Recently in General Category

Just came across this link: Navigating Cisco.com Documentation. What a fantastic walk-through!

1. Tried to upgrade MovableType to the latest version to fix some painful bugs
   
2. Upgrade failed, gave an error code
3. Googled the error code, first link, "Simple fix, just delete xxxx directory"
4. Deleted directory, blog management explodes, can't even log in
   
5. Kicked myself for not backing up the directory before deleting it
6. Vowed to find the person who posted that link on Google
   
7. Months go by, I can't log in to post...
8. Suddenly realized I had a friend who knows how to code, he fixes everything no time at all

While skimming through my pile of Network World magazines, I came across this interesting article. Apparently, Cisco is going to begin manufacturing servers, starting with one codenamed "California Server." This will tromp all over the partner relationship they have with HP and IBM...but why not? I'd buy it just for the Cisco logo.

I'm anxious to see what advantages Cisco will integrate into the server. I'm sure many sweet proprietary solutions could be had with a Cisco server integrating into a Cisco switch/router platform.

When's the Cisco laptop come out?

What I was worried about finally happened. My CiscoBlog Forums were finally destroyed by spammers... This was completely my fault since all I did was install a forum engine and close my eyes hoping they would maintain themselves. Perhaps someday (when I have more time) I can bring them back. For now, CiscoBlog will return back to my personal Cisco journal :o).

Noooooooooo!

I just received the email that Solarwinds has purchased Kiwi (producer of the Syslog and CatTools products). I'm a huge fan of Kiwi because they are low cost (free, in some cases) and just kind of "scrappy." Fun products to use. Hopefully Solarwinds does not disband these small-business products in favor of the mother-of-all Orion product (great product, way too expensive for smaller companies).

Stumbled upon this SWEET analysis of the IPv4 Internet connectivity vs. the IPv6 Internet connectivity.

Wouldn't this be awesome on a nice poster-sized paper in the IT room?

These were rumored at the end of last year...looks like they have finally arrived! VUE Testing enhancements:

• Photo on Score Report and Web - On completion of a certification exam at the test center, candidates will receive preliminary score reports imprinted with their photos and unique authentication codes. The authentication code can be used to access a candidate's official score online at Pearson VUE's website usually within 72 hours of the examination. The online score report will also display the candidate's photo. Candidates may share access to their online records with employers or other third parties.

• Forensic Analysis - Exam results and other testing data will be continuously analyzed by forensic software to detect aberrant testing behavior and to flag suspect exams for further investigation.

• Preliminary Score Report - All paper score reports will be preliminary, pending the results of forensic analysis, until official exam scores are posted to the Web usually within 72 hours of exam completion. Once the exam scores are official, candidates may use the authentication codes on their score reports to access the Pearson VUE website for score and photo verification.

That "Forensic Analysis" section looks pretty interesting. I wonder if they're looking for the TestKing brain dump-style tests? I'm very curious!!!

Pretty cool article talking about using kron jobs on a Cisco router to schedule periodic configuration backups.

http://supportwiki.cisco.com/ViewWiki/index.php/Tech_Insights:Periodical_Configuration_Save_of_Cisco_Devices

If you're like me, you love looking at different network diagrams to see how people create them (clean, efficient, 3d-icons, whatever). Check out www.ratemynetworkdiagram.com for a plethora of network diagram examples.

Okay...I promised these at the end of last year, and I actually delivered on my promise. They were created, I just never told anyone. I've been talking with a couple friends about this and they always say something like, "dude...you SO don't know what you're getting into with forums..." They're right...I don't! But, nonetheless, the time has come to try it out.

http://forum.ciscoblog.com

I'm really taking a "if you build it, they will come" approach to this. I'll be trying it out based on this post for a little while, then I will add an official link to the forums from the main page. Please comment on here if you have any suggestions!

Wow - I feel honored! Network World magazine has listed CiscoBlog as one of the top 20 websites for Cisco techs. Check out the list from the link below - there's plenty of other useful stuff out there:

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/25115

***Warning: following the links contained in this post may have you up past midnight on a Friday night playing with free Cisco management platforms that seem entirely too cool but just end up wasting time.***

Many of you know about Kiwi Software. They are one of my favorite vendors who makes very reasonably priced utilities to manage many aspects of your Cisco network. For years, I've been using their Kiwi CatTools product for configuration management & bulk changes...

...but now the open source community is creeping in: Welcome ZipTie! ZipTie is a project that essentially competes with Kiwi CatTools in a Freeware/Open Source version. Now, I've already purchased Kiwi CatTools and love it...so what makes me excited about ZipTie? The Future!!! If you take a look at the roadmap, they've got more and more features planned to integrate

First off, let me say thank you to all who responded to the previous post on my qualms spending $99 for SecureCRT. An extra thank you to whomever suggested Putty CM!

This utility is so cool, I thought I'd create an extra post about it for those who missed the last thread. Now, without a doubt, SecureCRT takes the cake for the number of features, smoothness, and so on...but if you're just looking for these basic features, you gotta check this program out:

- Saved connections / passwords
- Tabbed windows / session management
- Scripted logins

Here's a screencap of what I've got so far:

**Note...the black squares are mine to protect the innocent :o)

Now here's the scoop: The Putty Connection Manager essentially puts a "shell" around the actual Putty program.