Category Archives: Opinion

InternetworkExpert updates its CCIE R&S Material

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I’m actually countering my dissapointment to INE with good product updates they recently released.

First of all, I’m studying for CCIE R&S v4.0. Therefore, I need to have materials that specifically design for v4.0.

Looking to the WB1 I have from INE, I was quite surprised to know that INE updated the WB with additional Cisco IOS Optimized Edge Routing Configuration Guide, Release 12.4T. This is great!

I also noticed that in my account INE updated my CoD with newer version of R&S Advanced Technologies 5-Day Class-on-Demand v4.5. Anthony is teaching and he sounds like a circus announcer. Don’t get mad Anthony! :-)

This is actually a very good thing to keep me awake while listen and watching CoD. The quality of the CoD I cannot really say as I haven’t watching it from day 1 to day 5.

Also, some bonuses from Brian Dennis for previous version of CoD. INe puts 4 parts of MPLS and 1 part of Zone-based FW.

Thank you INE, keep improving!

Asus EEE PC or Thinkpad X31?

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My wife asked for a computer. The requirements are simple. Small and easy to carry. this computer will be used just for browsing and email and bit of document processing.

Then there was the hail Asus EEE PC hype coming up. The specification looks promising and as it is really light and just enough to browsing, email, and document processing.

But wait. Is this a dream-come-true wish to have a small laptop as small as your bed-time story reading book and paying AU $ 479?

As an aficionado of Thinkpad generation, I then compared Asus EEE PC specifications plus price side by side with X31

EEE X31
CPU Intel Celeron M 900 MHz
underclocked 630 MHz		 Intel Celeron 1.4 GHz
RAM 512 MB 512 MB/2 GB
Networking Ethernet + Wireless Ethernet + Wireless
Hard Disk 4 GB SSD 80 GB HD
Screen Size 7″; 800×600 12″; 1024×768
Keyboard Size Smaller Standard
Sound YES YES
Dimension (width x depth x height (in mm)) 225 x 165 x 35 273 x 223 x 24.9
Weight 0.92 KG 1.4 KG
Built-in WebCam Yes No
Battery 4 Cells; 3.5hrs 8 Cells; 5.5hrs
CDRom No Yes, docking
SD Card reader Yes Yes
Price AU $479 AU $400

Still can’t decide? I finally bought Thinkpad X40, better version than X31, for AU $500.

Source.
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Eee-PC-Family-Notebook.7891.0.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-58212.html#arc

http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02/battle-ultra-mobile-linux-laptops-cloudbook-vs-eeepc-vs-my-old-thinkpad

Troubleshooting is not a guessing work.

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Listening to first part and second part video talks with Zaheer Aziz makes me even more realize that the procedure and goal of troubleshooting are important. I’m working in an area where troubleshooting is my bread and butter for 12-hour shift.

Zaheer Aziz is one of the author of the Troubleshooting IP Routing Protocols. I have not read the book as it’s not on my reading priority list but I think I really like to read it sometime when I’m ready.

Zaheer clearly stated that in the procedure of troubleshooting we need to identify what is the issue and start building up the questions from the ground zero. For example the issue is “My Internet is not working”. Let’s start defining what the “internet” is. Is that the browser that can’t go to particular website or all external website but not internal website? Is the email application still working? is this issue affecting all users in particular location or just one user? when is this issue start happening? does it work before? … etc.

We can’t just jump into the conclusion and try to reboot the router and expecting it will restore the so-called “internet connection”.

Another issue that I learn is not trying to make assumption. If you really want to make a guess, lets just prove it so that it can become a fact. Bit of a funny time when I had my customer trying to explain the issue and she keeps repeating that the network is slow because the storage is full. This conversation can go down to hell if I bought that info and assuming the customer always right.

There might be a lot more different ways to solve a network problem, but I still believe that having a good troubleshooting procedure will actually save me some time rather than guessing and hoping.

Time Capsule. Delivering old technology to the new world.

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Time Capsule

During the Macworld Expo 2008, just few days ago, Apple announcing a product called Time Capsule. A Hard disk plus a wireless router.

Looking this idea would make Time Machine user’s on Leopard even happier while they can use the wireless plus without having to get caught plugging in and out the external Hard drive. Time Machine will be able to back up your machine to Time capsule, wirelessly, no hassle. Just every time your computer connects to the Time Capsule Wireless router, your Mac will automatically doing its backup job. You can actually forgets whether your computer is backed-up. Brilliant idea, isn’t it?

One thing is probably missing. I said probably because we have not see the real Time Capsule out on the market yet.

Currently my Linksys WRT54G is 24/7 on, faithfully serving my mac day in – day out. If I have Time capsule, of course, I would have my wireless router activated 24/7, right? The question is, will the Hard disk survive?

I don’t read and see any article mentioning that Time Capsule will have an active cooling system for its Hard disk and that could definitely kills the Hard disk inside.

My Linksys WRT54G will survive without internal FAN, even when my room reaches 35C during summer. It really rocks!

On the contrary, when I turn it on my external Hard disk for more than 6 hours without having an internal FAN, it gets really hot!

Still thinking to use Time Capsule 24/7?

And I’m not finished!

I am actually expecting Apple to release better product than Time Capsule. A product that can store your file wirelessly and play your video and photo files to TV. A rather mix between Time Capsule and Apple TV with more features. Much have been better off if it can play HD/Blu-ray DVD. It’s called a media center.

Similar product has been out on the market called Mediagate MG-350HD. Although it does not play DVD but it stores your files and plays it to your lovable TV. Can Apple make one of these? Yes. Does Apple make one of these? No!

It is not about whether Apple can make it or not but it is merely whether Apple see this the needs of a media center as an opportunity or not.

Linksys also have several similar NAS and media center products but none really answer my prayer.

Why Ubuntu Linux Prevails?

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A recent survey by Linux Foundation reveals that Ubuntu is the most popular linux distribution (55.5%) in year 2007. This finding is not very surprising and even quite obvious to predict.

Ubuntu started its initial released with Ubuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog) back in October 20, 2004. It was quite a surprised and brave decision to make a one-disc-fits-all distribution that just works for office applications including drivers support and multimedia application such as mp3, video player, CD burner.

Ubuntu fills the spot of linux distribution that seems difficult to install and don’t support current applications to make the switch from Windows desktop to Linux. The battle was long started but seems that Linux keeps loosing it before the existence of Warty Warthog.

Ubuntu offers plethora of applications, just enough to provide what most desktop users need such as office and multimedia application. It reads and write documents from Microsoft office. Although not latest Microsoft Office version, as this gigantic proprietary software company keeps changing its format. It also has automated update with the ease similar like Windows operating system. No more geek commands on a dark dreaded terminal.

On current release, Ubuntu 7.10, even offer great graphics candy via Compiz that allows users to experience different user interface feel. Not so much of productivity, though, but it is fun. It can even imitate Apple mac desktop appearance and even does what mac can’t do. Wobbly windows, for example.

Well, if that’s not enough to get you started, you can always have the choice to install windows side-by-side with Ubuntu (called dual boot) or you can use free application (yes, It is FREE) called VMWARE to run windows within your Ubuntu.

Not only good softwares Ubuntu offers, the other reason that Ubuntu fills more market share in Linux desktop is that it offers free Ubuntu disc shipment to your front door. How good is that?

There are reasons why Ubuntu, within 3 years, can compete and be the best of Linux desktop distribution outperform Redhat and SuSE.

  • Ubuntu ‘Just Works’. This is what Linux desktop developers have to look at to compete with current market. To make a distribution that “just works” as Ubuntu proclaims. Users don’t really care about the glory of terminal era or even license limitation. Yes, the spoon-feed users wants to have something that just-works for their computer and Ubuntu is filling the spot.
  • Right Applications. Debian has 18733 packages available and bet has more applications than Ubuntu has. However, that’s not the issue. What Linux distribution need to come up with is the right tool for the right job. Desktop users just want to have office and multimedia aplications, and also easy system administration management.
  • Free CD and Free Shipping. Lazy to download or just run out of download quota? (blame bit-torrent!). Just as Ubuntu to deliver it for you for free of charge. Who would have done this before?
  • Impressive Desktop Effect. Poor Windows Vista that has been following what others operating system can do to users Desktop experience. Ubuntu has been doing this from version 6.10 a year ago!. Although not quite useful, it gives good impression to users that Linux can appears beauty and provoking.
  • Support. Ubuntu frequently updates it version every 6 months and the upgrade is dead easy. Users can read the technical documentation, buy support, use the free online community support, or just use Technical Answer System (similar like Windows help).

From failing you learn, from success, not so much.

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People always thinking that having a failure is not acceptable compared to gaining success.

Me? Hahaha, don’t ask. Mere mortal who made lots of failures. You, who read this lame article, are probably on the same team as I am. We have been through failures. Probably not deliberately, but surely made at least one.

The problem then how the story will continue. Are we then turning the light off and stop working, self pitty or even blaming others for failures we got?

Consider failure is a delayed success. Thomas Edison knew 1000 ways not to make the light-bulb. That was what he saw the failure came.

Failure is certain, but stop not. Because we don’t know how close we are from success.

Fire-fighter or Fire-lighter?

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I choose this topic as I’ve meet people who always say negative about anything I’ve thrown in. No matter if that was a good news or a bad news, an achievement or a failure. There are always people around us speaking negative.

I don’t really understand whether they try to do that because they see things in negative way or just want to show off that they could do better.

Another person, on a contrary, is called fire-lighter. A person who always talks positive to brighten the light.

Which one we want to be and how we deal with these fire-fighter?