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Peer feedback needed! It's all about you!

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by tig2 4 views

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

This is page 2 of the discussion. Read the opening post

145 replies

by jaqui

try surfing the internet with the computer you are installing an os onto, while installing the os, from the os being installed.

by jaqui

of the insult.exe that we used back before windows was a wet dream in Job's eye.

you remember the silly thing, set the dos prompt to mimic the user's and when they touched any key on the keyboard it would throw as many insults as you told it to at the user, then refuse to let them work for another 10 minutes before exiting.

by nicknielsen

Not through a USB 1.1 port. Been there, done that.

All my drive images are on a USB hard drive. I still have to support PCs that don't have USB 2 controllers. A reimage takes anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the PC and size of the image.

For what I support, give me the CDs.

by absolutely

I guess access control is apotheon's primary interest, and maybe you'd rather leave it to him, but you've had interesting & informative contributions to recent password-quality discussions. Securing data is of general interest and I'd guess that at least an occasional brief list of tips for reducing the ineffectiveness of various types of credentials would be useful.

by tig2

Would you be interested in a discussion on developing "grow your own" encryption? From the standpoint of "if I could write code, I would do these things?"

I know the things that I would do different and DO different to create encryption algorithms. Can you see that being of value?

by absolutely

Start with the difference between "do different and DO different" because I can tell you're making an important distinction, but after reading several times, I'm not sure what.

In reply to the general question, I'd be most interested in your best encryption ideas. If no published algorithm is doing it the way you think is optimal, I'd like to read what way you think would be best. Although, if you meander too long into what quantum cryptography could do, "if only," I'll tune out; that can't happen without end-to-end fiber, and as far as I know, the optical router problem is still not solved.

by seanferd

I just think it has gotten exponentially worse since '98 or '00. About the time they started repeatedly surveying the user on "how is this site".

by michael jay

encryption? is that spelt rite?

Full drive encryption has been all the rage in my shop but at what cost?

Should a drive become damaged in any way then there is no recovery process.

Clearly without a backup strategy drive encryption is not an option.

Could be a topic.

by the scummy one

from my experiences with encrypting a drive, the data has always been recovered with a few extra steps. Well, at least as well as regular drive failures at least. But, without the encryption key, it is unlikely to be recovered, and in many cases cannot be recovered by the company without severe costs. Backups are essential if encryption is used.

by boxfiddler Hot topic

Over the past several days I have been seeing both in these forums and another where I lurk a lot of email addresses in posts.
How not to advertise to spammers!

by jcitizen

I like TR so much it wouldn't bother me if TechRepublic expanded into other fields of technology.

That way I and some of my other contacts on this site wouldn't get "off topic" so often.

by jcitizen

at least two whiners per discussion. I do notice they bother to go there and complain though.

Where as I see intensely interesting articles from Paul and others on security topics and subjects that definitly are spot on; and no one has commented or even bothered to give a thumbs up!?

Sometimes I feel bad so I post a comment and vote positive even if I may not have a particular interest in the subject; but was well written. I don't want to see the good journalism/writing go away here.

by jcitizen

good to me!

It is good to see something different on TR once and a while.

I love reading about ANYTHING tech related.

by the scummy one

I am a violator of that as well. I often forget about the voting button, and read an article and just move on.

Thanks for the reminder, I will have to try to sway from that habit.

by charliespencer

I don't think I've ever clicked it. I think the problem is the button is at the top of the article. By the time I get to the end I'm focused on reading the comments of others or trying to get my thoughts together to post my own.

Hey, PTBs, how about moving the "Worthwhile?" button to the bottom of the article?

by boxfiddler Hot topic

How to build my 'home theatre' around a PC.
What components do I need for the PC?
Do I need a special receiver?
What kind of connectors will I need?
What are the drawbacks to this sort of thing?
How would I go about recording from the TV or stereo (radio or turntable) to the PC?
Will I need specialized software?

My guess is that there are a lot of us out here who would like to 'build our own' in that regard. I sure as heck don't want the big box electronics boys fiddling in my PC.

edit typo damn psychlos

edit again: preferably w/Win2K or non-win Thanks for reminding me oh Scummy One~

by the scummy one

get a Media Center Edition system, with a tuner card. Works fine.
Or
get a tuner card seperate, it should have SW for media -- differing quality.

For more info, I think I ran across a blog or article the other day that was testing out media center function is Vista.

by the scummy one

Didnt I mention
"Or
get a tuner card seperate, it should have SW for media -- differing quality."

LOL. I think Nick has the right idea. Personally, I have not played with the tuner card as a seperate item. When I decided to build the media center, I needed a new system anyway, so I picked up an HP media center edition comp.

by jessie

For those of us who are going to be forced to support Vista in the workplace, some tips for where to find the best support info, some support tips, some "what's new" info and the like would be very helpful to me.

While you're at it... let's have the secret to world peace... cuz all I can find is the secret to whirled peas.

by absolutely

Vista should stand on its own, ie with only its corporate sponsorship. If Microsoft can't support you, [u]then[/u] turn to TR. In that case, a more specific question would probably be better. If I had $100 Billion, I could "support Vista." I don't, and I don't believe TiggerTwo has that kind of capital either, so a more specific request than "Vista in the workplace" is probably in order.

by the scummy one

so I answered!

True World peace canot be acheived with any living thing still left.

However, there are acceptable alternate solutions if we wanted to keep some kind of life. However this would mean that not true World Peace would be acheived.

by seanferd

Sorry I wasn't around to catch the query.

But now I'm going to have to draw a diagram so I know exactly what it is that I meant! :^0

edited due to fatfinger syndrome

by absolutely

Some are just bright ideas, but some are bright ideas she's actually able to use. That would make sense.

by tig2

But you are absolutely correct- and thanks to Seanferd for providing an explanation in my absence.

Frequently, I find that I have "half an idea". I don't really get to something usable until SO and I start batting it around- fortunately, he has as much interest as I do.

I think that this could be a wonderful topic at the very least. I know that I think of things that I would love to be able to bounce off a wider range of techs. I think that anyone with an interest in encryption would benefit from the discussion.

by seanferd

Even with articles folks seem to like, judging from comments, sometimes have very few votes.

I always try to remember to vote, even if I have no comments to leave. I think we need a "voting drive".

So let's everyone who has read Tig's articles and not voted go back and do that (I mean, if you did enjoy them). She's still fairly new in producing articles for TR, and votes need to reflect the actual support/appreciation those articles are getting. Continue with voting for everything you think is good.

Nice one, centurion J, pointing that out.

by jcitizen

to TR!

In fact - even if I don't like an article - I will read the comments from the serious regulars here like Tigger Two, and it never fails; I realize I liked the article after all, when considering good discussion of the subject.

I invariably click thumbs up after that!

by tig2

Really appreciate that!

The only way we know what you guys want is through feedback, be it page views, thumbs up, or response in the thread. When we see a discussion that has good feedback, we know whether or not it is of interest.

While TR may not be able to do everything that we would like, the process of telling them is still important.

by kingttx

Using Zoneminder in Linux for server room security.
An article on a total Linux enterprise implementation, what software to use where. For example: Fedora/Red Hat Directory Server for an Active Directory replacement (they are actually coming out with an even better product soon, can't remember the name offhand, but it will eventually run policies for Linux workstations as well); Apache2/MySQL/P* for IIS (duh, I know); Drupal or Plone or Joomla for Adobe's Contribute CMS; Linux-based firewalls, VPNs, and routers (run that through Google and you'll find some good examples); Nagios for network monitoring; Zimbra or Scalix for an Exchange replacement (I'm partial to Zimbra since they recently produced a plugin to allow it to act like a directory server, but I'm a bit concerned with the whole brouhaha between Yahoo and MS right now); ClamAV for desktop and server-based antivirus; and others.
For any cluster admins, how about compiling and using HPL on Windows clusters to benchmark their implementation.
Since Java being opened, what are the differences between the new Java offerings?
Someone mentioned bringing in anecdotes already, so expand that to include examples of what scripting and automation some admins threw together in any OS.
What technology should new admins be aware of? For example, I'd learned about SAS and SATA technology but I didn't know the nuts and bolts behind them until I had to work with them. Knowing the facts behind the technology doesn't always help knowing when to use them or how.
How about interviewing someone that designs server chassis and what they have to go through with each new model (air flow, ergonomics, etc.). Heck, how about designing a data center? That's ambitious. :)
The rise of alternative energy? I once figured out how many servers could be powered only by a field of solar panels - with current technology (about 12 watts per square foot), it figured out to about 600 sq. feet of solar panels for a rack of 30 servers running at peak usage. It also figured out that a 1/2-mile by 1/4-mile of all solar panels would power roughly 5800 racks of 30 servers each running at full blast. Yes, that's assuming the panels are clean and not supporting any other power drains. Also, there would be power loss in transmission of the electricity and it would cost over $30 million for that field of solar panels.
Anyway, that's all I can think of offhand. Enjoy!

by boxfiddler Hot topic

If You Are Irresistibly Compelled To Lend Out Your Notebook, Flashdrive, and Whatever Other Lendable Computers and/or Accessories You Own - Here Is How To Keep The Lendee From Fiddling Too Deep In It.
Cripes, but I'm getting tired of reading the 'help me I lent whatever to whoever and now I can't use it anymore' posts. And I'm getting real tired of hearing the same kind of thing from my total noobie students. And friends. And family.

edit typo

by sleepin'dawg

Just download it from your favourite source.
Its free and I've made conference calls between Spain, Germany, USA, Canada, and India. It's not VoIP but it's free and if everyone has highspeed connections, you can make video conferences but I've only done that with three connected since neither Spain nor India had highspeed. Even dialup connections aren't too, too shabby. BTW I purchased Logicams c/w earphones and mikes @ BestBuy for less than $20 each. They sell off stuff thats been opened at really great discounts The units I bought were normally priced at $90 but I grabbed two on one visit and the others on a couple of other visits. Last time I was in they didn't have any more Logitech items but there were a couple of Microsoft units available for $24.95 and those usually sell for +$90. I browse the discount stuff everytime I go in and have picked up several bargains this way. My latest was a package of 4 toner cartridges for a four colour laser for only $55. Usually I have to pay a few hundred bucks for those. I also check out clearance on software- like Photoshop CS3 for $50. I don't understand why they price this stuff so cheap. The Photoshop installed and got registered with no problems whatsoever. Go figure. I'd rather spend my money on single malts than computer software or hardware that is obsolete before you can leave the store. Don't be put off by scuzzy or scruffy looking packages, BestBuy guarantees everything.

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