Welcome to Steve's Rant Blog. This is a place where I will talk about cool "geek" toys and tips. As well as anything that is bugging me.
Disclaimer: I am not really PC or G-Rated, so be advised. My thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone. If you don't agree with me, you are entitled to your opinion.
I’ve been getting this question a lot lately - “Can I use USB devices or dongles inside a Virtual Machine on ESX?”
The out-of-the-box answer is No. USB devices are not supported within the VM on ESX 3.5. That being said, there are a few companies that have gotten excellent reviews and are very popular on the VMware Community Forums that provide USB functionality.
The most popular way of presenting USB devices in Virtual Machines on ESX that I’ve heard/seen is from Digi International, which has a product called AnywhereUSB. Follow the link for additional info on the product. They have also published a VMware Branded Technical Note (whitepaper) entitled VMware ESX Server: Using AnywhereUSB to Connect USB Devices
If you are running Office 2007 (including Outlook 2007) on your own computer or a PC you can install stuff on, Service Pack 2 for Office is out. It looks to have quite a bit of updates and performance fixes.
Let me begin by saying that my family has been a Bank of America customer for longer than I have been alive.My father prided himself on loyalty and when he walked into the bank, they would know who he was.When we moved, my father went to the local BofA branch and talked with the VP of the branch.He found going to the top dog to be very useful when he had an issue. (These days, it seems like everyone is a VP and really don't care who you are or what you bring.) My first checking/savings account at BofA, my first house mortgage, etc. You get the point.Well, my wife and I decided to refinance the house since the rates are so low.So, we went online and filled out an application with Bank of America. (coming back to that loyalty thing)We promptly received a call from a broker to talk about our options.He and I agreed on the loan amount, points, and what the house is worth (based on the tax assessment).He called again one other time to make sure that we received the application and to tell us who would be our closing rep.
So, I called the closing representative to make sure that she has everything that she needs in order to go forward.But, I got voicemail, which is fine, I generally will send people to voicemail when I am busy.So, I left a message… the next day, I called again… I finally received a call back with a request for a mound of paperwork.It was very apparent that she did not even bother to determine what she had, since most of the paperwork that she asked for was sent with the original paperwork.But, that is okay.. I can fax it.. again.I called several times to verify that everything is on track and there was nothing further required on my part. (queue tumbleweeds) I finally received a call with closing information about our refinance and the points, which were increased from 2.125 to 2.625.Hold up a sec… That is not what the original agreement was, costing me about $400 in addition.So, let me get this right, I have to pay the application fee, closing costs, and now an additional $400 dollars.I think not!When I dared to inquire about why the change, I was told to go and contact my Rep. (who is out until May 2nd) I guess it a screw-you service charge for being a loyal customer for 20 years.
I talked it over with the wife and decided to be pissed about it, but to continue with the process.They are going to get their money one way or another.Grin and bear it!However, This will be the LAST Bank of America mortgage that we do. EVER!
Most companies today are expanding their virtual environment, instead of purchasing additional hardware. Makes sense! Buy one beefier box, instead of several little boxes. The one thing that you have to be care of is your SAN. Watch that I/O and timeouts, or you'll bring your SAN to it's knees if you are not careful. Be mindful about how you deploy or spread the load across your storage. However, not the topic I want to talk about at this very moment. I ran across this and wanted to pass it along.
Eliminate planned downtime for server maintenance.
Eliminate planned downtime with VMware VMotion and VMware Storage VMotion VMware VMotion and Storage VMotion enable the live migration of virtual machines across physical servers and storage arrays with zero downtime, continuous service availability and complete transaction integrity. VMware customers use VMotion and Storage VMotion to: • Eliminate planned downtime associated with server and storage maintenance • Dynamically load balance workloads in order to optimize performance Here is a quick overview of the steps you need to take to enable non-disruptive migration of virtual machines:
Step 1: Set up your shared storage infrastructure
Shared storage, such as fiber channel or iSCSI SAN or NAS, is a prerequisite for enabling live migration of virtual machines. Chapter 8 of the VMware Infrastructure Comprehensive Evaluator’s Guide offers detailed instructions on how to create and/or configure shared storage for use in a virtual infrastructure. You should also make sure you set up virtual networking before you implement live migration with VMware VMotion. To learn the fundamentals about networking in a virtual environment, check out the new VMware white paper, “Conceptual Networking Overview".
Step 2: Migrate a virtual machine from one physical server to another with VMware VMotion
Once you have implemented your shared storage infrastructure, you can begin migrating virtual machines from one physical server to another with VMware VMotion. You can find an overview of VMotion in Chapter 9 of the VMware Infrastructure Evaluator’s Guide.
Step 3 (optional): Move live virtual machine disks files across storage arrays using VMware Storage VMotion
In addition to VMotion, VMware Infrastructure also includes a product called VMware Storage VMotion, which lets you move your virtual machine's disk files from one physical storage device to another with no disruption or downtime. Refer to Chapter 12 of the Comprehensive Evaluator’s Guide for more detail.
Well, the Rainbow guy for the install of the Play Structure showed up on Saturday at 10am and it was done by 3pm. I do have to say that, I am glad that I did not have to put this thing together. It was a whole lot 4x6 and a few 6x6 beams. I don't think..wait.. I know for a fact that I would not be able to lift a 6x6 without help or possibly a crane. (or both) But, this is one of those, this install guy makes it look easy… Yeah.. Not so much.
So, by 3:10pm the girls were out “testing” out the newest addition and played until 7:30 that night. Sunday morning, my oldest at 5:30am wanted to go out and play, but we held her back until 8. Then both girls went out and played, ate lunch, watched a movie on the portable DVD player. At times they would be watching the movie, then playing on the swings, then playing on the rock wall, then back to the movie. This is the most time that they have spend outside in… well… ever…
Over the past couple of weekends, I have been working in the yard.. With help from some paid individuals.The backyard is all cleaned up and the play area pad is ready for the play structure.It all started back in late January, the family went to a local “Home Improvement Show” in Portland.We went there to get some ideas about how we can improve the house a bit.Well, right off the bat, I knew I was in trouble.As you walk in, the first booth is Rainbow Play.They are the makers of the ‘ginormus’ play structures that will hold about a dozen kids.Well, the girls were sold!
So, we grabbed a flyer, which conveniently had a coupon on it for 30% off any structure and a catalog.How could pass that up?We looked at the catalog, measured the backyard, looked at the catalog, measured the backyard again, decided that we could fit any of them and that our only issue was going to be price.But, we narrowed down to two, depending on what the rep said.The next step was to the local showroom, which was an old gas station. JThe girls got to see, touch, play on, and experience the “Rainbow Play Structures”.They did not have a demo of the one the girls really liked from the catalog, but they had last year’s model, which was six inches taller and had a couple of nice add-ons that this year’s model did not have.He also gave me a better price on the unit, than the one we were looking at… Since it is last year’s model… (So.. What does the year model matter??)
TheDopp writes "The United Nations hosted the cast and crew of Battlestar Galactica Tuesday evening in New York. Clips of the show were shown as discussion points during the event, touching on the morality of Suicide Bombers in war, Abortion and the use of torture on enemies of the state. At one point during the event an attendee mentions 'the "Old Man" launched into a passionate speech about casting off the idea of race as a cultural determinant, and said we were one race, the human race. His voice echoed throughout the chamber growing louder until — I kid you not — he was yelling, "So Say We All," and the crowd answered right back. Hell, even I yelled it, I was in the fraking United Nations with Adama, the gods themselves could not have stopped this moment.' The full video of the event is located on the UN website."
Friday the 13th will be my last day as a Comcast employee.I joined the Comcast IT team in October of 2006, after a very unhappy stint with ACS/Nike.Looking back at my tenure here at Comcast, it all started on a day where I was introduced to my Supervisor, Brad, who reported to the Director, Dave.There was an IT Manager who was over the Telecom and Operations Teams, who we only had a dotted line to him.I was surprised that the IT department was as small as it was for being such a large territory, Oregon/SW Washington Market.Shortly after my start, Brad took a IT Manager position in Florida and I was left hanging in the wind for about a year.In that time, I gained some great experience regarding networking, budgeting, and being the go-to guy.Who are we kidding, I was the IT Infrastructure Department.I was able to shape things according to my own design and vision with very little input from anyone.I would bounce ideas off of Corporate, the IT Supervisor of Operations, and my Director.But, for the most part, I was able to make things happen according to the plan in my head.Some of them worked out. Other times, I was even like – “What were you thinking??”But, it all worked out in the end.There was no shortage of projects and I was able to start doing them once I received some help from my Number 2 guy, Ian.When he started he was a bit green and not sure of himself, but he came eager to learn and had the dedication/drive to do what needed to be done.I do have to say that he is totally awesome and would love to work with him again.Here is a guy that would be handed a project, not sure how to do it, would do the research, come back with questions, and Go Do!I love that.I still remained the person involved in the decision making, budgeting aspect of the two man team, even after we were placed under the IT Supervisor over the applications team.We really never had the tools, budget or personnel to accomplish the goals that were set down. But, we made due somehow.I have never worked for a company that expected its IT department to do so much with so little.And over the past year it just seemed to get worse and worse.The budget keeps getting cut down and the equipment keeps being put on the back burner for replacement. It really shows that the company does not value the IT department or the contributions that are being made in order for the company to continue to do business.It even shows in the attitude of upper management when they say, you should be proud to have a job.But, that is no longer my problem.I do have to say that this is the best team that I have ever worked with.They are dedicated, skilled, and fun loving group of individuals that I have every had the pleasure to work with.
The only other criticism I have is, for being a communications company, people need to learn how to better communicate.Groups come up with these great projects, never include IT until the project is due and then expect to be able to pull a series of switches or servers out of our asses.I guess my complaint is that IT is never involved in projects that clearly affect IT.There were a number of occasions of other groups that would have a project, due tomorrow, and expected IT just to be able to cover it.It would be like a group wanting to add the IT network to a site or some number oflocations, without any funding for the project.They expected us to just be able to pull switches out of our ass and be able to installed them within a day. I think not!It is not like they woke up one day and decided to do this.There was planning and several conversations, why not involve IT from the beginning.Maybe I am asking too much!Apparently…
So, I am moving positions to a company called Vesta, who are the worldwide leader in electronic payment solutions.I will be joining them as a Sr. Production..blah..blah..Server Monkey.Yesterday, my wife asked me how it is going to feel to be the FNG again.But, wait.. I am senior.. DOH! I will be the FNG! Damn.
Just a guy who enjoys having fun with family & friends. I enjoy gaming on the PC, Xbox 360 and the Wii - when I am not at work. When I am at work, they call me Virtual Boy!!! Able to P2V in a single click.
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