May 2025 - Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

Re: Question re repairing and reinstalling
by John G. Heim 04 Jun '25

04 Jun '25

You need to do the usual things you do when you don't have a network connection. Start out with lspci to identify your network card. Find out which driver use that network card. Run an lsmod to see if the driver is loaded. If it is not loaded, load it and see what happens. If it is loaded, find out what device it creates. If the module is loaded and the device is created, try bringing it up. If it's already up, try pinging it's IP address. If you can ping it, try pinging something outside like www.google.com. Else you can work backwards and try pinging www.google.com first and work backwards from there. In other words, the first thing you need to do is to identify at which point the network configuration is failing.Once you figure that out, you can ask here or google it or whatever. On 5/31/25 8:31 AM, Steve Matzura wrote: > Still no ssh because still no network. dhclient won't find it and > netcardconfig doesn't do anything. Should I write to the grml support > list to find out what I can do to diagnose or fix this, do you think? > > > On 5/29/2025 10:56 PM, John G. Heim wrote: >> Sounds as if everything is working as expected. If you are right >> about your machine not having a PC speaker, it can't beep at the boot >> prompt. But it sounds as if you are doing everything else right. And >> ssh should be working. >> >> I have never seen GRML fail to bring up a network connection. But I >> suppose it could happen. Are you saying that only the loopback >> device is displayed when you type "ip addr"? >> >> When you start GRML, it brings up a menu. You have to press the q key >> to exit the menu before you can start typing commands. >> >> >> >> On 5/29/25 7:09 PM, Steve Matzura wrote: >>> I downloaded grml and wrote it to a USB thumb drive. It boots >>> perfectly, with two problems. >>> >>> >>> 1. If it's supposed to beep before I press TAB and then >>> "ssh=MyPassword", I'm not hearing the beep. No real surprise there, >>> I'm not even sure this machine's speaker actually works. I've never >>> heard it beep. Ever. >>> >>> >>> 2. After booting, if I wait about a minute, then press TAB followed >>> by typing "ssh=MyPassword" and pressing ENTER, Speakup speaks the >>> remainder of the boot process, then I get a prompt that tells me, >>> among other things, to press ENTER to return to the shell. This I >>> do, and I get a nicely talking Debian grml prompt. But if I then >>> type "ip addr", it tells me my IP address is 127.0.0.1. The network >>> cable is definitely connected on both ends. Does this mean it maybe >>> doesn't recognize my hardware? Can I remedy all of the above once I >>> hit the grml shell prompt? >>> >>> >>> On 5/29/2025 12:17 PM, John G. Heim wrote: >>>> If you want the character interface, i would recommend GRML. >>>> >>>> GRML includes the speakup modules and espeakup. All you have to do >>>> to get sofware speech is to create a bootable GRmL thumb drive or >>>> CD and once it boots, type "modprobe speakup_soft; espeakup". >>>> >>>> You can also pretty easily enable an ssh server on a system booted >>>> into GRML. So then you can ssh in and do whatever you want. >>>> >>>> We are in the process of creating a web site for blind people to >>>> document accessibility techniques but it's not live yet. The final >>>> draft version of the documentation i wrote for GRML is here: >>>> >>>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.johnheim.com/articles/grml/*__;Lw!!… >>>> >>>> I am not sure my ISP's firewall is going to allow you to get to >>>> that page. So if you can't get to it, let me know and I'll figure >>>> something out. >>>> >>>> PS: I have a version of the GRML iso that is supposed to start >>>> talking during boot. It doesn't work on all of the hardware i tried >>>> it on. If it doesn't start talking during boot, just type "espeak" >>>> after it's done booting. You won't have to load the speakup modules >>>> at least. >>>> >>>> https://people.math.wisc.edu/~jheim/GRML/soft-full-2025.05-amd64.iso >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 5/29/25 10:03 AM, Steve Matzura via Blind-sysadmins wrote: >>>>> I have a Debian version 11 system that needs repairing or >>>>> reinstalling, but before I do that, I need to boot something that >>>>> will let me access the system disk and copy some >>>>> hard-to-reconstruct configuration files from some application >>>>> directories to a holding place on another drive in the same >>>>> cabinet. Should I do this with a Debian Live distribution, or can >>>>> it be done from the regular Debian installation disk? In either >>>>> case, am I stuck with using a desktop to find the file(s) in >>>>> question and copy them to the holding location, or can I get >>>>> Speakup in a shell? If I'm stuck with a desktop, which ones is >>>>> most accessible? I've never been a fan of the Linux desktop >>>>> environment, much preferring the CLI, but you can't always get >>>>> what you want from these distros, but like the song says, if you >>>>> try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need. >>>>> Ultimately, that's my question--which accessible live distro do I >>>>> need/should I use to effect the above? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Blind-sysadmins mailing list -- >>>>> blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> blind-sysadmins-leave(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org

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Question re repairing and reinstalling
by Steve Matzura 30 May '25

30 May '25

I have a Debian version 11 system that needs repairing or reinstalling, but before I do that, I need to boot something that will let me access the system disk and copy some hard-to-reconstruct configuration files from some application directories to a holding place on another drive in the same cabinet. Should I do this with a Debian Live distribution, or can it be done from the regular Debian installation disk? In either case, am I stuck with using a desktop to find the file(s) in question and copy them to the holding location, or can I get Speakup in a shell? If I'm stuck with a desktop, which ones is most accessible? I've never been a fan of the Linux desktop environment, much preferring the CLI, but you can't always get what you want from these distros, but like the song says, if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need. Ultimately, that's my question--which accessible live distro do I need/should I use to effect the above?

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Anyone taken an online exam with Pearson Vue?
by ultimatethesecond＠googlemail.com 28 May '25

28 May '25

HI all. Seeing if this gets through. Has anyone taken an exam online with Pearson Vue? I gather they need to have a camera on, so they can see the room. This shouldn't be a problem. How did accommodations work out? If this is possible at all, that is. I would hope we can take exams online, get extra time and use our screenreaders. I'm looking to take the Comptia Security Plus exam. If anyone else has done, is there much visual content? The practise questions I'm using have the odd diagram but everything is multiple choice. Thanks. Chris.

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experience with Learning Tree courses
by Fayre, Jason 27 May '25

27 May '25

Hello, Has anyone had any experience with Learning Tree for IT courses? They seem to have an accessibility statement, but that doesn't always mean much. I'm looking to take courses in Azure and Modern Endpoint Management. Please note: for accessibility reasons, please do not send me screenshots. Vacation alert: Jason Fayre Assistive Technology Specialist | Enterprise Endpoint Compute | Employee Technology Services | CIBC 81 Bay Street, 14th Floor Toronto ON, Canada, M5J 0E7 | Tel: (416) 412-2678 | jason.fayre(a)cibc.com<mailto:jason.fayre@cibc.com>

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Re: Anyone taken an online exam with Pearson Vue?
by Andrew Hodgson 27 May '25

27 May '25

Hi. I do have a letter from my ophthalmologist which I use. Its worth checking the Cisco exams as they may have changed. I'm not entirely sure though how they would describe all the network diagrams that were on the CCNA exam last time I tried it. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: ultimatethesecond(a)googlemail.com <ultimatethesecond(a)googlemail.com> Sent: 27 May 2025 12:15 To: Andrew Hodgson <andrew(a)hodgson.io> Subject: RE: [Blind-sysadmins] Anyone taken an online exam with Pearson Vue? Hi. Thanks Andrew. Good luck chasing them too. I've started the request process online and Seems I'll need to get a letter from my doctor first. The form requests for documentary evidence of diagnosis and impact. Don't think a copy of my CVI is going to cut it. I'll update the list on how it goes, if it's useful to anyone else. Good to know about Microsoft and Cisco though, disappointing on the latter. I was thinking to try Cisco certification again now you can take exams online but if they don't allow jaws... Regards Chris. -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Hodgson <andrew(a)hodgson.io> Sent: 27 May 2025 12:00 To: Mailing list for blind system administrators <blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Cc: Chris T <ultimatethesecond(a)googlemail.com> Subject: RE: [Blind-sysadmins] Anyone taken an online exam with Pearson Vue? Hi. Its getting through and I think I've answered this question on the list before. The accommodations for the exam depend on the partner. So if you're taking the Microsoft exams they will work with Jaws but Cisco don't support it and not sure about Comptia. You have to go through an approval process with Pearson and this seems to be very hit and miss at the moment. For example I'm trying to renew my accommodations but they keep ignoring me and have told me it will take longer to come back due to a ransomware attack at their end. I need to get back onto them about this. My recommendation would be to try and talk to someone at Comptia or see what is available on their website as for example on the Microsoft website they state that Jaws is supported and give a practice test. In the case of the Microsoft exams images are described. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: Chris Turner via Blind-sysadmins <blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org> Sent: 27 May 2025 11:45 To: blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org Cc: ultimatethesecond(a)googlemail.com Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Anyone taken an online exam with Pearson Vue? HI all. Seeing if this gets through. Has anyone taken an exam online with Pearson Vue? I gather they need to have a camera on, so they can see the room. This shouldn't be a problem. How did accommodations work out? If this is possible at all, that is. I would hope we can take exams online, get extra time and use our screenreaders. I'm looking to take the Comptia Security Plus exam. If anyone else has done, is there much visual content? The practise questions I'm using have the odd diagram but everything is multiple choice. Thanks. Chris. _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list -- blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org To unsubscribe send an email to blind-sysadmins-leave(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org

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azure training through Global Knowledge
by Fayre, Jason 13 May '25

13 May '25

Hello, Through my workplace, I am planning to take the Azure Fundamentals course. The provider we use for virtual and in-person training is Global Knowledge. For this course, they are using a web portal to access a virtual machine for doing a few of the course labs. The VM comes up inside the web page. Obviously this is not accessible. Has anyone experienced any courses like this, and how did you get around it? For this particular course, I don't think the labs are critical, but I expect they will become more so as I take further courses. Jason Fayre Assistive Technology Specialist | Enterprise Endpoint Compute | Employee Technology Services | CIBC 81 Bay Street, 14th Floor Toronto ON, Canada, M5J 0E7 | Tel: (416) 412-2678 | jason.fayre(a)cibc.com<mailto:jason.fayre@cibc.com>

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Keyboard shortcuts in nested RDP sessions
by Lukasz Golonka 01 May '25

01 May '25

Dear all, At work I'll soon have to work in a nested RDP session, meaning that I'll connect to a first RDP server from my laptop and then connect from there via RDP to a second PC, to which the development board I need to access is connected. I have simulated such setup and my main accessibility related worry turned out to be irrelevant, as NVDA's RDAccess works flawlessly in that configuration, with both speech and Braille. I am, however, unable to leave the second session, without leaving the entire RDP. The CTRL++ALT+pause and CTRL+ALT+HOME move me to my main desktop / to the connection bar of the first connection, even when performed in the second session. The tips from the Internet about using CTRL+SHIFG+ALT+HOME don't work;. I have also found some articles about scripting these shortcuts with AutoHotKey, however it seems folks have very limited luck with this approach. How are you handling this situation? Is there a method for switching away from the nested session I overlooked? -- Many thanks Lukasz

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Trying to get a Raspberry Pi 4 to get DHCP from my router
by Steve Nutt 01 May '25

01 May '25

Hi all, I just got a new Pi 4, in order to use it as a Fing agent, http://www.fing.com for network monitoring. We installed Bookworm to it, and even tried earlier versions like BullsEye, but it will not get DHCP from my router. Once we have installed it, we can see it using PuTTY and I can log into it. However, although it gets as far as the LAN, it doesn't get out to WAN. It goes for the local IP of 127.0.0.1. So my friend took it to his house, and from his router, provided by Plusnet, it gets DHCP, and on my Draytek router, it doesn't. The main difference between the two is that the gateway on the Plusnet router is 192.168.1.254, and the gateway IP on the Draytek is 192.168.1.1. Could anyone please tell me the easiest way to change the gateway, netmask and DNS servers it looks for? In this way, we may be able to get DHCP from the router. It appears that Bookworm doesn't use DHCPCD any more, so I have been trying without success using NMCLI commands. If anyone can help with this, I would be extremely grateful. Many thanks. All the best Steve -- To subscribe to our News and Special Offers list, go to <https://www.comproom.co.uk/subscribe> https://www.comproom.co.uk/subscribe Computer Room Services 77 Exeter Close Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 4PW T: +44(0)1438-742286 M: +44(0)7956-334938 F: +44(0)1438-759589 E: <mailto:steve@comproom.co.uk> steve(a)comproom.co.uk W: <https://www.comproom.co.uk> https://www.comproom.co.uk

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