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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. This is Episode 76 streaming live on Ustream.tv on November 19, 2008. Today's show is sponsored by Quest Software; Helping you rule your domain. And by Idera, the makers of PowerShellPlus?; making PowerShell easier to learn and master.

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

[Steve]

  • I'm hopeful, but I think I have my internet issues resolved. It was most likely my cable modem. I replaced it with a newer model and I'm seeing much closer to the 8 down 1.5 up I should be getting. I'll be watching closely how consistent it is. I'm setting up a server with Polymon to watch my home internet connection. :)
  • Update.. not so good so far.. Talking with WinstonWolf? and Jeff Culbertson in the chat and we found where some of the issue might be. It is probably on the utility pole at the end of my backyard.

[Rich]

[Keith]

  • At ITEC Conference today. It was pretty coo. Whitney Hoffman who is heavily involved in the Podcamp on the East Coast wound up giving the keynote.

Housekeeping Items

[Rich]

[Steve]

[Keith]

  • Update on Watchguard firewall problem I spoke about in the last show. My colleague couldn't get it to work either. He is going to call Comcast and we may try a different modem if they cannot provide any resolution.

____________________________READ QUEST AD COPY____________________________

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____________________________READ TPN PROMO____________________________

-For-pay service to send large files (but lets you read Dilbert comics while uploading)
-Integrates with Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Mail via plugin. Also has a standalone app.
-Link: http://www.dilbertfiles.com
  • BackupExec? 12.5 drops support for Windows NT 4.0 [KEITH]
-
-
-Link: http://seer.entsupport.symantec.com/docs/283797.htm
-Freeware.
-Cool Features I saw
-Integrated GeoIP? for resolving IP addresses to city/county, supporting Google® Earth visualization
-Full content search, with Regex support
-License supports 25 simultaneous 1GB captures
-Interactive time charts, and summary view
-Link: http://download.netwitness.com/download.php?src=DIRECT
  • More Perfmon Goodness - for SQL Server [STEVE]
-Great article, including instructions as to how to pull the data into Excel and make sense of it.
-
-Link: http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2006/12/dba-101-using-perfmon-for-sql-performance-tuning/
  • One Step Closer [KEITH]
-Rich spoke in the past about an idea for using his laptop as a KVM for working on PC's in his hotel room, etc. This takes him one step closer, however, I don't think it would work for a re-image. For that, you can always slave the drive with an IDE/SATA to USB adapter.
-Link: http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?pcid=20070130111333003&psid=20070130114323002&pid=20081020151314001&layerid=subClass3
-Link: http://sewelldirect.com/usb-sata-ide-combo-adapter.asp
  • Tips for New DBA's (also applies to SysAdmins?!!) [STEVE]
-Our worlds are not so different from a high level view. Reading this article, it could very easily be abstracted to work for sysadmins. I think this is a major benefit of ITIL and related initiatives, which provide a common language for defining services, and what are databases but a part of the service infrastructure or, in some cases, a service in and of itself.
-DBA
-Confidentiality of data
-Integrity of data
-Availablity of data
-Sysadmin
-Confidentiality of services
-Integrity of services
-Availablity of services
-Link: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/career+growth/64632/
  • Washing Google's Mouth Out [KEITH]
-Original Google Search for 'Dynamics GP This batch has already been marked for posting by another user'
-Found my answer, but even better, Google asks "Did you mean to search for: Dynamics GP This bitch has already been marked for posting by another user"
-Link: http://
  • Web App Installer [STEVE]
-Microsoft has created a Web App Installer. It helps you get IIS set up to run ASP.NET applications as well as PHP applications.
-Includes, DotNetNuke?, Drupal, Graffiti CMS, Wordpress, etc..
-Runs on Vista or Server 2008.
-There is a companion product for the developers (Web Platform Installer).. to jump start ASP.NET web development (I'll leave it to you to find it from the link below).
-Link: http://www.microsoft.com/web/channel/products/WebApplicationInstaller.aspx
  • Microwave Demonstration [KEITH]
-I have a user who asked for a wireless keyboard and mouse. I installed it and she immediately began having problems. Kept getting funky mouse movements. I removed the wireless mouse and she is fine for a little while, then she starts getting mysterious keystrokes when she is editing a table or a document. She tells me her 'Start' menu popped up on it's own.
-I tell her it is more wireless interference....
-She then tells me she believes someone in the office (possibly me) was taking control of her PC.
-After a couple weeks of her problems and not getting her to understand, I did my dog and pony show with my WiSpy? card and the microwave. She finally seemed to understand that RF interference can come in many forms and we settled on putting a wired keyboard back in place to test.
-While you check out MetaGeek?'s WiSpy?, grab their InSSIDer? app. It's like NetStumbler?, only a little more up-to-date.
-So, here is my question to Steve and Rich (and those of you listening as well); Have you ever been confronted by a user accusing you of spying on them or making statements like "Well, we all know you read all emails anyway". I'll post a blog entry for comments on this topic as well.
-Link: http://www.metageek.net/support/downloads

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Listener Feedback

From listener....Brian Hey Mind of Root,

Two weeks ago I started a new job. The company that I went to work for has been in business since 1985. The company is a family owned business with around 50 employees. They have done implementation of PCs? and networks for commercial and automation applications. They didn't really do much on the PC side other then programming for the connected machines to work properly. The owners decided to have a branch division of the company for on site and in house computer repair, sales, and networking. The branch will be in a different building a few miles away from the current building. I was hired as a network admin for the existing company as well as the new company.

The companies employees are very behind when it comes to technology. No server, different workgroups, ancient hardware, etc. My first job is to bring them up to speed so that once they reap the benefits of technology, it can be used toward another upcoming business of theirs. This is tentatively to all be accomplished in one years time. If you were in my position, what would you implement? What would you install? My initial list is below but I would love suggestions.

In no particular order here is my plan.

1. 2 Servers - 1 2008 SBS Server, 1 2008 Standard (terminal server) 2. Replace all existing security prone hardware. (Replace Linksys router with Cisco, add firewall, etc.) 3. Update and consolidate PC's. (Many employees use 2-3 computers) 4. Volume Licensing from Microsoft (This is already accomplished. I created a new MS Partner program with them. My certs all transferred and instantly we were a MCP.) 

  4a. Standardize Operating systems to Windows Vista Business or Windows XP Pro (for older PC's that will not need replaced)
  4b. Standardize software.  This will be installed automatically from the server.  (Office and programming software)
  4c. Microsoft  Dynamics. (CRM)

5. Upgrade to Business internet or T1. (They remote in a lot. Also see #6) 6. Host e-mail and websites locally (More control over email and websites. Plus easier spam control) 7. Laser printers (Implement several lasers to replace the 40+ inkjets. Save on ink costs) 8. Databases....LOTS of them. (They use an ANCIENT accounting and tracking software that no longer exists. They need to move to a more central application) 9. VOIP 10. Easier remote access (Term server 2008) 11. Smartphones. (Although this may be unnecessary at this time, I can see the use of smartphones with Server 2008 making contact and information easier to access.) 12. Design 3 new websites. ( I hate design....I might outsource this one)

  • [Rich]
  • [Steve]
-What I like most:
-I like the 2008 Terminal Services option, especially for remote access, with the Terminal Services gateway functionality.
-Updating the firewalls and routers will be a good move, and make it a bit easier to set up a site to site VPN for remote management.
-Databases are great, but require a good backup strategy. It is good to get a handle on all the bits and pieces of data that are residing in various parts of the business and put them where they can be centrally managed and also be related to each other (for reporting purposes).
-Take a second look:
-Having a hosting provider for your websites and email.
-This may sound hypocritical of me, since I host my own email server (web site for the department is hosted externally), but I've been reading and seeing more and more how beneficial some external services could be. I'm not saying don't host your own email, but give it another look.
-You mention bumping up the bandwith available, and if you are going to be hosting your site, and doing email and VOIP, that will be a necessity. I would take it in stages and really watch the bandwith you are using to make sure that you are not going to run out of capacity during a busy time of year.
-Suggestions:
-Proxy server (maximize your bandwith utilization and provide a monitoring point)
-Network Security infrastructure.
-Really recommended, but a necessity if you are going to be hosting your websites locally. Any open access points to your network deserve a healthy bit of paranoia. :)
  • [Keith]

Website Picks

Rich - http://

Steve - http://www.sitemasher.com/smblog2/2008/10/my-twittonary-every-twitter-term-and.html Twitter Terms and Utilities

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] 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.