Archive for May, 2009

Using OpenVPN in Windows 7 64-bit

67
2 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle in

Update: Using Windows 8? If so, click here for special instructions.

Update: For Windows 7 RTM, all you need to do is download the latest beta version of OpenVPN (2.1 RC20 at time of writing), install like an:y other program and then run OpenVPN GUI as an Adminstrator. Pretty straightforward now, thanks to the good people at OpenVPN!

When I tried installing the latest stable OpenVPN (2.0.9) in Windows 7 RC1 x64, I received a message stating the TAP driver is unsigned, and this version of Windows ONLY supports signed drivers. That may prove to be an interesting gotcha… I’m trying to think of what other hardware/virtual hardware I have that may have unsigned drivers.

Anyway, here’s a fix.

Basically you want to download from here http://openvpn.net/release/openvpn-2.1_rc15-install.exe and then set the compatibility (right click > Properties > Compatibility tab) to Windows Vista, and set it to run as an administrator. The install went fine for me, and the TAP driver is now signed in this RC. As mentioned in the brief note, but is quite important, you need to also run OpenVPN GUI as an administrator, otherwise any of the network level stuff (such as routing of networks) won’t work.

Knowing your role – DRM and video games

0
2 years ago
by Jonathan Puddle

I’m posting a quick shout-out to Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock (video game publisher). They made waves recently by announcing a new title would be completely DRM free, and the sales figures seem to indicate this has been a decent approach. Here’s what he had to say, and why I’m giving the man respect:

“Yep. Demigod is heavily pirated. And make no mistake, piracy pisses me off. If you’re playing a pirated copy right now, if you’re one of those people on Hamachi or GameRanger playing a pirated copy and have been for more than a few days, then you should either buy it or accept that you’re a thief and quit rationalizing it any other way.

The reality that most PC game publishers ignore is that there are people who buy games and people who don’t buy games. The focus of a business is to increase its sales. My job, as CEO of Stardock, is not to fight worldwide piracy no matter how much it aggravates me personally. My job is to maximize the sales of my product and service and I do that by focusing on the people who pay my salary — our customers.”

Absolutely spot on. DRM only harms your real customers, which is exactly what not to do. I’d like to see more companies/bands/RIAA-like-organisations follow suit.

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