More control of your network is never a bad thing. Some tools provide the means of managing files but somehow they seem to be missing something. You can never seem to put your finger on it but you know it is not there. That something is complete control!
Read more
So in between the blogging, my Windows 7 article, Exchange Fast Recovery Series and the latest book I am tech editing on Windows scripting. I finally found the time to deal with my website http://rare-tech.net
Read more
Checking on Network bottlenecks is usually done by a common set of tools. Of course any of these tools are built in to the operating systems. However, they are commonly used in a command line format with zero or limited reporting capabilities. These tools are often run one at a time as well. So what if you could use these tools and even see the results all in the same workspace.
Netinfo provides the answer putting together a collection of 15 common network tools that can help you analyze potential network issues or provide help in getting answers on where the trouble lies.
Read more
Mobile devices for the Windows IT pro has always been a bit of a sore spot for me. I have spent a lot of time using Windows Mobile devices (since Pocket PC 2002) and let’s face it we have been getting our butts handed to us for a long time.
Microsoft’s newest addition to the System Centers Management family changes that drastically. Systems Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 (SCMDM 2008) gives the IT manager the ability to manage Windows Mobile devices, secure those devices and most importantly work mobile.
Read more
I spend most time reviewing tools that will make Windows environments better, easier to administer and more secure. Every once in a while I get to talk about something that is just plain fun! This is one of those times and I am quite excited about this tool.
Some time ago I saw a video on YouTube for the Beryl project which works on Linux machines. The video showed how Beryl blows away the Windows Aero effect by providing a 3D environment for the desktop.
Read more
WinDirStat: Analyze your Windows directories…Visually!
Some of the tools we come upon in IT are not always the most complex and loaded with hundreds of features. That is simply because not every function in IT demands a hundred features in an application. Nevertheless, many times we are left wondering with certain tools, what exactly is going on in my system? Where are things living in that endless amount of disk space? And how efficient are my disks running.
Read more
There are not many occasions when you need to send a very large file. But just try it and you will be surprised at the results. Your Exchange Server administrator may want to have a word with you also. Sometimes the time frame of a project does not allow you the luxury of burning the item to CD/DVD. And many organizations would rather not open up FTP file transfer to outside vendors, clients or whoever!
Read more
While managing IIS has gotten easier over the years, as the versions have progressed and become more intuitive, one area that most IT pros overlook is load testing. I found this is especially true when it comes to an intranet site. Most times we look at the intranet as a place to find out when the company events were taking place and where we could find vacation request forms. The simplicity of the intranet never strikes us as having a need for load testing. However, the intranet at my former company grew in size and complexity very quickly.
Read more
Well the http://rare-tech.net saga continues. In an attempt to deal with my Web site being in disarray, I opted to try a tool I had heard about from my agent. Actually, I was supposed to write a book about this product but I ended up being swamped with TechMentor NYC so I had to pass it up.
Read more
I remember and I am still suffering somewhat from PEST (Proper Endpoint Security Trauma). It exists, it really does. You may call it something else in your organization. Perhaps you use a more familiar term like “end-user trying to plug in a USB device on my network and completely supersede our security policy”. I think PEST explains it a bit better since it more accurately describes the endless hours wasted both explaining that such things are not allowed.
Read more
If anyone has seen my Web site http://rare-tech.net the last few days this post title makes a lot of sense. I have finished off some projects recently and had some time to turn my attention to my Web site.
When I set up the Web site I used Microsoft Office Live Small Business. It made sense I needed a presence for my business. At the same time I do not have any product I sell only myself. So I saw no need to go and host a Web site and spend thousands of dollars on design.
Read more
Back in August, I reviewed 12 cross-platform tools and because that post has continued to get such an overwhelmingly great response, I thought it was time to look at a few more cross-platform tools for the enterprise. So here are two more tools to help you bridge the gap in your heterogeneous environment, dotReader and DAVE.
Read more
Here's another great product that I learned about in TechMentor NYC. I wish I had it available to me at my last corporate position. Say you have a legacy piece of software that you would love to be rid of and never see again. But you can't because a client of yours is still running the software and so you need to find a way to keep it running in your environment.
Read more
Well once again we have a Library update and we have thus far brought you news, reviews and tips for 78 tools. I am looking to speak to my editors at Network World to see if we can do something special for my 100th tool post. We will see what I can arrange, for now thanks for all the support and I hope these tools can help make your world... A Better Windows World!
Tool Names: A-Z
In times like these it becomes increasingly difficult to ask management to spend money on the extra manpower we would like to make our job easier. In lieu of a warm blooded carbon unit (sorry a little too much Sci-Fi this weekend), having a tool that can do the work of one, two or even three people really does make life easier. Trouble is that most times these solutions call for a lot of work in setting up scripts or configuring batch files to create this kind of automation. Many times these are slow and error prone as well.
Read more
I recently worked on a series of articles relating to fast recovery for Exchange Server 2007. In working on the paper and looking at what it takes to design this kind of environment, I came across a cool tool.
That tool is the Exchange 2007 Mailbox Server Role Storage Requirements Calculator or the E2K7 MBX storage calculator. The second variation is actually the file name for the tool. You see, the calculator is actually an Excel spreadsheet.
Read more
Sorry I have been scarce this week on A Better Windows World. I have been sick with the flu. This week’s articles (had I been able to write them) would've been titled "A Very Congested Windows World", "A drowsy Windows World", A.. Oh you get the idea. I will leave it at that for now.
During my infirmed state I watched a show called Prototype This on the Discovery Channel. I know what you’re thinking (typical nerd) watch it!
Don't forget I'm an Italian kid from Brooklyn...Capicia!
Read more
Anyone who has had to work with repackaging applications to simplify deployment can appreciate that it can be an arduous task. Perhaps it is something as Admins we would love to avoid.
Yet at times it is necessary to repackage applications for installation, specifically when we talk about updating disk images, customizing installations and working with legacy applications that do not use the MSI installer.
Read more
One of the unpleasant truths of being a network administrator is that when the time comes for a password to be reset, the little pop up reminder in Windows is not enough.
Most users ignore the warnings until…well until you drag yourself in one morning ( and without fail it will happen on a morning you have to drag yourself in) and find that 30- 40% of the firm is locked out of the network.
Read more
One of the things I have always dreaded about server monitoring was all the labor of setting up the monitors. It was always a very laborious task and many times, it called for several tweaks before I got what I actually wanted from the package.
Read more
Ron Barrett is president of RARE-TECH, an IT Training and consulting company. He has been a technology professional for over a decade, working for several major financial firms and dotcoms. Barrett is a specialist in network infrastructure, security and IT management.
He is a co-author of The Administrator's Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers, How to Cheat at Administering Office Communications Server 2007, and the Real MCTS/MCITP Exam 620 Preparation Kit and has been a contributor to Windows 2000 Enterprise Storage Solutions and Exam Cram 70-244-Supporting & Maintaining NT Server 4.
He has also contributed to several industry magazines and was featured in the book Tricks of the Windows Vista Masters. He has worked for Microsoft writing research and analysis documents for Windows Server 2008, Windows HPC, and PerformancePoint Server 2007. He has also created screencasts on Windows Server 2008 Administration for Linux Admins.
Subscribe to Ron Barrett's A Better Windows World feed.
The opinions expressed in this Weblog are those of the writer and may not represent the opinions of Network World.
|
|
