Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 June 2

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June 2

Delta network

What is 3²x4² delta network? 49.136.99.150 (talk) 13:08, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Free software alternatives to Synthesia Game

Are there free software alternatives to Synthesia Game? I want to learn piano. 123.24.125.166 (talk) 15:37, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

http://pianobooster.sf.net/ Also you could find a human being to get you started. ¦ Reisio (talk) 19:26, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

How could someone determine that I am a sockpuppet?

This happened on another site. You wouldn't think that this would happen, but I was banned with the explanation that only one name is allowed. And it wasn't a temporary ban. I don't see how they could do this because it would be very difficult to prove. Yet I do know that at a library near my house, several years ago, I wanted to use a different name on that site to keep me from being connected to the topic. I don't remember exactly how it came up. Maybe I asked why I couldn't sign in with the other name. They had figured out it was me, appreciated my confession, and said because of my good record and my explanation that I wasn't familiar with a rule against the practice.

This time, I have no way of knowing what happened.— Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 15:39, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Usually, by comparing the IP of different usernames (which are recorded when you enter the site logged in), they can find users using multiple accounts. You cannot log in with different usernames because your IP was banned. If you want more informations, see Wikipedia:Sock puppetry. 123.24.125.166 (talk) 16:23, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

I haven't tried logging in except with my "main" name since the ban took effect. I wasn't able to use the other name once they figured out it was me, but I'm unclear as to how they found out. I could have used the "main" name at that library but I don't know.— Vchimpanzee · talk · contributions · 16:32, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Know?

Do you know any good legal proxy servers that don't cost money?--Deathlaser :  Chat  18:40, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

This presumably following from the AOL discussion above. I'm curious, what do you imagine is an illegal proxy server? Typically, free proxies (which are readily Google-able) are incredibly slow and unreliable. Paid services are available, precisely because it costs money to run the service - electricity, maintenance and bandwidth aren't free. In any case, it would help to know what your specific interest is. 131.111.255.9 (talk) 20:20, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Perhaps the OP means an intentionally open proxy? Many open proxies aren't intentionally open, just misconfigured, hacked. Sometimes the operator isn't even intending to operate a proxy, again either they installed/started it without realising or it was maliciosly installed. Just as with open wifi, depending on where you live, using such a proxy may have legal issues, at least if you're aware or have a resonable suspicion it isn't supposed to be open. Of course as I think has been stated before, the legality of using an open proxy seems a small issue if there are legal issues over the content you plan to access. Also in a few countries, using an proxy may be legally questionable. Nil Einne (talk) 07:25, 4 June 2012 (UTC)