I happen to live near a private airport on the west coast used by jet setters, dignitaries, and the military. What I've noticed is that none of the civilian traffic comes near my house though every time a dignitary (or military jet) comes to town, my house is right under the flight path. When a dignitary is nearby, not only does my cell phone stop working but so does the low and upper ends of FM radio (where my NPR stations sit). Were it not for the fact that this generally seems to happen when the helicopters fly over I would just chalk it up as a brief fluke as opposed to a planned service outage. What would be really interesting is to know how broad the spectrum jamming is. Does it effect IR or UV as well as these specific radio bands?
The McKesson Horizon suit of products (clinical) all have a J2EE future. Right now availability is a top concern for those of us deploying clinical systems and evaluating vendors. A portable solution is important here because it allows the IS shop to determine which scalability/availability solution best fits their budget.
I just had this same conversation with someone working on a PMP certification. The certification MAY help you get past the resume scanners in HR, but being able to demonstrate a history of successful projects is what will get you the position. I would recommend getting involved with some OpenSource projects as a great way to show that your ready and able to be successful in a field where team work is now 80% of the game.
My answer to my friend is below: 50% of all serious (those worth at least $3 million) IT projects still fail. Something that has not seriously changed since the 60's when Brooks wrote the seminal text on the subject (The Mythical Man Month). These projects are not failing due to a lack of in depth expertise or paper certifications, they fail due to basic issues involving interpersonal communications and a mis-alignment of rewards.
In my experience projects get into trouble when the staff is not fully versed in identifying complexity (a basic problem that the engineering profession addresses directly). In conjunction with a failure to translate that complexity into an appropriate risk assessment (usually the result of poor team communications and/or inexperience) which is where a well versed technical manager comes to play. Followed by an unacceptable delivery which is often times the result of a counter productive award system.
Having a PMP says that you are well versed in the lexicon of Project Management and communicating with other PM's. It does little in helping you effectively communicate with end users, line of business staff, or management. The same can be said for Oracle certified DBA's and MS certified software developers.
Re:RedHat Fedora coming out on Monday will have th
on
Apache 2.0.48 Released
·
· Score: 1
* July 21 2003 - Test 1 (originally called Beta 1) release
* September 25 2003 - Test 2 release
* October 13 2003 - Test 3 release
* November 3 2003 - General Availability
What I keep hearing is how Bluetooth is not needed because WiFi is here. Why do we need another wireless protocol? Until 802.11 comes out with a LOW POWER small footprint (chip size) method of creating a PAN (Personal Area Network) without the headache of DHCP and routing there is a hole in the market.
Maybe bluetooth just needs to be renamed EatherUSB, PANEther. After all, CSMA/CD is dying (GigE anyone), but the name of Ethernet lives on and on and on...
I guess that when it comes to name changes, Blueballs might work. "The Personal Area Network your devices require without the radiation release your personals don't."
Many older BIOS's seem to run into a limit with drives over 136G in size. I've noticed that there are updated NT drivers to get around this problem. Has anyone run into this issue with Linux and found an inexpensive work around?
I see BitTorrent as the perfect companion to FreeNet. 1) BitTorrent is the one technology which FINALLY seems to be able to use my cablemodem effectivly. 2) FreeNet will place the most used content close to my node and do so in a secure fashion.
The Capital expenses are not the issue. The hard thing about building a co-op service like this is maintaining the level of service over a period of years. Look around and creat a good board of governance. When you talk to others who have done this kind of project, you will see that the high prices isp's charge are not all that far out of line. Especially given that you may very well fall under local regulatory issues.
For what it's worth: 0) You might find that pulling a pair of composit cables to each unit is very competative. These allow you to run CAT5, Coax, fiber, etc in one pull. For one example, see: http://www.broadbandutopia.com/composite.htm l 1) Bridged Ethernet to each unit. 2) Run with a CISCO bridging router and give each unit one dedicated port. 3) Sign up with two ISP's and run a pair of fractional T1's (one from each ISP). 4) Use OSPF well. (The hard part).
I have dreamed of this for years. I have found that the network Independence of X11 to be a HUGE advantage here but this alone does not go far enough. The core problem is where the state of the application is stored (between sessions). Most applications store this on the local filesystem. Therefore, you can go a long way to solving this problem by configuring NFS (in conjunction with NIS) to mount your user file system from a central NFS server and the problem is solved.
What would be really nice to see, is this information stored on an LDAP server so that my "preferences" could follow me around. Unfortunately, it would seem that MS is closer to this dream than Unix (most windows apps use the registry to store this information, I just don't know of any applications that will use a remote machines registry to pull the users preferences).
I have been able to make this a reality to a limited degree by: 1) Pointing all of my potential client machines to the same font server. 2) Storing all of my Address book information on the same LDAP server. 3) Using a file share that supports FTP,NFS, & SMB to store all of my files. 4) One nice thing is that Mozilla can (or at least used to) be hackable so that bookmarks are stored on a remote LDAP server. This is a good step in the right direction.
In the past 20 years I have had to deal with this more times than I dare to count. Maybe my environs are more complex than most others but I have found that "cute" names get REAL old the third time that Bunny goes down (:-) ) and you have NO idea which state the machine is in or how important this may be.
Therefore I have really taken a liking to the old boring but VERY effective naming convention of - Where is something like dns,www,prx (proxy), bil (billing) etc...
is something like CaIrv050304 State, City, Row, Column, Machine from the bottom of the rack.
It's not sexy and does not provide the hours of entertainment but it sure is nice when crunch time comes.
I've worked on this issue a bit with local government and will agree with most of the recent posters, that this is a non-issue for most of the electorate (which is only a group of special interests looking to push their own specific agendas).
However, the trick with government agencies (all but the military), is that they have very little money and very large needs. We tried to help out by interconnecting local government agencies and schools at cost (to us) but it was still too much of a burden for them. They just did not have the technical skills necessary to keep things running or more importantly, to identify issues.
I think that you will find the issues to be about the same as they are within a large company.
*Give me everything.
*Don't expect me to pay for it.
*Give it to me now.
*Make it work, so that I don't need to think.
Solve the problems the same way that you would for a large company.
*Build a knowledgeable and dedicated staff. (easier to do now that everyone is unemployed:-) )
*Start with projects that give you good metrics (i.e. help desk).
*Use the above metrics to pick the right solution and split apart the special interests.
I was offered a better opportunity recently, which allowed me to leave a fortune 500 company where I was the engineering manager providing ISP services to thousands of end users. While in that position, I often asked myself this same question and came up with the following wish list.
There are a couple of things that the government can do to make computer networks and computing more secure.
1) Repeal the DMCA. When security problems are found in an implementation of an algorithm, this law makes it illegal to talk about the problem or to implement a solution.
2) Repeal patent law as it applies to software. Software is well protected under copyright law as a work of art. The underlying function (algorithms used) for every program out there is a subtle change to prior art. It's just that no one but large corporations have access to the courts to successfully challenge these ludicrous restriction's on sharing mathematical equations with one another.
3) Allow end users to sue companies that keep there products closed and security problems a secret.
4) After fixing the above. Get out of the way as the free market takes over and those with bad software are forced to compete or go out of business.
How does one get a hand on the equipment after a company goes bust? I realize that it all ends up in an auction yard at some point and that most of the equip. at Exodus is not owned by Exodus and therefore will not be found at the swap meet anytime soon. However, the question is still valid. Where are the deals in used equipment?
I would really like to see a link from slashdot articles to a secure payment system where users can contribute to a specific cause. I'm sure that the EFF would love to accept some immediate award for doing good things, as would the ACLU (which as a 501C4 can lobby on our behalf). The trick is making having someone link the article to the correct fund.
Slashdot Mirror
I happen to live near a private airport on the west coast used by jet setters, dignitaries, and the military. What I've noticed is that none of the civilian traffic comes near my house though every time a dignitary (or military jet) comes to town, my house is right under the flight path. When a dignitary is nearby, not only does my cell phone stop working but so does the low and upper ends of FM radio (where my NPR stations sit). Were it not for the fact that this generally seems to happen when the helicopters fly over I would just chalk it up as a brief fluke as opposed to a planned service outage. What would be really interesting is to know how broad the spectrum jamming is. Does it effect IR or UV as well as these specific radio bands?
The McKesson Horizon suit of products (clinical) all have a J2EE future. Right now availability is a top concern for those of us deploying clinical systems and evaluating vendors. A portable solution is important here because it allows the IS shop to determine which scalability/availability solution best fits their budget.
Um guys... It's been done!...
Let me put this as direct as I can (for a Funny moderation; WITH THIS TITLE).
Yes!
The Pacifica radio network (the older but less recognized brother of NPR) has a program focused on technology. The hosts of the program brought were responsible for some of the first DMCA criminal and civil cases to make it to court.
As is typical of Pacifica; the programming is legendary and edgy.
Check out:
http://www.2600.com/offthehook/
I just had this same conversation with someone working on a PMP certification. The certification MAY help you get past the resume scanners in HR, but being able to demonstrate a history of successful projects is what will get you the position. I would recommend getting involved with some OpenSource projects as a great way to show that your ready and able to be successful in a field where team work is now 80% of the game.
My answer to my friend is below:
50% of all serious (those worth at least $3 million) IT projects still fail. Something that has not seriously changed since the 60's when Brooks wrote the seminal text on the subject (The Mythical Man Month). These projects are not failing due to a lack of in depth expertise or paper certifications, they fail due to basic issues involving interpersonal communications and a mis-alignment of rewards.
In my experience projects get into trouble when the staff is not fully versed in identifying complexity (a basic problem that the engineering profession addresses directly). In conjunction with a failure to translate that complexity into an appropriate risk assessment (usually the result of poor team communications and/or inexperience) which is where a well versed technical manager comes to play. Followed by an unacceptable delivery which is often times the result of a counter productive award system.
Having a PMP says that you are well versed in the lexicon of Project Management and communicating with other PM's. It does little in helping you effectively communicate with end users, line of business staff, or management. The same can be said for Oracle certified DBA's and MS certified software developers.
For the pollyannish ...
e dule/
From:
http://fedora.redhat.com/participate/sch
Schedule
Fedora Core 1 / Cambridge
* July 21 2003 - Test 1 (originally called Beta 1) release
* September 25 2003 - Test 2 release
* October 13 2003 - Test 3 release
* November 3 2003 - General Availability
What I keep hearing is how Bluetooth is not needed because WiFi is here. Why do we need another wireless protocol?
Until 802.11 comes out with a LOW POWER small footprint (chip size) method of creating a PAN (Personal Area Network) without the headache of DHCP and routing there is a hole in the market.
Maybe bluetooth just needs to be renamed EatherUSB, PANEther. After all, CSMA/CD is dying (GigE anyone), but the name of Ethernet lives on and on and on...
I guess that when it comes to name changes, Blueballs might work. "The Personal Area Network your devices require without the radiation release your personals don't."
Many older BIOS's seem to run into a limit with drives over 136G in size. I've noticed that there are updated NT drivers to get around this problem. Has anyone run into this issue with Linux and found an inexpensive work around?
Proof to gentle society that it NEEDS to keep us employed. This was just a warning shot of those with "free" time. :-)
I see BitTorrent as the perfect companion to FreeNet .
1) BitTorrent is the one technology which FINALLY seems to be able to use my cablemodem effectivly.
2) FreeNet will place the most used content close to my node and do so in a secure fashion.
This duo would be MUCH BETTER than bread + knife.
The Capital expenses are not the issue. The hard thing about building a co-op service like this is maintaining the level of service over a period of years. Look around and creat a good board of governance. When you talk to others who have done this kind of project, you will see that the high prices isp's charge are not all that far out of line. Especially given that you may very well fall under local regulatory issues.
m l
For what it's worth:
0) You might find that pulling a pair of composit cables to each unit is very competative.
These allow you to run CAT5, Coax, fiber, etc in one pull.
For one example, see:
http://www.broadbandutopia.com/composite.ht
1) Bridged Ethernet to each unit.
2) Run with a CISCO bridging router and give each unit one dedicated port.
3) Sign up with two ISP's and run a pair of fractional T1's (one from each ISP).
4) Use OSPF well. (The hard part).
I have dreamed of this for years. I have found that the network Independence of X11 to be a HUGE advantage here but this alone does not go far enough. The core problem is where the state of the application is stored (between sessions). Most applications store this on the local filesystem. Therefore, you can go a long way to solving this problem by configuring NFS (in conjunction with NIS) to mount your user file system from a central NFS server and the problem is solved.
What would be really nice to see, is this information stored on an LDAP server so that my "preferences" could follow me around. Unfortunately, it would seem that MS is closer to this dream than Unix (most windows apps use the registry to store this information, I just don't know of any applications that will use a remote machines registry to pull the users preferences).
I have been able to make this a reality to a limited degree by:
1) Pointing all of my potential client machines to the same font server.
2) Storing all of my Address book information on the same LDAP server.
3) Using a file share that supports FTP,NFS, & SMB to store all of my files.
4) One nice thing is that Mozilla can (or at least used to) be hackable so that bookmarks are stored on a remote LDAP server. This is a good step in the right direction.
In the past 20 years I have had to deal with this more times than I dare to count. Maybe my environs are more complex than most others but I have found that "cute" names get REAL old the third time that Bunny goes down ( :-) ) and you have NO idea which state the machine is in or how important this may be.
Therefore I have really taken a liking to the old boring but VERY effective naming convention of -
Where is something like dns,www,prx (proxy), bil (billing) etc...
is something like CaIrv050304
State, City, Row, Column, Machine from the bottom of the rack.
It's not sexy and does not provide the hours of entertainment but it sure is nice when crunch time comes.
I've worked on this issue a bit with local government and will agree with most of the recent posters, that this is a non-issue for most of the electorate (which is only a group of special interests looking to push their own specific agendas).
However, the trick with government agencies (all but the military), is that they have very little money and very large needs. We tried to help out by interconnecting local government agencies and schools at cost (to us) but it was still too much of a burden for them. They just did not have the technical skills necessary to keep things running or more importantly, to identify issues.
I think that you will find the issues to be about the same as they are within a large company.
*Give me everything.
*Don't expect me to pay for it.
*Give it to me now.
*Make it work, so that I don't need to think.
Solve the problems the same way that you would for a large company.
*Build a knowledgeable and dedicated staff. (easier to do now that everyone is unemployed
*Start with projects that give you good metrics (i.e. help desk).
*Use the above metrics to pick the right solution and split apart the special interests.
Good Luck!
I was offered a better opportunity recently, which allowed me to leave a fortune 500 company where I was the engineering manager providing ISP services to thousands of end users. While in that position, I often asked myself this same question and came up with the following wish list.
There are a couple of things that the government can do to make computer networks and computing more secure.
1) Repeal the DMCA. When security problems are found in an implementation of an algorithm, this law makes it illegal to talk about the problem or to implement a solution.
2) Repeal patent law as it applies to software. Software is well protected under copyright law as a work of art. The underlying function (algorithms used) for every program out there is a subtle change to prior art. It's just that no one but large corporations have access to the courts to successfully challenge these ludicrous restriction's on sharing mathematical equations with one another.
3) Allow end users to sue companies that keep there products closed and security problems a secret.
4) After fixing the above. Get out of the way as the free market takes over and those with bad software are forced to compete or go out of business.
I can't find the URL right now but someone out there makes an RF "amplifier" for the palm. This to me is the ultimate in universal remotes.
How does one get a hand on the equipment after a company goes bust? I realize that it all ends up in an auction yard at some point and that most of the equip. at Exodus is not owned by Exodus and therefore will not be found at the swap meet anytime soon. However, the question is still valid. Where are the deals in used equipment?
I would really like to see a link from slashdot articles to a secure payment system where users can contribute to a specific cause. I'm sure that the EFF would love to accept some immediate award for doing good things, as would the ACLU (which as a 501C4 can lobby on our behalf). The trick is making having someone link the article to the correct fund.