Jay's Blog

Not Just Yet

Hello,

The web is a buzz with the sounds of Microsoft's and Yahoo's impending merger.  Speculations fly as the technorati try to predict what this will mean for Yahoo and it's Web 2.0 offspring.  Not too many are trying to see Microsoft's future in the crystal ball.

It hasn't happened yet.  Yahoo has to issue a response to Microsoft's proposal.  Every piece of fiscal sense would tell Yahoo to accept, but only they know for sure.  The big question is what will happen to the Yahoo services we all use?  I am personally vested in del.icio.us and Flickr with content and time.  Will these sites become part of Windows Live or the MSN community?  I hope not.  Microsoft should keep these products in play and figure the best way to monetize them to a profitable level without comprimising the user experience.

The biggest piece is ads.  Ads those annoying little pieces of web commodity that drive major corporations like Google and Yahoo.  The acquisition could make Microsoft a very large competitor to the 800lb gorilla of the ad-space, Google. 

S.Carolina

Hello,

Interesting wins from the Democratic primaries in South Carolina.  Congrats to Senator Obama and his constituents.  One thing I did notice was the coverage around Senator Obama's landslide victory over Hilary Clinton and John Edwards.  The media was very focused on the racial statistics around Barack Obama's win and little else.  Why is the media intent to display race as the focus of their reporting?  I thought they were past that scope of coverage.  Senator Obama has not made a big campaign out of his race, why should the media?  I guess in the small analysis, the coverage brings in ratings and circulation. 

I don't care if the next president is a woman, African American, or Democrat, but it has to be the right person...

XServe and H5N1

Hello,

Today was interesting.  I was able to set up my first Apple XServe, ever.  Although the setup is far from complete, she is alive and kicking.  One thing afar from the massive price tag, is the lack of a built-in security device.  Every Mac desktop and laptop has a kensington lock or a security loop, but not the XServe.  I even called AppleCare to see if I was missing anything and I wasn't thankfully we have rack-doors.  I think the Apple designers behind iMac, Mac Pro and MacBooks are not the same folks whom designed the XServe.  Behind the price and the packaging, it is just another Intel rack-mounted server. Kind of a bummer, really...

I just finished another audiobook from Audible.com, titled 'The Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic and the Virus that Caused it' by Gina Kolata.  A great story about a forgotten time in world history.  Millions of folks from around the world died in a global flu outbreak after the first world war.  The books follows the efforts of numerous doctors and scientists across eight decades in their pursuit to identify and reconstruct the virulent virus.  Great read/listen. 

A Question of History

Hi,

An interesting question was posed earlier today from a podcast that I listen, 'Dan Carlin's Hardcore History'.  If you could have five people from history to dinner, who would you invite?  From history, we mean figures from times past which are no longer alive.  There are plenty of modern day folks that will go down in history, but let's broaden the scope.

First would be a classical composer, for example W.A.Mozart.  I would like to give him an iPod, show him how to use it and just see the reaction. See the reaction when I placed my 1977 Les Paul in his hands and witness what he could do with it.  I think he would be astounded and shocked, too bad we'll never know...

Next would be Charles Lindbergh.  I am an avvid aviation fan has always held Colonel Lindbergh's accomplishments in very high regard.  I would like to show him the Airbus A380 and the Space Shuttle, and listen to his stories...

Wacky as my next guest may seem, I would like to meet Napoleon Bonaparte.  I just want to see how this person is in real life.  I know little about him, but he was brave, determined and lucky...

I would like to take George Washington around Philly today and show him where his country has gone.  I can imagine his disbelief, disappointment and amazement...

I'll leave the last one for you, the reader.  Whom would you invite?

More Funny Stuff...

Hello,

MLK Day and I am off from job1, job2 I have to go to and teach tonight, but it is still a day off. 

I wanted to write about Apple and the connection they seem to have with consumers.  I have long been a fan of Apple products.  A fan of their design, durability and operability, something other manufacturers cannot seem to touch.  I think this hold on industrial design and consumer awareness has been shaken lately.  The iPhone, which I own, thrust Apple into a market with consumers they were not used to reaching.  Working with US cell carriers forced Apple to make business decisions that comprimised their previous ethos.  As soon as the iPhone was unveiled, I knew I had to have it.  Any phone at that time was better than my current cellphone, which did not have web, email, or anything.  Also, the idea of a Mac-Compatible smartphone was right up my alley.  I use a MacBook Pro for my daily computing needs.  My Mac Mini and G4 tower are now expensive stereo components.  The lack of 3G and other common capabilities did not bother me too much at first, but they do know.  The first sour taste came from the price drop just a few weeks after release.  Bad move Apple... Despite the refunds Apple gave, it made me feel, as a consumer, like a complete idiot.  Not to mention the razzing I received from colleagues and non-tech folks alike.  From that experience, I learned to wait before I buy a new Apple product.  Although, there is something about them that makes me want these things I hardly need!  That is Apple's draw.  Me, a sensible person, who tries to be as fiscally responsible as I can, just wants many of these products.  Example, iPod Touch, I want one.  Why the hell would I need one?  I have an iPhone and an iPod Nano 3G, still I want that slick little device.  I will probably get one too...

The new MacBook Air (MBA) is a sweet little laptop, and little is the operative word.  For those who have not heard, the MacBook Air is the smallest ultra-portable laptop ever released to consumers. The strides to make it a skinny as an anorexic supermodel are the same that will mark it a 'dud'. 

I can understand the lack of an optical drive.  I rarely use the optical drive in my MacBook Pro, but for $1,800.00 the MBA better come with a USB model (sans $99.00).  The wireless shared drive I see not working as desired, and becoming a pin-cushion for hackers.  If Apple was smart, they engineered a recovery option into flash memory to allow a user to restore OS X without the need of ANY optical drive.  My Dell Axim PDA has that capability as does the iPhone and iPod.

No Ethernet port = Non-Starter (for me).  Wireless networking is slower and much less reliable than an old-fashioned 100Base-T connection.  I wired my house because wireless is so unreliable.  The idea of a USB, Ethernet port taking up the only USB port on the device sucks.  I do not see how the inclusion of an Ethernet port or FireWire port would have made the MBA any thicker.  Not too many people have used an MBA yet and even fewer people have seen the device inside, so I am not in the best position to state how easy it would be to add/remove the extra and very necessary ports.  Some nut will take one apart and post the autopsy online, just wait...

The non-replaceable battery is a bit of a concern, but not as much as others may think.  I buy AppleCare with every laptop and iPod I own, and every time I have needed it, the cost was justified.  Most folks would do the same with the MBA, and if it came to swapping out a dead battery AppleCare would help tremendously.  A new battery would cost a user $99.00 to $129.99 anyway, the downer is the user has to bring it back to Apple.  Flights on aircraft would require a user to buy the Mag-Safe airline adapter.  Good luck taking the battery out for the TSA folks to inspect...

My biggest gripe is with the 4200rpm iPod hard drive.  Yes, it is the same HDD that is placed in the iPod Classic.  4200rpm, c'mon Apple!  My laptop from three laptops ago had a 4200rpm HDD.  Unless, Apple tweaked how Leopard will run, users may be in for a slow time...  The price point for the 64GB SSD will keep it out of most purchases, and then the OS can only load so fast.  I don't think the SSD will make the overall experience faster by much.

In close, the MacBook Air is novelty item for a consumer with a healthy taste for Apple products and money to burn.   I would recommend the MBA for users who want to get things done.  For that get a MacBook Pro for the extra $500.00.

Later

Funny

Hello,

I apologize for not blogging recently, as it has been a busy time for me right now with numerous irons in the fire.

Here is something funny.  Enjoy!

<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/01/18/funny-pictures-u-wont-take-meh-alive-coppahs/"><img src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/01/funny-pictures-ostrich-police-chase.jpg" alt="funny pictures" /></a><br />moar <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com">funny pictures</a>

Happy New Year! / WS2008 Cont'd

Hello,

Happy New Year everyone!

I would like to thank the a-holes that woke the baby and us up at midnight with screaming, yelling, and fireworks.  Staying up until midnight is not something one does with a newborn.  Or perhaps I am just getting old & crabby...

Windows Server 2008 (continued)

Now that we have a functional server up and running we can start to add roles which will customize it's operation.  The example I am going to choose here is adding the 'DNS Server' role.  WS2008 takes a role-based approach to administration much more seriously than it's predecessor did.  Any functionality for WS2008 must be added after installation.  Microsoft extends this idea to the features of the Windows Server operating system itself.  Two of the features we will need is the backup tool and the new Windows PowerShell.  Adding features can be done from the 'Add Features' link on the 'Initial Configuration Tasks' page.

Once the features are selected, choose 'Next >'.

DNS servers need to have a static IP address which will enable them to always be found by there clients on the network.  Additionally, the DNS server should be it's own client.  The server's own IP address or '127.0.0.1' should be listed as the primary DNS server on the server's IP configuration window.  Select the 'Add Roles' link on the Initial Configuration Tasks page.  A 'Before You Begin' page starts the 'Add Roles Wizard', notifying you of any considerations that have to be made. Read the notice and proceed.

Listed are all of the roles that are available to install on the server.  If a particular role is greyed-out, then it is already installed and no longer available.  Choose the 'DNS Server' role and click 'Next >'.

The next page givens more information on the WS2008 DNS server along with some helpful links built into the page, a step up from Windows Server 2003.  Click 'Next >'.

A summary page follows, the WS2008 install DVD may be needed during the process.  If everything is as desired, click 'Install'.

All done!  Further tasks need to be done from the DNS Console.  Further tasks would include; configuring forward/reverse lookup zones, forwarders, and resource record creation.

The DNS Console should now be available from the administrative tools section.

Windows Server 2008 Technical Reference: DNS

DNS is primarily used in support of Active Directory, but can function very well in a standalone capacity.  WS2008 and DNS can provide name resolution services for small to large networks without Active Directory.

 

Later...

 

 

 

 

Windows Server 2008: Install

Hello,

I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday.  I was able to get a free copy of Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 1 (WS2008).  WS2008 is slated to be the next iteration of Microsoft's server platform, due for release on February 28th 2007.  Microsoft is making the release candidate freely available to the public for evaluaion, much like it did for Windows Vista.  A copy for download can be obtained from the following URL: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

Give it a try...

I am going to detail the installation of the WS2008 operating system in this post.  Future posts will cover Active Directory installation, DNS, IIS 7.0 and Certificate Services.Some of the screenshots were taken from within Parallels and others were taken from a live server through remote desktop.  My test server is an IBM ThinkCentre M51 with 1GB of RAM, 3GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, and a pathetic video card. Those specs will cover the basic operation of WS2008 and it's components

To start, just boot to the WS2008 DVD-ROM.  WS2008 image is 1.47GB in size and comes on a DVD, like Windows Vista.

   Boot loader

 

   WS2008 setup is just like the setup for Windows Vista.  One big difference is that WS2008 is much shorter than Windows Server 2003 setup.  After the bootloader finishes an 'Install Windows' wizard will begin.  Choose the appropriate options for language, time/currency and input locale, then click 'Next'.

  The wizard will start the install process after clicking 'Install Now'  There are also options to find out more about WS2008, and repair an existing installation of WS2008.

   Microsoft got this step right out of the way.  Believe it or not, a product key is not required here. If a product key is not entered WS2008 will run as a thirty day evaluation copy.  If you have a product key enter it here, but un check the box entitled 'Activate Windows when I am online'.  I prefer to activate after the server is up and running to desired satisfaction.

   Next, the installer will prompt asking for what type of server will be installed, 'Full Install' or 'Server Core'.  Server core is a new feature of Windows Server that only applies a very basic image of WS2008 to the hard disk.  Any and every non-essential piece of software is removed from the install process, including the GUI.  More can be found out here. We are going to do a full install this time.  I will tackle a server core install later on...

   Of course, accept the EULA.  It may be help to actually read the EULA in order to understand what you are agreeing.

 

   There are provisions to upgrade existing WS2003 installations to WS2008.  The hard disk I am using is empty, so the upgrade option is not available.

   Setup will use all disks that are found on the computer.  If the hard disks are not found an option to install device drivers is made available.  Good-bye F6!  RAID arrays are created before the Windows install process, and recognized as a single volume.  The default is to use the entire amount of space on the first hard drive found.  That is the option I will use here.  The NTFS file system is the only option available to install WS2008 upon. 

   After all of the partitioning and formatting is decided, the actual installation begins.  The complete time is rather quick due to the fewer steps and choices made available to the installing user(s).  My example, being run in Parallels, took twenty minutes from start to finish.

   Notice the install process made no mention of the administrator account setup and configuration.  Administrator is handled next and started with resetting the password.

   Type in the new admin password...

   Once that is all done, click OK and continue on to the desktop.

   The ubiquitous 'Ctrl+Alt+Delete' to log in is still with us.  For those who may be using WS2008 in a Parallels virtual machine, 'fn+control+option+delete' will provide the same result from the Mac keyboard in Parallels.

   Voila!  The WS2008 desktop is displayed, akin to Windows Vista with all of the eye-candy turned off .

   The WS2008 replacement for the 'Manage Your Server' window from WS2003 is now called the 'Initial Configuration Tasks' window.  Unlike the WS2003 version, this version we do have to address and work through before we can start using our new WS2008 server.  We must configure the time zone, IP information, and hostname/workgroup amongst other tasks.  The page is brilliant, just click on the hyper-link next to the desired task and the correct configuration utility will appear.

   Configuring the proper time zone - Time is at the heart of all server operations on a modern Windows network.  The correct date and time is used as the basis for all timed network operations.  Configure the proper time and zone.

   Server name and workgroup/domain name - Setup did not ask for any server name or workgroup/domain name information, thus it MUST be configured now.  If the server will join an existing Active Directory domain, point the DNS configuration towards a DNS server/DC responsible for the target domain.  All servers should have a static IP address, however my configuration was left with a DHCP-provided IP address.  The example is a virtual machine running in a virtualization program called 'Parallels' and as such is meant for test/evaluation and not for production use.  A reboot will be required following any modification to the server name and domain membership.

   Windows Update - Quite the staple in any Windows administrator's life is 'Patch tuesday' and Windows update.  The default for WS2008 is to have updates automatically downloaded and installed on a regular basis.  That makes me a bit nervous.  I prefer to test and manually deploy updates to servers, so I will configure updates to be downloaded automatically, but NOT installed automatically.

   Error Reporting - Windows Server 2003 has a feature that allows error information to be sent to Microsoft for diagnostic and troubleshooting purposes, and was enabled by default.  WS2008 continues this practice, and I decide to keep it enabled.  The information Microsoft collects is used to build analysis patterns concerning common errors and setup parameters.  Microsoft's finding may help me one day...

   Updates - Let's wrap-up by checking for any lingering updates that may be out there.  At the time of this writing, there are no updates for this release of WS2008.

   Reboot - Let's reboot the server to apply any changes we have affected.  WS2008 also has a 'Shutdown Event Tracker' to categorize and provide context for the server's reboot.  The data here is collected in the server's security log.  I select the proper category, and provide an entered reason for the reboot along with my name, date and time.  Servers are not like workstation and cannot be rebooted when necessary.  Often, server updates along with reboots are scheduled weeks in advance and in notice to all users.

That's it!  We have a fresh new server install to bend and control at our whim.  Enjoy!!!

  

  

 

  

  

  

Top Tech News Story of 2007

Hello,

2007 is almost history.  What is the biggest tech story of the year?  I have heard some suggestions either from blogs or podcasts, but the two main issues seem to be Windows Vista or the iPhone.  The RIAA, and DRM is also a steady constant in the tech press.  I would have to give story of the year to Windows Vista.

Microsoft places more copies of Windows in user hands through PC sales than any other operating system vendor.  Microsoft sees sales figures that Apple and Novell could dream of seeing.  Add into that the hobbyists, gamers, and PC builders to the numbers of new Vista users and those figures go up and up.  Windows Vista will impact more users this year and for many years on than the iPhone.

What has Microsoft given us, the public?

Windows Vista has numerous features that were designed to help improve the overall user experience.  Whether or not it actually does that is up to whom you ask.  The first mistake was the release of Vista is six different versions.  Four of those versions are vailable for retail purchase through OEM or as a software box.  There is really no need for six versions of any operating system.  A professional and consumer version would have been just fine for most folks.  Perhaps an a la carte approach to operating system features could have been better.  The price is another issue, considering what the consumer gets for their money.  Windows has always been very expensive when purchased as a retail box.  The OEM copies one can get online do weigh the costs of a retail purchase, but the price is still ridiculous.  Two hundred dollars for a full retail copy of Windows Vista Home Basic, ninety nine dollars for an OEM copy or retail version.  The 'Home' versions of Windows Vista are really feature limitied.   I cannot recommend them in any way, and the best way to get Vista is on a new computer.  Microsoft gives the OEM PC manufacturers a big break on Windows, why should the consumer get in on that savings?

The UI in Windows Vista is completely new, and much prettier.  I hate the Windows XP interface, it look way too much like K-Mart.  The first thing I do with XP is enable the Windows Classic theme and remove the 'Bliss' wallpaper.  The biggest piece of aggravation in Vista is the User account Control (UAC).  That prompt which asks you for a password, or to click 'continue' when attempting an administrative task.  I think the security team took the course of design, because from a usability standpoint, the UAC doesn't work.  I am the only one I know of who does not disable the UAC.  Disabling UAC, cuts the secure legs out from under Windows Vista all together.  The Vista Start Menu does have an integrated search feature that does find items much faster than the useless Windows XP search tool.  The business and ultimate editions of Windows Vista have an integrated version of the Windows Server 2003 'Shadow Copies' utilitiy.  Shadow copies allow a user to recover a lost or deleted document from a previously made copy.  The cost of Vista Business or Ultimate will pay for itself the first time this feature is used.  Along with these new features comes a significant overhead in resource consumption.  Vista NEEDS more RAM and CPU cycles.  Older computers that are currently running Windows XP will most-likely need a hardware upgrade or two in order to run Vista satisfactorily.  Microsoft has long since had a history of guiding the user's hardware requirements through software.  Many will say Microsoft is in 'koohootz' with hardware OEMs to force users into buying new computers on a periodic basis.  Others argue such is the progression of computer development.  I would agree as such, but question the scope of the software's development.  Aside of the few feature I mentioned above, Vista does not offer upgrading users any advantage over Windows XP.

The 64-bit versions of Windows Vista are the most secure versions of Windows to date, but the security comes at a cost of practical unusability.  Very little software and hardware is designed to work with the 64-bit versioons of Windows Vista.  For now, 64-bit is the provence of hobbyists and bleeding-edge gamers.  I believe through Windows Vista, Microsoft is seeding a new generation of users that will not adopt later versions of the operating system.  Windows XP has found a new lease on life with scores of frustrated Vista users 'downgrading' en masse in an attempt to get existing hardware/software to work.  This may not all be Vista's fault, but a factor of in-experienced users not properly working out the potential issues with upgrading.  Mac OS X 'Tiger' users are feeling the same heat with the current upgrades to OS X 'Leopard' . Another idea I have is that Microsoft has no clue of what their consumers want.  I could be totally be wrong , and Microsoft just does not care.  'Design be Committee' seems to be how products become finalized in Redmond.  Look at the Microsoft Zune, version one of the product absolutley stunk.  Future iterations of the Zune look to be improved and closer to the mark.  Maybe Windows 7, Vista's scheduled successor, will be just a closer.

What I want for Xmas

Hello Everyone,

Happy Holidays!

With all of the coming & going of the season I get to see some great stuff in my travels.  One thing I would really like, but in no way need, is an iPod Touch.  The 'iTouch' is really cool, but I have an iPhone, so there is no need for the touch. 

A 16GB USB flash drive.  Another item I hardly need, since I have a bus-powered USB 2.0 HDD, 120GB.  It works great, but the 16GB drive would be cool.  I can remember when a 20GB HDD was hot stuff...

I need to build a new PC to run all my tests and to practice for my upcoming MCSA/MCSE upgrade exams.  I am thinking quad-core CPU, 4+ GB of RAM, Removable SATA HDDs, mid-range video card, DVD burner...

We can all dream...