____________________________PLAY DR BILL PROMO____________________________

• Vendor Management

• Does the Asus EeePC? violate the Linux GPL? [RICH]

• Comcast picked the wrong door

• WindowsXP? SP3? in Beta testing

• Alternatives to MS Office for older Macs

Link: http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

Link: http://www.scribus.net/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=3

____________________________PLAY MIKE TECH SHOW PROMO____________________________

Keith's Topics

• Comcast picked the wrong door

• Vendor Management

• WindowsXP? SP3? in Beta testing

• Alternatives to MS Office for older Macs

Link: http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php

Link: http://www.scribus.net/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=3

[Keith] This is Episode 26 recorded on November 27, 2007.

• WindowsXP? SP3? in Beta testing

• Topic 4

Keith - http://thewholeinternet.wordtothewise.com/?iref=mpstoryview The whole Internet on one page. As they say; Like Google Earth, only more Internetty.

Steve - http://www.criticsrant.com/bb/reading_level.aspx

• With scripting languages, it the power is contained in the libraries that are available (CPAN for Perl, .NET Framework for PowerShell). When choosing a scripting language, you need to compare the libraries that are available and the ease of use of the language. My favorites are Python and PowerShell, but it can be a personal choice.

• In addition to installing a couple of different OSes?, download some of the bootable ISO's to try some different distributions. Some of the security related ones contain a number of great tools (e.g. Backtrack 2)

• Becoming familiar with the terminology around encryption (Public Key Infrastructure, Symmetric/Asymmetric encryption, etc..)

• If you have the access to the Windows Server software, explore Active Directory and Group Policy (including writing your own administrative templates).

Programming/Scripting

• It is a huge advantage to learn a scripting language (Python, Perl, KixStart?, PowerShell, Bash etc..). Scripting languages allow you to quickly create programs to handle repetitive tasks, or tasks that you can schedule for off hours times.
• Some lower level system tasks are better serviced by programming languages that are lower level than the scripting languages (e.g. C++). Not necessary for sysadmins, but if you have the background, it won't hurt you.
• 
  

Rich's Topics

• '''Does the Asus EeePC? violate the Linux GPL?

Posted Nov 25th 2007 2:46PM by Conrad Quilty-Harper'''

• Topic 2

Ted's Topics

• Topic 1

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

Keith's Topics

• Comcast picked the wrong door

• Vendor Management

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

• Profile article by Paul over at Caffination. Link: http://www.caffination.com/archives/416

• Vendor Management

Linux

Security

Networking

Windows

• \\

• \\

• \\

Networking

• Any career path in IT would benefit from a basic understanding of various networking protocols.
• Linux or *BSD variants all provide an inexpensive way to create a router, as well as having tools to watch/monitor traffic
• Linux or *BSD variants also provide a good chance to try different firewall configurations. OpenBSD? and FreeBSD? in particular offer a number of advanced firewall features right out of the box.

Windows

• Most IT environments are heterogeneous, a mix of Windows, Linux/*BSD, and/or others, so learning Windows related material is important
• PowerShell is the management tool of choice for Microsoft going forward. Microsoft has said that by 2009, all the admin GUIs? will be based on PowerShell. Plus it's cool to have the .NET Framework available from the command line.

Rich - http://www.911cd.net/forums/ Just a forum about bootcd's and such.

From listener....Petri, who asks "What should I study?

Hi Rich and Keith,

I'm big fan of your podcast and I think that you guy might know how to help me with this issue.

I'm doing my day job with computer (Mostly Windows workstation, servers, networks) but I want to learn something new.

I have some procurve switch at home and some P4 ~2 GHz? computer with about 1 Gig memory and of course TFT, keyboard and mouse to every of them at home and I was wondering what I should do with those I mean what I should start to study?

I have playing little bit with Linux but will Linux be the future what I should study? Or should I put some windows servers and workstations up and study things with them? I could study some network and security things too but I just don't have any idea what they could be.

Please guys help me and tell me what I should start to study? I know that you have worked long with computers so I'm sure you know what kidn of skills are really needed one the field.

Keep up the good work!

Linux

• Many appliances are running an embedded or slim version of Linux. Having knowledge in this are would be helpful in administering them
• Most network equipment O/S is *nix-based and experience would be helpful
• Since Linux brings you a little closer to the inner-workings of the O/S, it helps gain you insight into the system (Steve said this best)
• Helpful in learning security and being security oriented

Security

• Linux is a good tool to get into the guts of networking and system interaction
• You don't have to become a security guru, but in our field, it gives you an edge and makes you a better admin to be security aware.

[Steve]

[Rich]

[Ted]

[Keith]

[Rich]

[Ted]

[Steve]

[Keith]

• Apologies for forgetting this last episode....Big thanks to Justo over at The Pepe Show who played two of our promos in one show. I couldn't tell for sure, but I think his guest co-host Frank enjoyed them. Justo just released Episode 30 and he's getting back in the swing after some site problems. Welcome back Justo.
• Last chance for the contest entry. I might have mentioned last episode that there are not many entries, so your chances are good to win. What I really liked was that there were at least two people that posted a review and didn't even enter the contest. They just did it. Thank you to them as well.

• '''Does the Asus EeePC? violate the Linux GPL?

Posted Nov 25th 2007 2:46PM by Conrad Quilty-Harper'''

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

____________________________PLAY BLUBRRY PROMO____________________________

____________________________PLAY ANN____________________________

____________________________PLAY OPENING MUSIC____________________________

[Keith] Welcome to A Couple Of Admins Podcasting. I'm Keith Albright

[Rich] and I'm Rich Niemeier.

[Ted] and I'm Ted Miller.

[Steve] and I'm Steve Murawski.

[Keith] This is Episode 26 recorded on ????????? ??, 2007.

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

[Steve]
*

[Rich]
*

[Ted]
*

[Keith]
*

Housekeeping Items

[Rich]
*

[Ted]
*

[Steve]
*

[Keith]
*

____________________________PLAY TPN PROMO____________________________

____________________________PLAY ACOAP PROMO____________________________

Listener Feedback

From listener....

____________________________PLAY SWEEPER____________________________

Steve's Topics

• Topic 1

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

Rich's Topics

• Topic 1

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

Ted's Topics

• Topic 1

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

Keith's Topics

• Comcast picked the wrong door

• Topic 2

• Topic 3

• Topic 4

____________________________PLAY SWEEPER____________________________

Website Picks

Rich - http://

Steve - http://

Ted - http://

Keith - http://

Last Call

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

Closing

All right, well that is it for the show. For listener feedback; you can email us at Feedback [at] acoupleofadmins.com or post a comment on the main site at ACoupleOfAdmins.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 and the Blubrry networks. Check out some other great shows by going to Techpodcast.com and Blubrry.com....That's Blubrry without the E's

Thanks everyone.