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- TechRepublic Author Biography
I've been involved in IT since waaaaaay back. Started selling computers, moved into minor software development, played a role as database administrator, help desk manager (for software company with 100,000+ customers), taught local area networking at a tech institute for more than a dozen years, writing, project management, technology architect,...- more about Ric Liang »
TechRepublic Resources
- 10 steps to a sweet BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) deployment
- With most of the legal matters behind, Research in Motion RIMM and its BlackBerry device is once again the tech gadget and service you want to deploy in your organization. Ric Liang's organization has gone through a very successful deployment of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server BES and accompanying devices in...
- Tags: RIM Blackberry Enterprise Server, Enterprise Server, RIM BlackBerry, Ric Liang, E-mail Servers, Handhelds, Servers, Enterprise Software, Software, Hardware
- Download resources 2006-10-20
- 10 steps to a sweet BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) deployment
- This article is also available as a TechRepublic download.Our organization has gone through a very successful deploymentof the BlackBerry Enterprise Server BES and accompanying devices in the pastseveral months. The service has been a hit with our corporate managers and ourinternal subscriber base has doubled over what was anticipated, covering...
- Tags: BlackBerry Enterprise, enterprise server, Ric Liang, RIM BlackBerry, RIM Blackberry Enterprise Server, server
- Technical articles 2006-10-20
- DOWNLOAD: Windows Update patch reporting KiXtart script
- Fully automating Windows Update works well for desktops and laptops but not necessarily for servers. You should normally test server patches before installation and install patches during scheduled outages. Configuring Windows Update to download, but not install, patches accomplishes both goals. With this process in place, now need to know...
- Tags: Bill Detwiler - TechRepublic, download, Kixtart, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server Update Services, Microsoft Windows Update, patch, patch management, ric liang, scripting, server, windows, windows update
- Discussion threads 2005-07-22
- Inventory software with Microsoft's Application Compatibility Analyzer
- In April 2003, Microsoft quietly released version 3 of its Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit ACT. It’s a great set of tools for assisting IT professionals in migrating to Windows XP, but it can also be used for more than that if you look "outside the box."Microsoft Application Compatibility Analyzer (MS...
- Tags: Application Compatibility Analyzer, Microsoft Application Compatibility Analyzer, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, Ric Liang, software, tool, Windows application
- Technical articles 2004-12-23
- Quickly deploy Microsoft security patches with KiXtart login scripts
- With the Blaster onslaught fresh in our minds, many can attest to the challenges they encountered trying to deploy a Microsoft security patch in a hurry. Those of you equipped with an arsenal of system management tools, such as Microsoft's Systems Management Server SMS, Novell's ZENworks, or one of the...
- Tags: Ensure, Kixtart, Microsoft Corp., patch, patch management, Ric Liang
- Technical articles 2003-11-03
- Deploy Acrobat Reader 6 with KiXtart
- Whether you need to map network drives for groups of users, make registry modifications to multiple machines, or quickly deploy software throughout your organization, login scripts can save you time and effort. Several scripting "languages" exist, such as Windows native shell scripting, Visual Basic Scripting Edition, JavaScript, Perl, and KiXtart....
- Tags: Acrobat Reader 6, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Kixtart, Microsoft Installer, Ric Liang
- Technical articles 2003-09-10
- Step through McAfee's Installation Designer for VirusScan 7
- This past spring, Network Associates Inc NAI released the much-anticipated upgrade to its McAfee antivirus software for Windows. Gone is Netshield for Windows as well as VirusScan 4.5. Both have been combined into a single product called VirusScan 7. The simplicity of being able to install one package for both...
- Tags: Installation Designer, McAfee Inc., McAfee VirusScan, NAI, Ric Liang, VirusScan 7
- Technical articles 2003-08-05
- Rapidly deploy Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 with a 'silent' installation
- In late May 2003, Adobe released Acrobat 6 and the accompanying reader. What's new with Adobe Acrobat Reader 6? According to the Adobe Web site, Reader 6.0 touts the following new features:Play back QuickTime Macintosh and Windows as well as Macromedia Flash, Real, and Windows Media-formatted content Windows only that...
- Tags: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Systems Inc., Reader 6, Ric Liang, silent installation
- Technical articles 2003-07-29
- Recognize and manage the stresses of IT support
- Deadlines, network outages, server failures, and screaming end users provide support professionals with an endless supply of stress. Here are some tips to help you recognize and deal with the everyday pressures of the job.Stress. We all have it. We all cope with it—although some of us are better at...
- Tags: PRODUCTIVITY, E-mail, Ric Liang, stress, technique, IT Support, information technology
- Technical articles 2002-02-22
- Inventory software with Microsoft's Application Compatibility Analyzer
- In April 2003, Microsoft quietly released version 3 of its Windows Application Compatibility Toolkit ACT. It’s a great set of tools for assisting IT professionals in migrating to Windows XP, but it can also be used for more than that if you look "outside the box."Microsoft Application Compatibility Analyzer (MS...
- Tags: Application Compatibility Analyzer, Collector, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows XP, Ric Liang, software, tool
- Technical articles 2003-06-30
- Choosing enterprise-wide PDAs: Members say focus on functionality
- Unless you're certain about what you want and why you want it, buying a bulk load of PDAs for use in the enterprise can be a challenge. TechRepublic members have some ideas about criteria for selecting these tools. Surprisingly, brand isn't one of them.Evaluating a product for enterprise use involves...
- Tags: PDAs, Handhelds, Pocket PC, Operating systems, John Connell, PDA, Compaq iPAQ, Palm Inc., Walt Bobby, Microsoft Corp.
- Technical articles 2001-08-17
- Get IT Done: Know the basics of remote PDA connectivity
- The basics of connecting a PDA to a network remotelyLike other professionals who spend much of their time on the road, consultants are highly dependent upon their connection to home or the corporate office. If you use your PDA to help keep your work in order on the road, there...
- Tags: PDAs, Handhelds, Remote access, Ric Liang, Get IT Done, PDA, Palm Inc., Ethernet Connectivity, Ethernet
- Technical articles 2001-12-13
- Sync your Pocket PC with Novell GroupWise
- As surprising as it may seem, it is entirely possible to synchronize your Pocket PC with Novell’s GroupWise messaging system. Those using Microsoft Exchange probably haven't experienced the issues we GroupWise users contend with when it comes to syncing our Pocket PCs. Let’s face it, Pocket PC is entirely a...
- Tags: Novell GroupWise, Novell Inc., PC, Pocket PC, Ric Liang
- Technical articles 2003-05-08
- Lock IT Down: Defend against viruses with this prevention plan
- Find out how to build a defense against virusesWhen you are brought onto a security project, spotting the weak points in your clients’ networks is often only half the battle. Convincing them to take preventive measures is likely a hard sell because many companies don’t see security as a mission-critical...
- Tags: Cyberthreats, Viruses and worms, Patches, Ric Liang, virus, security, access point, server, patch management
- Technical articles 2001-10-10
- Mobile memory and PDA power: Don't leave home without them
- Consultants who depend on their PDAs shouldn't walk out the door without auxiliary memory or a backup power supply. We'll help you prepare your Palm or your Pocket PC for life on the road.With the advent of Pocket PC PPC and Palm devices, all of your important business information can...
- Tags: Handhelds, Operating systems, PDAs, Engineering, Desktops, mobile, Ric Liang, Pocket PC, PC, CF module, battery, memory, backup, PDA
- Technical articles 2001-09-21
- Four steps to keeping current with antivirus signature updates
- Keeping your organization functioning efficiently means going to war against viruses. But antivirus software isn't enough. You need a systematic way to keep your entire infrastructure up to date with the latest signatures. Here's an effective strategy.Recently, I discussed the benefits of a four-layer antivirus strategy, which addresses security for...
- Tags: Tools & Techniques, Viruses and worms, SECURITY, Backups, Ric Liang, signature update, antivirus
- Technical articles 2001-08-27
- How to determine costs in an XP deployment
- You’ve sold the business case on making the move to XP, chosen a deployment approach, and educated yourself about XP implementation issues.Next, as I’ll outline in this fourth and final installment of my XP series, it’s time to examine a critical issue in managing the XP project: determining project cost...
- Tags: Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Ric Liang, Software Assurance, Microsoft Office XP, Microsoft Windows, PC, software
- Technical articles 2003-02-24
- XP implementation considerations
- You’ve decided to upgrade to Windows XP and Office XP and have even mapped out the best deployment method for your organization. Next, you must examine additional considerations, such as configuration approaches and print driver compatibility issues, before developing a detailed project plan and beginning the actual PC upgrade work.Choosing...
- Tags: Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office XP, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Windows XP, Ric Liang
- Technical articles 2003-02-17
- Real-world recommendations for standardizing PCs
- Standardizing PCs can save your organization money and improve services to clients. Here are some real-world specifications and recommendations for creating PC standards. Bear in mind that these specifications may vary significantly for each organization.Enhanced desktop specificationsAn enhanced desktop configuration is intended for power-users and reflects the need for greater...
- Tags: CD-RW, desktop configuration, monitor, PC, performance, RAM, Ric Liang, specification, video
- Technical articles 2003-02-11
- Pocket PC vs. Palm OS: Which is best for corporate PDA use?
- You may prefer a particular PDA for any number of personal reasons, but other considerations must come into play when choosing a PDA for enterprise-wide use. This article takes a comparative look at the two biggest players in the PDA space.There have been seemingly endless articles debating the merits of...
- Tags: PDAs, Handhelds, ROI/TCO, Operating systems, Ric Liang, PDA, Palm Inc., Pocket PC, TCO, PC, software, Palm OS, operating system
- Technical articles 2001-07-20
