[plug] Shutdown and mp3's

[Brad Campbell]

Matt Kemner wrote:
> > On another topic, is there a way for a non-root user so do a
> > shutdown -h now?
> 
> Install sudo and give those that need access to shutdown, access to
> shutdown. (or give them access to a wrapper script that calls "shutdown -h
> now" - that way they can't pass their own parameters to shutdown)

I did try creating a script that called shutdown -h now
owned by root and +s, but that did not worl..

> > each card, every time I get a hard disk read, I get a sound
> > stutter.
> 
> It could be the HDD/IDE interface stealing IRQs away from the soundcard
> You could try unmasking IRQs on your HDD (see hdparm(8)) or increasing the
> priority of soundcard IRQs with irqtune.
> Make sure you heed the WARNING in the manpage for hdparm (and apply the
> same caution to irqtune) - If in doubt, backup your system first.

hdparm I have tried, and done the usual entire patrition corruption ;p)
I'll try irqtune and see how it goes..

> > Anyway, If I go SCSI, am I less likley to get a stutter due to
> > the machine waiting on the disk all the time?
> 
> I don't think it will solve your problem.
> The latest IDE drives (including the CX) all have seek times and transfer
> rates comparable with SCSI drives, and in (U)DMA mode using as little CPU
> time.

I was basing my assumption on my obvious misconception that a SCSI
controller causes the machine to wait less than an IDE controller.
 
> > I will upgrade the processor tho, probably to an AMDK6II-300.
> > That should improve the free time available to the CPU.
> 
> You could also tell mpg123 to allocate a buffer for the mp3 it's playing
> (see the -b option) "The defualt is 0, which turns buffering off"

Yeah, I know about that one, but there are bugs with buffering if you
get a stream with a glitch in it. With no buffer, it plays the glitch
and continues on merrily, but with the buffer enabled, it's like a 
scratched record, the buffer creates a glitch every time it is recycled.
 

-- 
Brad.    /"\
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