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[Keith] Welcome to the Mind Of Root. I'm Keith Albright

[Rich] and I'm Rich Niemeier.

[Steve] and I'm Steve Murawski and this is Episode 130 streaming live on Ustream.tv on Wednesday February 03, 2009. Today's show is sponsored by Quest Software; Helping you rule your domain.

Chit-Chat - What's going on with you?

[Steve]

  • Been traveling a lot recently. Just trying to get caught up at home and work.

[Rich]

[Keith]

  • Lost is back.
  • Reality Show junkie

Housekeeping Items

[Rich]

[Steve]

[Keith]

  • Scale8x conference reminder - February 19-21, 2010 at the Westin LAX
  • RSS fixed. Got Tweet about Google Analytics code dump.

____________________________READ QUEST AD COPY____________________________

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  • What has happened to my machine?!?!?! [STEVE]
-If you manage Windows systems, the Ask the Performance Team blog is an essential read.
-Earlier this month, they pointed me back to a tool that I had played with earlier, but forgot about - the System State Analyzer.
-This tool is buried in the Windows 2008 R2 Logo Software Certification toolkit, so it is not readily discoverable.
-What it does is allow you to snapshot a system (registry, file system, services, drivers) and then compare it to a later snapshot..
-want to find out what a vendor did on your system? Or see what havoc power users have wrecked on your nicely prepared system image? Then this is your tool.
-Link: http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2010/01/12/an-introduction-to-the-windows-system-state-analyzer.aspx
-Link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=140110 x86 version
-Link: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=140109 x64 version
  • Late to the game [KEITH]
-Finally signed up for E-Bay and PayPal?....yes, just today.
-Never truly trusted the whole scenario...still don't
-I don't like how much info they want from you. E-Bay screwed up the email verification so bad then wanted a CC to confirm my identity.
-Paypal screwed up the verification then wanted a bank account to verify my identity.
-Sorry to both, I gave you enough info. It's a shame when someone legitimate gets punished because of the people who do bad things.
-Link: http://
  • Installing the Cisco VPN Client on Windows 7 (x86) [STEVE]
-There are some links out there that have you downloading some oddness from Citrix (for the deterministic network support) and doing all sorts of rebooting.
-Windows 7 has some great compatibility infrastructure and if you right click on the installer for the vpn client, you can choose troubleshoot compatibility. This will install the vpn client with a shim emulating XP SP2?.
-No problems so far, but I'm not cisco, citrix, or any other major vendor, so take my advice with a grain of salt, and test it first.
-Link: http://weblogs.asp.net/bhouse/archive/2009/01/15/how-to-successfully-install-cisco-vpn-client-on-windows-7.aspx
  • Document Document Document [RICH]
- Okay so my life is not what I consider normal.
-But I need to document, document document, and oh yes did I say document
- I have been hating myself for not properly documenting some networks.
-Link: http://
  • New Cable Plant....doesn't need watering [KEITH]
-With the new VoIP? phone system project I have going on at work, I decided to attack the cabling in the building. Partly out of necessity, partly out of desire.
-Pieced together cabling over the years and now it has hit critical mass. With the new phone system, we have to pull a new cable to each work area. Since I'm pulling one, I may as well pull two and tackle my network problems.
-Budget hit me in one area; I wanted fiber between the MDF and 4 remote IDF's, but could only afford a dual Cat6 run to each. At least I can physically segregate the VoIP? switches if I want to (instead of VLAN's).
-Even though it's close, am I wrong to prefer fiber?
-Link: http://
  • Sysadmins aren't programmers (or are they?)... [STEVE]
-Yes, I'm back on the scripting topic.. Not going to belabor the point tonight, but just wanted to offer yet another take on the topic from a more platform neutral voice
-Matt from the Standalone Sysadmin blog has a post called "Sysadmins aren’t (necessarily) programmers, they’re people who can program".
-From the article:
-I remember back when I was first learning Linux, and I encountered shell scripts. I wasn’t a programmer, and I didn’t “get” it. I distinctly remember thinking, “well, THAT’S something I won’t have to learn”. Ha!
-Matt continues,
-As it turns out, I was incorrect. Writing scripts is an essential skill for a system administrator.
-I agree and will continue to beat that drum ;)
-Link: http://www.standalone-sysadmin.com/blog/2010/01/sysadmins-arent-necessarily-programmers-theyre-people-who-can-program/

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Listener Feedback

From listener....

Website Picks

Rich - http://

Steve - http://

Keith - http://

Last Call

Anyone....Anyone....Buehler.....Buehler....

Closing Test- I'd like to thank everyone in the chat on UStream?.tv we always enjoy the additional comments and interaction. everyone should remember that there are numerous ways one can interact with the show. For listener feedback post comments on the main show site, or email us at feedback[at] MindofRoot?.com.

It's always fun to see where our listeners live, put a pin on our frappr map there is a link to this on the main show site.

To become even more involved you can leave suggestions for future shows on the topics request wiki. Again a link to the wiki can be found on the main show site.

There is a link to the wiki on the main show site. If you would like to participate in the show; either through an interview, a segment contribution, or any other way, please let us know. We are also a member of the Techpodcast network. Check out some other great shows by going to Techpodcast.com.

test end-

All right, well that is it for the show. For listener feedback; you can email us at Feedback [at] mindofroot.com or post a comment on the main site at mindofroot.com. If you use iTunes, you could write a review. If you just want to show us your listening, drop a pin on the Frappr map...there's a link on the show site.

Lastly, you can drop any show ideas or topic requests on the wiki. There is a link to the wiki on the main show site. If you would like to participate in the show; either through an interview, a segment contribution, or any other way, please let us know. We are also a member of the Techpodcast network. Check out some other great shows by going to Techpodcast.com.