February, 2009

New Windows Server HQ Blog - register for an XBox

A new blog has been launched and it is dedicated to Windows Server. If you are a Windows Admin or interested in getting your Microsoft MCTS or MCITP, this blog is for you!

The new site is WindowsServer HQ and it is filled with articles and free training videos covering anything to do with Windows Server 2003 or 2008. Most of the videos are full-length 45 minute videos that you can watch or download in WMV or iPod/iPhone format. Articles and videos are created and posted by Microsoft Trainers “Coach” and “Ed” who really know Windows Server inside and out.

And, it gets better, if you sign up for our newsletter between now and the end of March, you will be registered to win an XBox (see contest rules here).

So, I hope you will checkout the new WindowsServer HQ !

Cisco launches new CCNP & CCIE Wireless Ceritifications

Just launch, Cisco’s new CCNP and CCIE Wireless certifications offer wireless experts a chance to prove their expertise!

For some time, Cisco has offered the CCNA Wireless certification. Starting in June of 2009, Cisco will now offer a CCNP Wireless certification. This will fill the hole between the CCNA Wireless and the newly created CCIE Wireless.

Speaking of the CCIE Wireless,the new Cisco CCIE Wireless certification has also been officially launched. The writtern/qualification exam 350-050 was just made available this month, February 2009.

Good luck wireless Gurus!

Can Cisco EnegryWise save your Company Money?

Can Cisco EnegryWise save your Company Money and save the environment at the same time?

Cisco has an ambitious new plan and software system to reduce electricity consumption on just about about every energy-consuming device at your company. Maybe the toaster in the break room can’t be controlled by EnergyWise but what if all switches, routers, firewalls, HVAC, and lightening could?

Read the full story in my new article-Can Cisco EnegryWise save your Company Money?

Cisco administration 101: Five interface commands you should know

Configuring Cisco routers isn’t hard if you don’t know how to use interface commands. Let’s face it, you have to know commands like no shutdown, ip address, description, bandwidth, and access-group.

In my new article, I discuss all of these commands in detail with configuration examples. Read the full article at: Cisco administration 101: Five interface commands you should know

Take advantage of the Cisco License Manager to keep you organized

Software license compliance is critical in IT Departments today. After all, you don’t want your company to get into legal trouble over mismanagement of licenses, do you? To help you out, Cisco has something to make your life easier.

Did you know that Cisco offers a free device inventory, license inventory, and license/feature deployment software application? Registered Cisco users can download this application for free from Cisco.

Read all about it, learn how it can help you, and where you can download the free Cisco License Manager at my article: Take advantage of the Cisco License Manager to keep you organized

Converting from old to new with the PIX to ASA Migration Tool

In my blog post “Sadly, the PIX Firewall Is Discontinued,” written early in 2008, I said how much I had enjoyed working with the Cisco PIX over the years and how disappointed I was that it was announced by Cisco to be “End of Sale” on January 28, 2008.

Now, you can easily migrate your PIX configurations to ASA configuration for your new devices. Find out how to do it, step by step, in my new articleL Converting from old to new with the PIX to ASA Migration Tool

VIDEO: Cisco CCNA Security Firewall & SDM

Learn how to use the Cisco Security Firewall and SDM in this step by step video, recorded by Chris Bryant, CCIE. This is a great way to prepare for your CCNA. Enjoy the video!

(or click on the video to go and watch it wider and in HD)

7 Windows & Cisco commands for network troubleshooting

To Troubleshoot Cisco and Windows networks, you need to know command equivalents. Cisco and Windows commands are similar but not identical.

Here are 7 Windows and Cisco commands that you should know:

1. ping- used both in Windows and in the Cisco IOS to verify connectivity from of to a router (default gateway) and from a router to a PC.
2. traceroute or trace in the Cisco IOS or tracert in Windows - used to trace the path your network traffic takes to a destination (like the web server you are trying to access) or from your router to a downstream router.
3. arp -a in Windows or show ip arp in the Cisco IOS - used to verify Layer 2 to Layer 3 mappings (aka Ethernet to TCP/IP) or Ethernet MAC Address to IP Address (and vice versa).
4. ipconfig /all in Windows or show ip interface brief in the Cisco IOS - used to show the IP address configuration for your NIC on your PC or for your router’s LAN/WAN interfaces. This output would include the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway, and (on a PC), even the DNS Servers.

These are all pretty basic commands but they are all necessary commands that you must know to troubleshoot Windows and Cisco Networking.

Happy Troubleshooting!

Nine Free Windows Server 2008 Training Videos

Interested in Windows Server 2008? The new Windows Server HQ Blog has Nine Free Windows Server 2008 Training Videos. These are 30-40+ minute training videos in WMV and iPod/iPhone format. Topics include:

• Active Directory
• AD Users and Groups
• Server Core and DHCP
• File & Print
• Server RODC
• IIS 7 Web Services
• Terminal Services
• Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
• Hyper-V
• And the new Microsoft MCITP Certification

The first video in this 9 part series, and links to all the other videos, can be found here:

Windows Server HQ: New to Server 2008? No problem — Learn How to Install Windows 2008 Server and Active Directory

What’s your firewall of choice? And Cisco launches new ASA model!

What is your firewall of choice? What firewall do you really use?

Cisco has launched a new addition to their ASA firewall lineup - the new ASA 5580.

However, this new firewall is only for the lucky few that can afford it. You see, the 5580 comes in 3 flavors, the 5580-20, the 5580-20VPN, and the 5580-40. The 5580-20 starts at around $50,000 and the 5580-40 starts around $100,000. So, you see, most of us out there aren’t going to get to have a new 5580 anytime soon (if you have one, let me know because I would like to “demo it”).

At my company, we tried a PIX 515 but it just lacked the full “unified threat management (UTM)” approach. In other words, it didn’t have anti-virus & content filtering and, when compared to other alternatives, it just wasn’t easy to use. We ended up settling on a Fortinet 100 because it does anti-virus, content filtering, and the GUI is so simple to use. The content filtering was the real savings. While a PIX could use a 3rd party content filtering service like websense, that type of service was going to cost us like $25K per year. With the Fortinet and their Fortiguard service, the cost is only a few thousand per year.

Recently for testing, I bought a Cisco ASA5510. While it is an improvement over the PIX, without the proper module, it can’t do the “anti-X” and the content filtering is still an extra charge.

-David
Personal Website: HappyRouter.com
Checkout David’s Video Training:
VMware ESX Server Video Training
Cisco CCNA & CCNP Video Training