Oct 15 2009   6:44PM GMT

Free Training - Laura Chappell presents: Wireshark 201 Jumpstart - Filtering on the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Posted by: Troy Tate
network analysis, protocol analysis, packet analysis, packet capture, training, education, wireshark, ethereal, tcp/ip, trace files, Networking, tools, Monitoring, reporting, IT education, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, howto, Metrics, analysis, Laura Chappell

Laura Chappel, the BitGirl, is at it again with another in her series of Wireshark Jumpstart webinars. The next one is called Wireshark Jumpstart 201: Filtering on the Good, the Bad, the Ugly. It will be held on October 27 - 10:00am-11:00am PDT (GMT-7). If you manage networks or want to manage a network, a good understanding of protocol and packet analysis will help you immensely with your career.

Some things you will learn in this webinar:

• Using the Default Capture and Display Filters
• Creating a Few Hot Capture Filters
• Filtering Tips and Tricks for Troubleshooting
• Filtering Tips and Tricks for Security

Even if you are very familiar with Wireshark or other packet capture and protocol decode tools, Laura’s seminars are well worth attending. You might even find out a little tidbit here or there because Repetition is one of the keys of learning. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend this webinar since I will be on a golf vacation in North Carolina. So, if you attend this event, please come back and share with me and other IT Trenches readers what you learned and how valuable the webinar was for you.

Thanks for reading and let’s continue to be good network citizens!

Jul 28 2009   3:11PM GMT

Open Patch Management Metrics Model Released

Posted by: Troy Tate
Microsoft, patch management, Metrics, framework, maturity model, patch management framework, research, asset management, lifecycle management

Securosis and Microsoft have teamed up and released an Open Patch Management Metrics Model. The purpose of this model is to  “provide organizations with a tool to better understand their patching costs.” The model also has ten steps with multiple substeps to help guide an organization through a patch management process framework.

The document can be found on the Securosis website. More information will be released as the model matures and additional organizations contribute to the research. Let the ITKE community know your thoughts on this model and if the metrics are meaningful to your organization.

For myself, I think that the metrics would be good to gather but would be a challenge to maintain when we are always being challenged to do more with less.

Thanks for reading & let’s continue to be good network citizens!

Jul 20 2009   6:36PM GMT

Wireshark quickstart tutorial - learn to capture network traffic

Posted by: Troy Tate
network analysis, protocol analysis, packet analysis, packet capture, training, education, wireshark, ethereal, tcp/ip, trace files, Networking, tools, Monitoring, reporting, IT education, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, howto, Metrics, analysis, Laura Chappell

There are more upcoming sessions in the Laura Chappell seminar series called Wireshark 101Jumpstart tutorials. Check out the schedule at Chappell University website. Some of the things you will learn include:

• Wireshark elements and capabilities
  
• Tapping into the wired or wireless network
  
• Capturing and filtering basics
  
• Graphing basics

If you cannot attend the seminar, you can still register and download the seminar notes and gain access to the trace files used in the session. If you manage a network, you should learn this stuff! Be sure to register and attend early. The sessions are limited to 1000 viewers and these fill up FAST!

See my entry

Repetition is one of the keys of learning

for a how attending one of these seminars helped address an issue I was having with using Wireshark.

Thanks for reading and lets continue to be good network citizens!

May 26 2009   7:34PM GMT

Repetition is one of the keys of learning

Posted by: Troy Tate
network analysis, protocol analysis, packet analysis, packet capture, training, education, wireshark, ethereal, tcp/ip, trace files, Networking, tools, Monitoring, reporting, IT education, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, howto, Metrics, analysis, Laura Chappell

I recently posted an update about Laura Chappell’s Chappell University Online seminars. I attended one of these seminars today. What a great experience! I always try to attend Laura’s events and always pickup a tidbit that makes my life as a network manager easier. She gives you information about tools you can use to fight the battle of “the network is down”. Most of the time the network is behaving as designed. It’s poorly written applications or too high user expectations that create issues. So, if you want be the expert on fighting the network is “bad” syndrome - check out Laura’s presentations - I did and I learned something new… Continued »

May 22 2009   3:24PM GMT

The Center for Internet Security defines security metrics

Posted by: Troy Tate
Center for internet security, CIS, Security, information security, information security metrics, Metrics, security metrics, application security, change management, incident management, patch management, vulnerability management

As an information security manager I am always struggling with how to measure the security posture of my organization. As they say, you can’t manage what you can’t measure. There’s lots of talk out there about ROI (Return on Investment) or ROSI (Return on Security Investment). These may be business numbers for the bean counters but what do these really mean to the security posture of the organization.

The CIS worked with over 100 team members from government, private and academic organizations to design a set of metrics designed to measure security processes and outcomes. The list below shows some of the business functions covered by the current suggested list of metrics.

• Application Security
  • Number of Applications
  • Percentage of Critical Applications
  • Risk Assessment Coverage
  • Security Testing Coverage
• Configuration Change Management
  • Mean-Time to Complete Changes
  • Percent of Changes with Security Review
  • Percent of Changes with Security Exceptions
• Financial
  • Information Security Budget as % of IT Budget
  • Information Security Budget Allocation
• Incident Management
  • Mean-Time to Incident Discovery
  • Incident Rate
  • Percentage of Incidents Detected by Internal Controls
  • Mean-Time Between Security Incidents
  • Mean-Time to Recovery
• Patch Management
  • Patch Policy Compliance
  • Patch Management Coverage
  • Mean-Time to Patch
• Vulnerability Management
  • Vulnerability Scan Coverage
  • Percent of Systems Without Known Severe Vulnerabilities
  • Mean-Time to Mitigate Vulnerabilities
  • Number of Known Vulnerability Instances

Take some time and visit the CIS metrics page or download the consensus security metrics (registration required). You may find some useful tools in building and supporting an information security program for your organization.

Thanks for reading & let’s continue to be good network citizens.

May 21 2009   12:57PM GMT

Master key tasks for network troubleshooting - Chappell University Online Seminars

Posted by: Troy Tate
network analysis, protocol analysis, packet analysis, packet capture, training, education, wireshark, ethereal, tcp/ip, trace files, Networking, tools, Monitoring, reporting, IT education, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, howto, Metrics, analysis

I’m a huge fan of Laura Chappell. She has a great sense of humor and is a great educator about all things packet oriented. Previous posts about Laura have included:

Is protocol analysis or network management your thing?

ARP as a network auditing tool

Did you see this? - Latest Laura Chappell Newsletter

Did you see this? - the viral bitgirl

She has now started a new online seminar series. Some of the presentation are free and others are accessible for a fee of $99. If you cannot get away for education, then this is an excellent alternative and you can gain a great amount of knowledge from this packet analysis expert. I recommend that you visit Chappell Online University and sign up for the free Wireshark Jumpstart: Master Key Tasks for Network Troubleshooting seminar to get a feel for the seminars.

Thanks for reading and let’s continue to be good network citizens!

Dec 22 2008   7:20PM GMT

Improving yourself in 2009 - part 2

Posted by: Troy Tate
administration, planning, tools, reporting, CIO, performance monitoring, Performance, howto, Metrics, blog, education, toolkit, professional

Maybe Bubbletimer mentioned in part 1 is not something that will help improve your professional value in 2009. How about the Printable CEO series then? The tools David Seah offers on his blog seem like great resources to track your goals, tasks and time. Sometimes those we work for wonder what all we do in our positions. We sometimes have to prove our worth to the organizations who pay us. The When is something worth doing? tool that David outlines may help you improve your decision making and therefore your professional value.

What other professional development and/or tracking tools do you use in your job?  Please leave some feedback and let me know what you use or if this Printable CEO made a difference in your job.

Dec 10 2008   1:33PM GMT

Did you see this? - Latest Laura Chappell Newsletter

Posted by: Troy Tate
Networking, tools, Monitoring, reporting, IT education, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, howto, network analysis, Metrics, wireshark, packet capture, education, analysis

Newsletter 120908

Discount Codes - Nmap Book – Wireshark Certification Status – Global Knowledge – Movie Update - Virtual Conference Survey

 

Holiday/End-of-Year Specials at www.wiresharkU.com

• 25% off on Wireshark University Self-Paced Courseware (code WSU1208)
• $500 off already discounted price on Laura Chappell Master Library (code LCML1208)

Hot Links

• Summit 09 Notification
• Wireshark University Discounts - See above
• Fyodor Releases Nmap Network Scanning Book!
• Virtual Conference Survey - Should we or shouldn’t we?
• Pesky Pike: Dead Rocker - D’Ambrosia/Teves, see “Hollywood” item below
• Wireshark Training Video: Customized Columns (YouTube)

 

Fyodor Releases Nmap Book

Gordon “Fyodor” Lyon, the creator of the must-have tool, Nmap, has released the long-awaited title “Nmap Network Scanning”. This 468-page book  nmap.org) is a required reading for anyone securing a network. I was thankful that Fyodor sent me a pre-release copy of the book, which was a blessing since the content was more in-depth than I’d hoped for. Chapters define scan variations, OS fingerprinting techniques, tips and tricks and the newly-developed ZenMap, the graphic front end for Nmap. “Nmap Network Scanning” should be front and center on your desk for months and years to come! Thanks, Fyodor!

Wireshark Certification Status

Final beta tests are underway for a planned January 2009 release of the long-awaited Wireshark Certification test. The Wireshark Certification Information Packet (WCIP) should be out at the beginning of the year (sign up to receive the document at www.wiresharktraining.com/certification).I know you’ve waited a long time for the certification and I appreciate your patience - it took me a lot longer to get the questions together and ensure we could deliver via the Internet.

Global Knowledge Signed as Wireshark Authorized Training Partner

We are thrilled to sign on Global Knowledge as our North American Wireshark University Authorized Training Partner. In Q1 2009, two new Wireshark courses release – the first course focuses on Wireshark basic through advanced functionality and in-depth review of TCP/IP communication patterns (CORE 1). The second course delves into troubleshooting and network forensics with the Wireshark Certification Vouchers included in the course price (CORE 2). More course information will be put on www.wiresharkU.com before end of year.Read the press release.

The Only Thing Slower than This Network is Hollywood!

Well, folks… after hearing about the ‘movie’ project for a few years now, you’re probably thinking the darn thing isn’t going to make it out there. You’re probably right, but one more step was checked off last week – the script was finalized. The writers, Joe D’Ambrosia and Tom Teves (Murray Hill 5 Productions) gave me the near-shocking news on Friday. If you don’t know these guys, check out the “Dead Rocker” (appropriate for kids) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5aD00UeE9g. I kinda figured out who the murderer was (at least I knew what the main clue was) after watching a second time. Can you/your kids figure it out?

Happy Holidays to All! [Oh... and if you checked out the movie link...no, I'm not a spy and no, my kids don't play soccer.]

Laura Chappell

Nov 24 2008   7:43PM GMT

Tools for documentation - Network discovery & monitoring

Posted by: Troy Tate
administration, Networking, tools, documentation, Monitoring, reporting, performance monitoring, design, troubleshooting, Performance, howto, network analysis, Metrics, threshold, toolkit, facility management

If you have not begun the process of documenting your network, then please begin as soon as you finish reading my first posting on Tools for documentation - screen marking & screen captures and this posting. These tools will come in real handy in a crunch to identify causes of issues and when you are not around to help with resolution.

The next tool I would like to describe is NeDi - short for network discovery. Take a look at this 4 minute movie about NeDi and what it can do for you.

A week with NeDi

Are you impressed yet? I know I was when I discovered this network tool and how it can be used and extended. Some of the screenshots below may help you with the decision if this tool will work for your environment or not.

Network Health

Device Listing

Network Map

Node Status

Device Write

I’m sure you have other tools and processes you use. Please feel free to share them with the others here and help make someone else’s life easier. Enjoy the movie above. I think the guy has a very good sense of humor and knows his movies!

Nov 11 2008   4:07PM GMT

Did you see this? - Microsoft SharePoint Toolkit

Posted by: Troy Tate
administration, Networking, tools, Microsoft Windows, Monitoring, Development, reporting, internet, WAN, LAN, debugging, performance monitoring, SharePoint, design, MOSS, troubleshooting, Performance, howto, network analysis, Metrics, awareness, diagnostics, toolkit, analysis

Many organizations are finding value in the Microsoft SharePoint technologies. Whether you use the free Windows SharePoint Services or the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, your organization will gain a lot of value from using these services. To enhance your ability to manage these technologies, there is a project on Codeplex called the SharePoint Toolbox. Per the website, the purpose of this project is as follows:

This project includes powerful and useful tools and add-ons for SharePoint that help developers and IT pros implement SharePoint based solutions more quickly and managed them more effectively. Contributions will come from the Microsoft SharePoint Product Group, Microsoft SharePoint Online Services Group, Microsoft Information Technology Group, and Microsoft Consulting Services Group.

I have personally used the CopyTimer utility  to measure throughput from remote sites to a SharePoint server. It worked well and helped gather some excellent data about the site and global network performance.

Enjoy using these tools and give me some feedback on what you find useful and how SharePoint provides value to your organization.