The Post PC era has arrived!

OK, maybe not quite but hyperbole aside when something enters the mainstream media (does Dilbert count?) there’s normally something to it – in this case a succinct statement about the challenges of supporting Generation Y users and the potential for conflict with Generation X.

Microsoft Web Platform Installer

Recently featured by both eWeek and PC Pro, Microsoft’s WebMatrix is a free web development tool to speed and ease deployment of projects based around proprietary or open source platforms including (but not limited to) blogs, CMS’s and Wiki’s. The accompanying Web Platform Installer (PI) simplifies the process of downloading these platforms and as you might expect is primarily based around the Microsoft Web Platform comprised of Internet Information Services (IIS), SQL Server Express, .NET Framework and Visual Web Developer.

In my case I needed to get a new dedicated WordPress environment up and running quickly and having previously completed this manually and finding it somewhat time consuming and fiddly, any way to achieve this in a more structured, reliable manner would be welcome.

After downloading the Web PI and installing it on my Windows Server 2008 virtual machine I was presented with the Web Gallery which lists the applications available – it was then a simple matter of selecting WordPress, following the on screen prompts and in minutes my new WordPress instance was up and running.

Unlike the authors of the above reviews however I did not encounter any problems with the download and installation of MySQL and as the required components are downloaded dynamically the WordPress version was current. The Web PI does not remove the need for an understanding at least at a high level of the technologies involved and if it is to be used for serious development/staging purposes knowledge of how to backup the MySQL databases created etc. is still required.

More information is available at the Web Platform website or via the associated twitter feed – @mswebplatform.

Qualys BrowserCheck

Recently featured on the Internet Storm Center’s podcast, Qualys’s BrowerCheck tool can be used to complete a very simple but highly important task – to ensure that your web browser and all of plug-ins are up to date. Compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome it will scan a machine and the browser being used (i.e. multiple browsers installed will require individual scans) to detect what browser/plug-ins are installed and whether a new version is available; if so – a “Fix It” button is displayed to the right of the plug-in concerned which upon being clicked will direct the user to the vendor’s associated installation page. After an update(s) have been applied re-run the scan to update the compliancy status.

Whilst Qualys does use the results of scans conducted to produce reports of the findings it states on the tool’s FAQ page that use of the tool “..does NOT use or track your personal information and browser history”.

So simple, effective and essentially free  – make it part of your personal computer hygiene routine today!

VMWorld Subscriptions

For those unable to attend VMWorld this year, VMWare offers on-demand re-runs. For $699 (US), subscribers get year long online access to all of the sessions and labs (in a variety of formats) for both the US and Europe events as well as those of previous years. More here.

A Belated Move To Chrome

OK I admit it – this is well overdue. However with the news today that Firefox won’t include it’s new crash protection feature for third-party plugins under Mac OS X until version 4 as well as my original reasons it’s time to finally pull the plug. Begone mis-behaving flash banners!

Make The Most of Your Surroundings

Boston is well known as a major conference and exhibition hub as well as being home to a number of high tech corporations and one of the things I was looking forward to upon moving here were the opportunities for networking this might present. Two examples that came to light are events regularly hosted at the Microsoft New England Research & Development (affectionately known as the NERD) Center and the Boston Mac User Group which holds it’s meeting on the MIT campus.

Obviously not everybody is in a situation as fortunate as mine but the point is every now and then to get from behind a keyboard, engage with other people of similar interests, make contacts and enjoy yourself – you never know what it might lead to.

AMD Virtualization™ Technology and Microsoft® Hyper-V™ System Compatibility Check Utility

Following on my previous article I came across this AMD equivalent utility from its inclusion in Tony Soper’s article on “How to run Hyper-V on a Laptop” which for those interested or working on the Hyper-V platform is in itself well worth a read.

Intel Processor ID Utility

Have an Intel based server or workstation and need to quickly confirm some of its features  – such as wether it includes supports for Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) and Execute Disable Bit (XD) (two hardware requirements for Hyper-V Server 2008)? The Intel Processor does this and more; Older Intel processors can be identified with the Intel Processor Frequency ID Utility.

One to add to your USB toolkit.

Bootable Version.

Windows Version.

Tools Of The Trade

Tools can come in a variety of forms. As an IT Professional it’s important to choose your tools carefully and know them inside out. In addition to the utilities and services I’ve previously posted about here are some others:

Microsoft TechNet Plus Subscription – http://technet.microsoft.com
Provides access to full and beta versions of their client and server operating systems, applications and tools. Subscribe before March 31st and save 28%.

A Home Lab
Learn by doing; whether this consists of a single machine running several virtual environments or a rack of physical servers bought second hand or refurbished. Why not set up an IPv6 home network or host your own web server/blog.

.. These are just a couple of suggestions. At the end of the day the most important tool however is an open mind and a constant hunger to learn.

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Related Reading
10 essential items for onsite tech jobs

Common Sense System Management Advice

I came across this awhile ago, it’s a single page document that contains sound advice in a very readable style and covers several topics related to systems management.

Kudos to Michael Prokop who created it.

Grab your copy from http://adminzen.org/.