The Presidential election, my thoughts

Hello all,

I began typing a short Facebook posting and came up with a little more than I thought appropriate for Facebook.  But looking at what I wrote, I am still not sure what business it has being posted on a tech blog either.  But as I looked at the word Schmogesblog, it seems to fit quite nice.  Enjoy.

I have always believed the lessons taught to me long ago, by the old timers back in my Grandfather's and Uncle's auto shop.  I am experiencing their truth and wisdom as I get older.  And in light of this election what they left me with seems to ring more true.  It doesn't matter to which party you affiliate yourself, you can not, and should not count on any government.  It might be here today, gone tomorrow.

They would tell me things like, "Boy, you need to learn to do for yourself.  You need to be smart, get an education and learn everything you can to survive.  And not just survive in society, but literally survive as if you had to start with nothing but the clothes on your back.  Learn the basics, and learn them well.  Food/water, shelter, clothing.  Don't be lazy and don't take anything you have for granted. Fix whenever possible rather than replace.  And be friends with people that are as resourceful as you, and learn from them."

I share this as I watched the debate last night and I came to the conclusion that no matter who is president, America is on a path that can not be righted by one man or one government.  If America is going to get out of this funk, it has to start and come from "WE the people" first.  I believe we do not have enough people willing to do what it takes to get us on the right path; opposed to the people who, for whatever reason, feel they deserve to be exempt from participation.  Yes, all socioeconomic classes, all races, all religions, and political and philosophical beliefs.  While there is usually "We should..." being thrown around, the underlying theme I hear is "They need to...", "You should...." and "It should come from...."

There are many things we can learn from history; from the old timers.  One take away I have from all of this election stuff is that no matter how you want to say it, through out all history, for bad or worse, Natural Selection always works.

As always, Just Sayin.

Tom

Do you have a quirky stuff saving habit?

Hello all,

I am going to share a story I find amusing, and I would like to hear your story about this.

The other day I was in my garage, cleaning things up and moving things around when I had a flashback to my childhood that got me laughing at myself.  I realized I have some of the same habits that I observed in others around me.

When I was quite young I hung around my uncles and other old timers who were a part of the Great Depression.  Many of these people were mechanically inclined and worked on cars and just about everything else in their life.  I remember it as if it were yesterday, sweeping the floor of my grandfather's auto repair place, some old timer yelling to me, "Come here boy!  I want to learn you something!"

These old-timer guys were my true heroes.  Sure, there was Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, Don Money, Gorman Thoms, Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor and all kinds of other sports athletes that wow'd me.  They were fun to watch from a distance, but these old guys knew everything. 

I would sit and listen to their stories about just about everything under the sun.  They would talk about the hard times when they were growing up, things that they did to entertain themselves (like actually play OUTSIDE!) and the mischief they would get into.  I really miss those stories.

"Come here boy!" usually meant I was in trouble or they were going to show me something.  I learned all kinds of stuff about cars and fixing stuff.  They just did things creatively right.  But more than only listening to their stories, I observed and learn from what they did without telling me.  And this is what got me laughing.

When these guys would change the oil in a car, they would turn the cans upside down and put them in funnel, and let them sit there for a few hours.  Remember the old oil cans that you would open with a can opener?  Or, if you were 'high tech' you would have one of those gouge pour funnels that you could just pour the oil into the valve cover opening.  So they would let these cans sit in a funnel for a few hours to squeeze every last drop of oil out of the can.  After about 20 quarts of oil, they would save about 1 quart of oil in a jar to use for themselves.  You could imagine that if you change enough oil you could save enough to change your own oil when that time arrived.

So, I have 5 empty quarts of oil standing upside down with the cap on, with about 1-2 tablespoons of oil resting in them, waiting to be poured out into the master oil bottle collector.  My old-timer mentors would be happy and proud to know that their legacy live on.  I might even get an "Attaboy!"

So what is your story?

Tom

How does a brain of a tech person really work?

Hello again all,

A few days ago, after helping someone with a fairly complex computer/network problem, I was asked, "How in (expletive) did you figure that out?  How does your brain work?"  We had a few laughs and I began to wonder that myself.  So I began thinking......

The concept of "normal" is all based on relativity.  I believe that most of us use the standard gauge measure of 'normal' as ourself.  "I am normal" and everything is either left, right, or in-line with "normal".  But what if somewhere along the line of brain function, I was introduced to 'abby normal'  (Young Frankenstein reference).  My standard of normal wouldn't change because I am still "normal"; only to which side the balance most ideas/people rest.

First, I and my friends are convinced that that if there is a filter between my brain and my mouth/keyboard it simply doesn't work.  Things just seem to slip out and before I know it, I am wishing I could reel it back before it reaches anyone.  I have this saying, "If I have offended you, I truly apologize.  If I haven't, wait a few minutes, I'll get to you as soon as I can."

So, with these two presuppositions, I am 'normal' and any chance of having a working filter doesn't exist, how does my thought/reason process, my brain, actually work?

Plinko in 3D and an absence of gravity!

A thought, idea, concept, problem, issue, etc someone gets into my head.  It then bumps into and knocks up against all kinds of other thoughts, ideas, concepts, problems, issues, etc, on its way to some sort of resolution or conclusion.  The resolution or conclusion then itself becomes a part of the Plinko game, thereby furthering the game.

Some people believe that in Plinko, the ball or peg bounces around nilly-willy without rhyme or reason and just happens to end in a certain spot because of random chance.  I don't believe that for a second.  I believe there is some calculation and groups of calculations, which, if we could properly put it all together, we could understand and even plan a certain outcome.  We call actions or events "random" because we can't or don't want to spend the brain power figuring out the how and why.  And even if we would have a magical algorithm that figures out everything, there is a string that throws off everything; "but God...".

So, my brain and that of most IT tech people, in some strange way, works like a giant 3D Plinko game.

Thoughts?

Minuteman UPS follow-up

Hello all,

This is a follow-up to my previous blog about all the problems I was having with my Minuteman 3000RM2U.

Everything in my previous blog is still accurate, however, there is a happy ending.

Today, I received 8 new SNMP-SSL cards from the manufacturer.  I spent about 3 hours installing them and configuring them.  I am glad to say they are running and performing as I would have expected.

These might turn out to be good UPS systems.  Time will have to make up for it.

Minuteman UPS systems - my anger- STAY AWAY.

Hello all,

Here is a short story of my very first experience with Minuteman UPS's.  I have been working on 8 - 3000KV 2-U RM units.

The UPS's look pretty and solid.  They seemed to be okay and honestly, they seem to function okay.  The problem comes with the network management card, SNMP-SSL.  That is the name of the card.

I fired up the UPS systems and remoted into the system with their RJ45 to DB9 interface, using HyperTerminal.  I set a static address and turned off DHCP.

I opened up a web browser to finish configuring it with a pretty interface.  According to their instructions, one step is to check the firmware version with what is available online.  I did.  The firmware on the SNMP-SSL card is 2.05 and the download version is 2.10.  I downloaded the new version from their website.  Again, according to their instructions, you can upgrade the SNMP-SSL card via the embedded web server or their special upgrade utility.

I upgraded the card with their web server, connected using Windows 7, 64bit, using IE8.  The upgrade seemed to take just fine, but didn't.  For some reason, every the card is restarted, DHCP is re-enabled and the static IP Address is over written with a DHCP address.  Every time a setting is changed in the card, the card asks to be restarted for the settings to be applied.  And...as you can guess, if I reset the card, I lose connectivity to the card because it reassigns a DHCP address.  I proved this over and over again.  And then I called support.  OI!

At first they did not believe me that this was the problem.  They had me do all kinds of things that, if I could, I would have reached through the phone and strangled the guy.  "Is it plugged in...is it displaying a page...are there lights on...."  Okay...I get it...they have to go through every possible thing.  But once I let them know I kinda know what I am doing in general, he should have backed off a bit.

So, he had me re-flash the firmware, nada.  Then he said that the web based upgrade doesn't work on IE, so I tried Firefox, nada.  Then he said that it doesn't work on Windows 7, so I went to Windows XP.  So then they said that the flash doesn't work in the web version at all, and I need to use their special utility to upgrade the firmware, nada.  Then they said that I needed to use a special version of the utility that they had to send me in order for the flash to work, nada.

After about 10 hrs of messing around with this I finally blew a gasket.  Did I mention that these are brand new out of the box?

I asked for them to join.me in a session because they still didn't believe what was happening.  Once they saw it happen right before their eyes, the excuses just kept flying.  "We have thousands of these out in production and this is the first time we are hearing ANY problems!"  Really?!?!  Why is it that is seems that I find all kinds of unknown and unreported bugs?  In this case, maybe nobody else is using the management cards for management?  I just have a hard time believing that "I Tom Hafemann" am finding all kinds of bugs that nobody else in the entire world can find.

So...the manufacturer of the Minuteman UPS's are sending me 8 new SNMP-SSL cards.  If they don't work right out of the box they are going back.  The WHOLE THINGS!

Above all of this, I haven't even begun to configure management yet.  In order to configure the SSL Manager I must have static connection to the Manager server!  Even more GRRRRRRRR.

If you don't mind spending all kinds of time on something simple like a UPS, by all means save some money and buy Minuteman UPS.  Otherwise, buy something for a little more that you know works and will not give you any problems.

A few years ago I tried Eaton UPS and it was really good.  The thing just works, management just works.  The clients just work.  I had the UPS up and running and totally configured on all the systems I wanted in about 2 hrs.

VMWare 5 Certified!

Hello all,

Short update on the VMWare VCP class.

After the lecture was over on Friday, I immediately went into the testing center to take my test.

All week long and even prior to attending the VCP class, I had been studying to take the VCP5 test.  After class was over I would go back to my room and study.  I did this every night until between midnight at 2 am, and then wake up at 6 to goto class.  The rest of the class would go out at night to eat and party.  My classmates invited me out, however, I declined because I wanted to study for the test.  All week long they gave me grief, mocking me for "studying" in my room.  While I knew the kidding was in fun, I knew what I was there to do.

The first response upon announcing I was taking the test was from a super funny Englishman who said, "Well you must be bloody (expletive) in the head!"  Others followed with their own ribbing and a good yuck, yuck.

So off to the testing center.  If any of you have taken a certification test recently, you know that it can be quite an ordeal.  You have to read, or be read to, all sorts of documents, your picture is taken, you electronically sign documents, all of this is before you even are able to take a test.  The whole ordeal can take 10-15 minutes.  I was first and other were behind me.

Let me back up a bit.  Typically, at this training and testing facility, they do not allow students to take the test immediately after the class.  They recommend a day pass, or even a few weeks for you to study the materials and be absolutely ready for the test.  This was my first time at this facility, who was sub contracted from the main company I use, CED Solutions in Atlanta, GA.  This new facility was not going to allow anyone to test until I asked them to call the Atlanta location.  The gentleman called and they said that nobody could test.  I asked him to mention my name and ask for an exception.  He told them my name and they said, "Oh, it's Tom...let him test....if he says he is ready, he is!"  So there was a special dispensation given to even test after the class.

I went into the test booth a little nervous as I have never taken a VMWare test.  As soon as the test popped up I knew I was prepared.  86 questions and 120 minutes to complete.  I was out of there in 26 minutes. 

I stepped out of the room and back where the others were preparing to take the test.  The testing gentleman was getting his second tester prepared to take the test. 

The gentleman asked, "What's wrong?"
I said, "Nothing...all done."
"Right, did it fail or bomb out?"
"No, I'm done and I passed!"

Just then we heard the noise of the printer starting to warm up as it began printing the testing report results.  444 out of 500.  300 is passing.  The testing gentleman was shaking his head and yelled out, "Damn boy!  I have never seen anyone take, and PASS a test that fast!"

I walked back into the classroom where many of my classmates and the instructor were.  They asked, "So you decided to not take the test after all?"

I held up my paper and told them I passed.  The instructor said, "LET ME SEE THAT!"

My Englishman lab mate yelled out, "Bloody balls of steel, have you!?  LOOK OUT everyone, Tom's balls just hit the floor!"  (his words, not mine) to the eruption of laughter and congratulations from the entire room.

Nobody else who took the test that day passed. 

Later that evening, I did joined the guys in going out to celebrate not only the end of the class, but the fact that I passed the test.  I had 24 Buffalo Wild Wings, and a few cold ones.  The guys told me that I did it right.  They all have to go back home and not only do their jobs, but find time to study AND go take their test, again.

Ah, sweet victory.

VMWare vSphere 5 training Day 0

Hello all,

As many of you know, in order to keep up with technology, training is often required.  Let me emphasize OFTEN!  It seems like only a 5-6 years ago we were installing VMWare ESX 2 and now we are on ESXi 5.  That is because we were!  It seems that with technology, it is one of the areas in life that not only do new things come along and change fast, but technology becomes obsolete literally in a few years. 

This morning I left my home at 3:45 am and began my annual pilgrimage to training.  Typically I follow the 3 year cycle for Cisco, Microsoft, and Novell/Linux.  This year is a bit different. 

We have a fairly substantial VMWare infrastructure.  It is nice and works great.  With the help of my friends and my past experiences I was able to build a nice infrastructure.  Things are about to get crazy.

About a week ago we began a server room upgrade project.  We are building a brand new MDF and need to migrate all of it to this new room.  One would assume that moving from one room to the next would simply mean picking up what we have and putting it in another room.  Simple unplug and plug it back in.  That would be true if we were building the EXACT same server room.  Because of some of the new and more complex configurations, there are some additional skills that are required.  Think of it like this.  Let's say your knee is worn out.  You goto the doctor and he says that either you can get some surgery to fix your knee or you can get a knee replacement.  Both fix the issue in their own way, but both require two sets of skills to accomplish.  I believe I could do this all without additional training, but what if I get half way into this migration and say, "Ooops!  Now what?"  This vSphere 5.0 training and certification should help answer many of those advanced questions.

So, I got on the plane.  Very long story but US Airways is now my least favorite airline.  I have a broke CPAP machine that was a checked carry-on luggage piece that they somehow managed to crack.  Grrrr.

I booked my shuttle from the airport to the hotel about a week ago.  I confirmed it for a round trip of $55.  When I arrived at the airport I got in the shuttle verified with the non-English speaking driver that it was $55 for a round trip.  The "shuttle" was more like a family van.  The entire dash didn't work so he relied on the GPS for speed information.  He has the GPS set to Kmh!!!  So, we were going 55 km per hour down the highway.  Again....GRRRRRR!  When I arrived at the hotel and got out, I said $55 round trip, he said no; $50 one way.  I showed him the printed out the confirmation to which he replied "prices have changed".  NICE!

I arrived at the hotel; Hyatt; nicer than most hotels at which I stay.  I got some lunch and food for weekday meals.

Unlike most of my trainings, this training does not allow time to take the test during the class.  I am scheduled to take the VCP test on Monday, March 5th back in Wisconsin.  Class ends Saturday, March 3rd.  So, I have an extra day to study.  And since this is day 0, it doesn't count. Anything I do today gets me further ahead for the rest of the week.  I figure I have to go through about 100 study questions per day.  I can get through between 10 and 15 questions per hour.   12 hrs of school per day, 6 -10 hrs of studying.  That is right 2 to 6 hrs of sleep per night after tonight.  Ugh.  These training sessions are brutal.  Fortunately this is only a  5 day class.  Cisco CCNP is usually a 17 day class.

Well, this was a fun break sharing with you all what is happening.  Back to studying.

Tom