Busy busy busy

All,

I’m really sorry for not posting in a while!  I can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve posted!  Work has me soo busy!  Implementing a web VPN (ASA ver 8.0 is waaay cool!), a backup copper line to my already existing fiber MAN, the list goes on…

Anyway, poor excuses!  I should be posting more, and I will!  I have a few books at my doorstep last week that I’ll review and post about!

I’m also considering writing a book.  “Considering” is the word, since I’ve been “considering” for months.  It’s a scary commitment, and I’m not sure I’m up to it.  Plus, I only know the 60% of the subject matter that I’ll be writing about.  Not sure if I’ll do it.  But, I might…

If there is anyone left still reading this blog (since I haven’t posted in ages!!), that has written a book, send me some advice!  I would love to have it!

Cheers!  I’ll be posting more regularly!

Firefox vs IE memory usage

Being the Network Operations Manager, one of my duties is to decide on policies and standardization across the Desktop and Server infrastructure.  For the longest time, I’ve had to weigh and determine whether we should drop IE and move to Firefox.

Why the hard decisions?  Well, although Firefox is certainly more secure (and more productive to use in my opinion), the fact remains that many 3rd-party companies are still designing applications to the IE spec.  I won’t go into detail why that is wrong in around 100-different ways.  The fact is, we must keep IE.

However, I do encourage users to try Firefox, and use it if they can.  The only downside it has had, was the huge memory usage it would take.  The more tabs and windows you used, and the longer it sat, the more memory it would use.

Apparently, that has changed, according to some tests prominently displayed and explained on Pavlov.net’s blog.

They tested three different browsers.  IE7, Firefox2, and Firefox3-beta.  The results were shocking to me.  Basically, they opened 30 webpages, each using their own window, and did that 11 times.  Each window that was opened, closes the other window.  At the end, the last window remained opened, and they let the browser sit awhile.

Check out these results (blatently taken from Pavlov’s site):

This shows that not only has Firefox3 have BETTER memory management than it’s predecessor,  but check out IE7!!  It didn’t even reclaim the used space of all those windows after sitting!!

This is proof in the pudding!  Not only does IE SUCK at CSS, but it also SUCKS at memory usage.  No wonder why Vista has such steep memory requirements!  It’s not for the eye-candy, or advanced graphics and tools.  It’s to keep browsing the internet!!!

Here’s the link to the article, in case you missed it above:

Firefox 3 Memory Usage « pavlov.net

Salesman grief…

Okay, my last post was about using email as a File Transfer Medium, and what alternatives were out there.  This post was in response to a Sales Person at Utechsoft.com (I suppose the makers of File Catalyst).  So, first, a little background:

I contacted Unlimi-Tech Software as I was interested in their File Catalyst product.  The File Catalyst product does quite a few things that I wanted, such as LDAP Authentication, file upload, and receipient emails.  The only thing it didn’t do, that I wanted, was an Address Book Lookup, which, I’m told by the developers, that it’s in the works.

However, when demo’ing the product, I ran into an error where my end-recipients couldn’t access the file.  There was an error message.  No problem, these things happen.  I requested a "walk-through" which entailed a software developer troubleshooting the problem.  It turns out, that it was a programming error on their end, and they had to fix it.

1 week later, the sales person emails me back asking me to test using the new software.  At that point, I really didn’t want to keep testing.  I was done.  It did some things I wanted, not others, and for a price of between $10,000USD and $18,000USD, I was actually expecting more.  Now, before you start complaining about price, let me just say, I work for a large company, and I spend lots of money where I think it needs to be.  So, if it was worth it, I would spend that money.  I just don’t believe File Catalyst is worth it yet.  Especially after the fact that the technician had to debug their own problem on my machine.

Here is the email I received after the technician worked with me:

From: XXXXXXX
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 10:18 AM
To: Aaron Paxson
Subject: FileCatalyst Webmail

Aaron,

You recently installed FC Webmail and walked through a quick online session with XXXX, technical engineer.

We would like to set up another session with you to walk you through the newest release and have you conduct you testing with this version.

Let me know when you would like to set up this web meeting next week.

Regards,

Okay, so moving on, I simply told the sales person that for the price, I felt that I shouldn’t be testing their software, and that I was no longer interested. I still feel I was professional, but I really didn’t want to continue. It was too expensive for what I received from it. Plus, I was a little disappointed that I had to help the technician debug their own problem. This was a pretty big problem, if the recipients couldn’t get the files. I mean…isn’t that the point?

My response was fair, I believe:

From: Aaron Paxson
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 11:23 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: FileCatalyst Webmail

No thank you, XXX. I have tested the application enough to see what it does, and how it does it. I feel the cost of the application is more than the Quality of Service that goes into the "production" application.

At this point, I feel like I’m "testing" your application for your developers than actually "demo’ing" it. There was no "walkthrough" on our last call, but merely a helpdesk call for your developer to troubleshoot the problem.

Again, for the price of this product, I just feel uncomfortable.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Aaron Paxson

I mean, I don’t think anyone can blame me for that, right?  I was disappointed in how it was handled, and I really do not feel I should continue.  Here is the response I received today, and the reason for this post:

From: XXXXXXX
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 9:34 AM
To: Aaron Paxson
Subject: RE: FileCatalyst Webmail

Aaron,

It is unfortunate that you have this impression and feel uncomfortable with our solution and the pricing.

You contacted us February 21/08 via an online request for information and download of FileCatalyst Webmail.

I responded by providing download instructions the same day and offered a web meeting to demo FileCatalyst Webmail.

On Feb. 28/08 you downloaded the software and proceeded to test independently prior to a thorough overview of our solution.

If price is the issue, I understand.

If you would like a complete “walkthrough” of Filecatalyst Webmail, I would be pleased to provide this to you.

Sincerely,
XXXXXX

Okay, maybe it’s just me, but this really ticked me off. It sounds like the salesman was going through a chronological timeline, to justify what he did, and then proceed to (and I’m paraphrasing here) tell me that I’m too stupid to test their product because I, "….proceeded to test independantly prior to a thorough overview of their solution.".

Let me tell you something… when an engineer has to get on my laptop, to test and troubleshoot the problem, then have the salesman send me the "latest version" to continue testing… it is NOT BECAUSE I proceeded to test independantly prior to a thorough overview.

At this point, my professionalism is leaving me, and I’m starting to get upset.  Here is my final email:

From: Aaron Paxson
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 9:44 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: FileCatalyst Webmail

I had no problems testing your software. But, recall, there was an error in the software that your software developer had to be on the call for, troubleshoot, then fix the problem.

This had nothing to do with "not having a thorough overview". By sending me an email and implying that I had these problems because I "failed to receive a thorough overview", because I, "proceeded to test independantly" has me feeling that it was my ignorance that caused the problem.

If it was because I "tested independantly prior to a thorough overview of your solution", then why send me the "latest version" to proceed to test with.

I wanted a demo, not be a ginea pig. The demo didn’t work, and I am moving on. So should you.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Aaron Paxson

Now, I’m not saying that their product is bad.  But, I did have a bad experience.  If you choose File Catalyst as your FileTransfer server, just be cautious.  And if you happen to have a salesman like this, just drop the product all together.  It’s not worth it.  I have better things to do.

What’s the most humerous piece of this??  Well, I received a comment from ANOTHER sales-person about the same product.  I’m done….

Tags: filecatalyst, file catalyst, email, attachment, transfer

Powered by Qumana

Styx Netflow Collector Update

I’ve been having a VERY hard time keeping up on my development on Styx.  With adding changes to OpenNMS, new projects, and my studies, it’s sooo hard to work on this project too.  But, I see ALOT of use for this type of system.  Below is an image of what I consider to be a 1.0 release.  Of course, current development is no where near that, but I’m hoping to have most of this done by 4Q2008.

Obviously, if you are a java developer, or have other qualifying experience, I would love to have you on the team!

  Tags: styx, netflow    Powered by Qumana

Bill Gates - Last day at Microsoft Video

So, ever wonder how the last day of Bill Gates would go? Hysterical video. I love the cameo shots of all the people! I didn’t realize Bill Gates even had a sense of humor?

It’s the Network. No it’s NOT!

Hasn’t everyone received this reason for practically every problem that exists in business? My computer won’t open Outlook…. It’s the Network! My system is running slow… It’s the Network! My chair won’t swivel… It’s the Network! It’s getting ridiculous.

Quite a frustrating incident today. One of our database servers was running incredibly slow. A user calls me up informing me about it. Upon looking at the server, their process was pegging the CPU at 100%.

I merely told them there wasn’t much I can do. The server is giving them everything it’s got (Quoting Scotty with a scottish accent). I was then told, “Well, we do this every month, and it’s never done this before”. I merely said (paraphrasing, of course), “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you have more calculations, data, etc etc”.

I then realized, that this user was attempting to train me in the ways of Net-Fu, and why it is the Wireless network that was causing the slow down. I must have been trained well in the Net-Fu skills, as that was a VERY enlightening experience for me. What level of ascension allows CPU cycles to be affected by Wireless RF signals? I need more training………..

Powered by ScribeFire.

Microsoft Project on Linux!

Okay, well, it may not be as featureful as MS Project, but you can now finally open MPP (Microsoft Project Files) on Linux!  I am so stoked!  One more notch off the Microsoft Toolbelt!  I’m telling you… now all I need is a Visio-type of app, and I’m golden!

Yes, there are decent diagramming tools out there, and I use Dia quite a bit.  However, I still have LOADS of Visio diagrams out there, and would be nice to open them from time to time.

Anyway, where was I?  Ummm… duhh… Microsoft Project on LInux!  Yeah!  Okay, so the project is called OpenProj (clever name) and does pretty much everything I need it to do.  See the screenshots below (click for larger version):

This screenshot is from opening a previous MS Project 2003 file from my windows machine.

This screenshot was taken from the OpenProj website.

Quoted directly from the website:

OpenProj is ideal for desktop project management and is available on Linux, Unix, Mac or Windows. It even opens existing Microsoft or Primavera files. OpenProj shares the industry’s most advanced scheduling engine with Project-ON-Demand and has Gantt Charts, Network Diagrams (PERT Charts), WBS and RBS charts, Earned Value costing and more.

SAAAWEEEETTT!!!!  Rock on!

Cheers

Technorati Tags: linux, project, microsoft, openproj, scheduling, tasks

Powered by ScribeFire.

Swearing at your co-workers? Good?

Rajan Sodhi found a very interesting story, where a UK study showed it could be beneficial to swear at work, in lueue of special circumstances.

I do agree with this. While, you probably won’t hear me cussing-out my boss, or swearing in front of my CFO anytime soon, there are some benefits to swearing to my colleagues.

I feel it expresses feelings much more so, than the socially-accepted words such as “Oh fooey”, or “Hooray”. Sometimes, I just want to say, “F*&! it, I’m tired of this sh*&!”. That seems to express my frustration more so than “Oh drat, I don’t think I can do this anymore”.

And generally, when feelings are expressed in a deeper fashion, social-networking dictates a special bond or camaraderie with another co-worker. Of course, I could just be full of ……… ((ahem))…….. nevermind.

Actually, when I first read the story, there was one person that came to mind, on top of anyone else on my list…. and it’s a pretty long list (I was in the Navy).  Anyone guess who???  hahahah

Cheers!

At the end of the day….

Another work day complete. Did I accomplish anything? Do I feel satisfied? Has anything happened today that allows me to walk away thinking… “ahhhh… another good day”.

Nope… just your normal, overwhelming day at work. I really need to get organized. My desk is a mess, paperwork is everywhere. I choose to work on creating a new VPN subnet and watching the OSPF updates, rather than completing Expense Reports. I’m burned out.

Tomorrow will be a better day. Yes, tomorrow is a good day to work on Procrastination……

Update: OSPF stands for Open Shortest Path First, and is a popular routing protocol, used to advertise networks (or lack thereof) to other routers. I mention this, in case I get comments to the effect of…. “Watching OSPF?? I don’t know what kind of sports it shows, but get back to work!……..<Administrator>, make sure to block OSPF on the internet!”

….. yeah, go ahead and block OSPF. That will go over reeealll welllll. Just make sure to tell me first, so I can call in sick……

Technorati Tags: life, work, feelings

Mac Leopard

I am sooo drooling! Oh, to get a new MacBook Pro with Leopard. Or, even a Dual G5 with dual-cinema screens using Leopard………

http://nizo.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/the-countdown-has-started-mac-os-leopard/

What’s cool?

1. Desktop: The Dock now has a “Stacking” feature, which de-clutters your desktop, and opens all those apps and files in an animated fan, as it opens to your desktop.
2. Finder: The Finder application is now more like “iTunes”. But, instead of just music or videos, it’s now all your files.
3. File Preview: You can now preview files without actually opening them. Step through multi-page documents, or view videos, just by the preview.
4. Time Machine: A VERY, very cool way to backup and restore your files.
5. Spaces: For those Linux users who loves using their virtual desktop, Mac now has it’s virtual desktop, and they call it “Spaces”
6. Boot Camp: Boot Camp comes default. This allows you to boot XP on a Mac machine (No, that does not include the XP license, just the ability to boot to it)