If you haven’t heard of GNS3 as way to practice your Cisco commands, let me take this opportunity to share a gem of knowledge with you. Also, if you are completely new to GNS3, this is a perfect time to … Continue Reading
New Videos this week from Interface | May 21, 2013
Windows Server 2012Windows Server 2012 Administration Instructors: Rick Trader Video Style: Classroom Windows Server 2012 Videos Just Added… Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) Overview Rick Trader 13:01 Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) Installation and Configuration Rick Trader … Continue Reading
SQL Server in Virtual Machines: Myth or Reality?
Can SQL Server live inside a virtual machine? Yes and no. There are certainly reasons to do so, such as the ease of constructing high-availability databases that don’t involve the complexity and expense of Windows Clustering (for example, using virtualization-based … Continue Reading
Debugging SkyDrive for Windows 8
As instructors, we move from classroom to studio to office to home to classroom. Classroom images, presentations, notes, virtual hard drives and tools move with us. I love my solid-state jump drive, though connecting and disconnecting to retrieve files in … Continue Reading
Alternating Row Colors in SQL Server SSRS
Here is a simple report with alternating row colors; in this case, PaleGoldenRod and LightSteelBlue: In order to create alternating colors, first select the detail row in a tablix data region. Next, find the BackgroundColor property in the Properties Window … Continue Reading
Why I would start with Continual Service Improvement (CSI)
It has been a question since the dawn of ITIL version 3: Where do we start? A natural reaction is to focus on the things that are causing acute pains: incident, problem, change, and so on. I liken this to … Continue Reading
New Videos this week from Interface | May 13, 2013
Video Training: New This Week SharePoint 2010
Getting Started with AngularJS Video Series
As more and more functionality moves to the client developers are finding that writing JavaScript-centric applications from scratch can be challenging and frustrating. As a result, numerous JavaScript libraries and frameworks have sprouted up to help simplify the development process … Continue Reading
Windows 8.1 – What You Need to Know
Microsoft has announced the approach it will take to salvage Windows 8. Previously known by the code name “Blue,” Windows 8.1 will be free for current Windows 8 users. Windows 8.1 will not be a simple service pack. It will … Continue Reading
Using PowerShell to create wildcard Managed Paths in SharePoint 2010
Managed Paths allow us to extend Web Applications to hundreds of thousands of site collections without having to bother the I.T. Administration staff with a bunch of DNS entry requests. It's easy enough to go into Central Administration as a … Continue Reading
Changes to the ICND1 Curriculum from Cisco! Etherchannel Port Aggregation
As I promised last time, I will be providing more updates regarding the differences between the previous CCNA track and the new CCNA Routing and Switching track announced by Cisco on March 26th. One of the major differences is that … Continue Reading
Aren’t Assets and Configuration Items the same thing according to ITIL?
A student in a recent ITIL class asked me a very good question: "Why did ITIL v3 combine the processes of Asset Management and Configuration Management, is it because assets and configuration items are the same thing?" Well, yes and no, … Continue Reading
Troubleshooting Wireless in Windows 8
We offer high bandwidth wireless throughout the building, and students appear to enjoy the access. Students are beginning to bring their Windows 8 laptops and tablets to training. I find myself being asked to diagnose wireless connectivity issues with Windows 8 more … Continue Reading
How to Administer a SQL Azure Database?
As Microsoft continues to develop and promote their cloud-based SQL services, database administrators will have to become adept at administering their company’s Azure-based assets. If you’re a “reluctant DBA” – someone tasked with managing databases just because you’re “the Microsoft … Continue Reading
How to configure Forest Level Trust in Windows Server
Scenario – Two organizations, USSHQ (USSHQ.Local) and Dulce Base (DulceBase.Local) need to be able to share resources. A forest trust relationship between the two organizations Active Directory Domain Services is desired. Before the trust can be created name resolution needs to configured … Continue Reading
Three Easy Ways to Improve Performance in Any SQL Server Database
The boss is yelling. Users are grumpy. SQL Server’s performance is tanking, and it’s making all of your organization’s line-of-business applications slow. And it’s your problem, just because you’re the “Microsoft person” in your environment. What’s a “reluctant DBA” to … Continue Reading
Generating Random Numbers for Cryptography with Lava Lamps
Generating Random Numbers for Cryptography with Lava Lamps? Yes, this is a serious article. Cryptography often requires random numbers. From seed values to cryptographic key material to data obfuscation values to actual keys, random numbers are incredibly important. If there’s … Continue Reading
How to Run the Exchange Management Shell EMS in PowerShell
This post if from our PowerShell for Exchange Server online video training library. Start training today! Interface Video Training is available for a FREE 3-Day trial, no credit card necessary. The entire Video Training Library is available for only $25 … Continue Reading
How to configure a DNS Secondary Zone in Windows Server 2008 & 2012
Secondary Zones are a DNS feature that allows the entire DNS database from a Master DNS server to be transferred to the Secondary. A Secondary Zones allows an organization to provide fault tolerance and load balancing to internal names. In … Continue Reading
