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- TechRepublic Author Biography
Rick Vanover works for Siemens Logistics and Assembly Systems in Grand Rapids, MI. There, he is part of a talented team of IT professionals that deploys custom software solutions to the material handling industry using a mix of current hardware and software products. Previously, he lived in Columbus, OH, and...- more about Rick Vanover »
TechRepublic Resources
- Batch Active Directory tasks with ease using dsmove
- When you have to do specific Windows administration tasks on a frequent basis, it makes your job easier if all relevant objects are in the same organizational unit OU. The practice of a holding OU can make partial removal, mass changes, parallel access, and pre-implementation staging easy for user accounts....
- Tags: Microsoft Windows Server, Organizational Unit, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Active Directory, Directory Services, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Operating Systems, Servers, Software, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-05-14
- Windows XP Service Pack 3 provides updated WPA2 support
- Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was recently released as a critical update to Windows XP systems. This update is welcome in that there is still an investment in core updates with the popular operating system compared to Windows Vista, but it will probably be the last service pack style update with core...
- Tags: WPA, Network, Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack, Windows XP Service Pack 3, XP3, Microsoft Windows, Wi-Fi, Wireless LANs, Microsoft Windows XP, Wireless, Network Security, Networking, Operating Systems, Software, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-05-11
- Tightening Active Directory-Integrated DNS zone aging
- Active Directory-Integrated DNS zones are unique in a way that the Windows clients may be authenticating to the network from a foreign network. This is to prevent Active Directory registrations that can cause record confusion with standing records from reverse lookups. Consider the following scenario; a mobile user with a Windows-based...
- Tags: Internal Network, Network, Active Directory-Integrated DNS Zone, Default Configuration, Networking, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-05-05
- Why the Windows Server 2003 R2 disc matters
- After the installation process for Windows Server 2003 R2 is complete, you may or may not insert the R2 disc as prompted. However, you should definitely allow that step to proceed during the post installation process, mainly to ensure that the system correctly displays its versioning as Windows Server 2003...
- Tags: Microsoft Windows Server, Disc, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows, Servers, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-05-05
- McAfee Total Protection for Network is an enterprise-class network security center
- I am writing to you live from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas while attending Interop. While here, I make it a point to identify new products that are of interest to those who can not attend. First up is the McAfee Total Protection ToPS for Network product...
- Tags: McAfee Inc., Security, Network, Blade, Network Security, ToPS Suite, Content Security Blade Server, Blade Servers, Utility Computing, Servers, Networking, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-29
- Take service management to new levels in Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008
- The sc service controller command manages Windows services from the command line. This can be integral to any semi-automated failover mechanism, service watchdog, or a mass update that requires some configuration to the service. For Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 environments, the sc command takes...
- Tags: Service Management, Microsoft Windows Server, Service, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Servers, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-29
- Implement 10 GB Ethernet over copper with planning
- I am again coming to you live from the Mandalay Bay convention center in Las Vegas at the Interop exposition. One clear theme is that 10 GB Ethernet is upon us. One demonstration that caught my eye in particular was related to crosstalk when using 10 GB Ethernet on copper...
- Tags: Demonstration, Ethernet, Performance, Network, Cable, Performance Management, Network Technology, Networking, Telecommunications, Personal Technology, Human Resources, Workforce Management, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-29
- Getting started with Windows Server 2008 Core edition
- The Windows Server 2008 Core edition comes with significant changes. Here is a quick rundown of the Core edition's capabilities and limitations. The Windows Server 2008 Core edition can: Run the file server role. Run the Hyper-V virtualization server role. Run the...
- Tags: Microsoft Windows Server, Edition, Windows Server 2008 Core Edition, Core, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Servers, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-22
- IPSec policy configurations on Windows Server 2008 systems
- Windows XP, Server 2003, and 2000 use the same basic interface for implementing IPSec policies. Windows Server 2008 does these configurations in the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security snap-in (WF.msc), which is a big change from the simple port allow rules that were used in previous versions. Windows Firewall has...
- Tags: Microsoft Windows Server, Configuration, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Firewall, Microsoft Windows, IPSec, VPNs, Firewalls, Network Security, Operating Systems, Networking, Security, Software, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-21
- 10 items for your disaster recovery wish list
- We all have to address disaster recovery DR at various levels, but we typically must apply the technology to fit rigid parameters -- such as less cost or functionality -- instead of being able to do it right. But what if you didn't have any limitations to hold you back?...
- Tags: Disaster Recovery Environment, Disaster Recovery, Data Management, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-16
- Reconcile IP addressing from Active Directory DNS for Windows Server 2003 subdomains
- If your Domain Name System DNS is fully integrated with Active Directory, you may have a variance in the assigned TCP/IP addresses and what is in use if there is no accommodation for removed or changed systems. You can use a quick one-liner to export the IP addresses in use...
- Tags: DNS, Microsoft Windows Server, IP, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Active Directory, Servers, Operating Systems, Networking, Software, Directory Services, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-15
- Enable DNS server role on Windows Server 2008 core
- Windows Server 2008 (WS2K8) offers the core installation type for new installs. The core installation will allow administrators to run a limited selection of roles compared to the full installation counterparts within the same editions. One of the roles that is permitted on core edition is the DNS server. The...
- Tags: Role, Microsoft Windows Server, DNS Server, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Domain Names, Servers, Internet, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-13
- Two ways to circumvent the DVD drive requirement for installing Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 installations from media are only available on DVD. If you want to install Windows Server 2008 on a capable system without a DVD drive or boot from USB capability, installation may seem to be an obstacle. Here are two tricks for getting around this requirement. Trick...
- Tags: DVD-drive, Microsoft Windows Server, Environment, Network Resource, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Servers, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-07
- Portal-based delegation of network services? You can with iControl
- I have found great benefits in using delegation of network services internally. These services include virtual IP addresses for load-balanced Web servers, application servers that run Web services, and systems that have a remote data center or failover capability. The virtual IP addresses, when paired with DNS names, offer great...
- Tags: Team, Network, Network Service, Failover, Delegation, Portals, Team Management, Networking, Internet, Management, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-04-06
- Out-of-band authentication with Authentify offers compelling service
- Application Service Provider ASP company Authentify presents a unique extra factor of critical authentication applications. For most authentication situations, simply a username and a password are involved. Authentify provides a service that adds a step to the transaction -- a telephone call is made to the expected person attempting to...
- Tags: Phone, Service, Authentication, Authentify, Telephone Number, Security, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-03-31
- 10 ways to benchmark your Active Directory environment
- Active Directory Services is the going standard for account provisioning, basic system management, and DNS authority in most environments. But having some accountability to determine what has changed over time can be a challenge. Here are some strategies for achieving accountability in your Active Directory environment. They'll help supplement your...
- Tags: Environment, Domain, Tool, CSVDE, Development Domain, DSGET, objectClass, Microsoft Windows Active Directory, Directory Services, Enterprise Software, Software, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-03-25
- Use the DNS CNAME for database connectivity
- The DNS CNAME record is probably the greatest tool as an administrator that we can use to facilitate moves and changes in the backend when using Active-Directory integraded DNS. Using the CNAME record for database connectivity is a new strategy I have started to use to facilitate server moves simply...
- Tags: DNS, Server, Domain Names, Networking, Storage, Databases, Internet, Hardware, Enterprise Software, Software, Data Management, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-03-24
- 10 items for your disaster recovery wish list
- We all have to address disaster recovery DR at various levels, but we typically must apply the technology to fit rigid parameters -- such as less cost or functionality -- instead of being able to do it right. But what if you didn't have any limitations to hold you back?...
- Tags: Rick Vanover, Disaster Recovery, Data Management
- Download resources 2008-04-16
- Expanding VPLS services provide site connection options
- Virtual private local area network services VPLS have long been in use by an organization needing prime-time availability for an international wide area network or metro area network. VPLS puts Ethernet connections in point-to-point, multipoint, or multi-point to multipoint configurations. This framework for a geographically dispersed or global organization is a welcome architecture. One...
- Tags: Network, Connection, Endpoint, VPLS, Internet, Networking, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-03-17
- Wireless broadband offers a legitimate option for remote sites
- For a remote site in your enterprise, getting wired connectivity for a VPN or frame-relay link back to your main office may not always be a quick or easy process. Now, we have a new option for connectivity in the situation where we can't get our intended connection at the...
- Tags: Broadband, Wireless Broadband, Broadband Internet, Wireless, Wi-Fi, Telecommunications, Rick Vanover
- Blog posts 2008-03-10
