Are You Ready? Common Ways to Tell You Are Not Ready to Recover from a Disaster is an article I wrote when working recently on a disaster recovery project. It wasn't my first time working a project such as this, and I noted common mistakes being made over and over. These didn't have much to do with specific technology as much as the approach towards the need for an administrator to provide solid recovery of their systems. Specifics around process, documentation, and choosing from available options seem to catch us off guard way too often. When we realize our mistakes, it's almost too late to recover from the error. I hope to bring a little foresight to those administrators handed this very large task. The journal is available from Realtime-windowsserver.com in the Digital Library section. While you are there, subscribe to the journal which is released monthly. - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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The newest episode is available at CSTechcast.com, a full podcast for IT professionals. This week, CEO of Brighttalk.com Paul Heald talks about how webcasts are helping business reach other businesses and the technology behind it. In the news Microsoft is set to release the cloud computing OS Red Dog, the Windows XP downgrade gets six more months of life, web sites get their credentials ripped off, AMD swings at Intel with the Shanghai server CPUs, and Steve Jobs IS alive even after a rumored health crisis. Credit card companies lack of concern for bad wireless security gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", we take "A Closer Look" at the fork in the road upgrading to Windows Vista or Windows 7, and the new Hyper-V Server's HVCONFIG is detailed in "The Weekly Tech Tip". This episode of CS Techcast is sponsored by: vConferenceOnline. Use the discount code CSTECH at vConferenceOnline.com for a 10% discount on a virtual conference. Don't miss the SSWUG Ultimate Virtual Conference coming up soon. Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
Microsoft will float cloud OS this month (InfoWorld)
Windows XP gets another lifeline (CNet)
Researcher finds evidence of massive site compromise (ComputerWorld)
AMD Says Shanghai Won't Be Another Barcelona (PC World)
Apple stock tumbles nearly 11% on false report of Jobs' heart attack (CompuerWorld) As always, thanks for listening and hit the CSTechcast.com website for ways to get a hold of us. Also, check us out at friendfeed.com/cstechcast and twitter.com/cstechcast for our opinions on tech throughout the week. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=45 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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Welcome to another CSTechcast.com podcast for IT professionals. This week we interview Adam Shostack, author of The New School of Information Security about the essentials IT organizations need to establish to really do security right. In the news, PDF security holes are under increasing attack, Cisco is busy applying patches to its IOS software, solid state drives from Toshiba hit 256GB for netbooks, and Microsoft announces RTM status for Essential Business Server aimed at the mid-sized market and Windows HPC Server for the super high-end. A lack of great new business apps for smart phones and an overabundance of one-trick ponies gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", we take "A Closer Look" at areas of unnecessary tech spending, and blocking access to USB drives from Windows is "The Weekly Tech Tip".
Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
Adobe PDF Reader Vulnerable, U.S. CERT Warns (InformationWeek)
Cisco releases bundle of router security patches (InfoWorld)
Toshiba Unveils 256 GB Drives For 'Netbooks' (InformationWeek)
Windows Essential Business Server (Microsoft)
Microsoft Takes Its Newest High-Performance Computing Platform to the Street (Microsoft)
Enterprise 2.0 Vendors need to get more serious about mobile (The Fast Forward Blog)
The Podcast Awards nomination period closes soon, so get your votes in for CS Techcast at podcastawards.com. If you want to follow us on the social web check out friendfeed.com/cstechcast or twitter.com/cstechcast. Otherwise, give us a ring or type up some feedback, all available at CSTechcast.com.
Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=44
- Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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We’ve been doing the CS Techcast podcast for a while now. The whole point of our effort was that we're opinionated people that liked to talk. We wanted to get our information out there because we felt we had a unique viewpoint as frontline IT professionals. As time went on, we created accounts on Twitter and Friendfeed. No real reason except to see what the buzz was all about. Well, our uncontrollable urge to share on our weekly show now spills over to discussion online about tech and so much more. I normally use the services as an individual, sharing my opinions and posting things that I think are of note, and even a few silly things I find funny, well hilarious really. This versatility of changing subjects is especially important on the Friendfeed service, where the interface is deemed a “lifestream”. I’ve been critical of self-important people online that do nothing but cause a ruckus, Robert Scoble is not removed from that list at times, but he did add us to: The Scoble Top Tech Blogger/FriendFeed/Social Media List, and he ain't half bad as I've found from his stream. Pictures of him in the shower give him a pass on some bluster, because that self important factor is dialed down; he's just nutty like the rest of us. I am certainly not a top poster or the most respected, but I do participate and make our show available inline in the Feed Radio room at friendfeed.com/rooms/feedradio. I support those who post good stuff and try to create and be original, like a wonderful person I met on Friendfeed, Candace Holly, who added us to The Geek Media network. This is just one example of how Friendfeed begins to work for you. It's a great way to find people, debate the issues of the day, and discuss things that you may not get to approach in your normal circle of friends. It’s the new forums combined, because all of your blog posts, tweats, etc get pushed to the service. You are only as important as your contribution, so a one way push of information is not really useful in this realm. When you embrace this medium, those who write a blog or article, but never respond to their readers will become less important to you. They will need to make themselves available to have that dialog, which sounds like a lot of work but really is as easy as talking around the water cooler. As people find you interesting, they will add you to their stream and they may come to really respect your opinion. You will be more important to them than that technology reporter that will never responds to a comment on their blog. Your political viewpoint will be better than cable news fodder because it's interactive. It's not drive-by commenting like you see on some services like Digg.com. They'll listen to you because they know you have an opinion that can be respected and trusted because of your ongoing interactions with each other. As time goes on, Scoble will have to keep adding to this list because great people are always coming into the fold. It's such a good thing for you and me to have this easy way to get access to amazing people and expand our network. I think you’ll find that Friendfeed will help widen your knowledge and help you meet some cool people. Give it a try and friend me at friendfeed.com/cstechcast. I’ll be glad to see you on the stream. - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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Check out another podcast for IT pros at CSTechcast.com. This week John Kembel, CEO of HiveLive, gets us familiar with the ins and outs of getting a business to engage with customers through new social networks. Find more information on them at HiveLive.com. The news brings us a read on IT jobs during an uncertain economy, the hacking of Sarah Palin's e-mail, Apple finally addressing the DNS vulnerability, VMWare Virtual Center coming to the iPhone, and announcements from VMWorld on how to extend virtualization beyond the operating system. Investment bank's lack of real information in a world of technology gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", those who undervalue their IT staff get ripped six ways from Sunday in "The IT Pet Peeve", and "The Weekly Tech Tip" reviews the snapshot feature in Hyper-V. Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
Wall Street turmoil unlikely to KO IT industry (NetworkWorld)
Report: Legislator's son at center of Palin hack talk (InfoWorld)
Apple update finally fixes important DNS bug (InfoWorld)
VMware's VirtualCenter coming to Linux, iPhone (InfoWorld)
VMware chief says the OS is history (InfoWorld) If you'd like to support CS Techcast, vote for us in the Podcast Awards. They are taking nominations until the end of the month, so get your vote in. We'd like any feedback you'd be willing to give. Contact information is up on the home page. This week we took some pictures, so those will be showing up on the web site as well. I hope you enjoy the show and keep coming back to CSTechcast.com. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=43 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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Another fine podcast for IT professionals found here at CSTechcast.com. This week we talk enterprise 2.0 with Ross Mayfield, social networking extraordinaire and Chairman, President, and co-founder of Socialtext. Find Ross' blog at ross.typepad.com and SocialText's offerings at Socialtext.com. In the news, possible privacy issues with the IE8 beta phoning home, Dell's pushing into the VM space with new blade servers and storage, the DOJ is questioning the Google-Yahoo ad deal, HP's building an OS of their own, and the LHC gets hacked. Apple's new BSOD causing iTunes 8 gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", we take "A Closer Look" at Yammer and the benefits and drawbacks of micro-blogging in the enterprise, and "The Weekly Tech Tip" talks about Core Config, a new utility for Windows Server 2008 Server Core configuration. Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
MS defends IE 'phone home' feature, clarifies privacy policy (InfoWorld)
Dell unwraps products designed for virtualization (InfoWorld)
Sandy Litvack, a dogged trustbuster in pursuit of Google (CNet)
Hackers deface LHC site, came close to turning off particle detector (ZDNet)
iTunes 8 causes Windows Vista problems (ZDNet)
TechCrunch50: Yammer Wins TechCrunch50 (PC Magazine)
Core Config Utility (Codeplex) We're not just a podcast, check out our ramblings about random thoughts on the social sites twitter.com/cstechcast and friendfeed.com/cstechcast. We always welcome your feedback, so hit the voicemail, feedback page, or blog. All are available at CSTechcast.com. Thanks for listening. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=42 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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A new podcast for IT pros at CSTechcast.com is ready for you to download. Anil Desai, respected author, Microsoft MVP, and consultant, talks about the journey of being an independent technology consultant and the lessons learned. Find more on his web site anildesai.net. In the news, we talk the IT disaster recovery efforts in effect prompted by Hurricane Gustav, what jobs are more at risk to being outsourced, Google Apps are not getting much adoption in the enterprise, we discuss the new Cellular Seizure Investigation Stick, and the latest beta of Internet Explorer 8. Comcast's bit cap gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", hit the buzzer for our less than 5 minute game show "Know Your Tech", and check out SharePoint wiki permissions in "The Weekly Tech Tip". Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
New Orleans IT departments brace for Gustav (ComputerWorld)
IT workers hit hardest by offshore outsourcing, survey finds (ComputerWorld)
Google's tough sell to Corporate America (Fortune)
CSI Stick grabs data from cell phones (CNet)
Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 (ZDNet) Keep up with CS Techcast on the social nets at twitter.com/cstechcast and friendfeed.com/cstechcast. Help us out by writing a review where you subscribe to our podcast, either on iTunes or your favorite podcast directory. We look forward to brining you more great podcasts at CSTechcast.com. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=40 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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CSTechcast.com has a great show available for subscription and download this week. We interview Ken Ledeen, author of Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion, about the current status of privacy in the digital domain and how you can steer your IT organization around these new privacy pitfalls. The news brings stats of Vista service pack 1 adoption, a new massive Microsoft data center, a lawsuit for Apple and their 3G iPhone, DNS continues to be exposed, and Apache Tomcat faces a new security vulnerability. ISPs who haven't patched their DNS servers get "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", we argue the confusion around SSL certificates in "Point/Counterpoint", and Active Directory logon problems give fodder for "The Weekly Tech Tip". Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
Vista users rush for SP1; XP owners dawdle on SP3 (ComputerWorld)
Microsoft's $500M Iowa data center to use shipping containers (ComputerWorld)
iPhone 3G owner sues Apple over dropped calls, slow speeds (ComputerWorld)
Security expert: DNS attacks are happening (CNet)
Exploit code published for Apache Tomcat flaw (ZDNet) We have awarded our prize for feedback, but don't let that stop you. Submit feedback at our web site CSTechcast.com, at our blog ConsortioServices.com/blog, or at our Twitter.com/cstechcast and Friendfeed.com/cstechcast social networking locations. Let us know what you think and thanks for listening to CS Techcast. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=39 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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We just signed on to write a new book about Microsoft's offering for medium-sized business, Essential Business Server 2008. The title is Microsoft Essential Business Server 2008 Unleashed and we are excited to get started. We have already put a blog up to help document our progress and various musings that wouldn't be appropriate for the text of this book. In addition, we hope to contribute to the overall tech community with our postings. Visit EBSUnleashed.com to keep up with the topic.
- Eric Beehler
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CSTechcast.com brings you another episode of the podcast for IT professionals. Today, we talk about the future of IPv6 for business with Fred Wettling, author of Global IPv6 Strategies from Cisco Press. In the news, solid state drives are looking to replace spinning disks for enterprise applications, AMD is introducing new processors, a court ruling on model trains impacts free software, Windows 7 starts to get real, and iPhone gets Gartner's nod for use in business. VMWare's servers have fallen and they can't get up in "The Worst tech Move of the Week", greening servers gets "A Closer Look", and a quick FTP server setup is "The Weekly Tech Tip". Links to stories and sites discussed during the show:
IT managers opting for solid-state drives over hard disks (ComputerWorld)
AMD targets business with new desktop chips (ComputerWorld)
Legal milestone for open source (BBC)
Engineering Windows 7 (MSDN Blogs)
Windows 7 Details In October, Microsoft Says (InformationWeek)
iPhone 3G Available Online For Business Customers (InformationWeek)
VMware bug causes worldwide disruption (ZDNet)
This is the last week to get your feedback in for a chance to win a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. Tell us what you think. Links to all the ways to give your opinion on the home page. Thanks for listening and, as always, get the latest podcasts at CSTechcast.com.
Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=38 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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Let's do it again, another IT pro podcast posted at CSTechcast.com. This week we talk phishing threats and how to keep your users safe with Rohyt Belani, CEO of Intrepidus Group. See their new technology online at phishme.com. The news brings twelve new Microsoft updates for patch Tuesday, but Microsoft also tries harder with three new security programs, security concerns around the march towards virtualization, cloud entries from AT&T, others bring forth virtualization for small business, and economic woes hit IT jobs hard. Apple's iPhone kill switch gets "The Worst Tech Move of the Week", we take "A Closer Look" at the forthcoming Microsoft Essential Business Server 2008, and a strange hibernation feature in Windows Server 2008 brings us "The Weekly Tech Tip". Links to stories discussed during the show: Microsoft Patch Tuesday for August 2008: 12 bulletins (ArsTechnica)
Microsoft further commits to security, unveils 3 programs (Arstechnica)
Black Hat conference spotlights virtualization, DNS issues (InfoWorld)
AT&T Jumps Into Cloud Computing With Synaptic Hosting (InformationWeek)
Warily, Small Businesses Look To Cloud Computing (InformationWeek)
No Answers From Apple On iPhone 'Kill Switch' (InformationWeek) We still want to give you a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. All you have to do is submit some feedback. Drop by our home page, CSTechcast.com, for multiple ways to drop us a line. Keep your podcatcher pointed at CSTechcast.com for the best independent podcast for IT professionals. Thanks to everyone for listening. Link to the episode: http://www.cstechcast.com/home.aspx?Episode=37 - Eric Beehler (consortioservices.com/blog)
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