I've been here before from another industry! In my case we were already working extremely lean but we were extremely profitable. However, a larger industry that we essentially "work for" bought us out as they expanded their business. They liked we worked lean they said. A couple of years after the buyout we were lumped into a group of similar (but not really) focused companies. Being the only profitable business out of the 4 we propped the other businesses up and still made profit for the whole group (over $1B total revenue). Unfortunately that didn't last very long when the other two companies in the group got hit by new regulations. Suddenly we hit the black as a group, not the red but it didn't matter at that point. Various poor decisions and a few pissed off clients later that once proud 2k employee business is nothing but a name of a 15 person business unit that's riding remaining contracts and whatever legal loopholes the old business license might still allow.
Then again, this is in the UK which advances their technology a bit different than carriers in the US. For some reason, my brain omitted that part when I RTFA.
....to guesstimate early next year. Aside from FCC approval do you really think most mobile broadband companies (well, AT&T and such) will hurry to implement this while citing issues with bandwidth and creating caps. Add that to RIAA influence and technology upgrades for carriers, it'll probably be at least 5-6 years before we see any consumer use of this technology.
While there are times I wish I had one, my work speaks for itself. Don't get me wrong; life would have been easier and I probably could slack off more (my experience with degree'd IT people) and easily get away with it.
Not having a degree does mean you have to work harder and gain more experience. It helps to have people along your career that can vouch for you as well. I started my first 'corporate' job as a Tech Support rep. Worked there until I became a Senior Systems Engineer (6yr) and then moved onto my current job as an IT Manager by knowing the Owners of this company through my experience with the last. I've also gotten to know many in the healthcare and general technology industry.
Generally; as long as you work hard, know the right people and can easily prove your strengths you should be able to get a job just about anywhere. The more you bullshit the less likely you are to get a job. Most people in the industry that are worth a grain of salt can detect BS a mile away.
I've been using vista at home since RTM. Was having issues until my most recent reformat in July. Now Vista runs happily on my main home machine (C2D E8300 w/3GB RAM and 6mo old Motherboard) and my mediacenter (AMD x2 5000+ 3GB RAM and some HP motherboard). I've had issues here and there but mostly related to either old software or hardware that has no updated drivers.
At work though, its a different story. Using the management console to connect to 2k3 servers is, well, odd. Missing options (like properties so you can reboot via advanced settings on the Terminal service crashes), annoying updated admin tools that really don't seem to be meant for 2003 and again, incompatibility with various older business applications. Also have this pain with the USB dock for my Lenovo X300. The USB dock is connected to a usb lan device and vista will at times not identify the network until I disable and reenable. New drivers haven't helped. Not sure if its a Vista issue with USB or just bad driver implementation.
Personally, I think they should move back to XP or XP-like with some vista upgrades for business. Like back in the day when you had business and home versions of windows (NT days). To me, it makes more sense.
HP does this on their servers with ILO. The ILO password is a variation of the host name and random alphanumeric characters. Sadly, they don't do this with their procurve line of switches.
This is actually part of the contract. You actually 'upgrade' the version of windows that comes with the machine that you purchased with your volume licensing agreement (I'm under the select6 agreement for 2,500 PCs). This gives you more then the ability to ghost, it also includes CAL (connection access licenses) for Win2K/2003 as well as terminal server licenses for windows 2000 (2003 licensing changed) and various other 'use' licenses aswell. This can be verified by reading the licensing faq at microsoft (look at my post history for the link, its in my last post). You don't pay the full cost for the os under the agreement (thats supplimented by the pc you bought) and it entitles you to unlimited upgrades (so when vista comes out you don't pay more). At first glance its a ripoff, after you actually research it and read the terms its not quite as bad (but still expensive).
Consider this;
You have 1,000 pcs and you bought into the VL agreement since win2k, its vista now. You don't have to 'tru-up' since you still only have 1,000 pcs if you bought into the enterprise licensing (not the enterpise licensing subscription) so you get upgraded the whole way up, no cost to your vl agreement.
You have 1,000 pcs and you didn't buy into the vl agreement, so you upgraded to wxp by buying 1,000 boxed versions, then again for vista, 1,000 boxed versions (say upgrade instead of full versions).
Which do you think costs you more? On top of that the agreement allows you to pay a portion each year for 3 years (standard company capitalization) saving you even more money in the long run. This all depends on the agreement you decide on though, ymmv and all that.
If you can't buy a naked PC, then how are you going to make the most out of your volume license agreement?
If you ever read the volume license agreement, its an upgrade to your existing windows license. Basically you should already have a license for the PC you are installing the volume licensing version on. You more pay for the connection access license (CAL) and various other 'use' licenses per user.
From Microsoft's Website
Only Windows Client upgrades can be acquired through Volume Licensing; the full operating system license must be acquired as FPP or be pre-installed by an OEM or System Builder.
Its under Licensing Basics but also comes with your VLA and sometimes as a reminder in your VL Software Packs.
Blizzard was hurrasing him outside of court though, and stating they would persue legal action. While you may agree with it or not, there is a point in all this. This still falls under fair use and DMCA has no place in this particular case. If he looses, this could set a huge precedence. Imagine O'Riley getting sued for their books, or better yet, Blizzard moves on to the free guides. Shutting down GameFaqs. They are making money (advertising) from others using their gameguides so they *must* be violating DMCA!
This guy is trying to make a buck, so be it. Mabey his guide is good, mabey it sucks but who cares? There is more at risk than just that.
I'm lucky to have a room seperated from the house that contains most of my equipment. Powerbill is managable with proper power management but can get nasty during the summer here in FL.
Servers (In older white/beige HP rack)
- (1) No name 4U case running P4 1.6 w/1GB RAM and 2x80gb (web/mail/ftp - basic stuff, slackware 9)
- (1) Compaq Proliant DL360 G4 (2x3.6GHZ Xeon, 4GB RAM 2x146gb local and 7x146gb via storageworks drive array all ultra320 scsi) running Windows 2003 Server, this runs a couple of virtual servers for development, testing and general futzing around with
- (1) Compaq Proliant DL140 (1x2.0GHz Xeon, 2GB RAM, 2x80GB IDE) running windows 2000 server, favorite gaming flavor of the moment
Network Equipment (also in HP rack though some not mountable)
- (1) Teryon cable modem from brighthouse
- (1) Cisco PIX 501 firewall/vpn had to purchase addt'l licensing:(
- (2) WRT54G (v1.1 and v2.0) one for inside and one for outside. My house was built in the 50s and due to this wiremesh in the drywall, it acts like a faraday cage, have to use one outside to get signal by the pool
- (2) HP procuve switches 24-port 2524 with fibrechannel transceivers to connect the server room and the house
The rest of the equipment is general stuff like my computer, my wifes, my daugthers and my father-in-law's (he lives with us). Have a couple for guests and a mythtv box in the bedroom. my wife and I both have laptops from work also and a romaing sony vaio tr2ap.
Most of the home equipment goes into standby or shuts off when not in use, some is rarely used (laptop, visitor bedroom computer). The gaming server is shut down unless its in use, use WOL to turn it on without going to the server room. The DL360 has better power management and I can spin down drives when the server isn't in use. The outside wireless AP actually runs off solar/battery combo (an experiment of mine) but its rarely used anyways and typically powered off via the lightswitch outside.
Overall my power was much better than it was last year before I consolidated most of my servers with the single DL360 and implemented better power management in the house computers. The server room use to be a workshop built onto but not accessable from the house. Its locked up pretty tight (steel door, came that way just added some new locks) and you can't tell whats in it from the outside. A/C is provided from the house (was that way when I moved in). When power gets too expensive I shut it down unless I need it, at that point I use WOL to wake it up. Infact I rarely goto the server room once I got it all built to the way I like it.
Something else I forgot to add, check with how other large datacenters are handling their energy efficientcy. Do a lot of research. Someone also said about monitoring individual racks or even servers. Get to know where your energy is going from a systems standpoint. That will help fill the gap with where the rest of the energy for the datacenter is going.
Chances are there are many things that are eating away at your energy costs. Your best bet would be to hire a few consultants that work in the the eletrical, a/c and datacenter management fields. Any one solution probably won't help (say, replacing all your servers with low-power sun servers) or would be too costly. A few things to consider (you may have already implemented these or are considering these, you didn't say so I'm going on the assumption that you have not).
- If your server room is not enclosed on the roof of the room (just using plain false-roof tiles) make sure they are atleast insulated very well. The more A/C escapes, the more it has to work.
- Make sure there is enough air-flow through your server racks (best placements and setup ideals very from person to another), best not to have the rear right up to a wall. Middle of the room or offset (5 feet or so from the well) allows for good ventalation.
- Keep server room lights off unless needed with the exception of a low-heat emergency lighting.
- If you have raised flooring and the a/c comes through the bottom, place the racks behind vent openings (so the air is rising to the front of the rack, getting sucked in by the fans in the front) instead of having the rack on the vent itself.
- Upgrade older servers if possiable. Older servers (expecially the old HP NetServer series) are a lot less efficient as newer servers. Not componet (CPU, HD) but also overall engineering.
- Turn off monitors when not in use. LCDs are not as bad but better to be safe then sorry. If you do not need it running, just leave it off.
- Do not allow people to keep the server room door open, may sound simple but you wouldn't beleive how many times I've seen this. If the doors don't close automatically, get automatic closers for them!
- Make sure the doors are weatherstripped.
- Multiple airconditioners! I have a small server room that runs on three airconditioners. Two always run, one does not, this rotates weekly. Also great for redundancy.
I'm sure there are many more things you can do. Hiring outside consulants who have worked with issues such as this are always benifitial. Be sure to get second/third opionions.
Wow, spelling really sucks when you haven't slept for 72hrs. (I really, really hate Exchange. Expecially when custered.)
Etiquette is for those with no breeding; fashion for those with no taste.
Seems to fit you perfectly.
In reality, there are many reasons why this passed QA; improper maangement, last moment design change, string of bad parts in the production line, malicious employee, etc.. It happens, the real issue is Microsoft should present a press release and issue a recall depending on how big of a percentage of users are having this issue (sorry, but if its 3% of all users, its not worth a recall). Do you know the exact amount of people having this issue? I agree, microsoft can be 'teh evIL' at times, they are a company after all, one after making money. And don't tell me you wouldn't act in similiar ways if all that money went to your pocket. God knows I probably would, we are human after all.
In the USA things are a bit different. Some carriers (i.e. ones that use GSM) utilize SIM Cards that will work with just about any phone. However, the phone may be locked to that network (say, BIGCELLPROVIDER1 and you have a SIM from BIGCELLPROVIDER2). I forgot what thats called. CDMA carriers typically do not use a SIM Card, instead you register the phone with the carrier, similiar to TDMA. The phone is usually locked to a specific carrier also. They do this to limit people buying a cool phone from PROVIDER1 and moving to PROVIDER2 since they typically sell the phones at a loss and make money off the subscriptions.
They'll tout the lower the cost of the 'system' so they can easier monitor our location, driving habits and speed. When in reality, they are artificially lowering the cost of the system just for those benifits.
*takes off tinfoil cap*
Doubt it'll ever happen in my lifetime (with all the whisle blowers and such out there) but still.
It isn't a huge supprise for me, as hard as the content providers and cable companies have been pushing on tivo. Add that to the price inceases a while back. Tivo was/is a concept, and a good one at that. Tivo started a tv revolution (basically), unfortunately, they couldn't keep up with it. They may die, they may not. They will always be remembered reguardless. They did the right things as far as community goes (being hack-friendly (are they still that?), fighting to keep control when dealing with content providers such as DirecTV, Comcast, etc..) but being community friendly does not equal being greedy business friendly. I'm not sure how true my statement is anymore, I haven't kept up, however, that is how it seems to me.
They started something, something big that will/is forcing the content providers to change, if a bit forcefully. They just couldn't keep up.
I'm cerious on how (mabey I don't understand how they are made from the get-go) this is going to stop large scale counterfitting, those with access to machines that make perfect dupilcate copies, bit by bit, groove by groove, notch by notch. I can see how this will effect personal piracy, even mom-pop dvd rental places and possiable internet, but I thought counterfit was still a rather huge loss.
While knee-jerk reaction is to ban these type of devices from a good amount of people, they can be of great use.
You have to figure, your at work to work. Weather its working on code or delivering packages. Now, a break every now and then (web surfing, or stopping by a 7-11) is most likley not a bad thing (depending on how anal your boss is), however, you still are there to work. Surfing porn all day or going to your girlfriends house to get laid when you are suppose to be driving is not exactly a good thing.
I doubt, however, that most of these companies are using them to spy on their drivers, the benifits (better schedualing, accident handling, tracking if stolen) are outweigh the drawbacks for people yelling about their privacy. Its the way things are heading, and if done right, can make things a bit better.
Now, if your boss installs GPS in your personal car, or tracks your work/personal car during allowed personal hours (some companies give cars for work/personal use, such as Harris), then thats a whole different story. I know people will whine from me saying this, but if your that disturbed that your FEDEX truck you drive is being tracked via GPS, then you need to find another job.
...abandonware isn't really abandonware.
Now, I'm wondering if they bought the name just so they could make money out of lawsuits. If they do, and it works, I wonder how many other companies will attempt to by rights to long and outdated software just to attempt to raise their bottom line by sueing everyone.
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I've been here before from another industry! In my case we were already working extremely lean but we were extremely profitable. However, a larger industry that we essentially "work for" bought us out as they expanded their business. They liked we worked lean they said. A couple of years after the buyout we were lumped into a group of similar (but not really) focused companies. Being the only profitable business out of the 4 we propped the other businesses up and still made profit for the whole group (over $1B total revenue). Unfortunately that didn't last very long when the other two companies in the group got hit by new regulations. Suddenly we hit the black as a group, not the red but it didn't matter at that point. Various poor decisions and a few pissed off clients later that once proud 2k employee business is nothing but a name of a 15 person business unit that's riding remaining contracts and whatever legal loopholes the old business license might still allow.
I wonder how many laptops got confiscated by the TSA/Boarder Patrol when arriving back on US shores.
Then again, this is in the UK which advances their technology a bit different than carriers in the US. For some reason, my brain omitted that part when I RTFA.
....to guesstimate early next year. Aside from FCC approval do you really think most mobile broadband companies (well, AT&T and such) will hurry to implement this while citing issues with bandwidth and creating caps. Add that to RIAA influence and technology upgrades for carriers, it'll probably be at least 5-6 years before we see any consumer use of this technology.
What's even more funny is the guy in that picture looks a lot like Wil Wheaton.
While there are times I wish I had one, my work speaks for itself. Don't get me wrong; life would have been easier and I probably could slack off more (my experience with degree'd IT people) and easily get away with it.
Not having a degree does mean you have to work harder and gain more experience. It helps to have people along your career that can vouch for you as well. I started my first 'corporate' job as a Tech Support rep. Worked there until I became a Senior Systems Engineer (6yr) and then moved onto my current job as an IT Manager by knowing the Owners of this company through my experience with the last. I've also gotten to know many in the healthcare and general technology industry.
Generally; as long as you work hard, know the right people and can easily prove your strengths you should be able to get a job just about anywhere. The more you bullshit the less likely you are to get a job. Most people in the industry that are worth a grain of salt can detect BS a mile away.
I've been using vista at home since RTM. Was having issues until my most recent reformat in July. Now Vista runs happily on my main home machine (C2D E8300 w/3GB RAM and 6mo old Motherboard) and my mediacenter (AMD x2 5000+ 3GB RAM and some HP motherboard). I've had issues here and there but mostly related to either old software or hardware that has no updated drivers.
At work though, its a different story. Using the management console to connect to 2k3 servers is, well, odd. Missing options (like properties so you can reboot via advanced settings on the Terminal service crashes), annoying updated admin tools that really don't seem to be meant for 2003 and again, incompatibility with various older business applications. Also have this pain with the USB dock for my Lenovo X300. The USB dock is connected to a usb lan device and vista will at times not identify the network until I disable and reenable. New drivers haven't helped. Not sure if its a Vista issue with USB or just bad driver implementation.
Personally, I think they should move back to XP or XP-like with some vista upgrades for business. Like back in the day when you had business and home versions of windows (NT days). To me, it makes more sense.
Sorry, brainfart. You are correct, its serialnumber + randomletters & numbers
HP does this on their servers with ILO. The ILO password is a variation of the host name and random alphanumeric characters. Sadly, they don't do this with their procurve line of switches.
...Atleast that was the plan. Didn't turn out so well for Amazon when their site went down for hours.
Consider this;
You have 1,000 pcs and you bought into the VL agreement since win2k, its vista now. You don't have to 'tru-up' since you still only have 1,000 pcs if you bought into the enterprise licensing (not the enterpise licensing subscription) so you get upgraded the whole way up, no cost to your vl agreement.
You have 1,000 pcs and you didn't buy into the vl agreement, so you upgraded to wxp by buying 1,000 boxed versions, then again for vista, 1,000 boxed versions (say upgrade instead of full versions).
Which do you think costs you more? On top of that the agreement allows you to pay a portion each year for 3 years (standard company capitalization) saving you even more money in the long run. This all depends on the agreement you decide on though, ymmv and all that.
If you ever read the volume license agreement, its an upgrade to your existing windows license. Basically you should already have a license for the PC you are installing the volume licensing version on. You more pay for the connection access license (CAL) and various other 'use' licenses per user.
From Microsoft's Website
Only Windows Client upgrades can be acquired through Volume Licensing; the full operating system license must be acquired as FPP or be pre-installed by an OEM or System Builder.
Its under Licensing Basics but also comes with your VLA and sometimes as a reminder in your VL Software Packs.
This guy is trying to make a buck, so be it. Mabey his guide is good, mabey it sucks but who cares? There is more at risk than just that.
I doubt he talked to his boss before blabbing that one.
Servers (In older white/beige HP rack)
- (1) No name 4U case running P4 1.6 w/1GB RAM and 2x80gb (web/mail/ftp - basic stuff, slackware 9)
- (1) Compaq Proliant DL360 G4 (2x3.6GHZ Xeon, 4GB RAM 2x146gb local and 7x146gb via storageworks drive array all ultra320 scsi) running Windows 2003 Server, this runs a couple of virtual servers for development, testing and general futzing around with
- (1) Compaq Proliant DL140 (1x2.0GHz Xeon, 2GB RAM, 2x80GB IDE) running windows 2000 server, favorite gaming flavor of the moment
Network Equipment (also in HP rack though some not mountable) :(
- (1) Teryon cable modem from brighthouse
- (1) Cisco PIX 501 firewall/vpn had to purchase addt'l licensing
- (2) WRT54G (v1.1 and v2.0) one for inside and one for outside. My house was built in the 50s and due to this wiremesh in the drywall, it acts like a faraday cage, have to use one outside to get signal by the pool
- (2) HP procuve switches 24-port 2524 with fibrechannel transceivers to connect the server room and the house
The rest of the equipment is general stuff like my computer, my wifes, my daugthers and my father-in-law's (he lives with us). Have a couple for guests and a mythtv box in the bedroom. my wife and I both have laptops from work also and a romaing sony vaio tr2ap.
Most of the home equipment goes into standby or shuts off when not in use, some is rarely used (laptop, visitor bedroom computer). The gaming server is shut down unless its in use, use WOL to turn it on without going to the server room. The DL360 has better power management and I can spin down drives when the server isn't in use. The outside wireless AP actually runs off solar/battery combo (an experiment of mine) but its rarely used anyways and typically powered off via the lightswitch outside.
Overall my power was much better than it was last year before I consolidated most of my servers with the single DL360 and implemented better power management in the house computers. The server room use to be a workshop built onto but not accessable from the house. Its locked up pretty tight (steel door, came that way just added some new locks) and you can't tell whats in it from the outside. A/C is provided from the house (was that way when I moved in). When power gets too expensive I shut it down unless I need it, at that point I use WOL to wake it up. Infact I rarely goto the server room once I got it all built to the way I like it.
Something else I forgot to add, check with how other large datacenters are handling their energy efficientcy. Do a lot of research. Someone also said about monitoring individual racks or even servers. Get to know where your energy is going from a systems standpoint. That will help fill the gap with where the rest of the energy for the datacenter is going.
- If your server room is not enclosed on the roof of the room (just using plain false-roof tiles) make sure they are atleast insulated very well. The more A/C escapes, the more it has to work.
- Make sure there is enough air-flow through your server racks (best placements and setup ideals very from person to another), best not to have the rear right up to a wall. Middle of the room or offset (5 feet or so from the well) allows for good ventalation.
- Keep server room lights off unless needed with the exception of a low-heat emergency lighting.
- If you have raised flooring and the a/c comes through the bottom, place the racks behind vent openings (so the air is rising to the front of the rack, getting sucked in by the fans in the front) instead of having the rack on the vent itself.
- Upgrade older servers if possiable. Older servers (expecially the old HP NetServer series) are a lot less efficient as newer servers. Not componet (CPU, HD) but also overall engineering.
- Turn off monitors when not in use. LCDs are not as bad but better to be safe then sorry. If you do not need it running, just leave it off.
- Do not allow people to keep the server room door open, may sound simple but you wouldn't beleive how many times I've seen this. If the doors don't close automatically, get automatic closers for them!
- Make sure the doors are weatherstripped.
- Multiple airconditioners! I have a small server room that runs on three airconditioners. Two always run, one does not, this rotates weekly. Also great for redundancy.
I'm sure there are many more things you can do. Hiring outside consulants who have worked with issues such as this are always benifitial. Be sure to get second/third opionions.
Wow, spelling really sucks when you haven't slept for 72hrs. (I really, really hate Exchange. Expecially when custered.)
Etiquette is for those with no breeding; fashion for those with no taste.
Seems to fit you perfectly.
In reality, there are many reasons why this passed QA; improper maangement, last moment design change, string of bad parts in the production line, malicious employee, etc.. It happens, the real issue is Microsoft should present a press release and issue a recall depending on how big of a percentage of users are having this issue (sorry, but if its 3% of all users, its not worth a recall). Do you know the exact amount of people having this issue? I agree, microsoft can be 'teh evIL' at times, they are a company after all, one after making money. And don't tell me you wouldn't act in similiar ways if all that money went to your pocket. God knows I probably would, we are human after all.
In the USA things are a bit different. Some carriers (i.e. ones that use GSM) utilize SIM Cards that will work with just about any phone. However, the phone may be locked to that network (say, BIGCELLPROVIDER1 and you have a SIM from BIGCELLPROVIDER2). I forgot what thats called. CDMA carriers typically do not use a SIM Card, instead you register the phone with the carrier, similiar to TDMA. The phone is usually locked to a specific carrier also. They do this to limit people buying a cool phone from PROVIDER1 and moving to PROVIDER2 since they typically sell the phones at a loss and make money off the subscriptions.
They'll tout the lower the cost of the 'system' so they can easier monitor our location, driving habits and speed. When in reality, they are artificially lowering the cost of the system just for those benifits.
*takes off tinfoil cap*
Doubt it'll ever happen in my lifetime (with all the whisle blowers and such out there) but still.
They started something, something big that will/is forcing the content providers to change, if a bit forcefully. They just couldn't keep up.
Mabey I'm wrong?
You have to figure, your at work to work. Weather its working on code or delivering packages. Now, a break every now and then (web surfing, or stopping by a 7-11) is most likley not a bad thing (depending on how anal your boss is), however, you still are there to work. Surfing porn all day or going to your girlfriends house to get laid when you are suppose to be driving is not exactly a good thing.
I doubt, however, that most of these companies are using them to spy on their drivers, the benifits (better schedualing, accident handling, tracking if stolen) are outweigh the drawbacks for people yelling about their privacy. Its the way things are heading, and if done right, can make things a bit better.
Now, if your boss installs GPS in your personal car, or tracks your work/personal car during allowed personal hours (some companies give cars for work/personal use, such as Harris), then thats a whole different story. I know people will whine from me saying this, but if your that disturbed that your FEDEX truck you drive is being tracked via GPS, then you need to find another job.
I'm not getting upset over the whole thing, infact, I think, if done right, it could be a good thing.
I'm just wondering, if they do go that way, what the overall outcome would be. I find it more interesting than upsetting.
...abandonware isn't really abandonware. Now, I'm wondering if they bought the name just so they could make money out of lawsuits. If they do, and it works, I wonder how many other companies will attempt to by rights to long and outdated software just to attempt to raise their bottom line by sueing everyone.