Since NHibernate 3 it is possible to implement a custom logger. Log4net is not necessary anymore. In this post I’ll describe how to implement your own logger.

First create a new class and implement the IInternalLogger and ILoggerFactory interface:

public class CustomLogger : IInternalLogger, ILoggerFactory { }

In this example the ILoggerFactory will create a new instance of the CustomLogger:

public IInternalLogger LoggerFor(Type type)
{
    return new CustomLogger();
}
 
public IInternalLogger LoggerFor(string keyName)
{
    return new CustomLogger();
}

In order to log messages to the debug console implement the functions of IInternalLogger like this:

public void Debug(object message, Exception exception)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(message.ToString() + ": " + exception.ToString());
}
 
public void Debug(object message)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(message.ToString());
}
 
public void DebugFormat(string format, params object[] args)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(string.Format(format, args));
}

That’s all for a very basic custom logger. In the web.config add the following key to the appSettings:

<add key="nhibernate-logger" value="MyLibrary.CustomLogger, MyLibrary"/>

Update Dec. 30 2011: Since my BF3 crashes at a map change again it seems the PunkBuster solution (as explained below as well) was only a temporary fix, and there’s no permanent one yet. An official bug report can be found here.

• Go to the support page of the PunkBuster website and download “pbsetup”
• Run “pbsetup” and add Battlefield 3 by choosing “Add a game” in the menu
• Select Battlefield 3 and choose “Check for updates”

Request for the permission of type 'System.Net.SocketPermission,  System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral,  PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089' failed.

In order to fix this there are three solutions:

1. Instead of MySQL, use Microsoft SQL server.

2. Move to a hosting provider that supports a full trust environment or get your own server.

3. Ask your hosting provider to update the medium trust policy with SocketPermission. The steps will be explained here:

Open the following file in a text editor:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v4.0.30319\Config\web_mediumtrust.config

Or when you are running 64 bit:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\Config\web_mediumtrust.config

Inside the SecurityClasses tag, add the following line:

<SecurityClass Name="SocketPermission" Description="System.Net.SocketPermission, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"/>

Scroll down and look for the following PermissionSet:

<PermissionSet version="1" Name="ASP.Net">

Add the following inside this PermissionSet:

<IPermission class="SocketPermission" version="1" Unrestricted="true" />

That’s all, a restart of IIS is, as far as I know, not necessary.

After building the HTPC I first installed Ubuntu 10.10 using a USB stick. Then I used this guide to install XBMC.

In order to have smooth playback of movies you need to enable the NVidia drivers. I noticed some strange artefacts and glitches in Gnome (not XBMC) after a while. When the screen is refreshed (e.g. when you switch a user, or start XBMC) everything is normal again but after a while it starts to happen again. I haven’t found a solution yet…

Finally some useful links to new XBMC users:

• Uitzending gemist plugin including Dutch radio stations (see also this page)
• 12 Essential Tips to Using XBMC as the Perfect Media Hub

I will use the following parts:

• Motherboard: Asus AT5IONT-I (review)
• Case: Jetway JC-110-B
• Hard disk: Western Digital Caviar GreenPower WD20EARS, 2TB
• RAM: 2x Kingston ValueRAM KVR1333D3S9/2G
• Optical drive: Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7700S
• Remote: USB IR Media Remote

The total price is around 300 Euro.

Update March 24: The APlus Cupid 2 wasn’t available any more so I changed to the Jetway JC-110-B.

First thing you need to do is add a log4net section in your web.config if you don’t have one yet.

<configSections>
 ...
 <section name="log4net" type="log4net.Config.Log4NetConfigurationSectionHandler,log4net"/>
 ...
</configSections>

Then add the log4net section, and configure an appender and logger.

<log4net>
 <appender name="DebugSQL" type="log4net.Appender.TraceAppender">
 <layout type="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout">
 <conversionPattern value="%date [%thread] %-5level %logger [%property{NDC}] - %message%newline" />
 </layout>
 </appender>
 
 <logger name="NHibernate.SQL" additivity="false">
 <level value="DEBUG"/>
 <appender-ref ref="DebugSQL" />
 </logger>
</log4net>

That’s all. Don’t forget to configure log4net in the Global.asax.

protected void Application_Start()
{
 log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure();
 ...
}

In this window select your MIDI Controller inputs in the MIDI Inputs list. Press Ok and go to View > Input Monitor to view the MIDI input of your controller.

For all buttons and keys on your controller the MIDI note is listed in the NOTE column. Unfortunately when using the knobs and sliders on my Digital Jockey 2 no information was shown about the channel used. Please post a comment if you know how to extract this information or if there are better tools to view MIDI data.

In Traktor open the Controller Manager (in the Preferences window). Now press the Add Out.. button and choose Output > Beat Phase Monitor. For deck A modify the following settings:

• Note: Ch01.Note.G0
• Type of controller: LED
• Modifier Conditions are all empty
• Interaction mode: Output
• Assignment: Deck A
• Controller range min: 0
• Controller range max: 0.5
• Midi range min: 0
• Midi range max: 127
• Both Blend and Invert are off

Repeat this step for deck B, but now change Assignment to Deck B and Note to Ch01.Note.G5.