will tell which website you were browsing at 3 AM yesterday morning.
Likewise, while "targeted ads" may seem creepy, even if you block them entirely, you won't spend a minute less watching commercials... you'll just be getting "non-targeted" ones instead. There's no way you can just plain avoid ALL the commercials.
Who here remembers when there were actually cable TV stations that had NO COMMERCIALS AT ALL? I do.
To be quite honest I have Windows 11 on a few computers... and Windows 10 on several...
And they're really pretty much the same...
So? You tossed this computer in the cart when you were out getting some Ammo? How does Cabela's get there hooks in YOUR machine? I'm still trying to figure ut 'mediasharingd' which appears on my startup screen, sometimes so quickly (it flashes) that it is impossible to 'deny'....... Windows has taken a couple hits lately. I don't remember the particulars, but one OS version was soundly panned while latest stuff has privacy issues and allows too much intrustion from MicroShaft. www.techadvisor.com/article/746319/windows-11s-latest-update-is-causing-yet-more-issues.htmlI wish I could find that article about privacy concerns and permissions..... |
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Post by leonski on Jun 14, 2022 13:50:56 GMT -5
Some only Partial solutions? VPN / and if you can afford / install / administer.....a REAL firewall computer......
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jun 14, 2022 16:06:48 GMT -5
Yes... sort of... But VPNs really don't do nearly as much as the folks selling them would like you to believe. There are only two worthwhile reasons to use a VPN: - To download illegal or questionable content without getting traced or getting in trouble. - To access geographically restricted content (for example to watch a UK-only Netflix show in the US). - A VPN connection IS NOT particularly safer than an HPPTs connection (which most servers, especially the ones you care about, do anyway). - It WILL NOT protect you from getting infected by a virus, or malware, of opening a phishing e-mail. - It WILL keep whoever you connect to from knowing where you are but, if you log into an account, they WILL know WHO you are. - It WILL keep anyone on your network, or at your ISP, from seeing who you connect to - BUT WHO CARES? - Depending on how fast you Internet connection is a VPN will USUALLY impact performance to some degree. (Also note that many of these benefits are contingent on your taking other precautions... like configuring your software a certain way.) (For example, some bittorrent clients report information about your computer to the source they're connected to, right through your VPN... unless you configure them not to.) Real firewalls can offer a big improvement in Internet security... but... - They tend to be expensive and complicated. - Like VPNs they tend to slow down your connection (sometimes a lot). - They only make you more secure if you understand how they work and configure them properly (which MOST people do not). - They can cause all sorts of interesting problems of their own. Some only Partial solutions? VPN / and if you can afford / install / administer.....a REAL firewall computer...... |
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Post by leonski on Jun 14, 2022 16:29:51 GMT -5
Many years ago I had access to a windows machine someone was giving away. I really wanted to turn it into a firewall box. But, as Keith notes? COMPLICATED might not be going far enough. You almost need an MCSE or such to make it work. This has changed a LOT in decade since I last peeked in..... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmoothwallMany years ago I had BlackIce Defender software. Any time your computer was 'tickled', it'd note it. I was pinged from Kaliningrad, Russia (at that time) and pinged back and got a HUGE and nasty reaction..... I find 'stealth mode' to be a reasonable addition to other approaches. You simply do NOT appear online when any ports are scanned..... |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 14, 2022 22:43:58 GMT -5
That's cute... and it's not really all that surprising... I'm also guessing that this is a relatively old Mac Mini... And I suspect that Roon sort of likes a lot of processing power... So that's probably one more reason to not put anything else on that machine besides Roon... Although the machine is an older one, it still runs the latest OS. To preserve its utility, I’ve added a 2TB SSD, and installed all the RAM it could hold. With only Roon running, it may be OK. Should it not be, my next choice would be a custom built Linux box used exclusively for Roon. |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jun 15, 2022 0:32:13 GMT -5
There's something you need to understand... (I'm simplifying a bit...)
What you're calling "stealth mode" is the standard operating mode for home routers these days. And, to be blunt, fancier and more powerful firewalls are more likely to CAUSE interesting problems than to solve them.
All modern home routers these days use something called NAT (network address translation).
Those addresses you see on your home equipment, starting with 10.x or 192.x, are private addresses, and cannot even be routed over the Internet.
Because of this devices outside on the Internet can't see any of the computers on your inside network directly. The ONLY thing they can see is the outside address of your router.
When a computer inside contacts something on the Internet, the router translates the source address to its own outside address, and passes it on... The router then opens a "return port" so that replies to that outgoing traffic are allowed through and passed on to the proper computer inside. If you want devices outside on the internet to be able to contact computers inside directly you have to make special configuration settings to allow them to.
So, if Roon wants to look something up on the Internet, it reaches out to connect, and the router opens ports for it... And replies then come back through that port.
Once those ports are open they would be visible from the outside... (But, if you were to block them, then Roon wouldn't be able to connect to the Internet.)
The only real benefit you get from an additional firewall, either hardware, or software on the computer, is to block programs on the computer from accessing the Internet.
So, if some sort of malware was running on your computer, the firewall would "catch it and block it".
But the free firewall that comes in Windows does that... and there's probably something similar on Apple computers... That's the thing that always asks: "Is it OK to let this program access the internet" the first time you run something.
A separate firewall gives you more detailed control... And many offer another layer of virus scanning and other sorts of security...
But, unless you need that control, and take the effort to set it up, you're not using it... And, unless you're running a website, or something like that, it's almost certain that you WON'T need them.
And more complex firewalls are more likely to cause unexpected problems too...
The reality is that Windows 11 is pretty much like Mac/OS in terms of security and configuration these days. (Windows and Mac/OS are converging... and, beyond the details, and the whole "closed garden thing", they're pretty close these days.)
Just like with Mac/OS, Windows 11 comes with a whole bunch of halfway decent apps, pre-installed and pre-configured. Just like with Apple, you turn on the computer, set up an account (or bypass that), then let it decide how to install itself.
And, if you just install it, and leave it set to the defaults, and install some apps on it, it's reasonably secure, and works with most programs. You don't NEED to fuss with any of the detailed stuff any more than you do with an Apple computer.
Many years ago I had access to a windows machine someone was giving away. I really wanted to turn it into a firewall box. But, as Keith notes? COMPLICATED might not be going far enough. You almost need an MCSE or such to make it work. This has changed a LOT in decade since I last peeked in..... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmoothwallMany years ago I had BlackIce Defender software. Any time your computer was 'tickled', it'd note it. I was pinged from Kaliningrad, Russia (at that time) and pinged back and got a HUGE and nasty reaction..... I find 'stealth mode' to be a reasonable addition to other approaches. You simply do NOT appear online when any ports are scanned..... |
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Post by leonski on Jun 15, 2022 1:48:05 GMT -5
Keith, as right as you may or may not be? There is NO substitute for proper practices......
And it's dumb stuff, I'll admit. Opening certain emails or stuff from what LOOKS like your bank or credit card people.
I got a note from 'amazon'which was bogus. Some of those posts will not even forward to the security people of those who
they are spoofing....
I was selling something on Craigslist. Got an 'offer' from the other side of the country. They basically asked if I'd take
a 2-party, Post Dated, Out of State check....for more than I was asking AND they'd shoot me a shipper.
The last? A giveaway. You have NO control and the shipment can be diverted. And when it doesn't 'arrive' you are screwed.
I was selling some camera gear. Got a note from Asia asking if I'd ship....'right away for my boyfriends birthday'......Sure......
All sorts of scams, which while not exactly 'internet security' are related to good practices. When I sold stuff person-to-person?
I met 'em in a parking lot at a police station.....
The people that did Gibson Research did 'Shields Up' which was a valuable learing experience at that time.
I don't know about today, it's been years.
At hacker conventions? OS is almost always 'the first to go'......I'm not up to date and Nothing is static, but I'd be surprised if the
war was over, in favor of the OS....
I'll maintain the fussing with the details can make a difference. Sure, once you do a Fundamental GOOD setup, don't mess with it.
Is JAVA still a thing? Delete? Reduce your profile by one more program......
And if you get notice to install security updates? Probably a good idea.
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Post by novisnick on Jun 15, 2022 11:06:27 GMT -5
That's cute... and it's not really all that surprising... I'm also guessing that this is a relatively old Mac Mini... And I suspect that Roon sort of likes a lot of processing power... So that's probably one more reason to not put anything else on that machine besides Roon... Although the machine is an older one, it still runs the latest OS. To preserve its utility, I’ve added a 2TB SSD, and installed all the RAM it could hold. With only Roon running, it may be OK. Should it not be, my next choice would be a custom built Linux box used exclusively for Roon. I’ve not had an issues running my 2012 Mac Mini for Roon and an attached HHD. Simple and easy. Granted that a brand new Mac Mini may run a split hair faster but I don’t believe it’s worth any more investment then the older steady as she goes 2012 MM |
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