It's Time for 5 Stupid IT Questions

You got IT questions? I got stupid answers.  Pull up a chair, sit down, and destroy your precious little mind reading my stupid ramblings for a bit.  What else do you have to do?  Silly Earthling.

(Note:  This is going to be an ongoing series, I think.  It depends on feedback from folks like you)

Question 1 - "In VMware Workstation and VMware Player, it has an option to preallocate the virtual hard drives.  What does this do and why should I consider it?"

Answer: It carves out physical storage space (on whatever drive/disk/volume you have it pointed at) to store the disk .VMDK file before using it the first time.  Like most things in life, there's a trade-off...

On the good side, preallocating space avoids the need to incrementally allocate more space as needed.  The incremental growth usually happens while the VM guest is running, causing some delays and pauses at times.

On the bad side, preallocating space takes up designated storage space which may not be fully-used on the inside (guest VM referencing).  For example, if you specify a 60 GB disk, it will grab 60 (plus a little chump-change space for overhead) right away.  In the end, you may only end up filling 40 GB within the guest machine, leaving 20 (or thereabouts) unused but still occupied on the physical disk.

If space isn't a concern, preallocate it to squeeze a little more performance from your virtual toyland.

Question 2 - "If I want to roll out a new Group Policy ADMX template during production hours, what negative impact would that have?"

Answer: "Would" or "Could"?  The answer depends on several factors.  But starting at step 1:  deploying an ADMX template into an AD environment involves updating the SYSVOL on the first domain controller.  From there it replicates (because domain controllers like to replicate, as nasty as that sounds).

The factors that come into play after step 1 are like a Rubik's cube.  Site link configurations, replication schedules, the size of the ADMX files, the WAN links, the network configuration, the KCC mess in the background, the amount of drugs your engineers consume, the prevailing winds, the high tide, the... whatever.  Hopefully you get the idea.  I would recommend that (after you've tested them in a separate environment of course) that you deploy them during off-peak hours.  If that isn't possible, blame it on the last person to have quit.

Question 3 - "Will shifting my SCCM environment over to a user-demand, Application Catalog scheme fix all my problems with overseeing software deployments?"

Answer:  It depends.  In general, the answer is "no", it won't fix "all" of those "problems".  Can it lessen your workload?  At best: usually.  At worst:  it will replace one set of problems with another.

Will it eliminate some problems on the whole?  Sometimes.

It depends on how diverse your applications are and how diverse the target platforms are in your SCCM site.  If you support 4,000 products, but they are well-defined in terms of assigning one product+version for each business role, then you will be better off.  If you have a lot of alternatives for the same role/purpose, start drinking and get your Liver in good shape.

The surprise "gotchas" I've seen, or heard about, with handing over the role of installing applications to end users via a catalog shopping-cart concept, have been basically from two general areas.  Each of which breaks down into two more areas:

1. Setting up the catalog
2. Cleaning up messes

The first area (setting up the catalog), involves not only building the catalog, but assigning roles and permissions, but that's the easy part.  Then comes the spaghetti-like enigma of validating product licensing and usage terms, as well as planning out the potential conflicts.  Those are the nasty things like "Product A and Product B cannot exist on the same client or they break things." or "Product A only works with .NET 4.0 while Product B only works with .NET 4.5" and so on.

The second area (cleaning up messes) involves hand-holding users that mistakenly install things and run into problems with them.  Even if you teach them how to remove those mistakes, there are going to be the breaks that require rolling up your sleeves and taking time away from other work.

The secondary issues are delegation reliability, and platform resiliency.  Big words.  I like big words.

The former (delegation) involves how well your delegated staff hold up with handling rights and assignments, as well as tech support issues that arise.  The latter (resiliency) involves how mature your environment is with regards to platform standards and methods for repairing breaks in the assembly line.  How many versions of Windows you support, how many device types, models, vendors, component versions (JRE, .NET).  Good stuff for beer talk.

Question 4 - "Is it more important to have a college degree or a certification when entering the IT field?"

Answer:  My kids' friends and their friends hit me with this question a lot.  Usually after some introductory phrase like "Excuse me, old man?  Can I axe yuze a question about getting a computer job?".

From an entry perspective (first-time job seeker), it depends on what kind of IT job you're aiming for.  If you're looking for a fairly low to intermediate job, such as anything from Tier1/desktop support, to even Systems Admin or Systems Engineer, it helps to have a degree, but it really helps to have a lot of (current/recent/relevant) certifications.

Many entry level IT jobs only require A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications, unless you start getting into VMware or Cisco type stuff (and so on).  Even then, having a Microsoft MCSA/MCSE will help a lot.

If the job your aiming for is "senior research scientist" or "database architect", well, start filling out those college enrollment applications.  It won't hurt to have your CCNA or MCSE/MCwhatever, but most high-level, expert type fields within IT expect more educational background.  And don't forget those Analysts and Project Managers, who may need a mix of schooling and certs like PMP, ITIL, etc.  Just poke around the job postings online and you'll see what I mean. (Not that I've been looking of course, cough-cough.  That's just what I've been told).

Question 5 - "What is the toughest part of getting technology to work well?"

Answer:   People.  It's just human nature to try to pound nails using a wrench.

(Thank you for reading!  Stay tuned for more IT stupidity coming soon...)

Best Exam Ever

If you work in IT and have ever chased certification, you are well aware of the familiar exam questions.  Most are scenario based, but they are always focused on the technical aspects.  We all know that technical skills will only get you so far in a career.  There's much more that has to be mastered in order to gain upward mobility.  Here's an example exam to try out...

1. Your boss calls you into a private meeting and explains his new "vision" for the IT environment.  He read an article on a recent business trip flight about how switching from Windows to Linux will save tons of money.  He insists there's no research or planning required.  "Just do it" he says, like the Nike commercials say.  You try to explain the problems with getting all the Windows applications to run either natively with WINE or through virtualization, but he waves you off as if you were a noisy mosquito at a wine festival.  You need to make a decision on what to do.  You choose one of the following:

A. Request a transfer to a different department (different manager)
B. Apply for a job at a different employer
C. Insist he increase his dosage of Xanax and avoid business flights for another year
D. Put a Linux wallpaper theme on his Windows desktop and convince him the migration is complete

Exam Question

You are the senior administrator for Contoso Corporation, a leading maker of high-quality inflatable sexual enhancement products with locations around the world. You have been asked to stand up a new server for the office in Kabul, in preparation for increased web site traffic expected for the launch of a new product that aims to fill the void of inflatable suicide explosive garments. That request came directly from Harry Seaward, VP of Marketing, during a meeting a week ago. Today you have been asked to delay that project and focus instead on a new database server in the New York office for Human Resources records services.  That came directly from Hugh Jorgan, VP of Human Resources, while he sat next to you at a strip club on a week-long convention trip to Vegas.

What should you do?

A) Follow Mr. Jorgan’s guidance and catch up on the juicy gossip about all your coworkers from the most connected department in the company.

B) Follow Mr. Seaward’s guidance and be marginalized by all the other departments that despise Marketing, and also anger the God’s of employment (HR), making you a prime target for bad assignments.

C) Foolishly try to complete both requests at the same time and end up fumbling the ball and angering all of the department heads.

D) Start interviewing for a new job.

 

Answer: A

Certification Regurgitation

This is the MS certification track I followed and completed…

MCSA (4 exams) – July 2008

• 70-270 - Windows XP
• 70-290 - Windows Server 2003 (manage & maintain)
• 70-620 - Windows Vista
• 70-291 - Windows Server 2003 (network infrastructure, dns, dhcp, rras)

MCITP – Server Administrator (3 exams) – October 2009

• 70-640 - Windows Server 2008 (configuring AD)
• 70-642 - Windows Server 2008 (network infrastructure)
• 70-646 - Pro: Admin Windows Server 2008

MCITP – Enterprise Administrator (2 exams) – February 2010

• 70-643 - Windows Server 2008 (app infra: wsus, iis, sharepoint, etc.)
• 70-647 - Pro: Enterprise Admin (review test)

Normally the EA set consists of 3 exams, but the third exam is a toss-up of 620 or 680.  Since I had passed 620 already I didn’t need it.

For me, the toughest exams were 291 and 642.  However, 647 was the trickiest.  I failed it the first try by one question.  However, I did try to make it through while going head-first into a bad stomach Flu, so I tried to hurry up half-way through.  I passed it the second time about two weeks later, after studying every spare minute I had.  The trickiest part of 647 is reading the questions.  The wording throws you off.

Cranium Drainium 16

It’s been a long time since I opened the flood gates to let dead brain cells dump out onto the blog.  Here goes…

• Fixed a toilet, a refrigerator water filter, a light fixture, and the A/C return filter all before 7:30 AM on a Saturday, including a trip to Lowe’s the same morning.  I feel manly now.
• Earned my MCITP Enterprise Administrator certification this past week.  Exam 70-647 was tricky, but I passed the 2nd time around after insane studying.
• I wired in a 10/100 switch at home to replace the 802.11x wireless bullshit around the house.  I have one more line to run to get all our computers on the circuit.  Only the Wii and mobile devices will use the wireless.  I f-ing hate wireless.
• Starbucks ended the seasonal supply of Pumpkin Spice Latte and replaced it with “Dark Cherry Mocha” which is not very good.  I’m going back to Caramel or Mocha from now on.
• I finished up two intranet portal side jobs and added two Internet web projects.  Looking forward to the road ahead.  Nothing to lean on, financially, but it does help with coffee and beer funds.
• I diverted some of my tax refund to buying a Dell Inspiron Zino HD with extra trimmings.  I can’t wait for it to arrive, I’m stoked!  I will then cycle my current workhorse to my son, and his computer will become the TV media center box again.
• Taking my kids to the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) of Virginia this weekend.  We have a free pass, so why not?
• Tired of the shitty cold weather.  Waiting for Spring to return.

A Different Kind of Exam Question

See if you can guess the solution for the following real incident:

Network consists of Windows Server 2008 Standard edition, and six Windows 7 clients. All are joined to a native 2008 Active Directory domain.  The router is a Linksys, which is also handling DHCP services. The server, router, and cable MODEM are plugged into a reliable UPS for the number of devices being used.  However, the UPS also has other devices plugged into the battery side, not the surge-protector-only side.

During a night of bad weather, the facility power drops out completely several dozen times in short succession.  Almost as if a light switch were being toggled on and off.  The UPS is carrying too many devices for the battery to power for more than a few seconds and soon devices on the UPS are powering off along with the facility.  To avoid potential hardware damage, the devices are shut off until the following day.

The next day, everything is powered back up and appears fine. Users are able to logon, but notice that the "Preparing your desktop" prompt takes almost 5 full minutes to finish.  Users then find that they are being prompted for credentials each time they attempt to browse shared folders on the server.

From all desktops, the server/domain controller can be pinged successfully and once credentials are entered they can browser and manage folders and files.

The System Event log on each client mentions that the desktop is no longer trusted by the domain.  The administrator performs a "reset" on a few computers in Active Directory, and then attempts to disjoin and rejoin the appropriate computers to the domain.  However, when they attempt to rejoin, they are prompted for credentials, but then presented with an error message indicating that the domain cannot be resolved by DNS and no DNS is available.  Tests on the domain controller itself indicate DNS, AD, Kerberos and all other services are operating properly.

The administrator decides to turn off the client firewall and attempt to join the computers again, but the same problem occurs again.  Then the administrator attempts to refresh the DHCP assignment using IPCONFIG /RELEASE and /RENEW.  The addresses are being assigned but only one of the two DNS server addresses are being applied on the clients. The DHCP server assigns one internal and one external (as a backup).  Only the external address was being applied.  Trying to log into the router resulted in failed logon attempts.  The router configuration had been corrupted sufficiently to break the administrative logon settings it seemed.

The solution is:

A) Rename the computers and attempt to join them as new accounts. Then
delete the former accounts from AD.

B) Specify a domain suffix for the IPv4 network connection properties,
and try to join the domain again.

C) Specify a static DNS address for the IPv4 network connection
properties, and try to join the domain again.

D) Reboot the router and try to join the domain again.

E) Reset and re-configure the router, refresh the IP assignments on the
clients, and try to join the domain again.

The Answer?  Post your best guess as a feedback.  I’ll post the real answer soon.

Certifiably Certifiable

As of this week, I am edumacated certificated as such…

• Microsoft® Certified Professional (MCP)
• MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Server Administrator
• MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista: Configuration
• MCTS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory: Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure: Configuration

…and yet when I get home I *STILL* have to take out the trash.  I get no respect.

Cert Exams Week - Thoughts About Age versus Business Value-Add

I'm in the midst of a six-day, three exam, "boot camp" course in Hampton, VA. So far, I've passed two of the exams. The last one is this Saturday. If I pass that one, I will move from MCSA/2003 to MCITP-SA/2008, so I will be a happy camper. Scoff if you want, but every little bit helps. Especially since I work in the IT field and am 45 years old.

Age, generally speaking, goes against you in the IT field, except for a subset of the overall U.S. IT job market. With 18 year old kids coming out of high school with their MCITP, VCP, CCNA certs (no, I am not exaggerating one bit here), they are cheaper to hire, tend to devote longer hours at work (no family to run home to support, no sick babies to tend to, no house repairs, etc.) and so on.

So, being older, more expensive (generally), more encumbered with obligations outside of the workplace, and so on, it's a no-brainer that employers are looking for the best bang for their buck. Sure you can say that "experience" counts, but that only factors into places that value experience over a cheaper price tag. My employer is a rarity in that they do still value experience, so I am indeed lucky.  And considering I am also lucky to be able to take part in an education assistance program during a Recession like this is an added bonus.

Anyhow, I've passed 83-640, 70-642 and next up is 70-646.  Tomorrow will be a full-bore lecture and study day.  Tonight I'm going to give my brain a break.

The Certification Consternation Gyration

So, the worn-out argument goes like this:

Computer Geek 1 says: “I got my certification!”

Computer Geek 2 says: “Big deal.  Certs mean nothing.”

Computer Geek 3 says: “Did you study or do a boot camp?”

These are essentially the three basic views within the world of those who find it difficult to get laid and dress appropriately at the same time.  Scratch that.  These are folks that just have a tough time getting laid.  In any case, the argument is worn out to death.  But I had to touch on a slightly marginalized aspect of this that deals with Geek 3 above.

There is a narrow debate going on that says studying for weeks, even months, deserves more accolades and congratulations than do those who cram in a “boot camp” session.  Both arrive at the same result: a certification.

But the exams do not measure your studying.  They measure your ability to respond to questions.  They measure your ability to respond to problems in a controlled environment and with very narrow constraints.

Here’s my 1.9 cents:  If you purely respond to exam questions with real-life solutions, you will barely pass.  The reason is that many questions offer up answers that simply do not fit with real world situations.  The best answer is often not the most efficient or reliable solution in the real world.  Any instructor will concur.  Any.  Just ask one.  So, if you cram in how to respond to answers using a boot camp, it’s no less valuable in the end than doing it the “hard way”.  Just sayin.  You can disagree, which is fine.  It’s a free country/world/universe.  For now.

ITIL v3 Foundations Exam

I passed my ITIL v3 Foundations exam with a score of 93! Holy crap. It wasn't the toughest exam I've taken, but it was one of the most confusing. I left the classroom thinking I might have scored 65 or 70 (26 of 40 questions to pass). Cool.

Busy Day, Early Exam, Shopping Malls, Food Courts. Y'all Come Back Now, You hear?

What a day. I had to get up early to get to the exam place in time to take a "beta" certification exam. It was really interesting. Since it was a "beta", I had to consent to an NDA, so I can't divulge any details, but I can say that it introduces the use of virtual machines for the simulations. Not the usual half-baked simulation utilities. It is very cool and much more realistic. The manner in which the tasks are presented works very well also. I think it's the future of certification exams. Anyhow, the exam was free (by invitation) and they don't provide a score, so I really don't know how well I performed. The benefit is free exam vouchers for "real" exams, so I couldn't pass up that opportunity.

Afterwards, we spent all day doing shopping stuff. My son and I split off from the girls to see Quantum of Solace. It's a good movie, but they need to expand the new Bond character a bit more. He's starting to get robotic. Sort of like Bourne, but with too much Red Bull and no sleep. Not to spoil it for anyone, but the stunts are pretty good. My only complaint was the scene where he goes after a boat by jumping over two boats and crashing on a third with a stolen motorcycle. The only jumping-the-shark moment I can recall.

After more window shopping and a very noisy food court experience, I'm finally home and enjoying peace and quiet. After months of working our way back from being laid off, it was the first time we'd gone shopping in many months. We did our part to bolster the sagging economy. I hope it returns the favor.

Boo-Yah! MCSA at last!

Go ahead and snicker. It's not an MCSE or MCITP or whatever, but it's an MCSA on 2003! I passed the fourth and final exam (70-291 / "Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure"). By far the toughest exam I've taken yet. I'm sure there are others which are equally (or more) challenging, but I don't care. I finally got a cert! I've had an MCTS/MCP for 70-401 "System Center Configuration Manager 2007" since December 07, but this is icing on the cake for me.

2008 started off badly. Very badly. But maybe this finally a sign that my bad luck is turning around. I'm going to use the same metrics that economists use though. I'll decide how my luck is going after two consecutive quarters. :)

Catching Up

Just a follow-up to some e-mails asking where I've been. I've been in an 8-day MCSA "Boot Camp" course all week (and part of next week). Grueling but very cool. So far I've passed the first two exams, with two more yet to go. Not getting much sleep but like I said: it's worth it.

Commuting still sucks but it's par for the course. Today I finished the exam at 7pm (I think, I can't keep track of time this week) and it took me until 8:30 to get home due to another break-down in the HRBT.

Anyhow, back to studying. I will post more when I have more time.