This is a heads-up regarding the next batch of sysadmin exercises that will include Perl scripting.
 
For those interested to start thinking about more challenging of the exercises right away, here is one of them:
 
- write a Perl script that generates a random alphanumerc sequence and converts it into a gif (png or jpg) image;
- fit the above into another script that uses Perl CGI module and outputs the previously generated image along with a user-input form;
- validate the user input - e.g., check that the input string matches the one drawn on the image.
 
~approx 120 pts

No, unfortunately you cannot... PHP is for web development only (and it is quite good for that) but our objective is to develop Sysadmin skills even though some exercise may overlap with Web development...
 
Perl is a fully-fledged scripting language, not just a CGI tool. Let me know should you need any help with references or advice, etc.

Some idiot is hell-bent to hack our forum from a German IP address 87.118.120.202 Could be a bot operating from that machine  
 
What a jerk! Better find for your darned bot a better area of application than silencing people and advertising your dirty drugs!