December, 2007

Dec 27 2007   9:26PM GMT

Take a short break from IT problems

Posted by: Brent Sheets
ITKE

Feel free to give yourself a pat on the back for making it through another year as an IT worker. You have a stressful job. I know this because ITKE provides me with a front row seat to your IT questions and the problems you encounter each day.

Everyone needs a break now and again. If you haven’t visited the Overheard in the tech blogosphere blog, then mouse over today to take an IT-related quiz. You’ll learn something and hopefully have a little fun doing it. Enjoy.

Community Manager

Dec 19 2007   3:42PM GMT

Introducing the System i Blogger with David Vasta

Posted by: Brent Sheets
Blogs, ITKE

We first knew it as the AS/400 – then it became known as eServer iSeries (now there’s a marketing mouthful) – and currently, IBM dubs it System i. But whatever you prefer to call this workhorse, you have to admit that it commands a loyal, almost fanatical, following.

If you are already a true believer or just want to find out what breeds such loyalty, we have just the blog for you. Be sure to visit and bookmark the System i Blogger, written by IT veteran David Vasta. David lives and breathes System i so stay tuned for insightful content on his blog. The kind of content you can only get from someone who has lived in the trenches. We’re fortunate to have David and delighted to welcome him into our ITKE community.

David loves to hear from other System i aficionados, so stop by and leave him a comment, then browse our other member blogs to find out what other members and colleagues are discussing in the world of IT.

Community Manager

Dec 18 2007   3:59PM GMT

Developers, developers, developers, developers!

Posted by: Brent Sheets
ITKE, Tags, Development, IT humor

No, that’s not an image of Jabba the Hutt. If you were a developer, you would have known that. It’s Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, and he’s just wild about developers. So are we and to prove it, we recently added a top-level tag just for Development.

So when you have a burning developer-related question, be sure to visit our new Development tag and ask for a helping hand. And if you possess the developer mojo, then please stop by and share your developer expertise with fellow members. This is what makes IT Knowledge Exchange a great place. You may need to ask for help in one area but provide help to others in another.

While I love developers as much as the next guy, admittedly, I cannot ‘bust a move’ like Steve Ballmer. So without further ado, here is a music video of Steve that you may enjoy. No developers were harmed in the making of this film.

Those of you involved in Microsoft development are probably familiar with SearchWinDevelopment.com (formerly SearchVB.com). If you’re not, then be sure to drop by the site today and see what Brian Eastwood and his team have to offer Windows developers. And be sure to visit our ITKE member blogs by fellow developers: Windows Presentation Foundation and Custom Application Development.

Community Manager

Dec 11 2007   7:11PM GMT

Don’t wait for IT problems to strike

Posted by: Brent Sheets
Subscribe to Alerts, Public Profile, ITKE, Tips

It’s only a matter of time before IT problems strike. Why wait? Stay ahead of the curve with our new Subscribe to Alerts feature. You can sign up to your favorite IT topics and receive a daily digest of questions, answers and discussions for the tags you select.

To subscribe, visit the Subscribe to Alerts page and check off all the tags of importance to you. You’ll receive a Daily Question and Answer Update in your inbox each day. It’s a great way to keep abreast of potential problems within your area of expertise before you have to face a similar predicament.

If you ever wish to unsubscribe from any or all topics, simply login and visit your Public Profile page to uncheck any unwanted topics. It’s fast and simple – and we hope – helpful.

Let us know what you think about this new feature and keep your suggestions coming. Thanks.

Community Manager

Dec 6 2007   5:42PM GMT

Want IT answers? Think before you type

Posted by: Brent Sheets
ITKE, Tags, Tips

You want answers to your IT questions, right? Of course you do and it’s our job on IT Knowledge Exchange to help you get those answers. Here are a few simple steps you can take to increase your chances of getting a helpful IT answer from fellow members.

Step 1: Think!
Stop, take a deep breath and think before posting your question. This isn’t a speed contest. You want an answer quickly but posting a poorly worded question will result in decreasing your chances of getting an answer. Think and word your question carefully.

Step 2: The Question Title
The title you use is important. You want your title to be clear and concise so that other members will click to read your full question. Using HELP!!! or I need an answer is not helpful for the members searching or browsing for questions to answer. Please do not use all caps or excessive exclamation points.

Step 3: The Question
Some questions can be written in a sentence or two while others may require more details. For example, someone attempting to answer your question may need to know the operating system you’re using, the software version, etc. Provide enough details so other members can help you. And remember, a well-written question using proper grammar is much easier to read. ITKE isn’t a cell phone; so feel free to spell out the entire word.

Step 4: The Tags
Tags are the backbone of IT Knowledge Exchange. The tags place your question in specific categories. So using a tag of “Exchange 2003″ will put your question in that category. Other members wishing to answer questions about Exchange 2003 would visit that tag. But using a tag of “Help me” or other meaningless phrase, would not put your question where other members can find it. Think – and use common sense when tagging your questions.

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Bad Example
Title: HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Question: my users using usb drives and i want it to stop.
Tags: plz halp, stopping users, 431, beer

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Good Example
Title: How to block access to USB drives using Active Directory?
Question: We have a 50-user network running Windows Server 2003. I would like to use Active Directory to block all USB drive access permissions for a specific group of users. Would someone please explain how to define the group policy for this? Thanks.
Tags: Active Directory, Group Policy, Windows Server 2003

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I hope these tips are helpful to you. Feel free to post a comment if you have any questions. Thanks.
Community Manager

Dec 3 2007   3:07PM GMT

Most Active Member - Announcing our November winner

Posted by: Brent Sheets
ITKE, Knowledge Points, Most Active Member, Contests

It’s time to announce the winner of our first monthly Most Active Member contest here on IT Knowledge Exchange. The envelope, please… and the winner is HCream, a Network Admin/Analyst from Tampa, Florida.

Kudos and congratulations to HCream, who racked up an impressive 1,160 Knowledge Points and secured first place. HCream will receive a choice of IT Knowledge Exchange beverage mug or t-shirt – not to mention bragging rights with IT buddies for making our Top 10 list.

By now, you’re no doubt salivating for a mug or t-shirt of your very own. So how do you earn Knowledge Points, you ask? You automatically earn Knowledge Points when you contribute to the community. You can check the total Knowledge Points for yourself or anyone else by clicking on a username.

Knowledge Points are earned based on community participation. Each time you ask a question or share your expertise, points are added to your profile based on the following point system.

• Answer a Question (15 Knowledge Points)
• Discuss a Question (10 Knowledge Points)
• Ask a Question (5 Knowledge Points)

Each new month begins a new contest, so everyone has an equal chance to climb to the top of the Most Active Member heap. What are you waiting for? Start sharing your expertise by answering questions and you’ll not only be helping out a colleague but also earning points and moving up the list.

Community Manager