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

[Steve] and I'm Steve Murawski and this is Episode 97 streaming live on Ustream.tv on Wednesday April 29th, 2009. Today's show is sponsored by Quest Software; Helping you rule your domain. We are also sponsored by Sapien Technologies; the makers of PrimalScript?.

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

[Steve]

  • It's good to be back. I'm not sure if I'll make next week, since I'll be traveling. I'll do my best though.

[Rich]

[Keith]

  • No Rich tonight. He's stuck fighting viruses at work. No, not the Swine Flu.

Housekeeping Items

[Rich]

[Steve]

[Keith]

  • It's finally time. Several of you have asked when we would be doing another one...well, here it is. We are kicking off another Peer Resume Review. Get your resumes into us at resume [at] mindofroot.com and get honest feedback from your peers. We are going to allow plenty of time to gather the resumes so word gets out. We're taking the resumes until May 30th, 2009.
  • Rich's Kixtart login script posted on the blog - check it out.

____________________________READ QUEST AD COPY____________________________

When it comes to scripting, you’re a warrior. But mighty warriors need mighty tools!

For awesome PowerShell scripting, nothing matches the might of Quest’s PowerGUI?. Versatile and easy to use, PowerGUI? helps you build commanding scripts that leverage PowerShell’s strength across the enterprise. Now, ruling your domain is easier than ever.

Is your scripting might equal to the challenge? Put the power in your hands. Visit www.quest.com forward slash mind of root and download PowerGUI today.

____________________________READ TPN PROMO____________________________

  • New iSCSI Server [STEVE]
-Dell MD3000i?
-I needed some additional storage for a project at work.
-I reviewed some different options and the most cost effective (read fit in budget) and scalable (for my forseable needs).
-Configuration was very simple (over the phone with Dell).
-Nice, though basic, feature set.
-Extensible with two more drive bays (up to 45 drives total) - I'm starting with 10 750 GB drives.
-Link: http://www.dell.com/MD3000i
  • Adding RAID array to existing server [KEITH]
-Ran into a couple problems that extended the amount of time it took, but it essentially boiled down to this process:
-Introduce new RAID controller to existing system and load drivers into OS.
-Boot up off-line with UBCD and image OS disk. VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY
-Move original disk to RAID controller and add second disk. Build RAID 1 mirror Array
-Boot up off-line with UBCD and write original image back to RAID disk.
-UBCD with driver support for original and new SATA RAID controller.
-If not, can hit F6 on boot of UBCD and add support.
-Link: http://
-BOF Session, Microsoft booth, PowerShell Sessions
-Hal Rottenberg and I will be representing PowerShellCommunity.Org at TechEd? (May 11th through 15th).
-We'll be around the various PowerShell sessions, at the PowerShell booth, and Hal's moderating a BOF session on scripting best practices.
-Link: http://www.msteched.com/
  • Direct Access [STEVE]
-New with Server 2008 R2 / Windows 7
-One word - AWESOME
-For the end user - friction free VPN
-For the admin - a whole lot of setup..
-Tied to IPV6? on your local network - otherwise you need a NAT-PT (NAT from IPV6? to IPV4?
-Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/products/directaccess.aspx
  • Windows 7 + XP [STEVE]
-Requires hardware assisted virualization support
-Based on next version of Virtual PC (Not Hyper-V)
-Provides an integrated experience (though with some additional overhead)
-Requires Profession, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions
-Think Parallels on a Mac..
-Link: http://blogs.msdn.com/davidmcg/archive/2009/04/28/windows-7-xp-mode.aspx
  • Vista/Server 2008 SP2? RTM [KEITH]
-The original article I saw indicated it was a unified SP for 2008 & Vista. Was SP1? that way?

[STEVE]- Server 2008 is essentially the same codebase as Vista SP1?

-Link: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346166,00.asp
  • IE 8 [STEVE]
-My initial dislike for IE 8 is due to the version on the Win7 beta. I've installed the release version on my XP desktop and really enjoy it.
-
-Link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx
-On May 19th, at 9:00 AM Central Time, I will be presenting an introduction to PowerShell and managing VMWare with PowerShell to the Wisconsin VMWare User Group. Scott Herold (from Quest) on VESI - The Virtualization EcoShell? Initiative - a PowerShell based management environment for virtualization based on PowerGUI?. VMWare will be hosting a live broadcast of both presentations. The presentations will also be available for download sometime after that as well.
-If you are in Wisconsin and want to come to the meeting (there are other sessions that day as well), there is a link in the show notes with the meeting information.
-Link: https://vmware.webex.com/vmware/j.php?ED=117340947&UID=1109236007
-Link: http://www.thevesi.org/index.jspa VESI
-Link: http://campaign.vmware.com/usergroup/invites/Wisconsin_5-19-09.html Meeting Info
  • Perfmon Counter - Memory\Pool Paged Bytes [STEVE]
-We dive back into the Memory namespace for this counter - Pool Paged Bytes
-This is the area in memory of system objects that can be written out to the page file. This counter value should not be greater than 250 MB (remember the counter is in bytes)/170MB with the 3GB switch.
-If you are seeing higher values here, you could have a memory leak. Event ID 2020.
-Link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.08.pulse.aspx?pr=blog
  • Stuff From John Cook [STEVE]
-John Cook is a really smart guy whom I met through PowerShellCommunity.Org. He has a great blog that covers many interesting topics, math, PowerShell, statistics, PowerShell, Music, PowerShell.. you get the picture.
-He's recently released a Getting Started style guide for PowerShell as a PDF download. This is the guide you want for the first time you open up PowerShell. It is short, sweet, and to the point and gets you moving around the shell and preps you for any of the other great PowerShell resources.
-Also, I found the three blog posts he did on statistics from StackOverflow? to be awesome.
-Link: http://www.johndcook.com/blog/
-Link: http://www.johndcook.com/powershellbooklet.html
-Link: http://http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/03/02/stackoverflow-reputation-statistics/
-Link: http://http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/04/12/civic-duty-on-stackoverflow/
-Link: http://http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/04/15/stackoverflow-question-statistics/
  • Oracle buying Sun [KEITH]
-What does this mean for MySQL??
-I think at worst case, we would see a fork in the code.
-
-Link: http://

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Listener Feedback

From.....The Link Meister

Anyway, I have been using KixTart? since we moved from Novell 3.11 around 12 years ago as I was looking for a replacement for the fairly functional login script language built into Netware. I have been using KixTart? ever since and recently been scouring the internet to see if I should be replacing it. The likes of PowerShell needs too much client requirements to even consider and I have always been put off by the complexity of VBScript/WSH. I have come to the conclusion that KixTart? is still the way to go although there are a number of login scripting solutions out there that are pretty pricey (e.g. Desktop Authority - http://www.scriptlogic.com/products/desktopauthority/) and I am not sure whether I could justify the investment in such a product given the flexibility of KixTart? (with a little time).

Considering updating my KixTart? login script and include something like a GUI tool such as AutoIT? (http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/index.shtml) to make it a little more graphical and up to date from the users perspective. AutoIT? is a similar structured scripting language that can be used to create small EXEs?. Cannot really see it as a replacement for KixTart? but certainly could be used to give it some polish (you could even probably use their common use of INI files to exchange info). Would be interested to hear if any of your listeners have any experience with login script solutions.

[KEITH]The Link Meister doesn't mention this, so I'm not sure if he is aware, but ScriptLogic? is actually based off of Kixtart. A GUI front-end or wrapper I think they are calling it. http://www.scriptlogic.com/Kixtart/default.asp

From Listener....Cd-MaN? who posted a comment on the Blog

[This is in regard to my deadlock issue on SQL server]

Just a quick clarification:

For a “proper” deadlock you need to processes (lets say P1 and P2) and two resources they both need (lets say A and B). You can think of two rows in the database, two files, etc.

If P1 locks A and tries to lock B, while P2 locks B and tries to lock A, it is a deadlock (because neither of them can fully succeed).

Now, in a DB system, you normally shouldn’t see these types of problems (I have no experience with MS SQL server, but they shouldn’t have this problem either). One problem which can happen, is that the snapshot creation program needs a table level lock, which it can’t obtain until all the row level locks are removed. But this is just a theory.

Best regards.

From potential Listener....Kevin who posted a comment on the Blog

Hey there, I think your RSS feed for the podcasts is broke. I would love to subscribe on my Zune, but I can’t find a feed URL that works.

-Kevin

[KEITH]I downloaded the documentation on getting listed in the Zune Marketplace, but I will take the heat for not having done it yet. Hey, I downloaded the documentation....Isn't that enough?

Website Picks

Rich - http://www.techotoys.com/shop/index.php

Steve - http://

Keith - http://twtpoll.com/ and http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Vikuiti1/BrandProducts/secondary/optics101/

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.