L0GiX

Vista’s Memory Usage and permission

l0gix — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:41:28 +0000

From a IRC Chat on TeamStarfire.net.

<@XaaK> Anything that runs outside of what’s referred to as "managed code", i.e. using vista’s memory management system, etc. is a flag for admin access.
[1:49pm] <@XaaK> so it winds up that what they’re doing isn’t inherently unsafe, it’s that how they’re doing it could potentially be unsafe.

The Help Desk Samurai’s 3 Rules of Managing People

l0gix — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:19:39 +0000

HelpDeskSamurai

(IT Operations Manager) Posted 1/3/2008
Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Happy New Year everyone.

I thought I’d kick off 2008 by discussing the 3 rules I live by when it comes to managing people. These are rules that I have using during my management career, that have worked well for me, and consider to be battle tested.

Not that I consider them complete. Far from it.

I’m not sure if anyone’s noticed, but we people tend to be more…messy…than the machines we take care of. We have things like emotions, desires, likes, and dislikes. We feel ambition, boredom, joy, anger, sadness, resentment, affection.

None of these things have been successfully translated into binary code.

The heart of the matter is that successfully managing people takes more than any single algorithm we’ve yet devised.

So what hope do my 3 rules have? Well, quite a bit, actually, because I don’t mean these to be the be all end all. There’s no such thing.

What these are, are guidelines that address most of the daily issues that come with managing others of our wonderfully confusing species. I promise that if you follow and implement these 3 rules well, you will be ahead of most of the managers out there, and your people will know it.

Enough buildup, here there are.

1. Make sure your people have everything they need to do their job well.

This isn’t you playing Santa Claus, but it is you playing supply sergeant. By hell or high water, you have to get them what they need to do the job, and do it right. This includes

Proper training
Proper tools
Properly defined job responsibilities and core mission for the team.
Well documented processes and procedures
Adequate and proper motivation
Trust in you as their manager (and yes, they absolutely need this in order to do the job well. It’s not optional.)
Appreciation/Morale

This is the rule you should start with. The next rule, no less important, goes in a different direction.

2. Get everything that impedes your people from doing their job, out of the way.

Think offensive tackle for a running back. You’ve got 11 bad guys barreling hard to take down your little buddy. It’s time for you to clear a path. Things you need to look out for include

Old processes and procedures that are no longer needed
Non-productive meetings
Work that is not related to the core mission of your team. (When your team doesn’t have the resources for it.)
Lack of communication from other teams.
Unrealistic expectations from either customers or other management.

I find this is the area most of us managers really have issues with. It’s not glamorous, or fun work. It’s easier to ignore. Slogging through this stuff takes lots of time and energy. I know it leaves me drained. But, it needs to be done. Offensive tackle isn’t a glory position anyway. =)

3. Make sure your people are doing their job well, and make sure they know you’re making sure.

Once you’ve got the first two reasonably down, it’s time for some accountability. The key here is defining “job well done” in a way that can be objectively measured and inspected. Your people should know

What is being measured
Why it’s being measured
That you expect them to uphold a certain level of performance
You will be regularly inspecting for that level of performance
What steps you will take if that performance level is not met
What is offered if they exceed that performance level (this ties in with rule one).

Well, there they are, the 3 rules. Pretty straightforward eh? I probably couldn’t package these up into a CD-ROM training course and sell them on late-night infomercials (though stranger things have happened.) Nope, too simple, not enough fluff. But these do work. I have used them to guide my performance as a manager over and over again through the last several years, and I have to say the feedback from the people I manage has been pretty positive. I think, even if they’re not complete, that I’m on the right track. I hope they’re useful to you as well.

Here’s to a great new year

HDS

Ads Gone Wrong

l0gix — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:21:30 +0000

Cool Gmail Trick: “CAN SPAM!” (or at least catch the ‘dirty-dog’ who gave them your email address!) · Cool Online Tools

l0gix — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:41:16 +0000

Oh Boy…are you going to l-o-v-e this…I sure do!

You know how sometimes you sign up for offers, or more info…fill in your name and email address…(which they swear upon their children’s lives NEVER to divulge)…and a few days later you are getting email from organizations and people you never heard of in your whole life?

Well…that little mystery is just about to be solved!

Now first you need… or have to get… a Google email account… which is no big deal… just type Google email in your search bar, then click on one of the thousands of links, and then sign up for the account.

And THEN the fun begins!

Only use this account for opting in or signing up for offers or info. (Still use your real email account for your personal or business email.)

Choose something easy for you to remember…like yourname@gmail.com     or     yourpetsname@gmail.com

Then…next time you sign up for something…and have to provide an email address…you are going to remember your gmail account…and you are going to use that…

Only with a little “twist”.

Come to find out, we can use this little-known secret:

Say you want info on an offer by JoeBlow, and Joe wants your name and email address so he can send it to you.

Great!

And say you signed up at Google email and your new gmail address is:     herekittykitty@gmail.com

So what email address are you going to give him?

herekittykitty+JoeBlow@gmail.com

You know why? Because here’s the secret: when gmail sees the + sign in an email address, it uses all the characters to the LEFT of the + (which would be your herekittykitty) to know who to send the email to! Really!

That means when ABC sends you an offer…you know what to put as your email address, right?

herekittykitty+ABC@gmail.com

And it gets even better….

NOW you will be able to use this trick to find out WHO gave your email address out to everyone else in the first place!

Cool Gmail Trick: “CAN SPAM!” (or at least catch the ‘dirty-dog’ who gave them your email address!) · Cool Online Tools

LDAP Client Login Authentication

l0gix — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:50:13 +0000

LDAP Authentication for Windows 2000:

Authenticate MS/Windows using PGina: http://pgina.xpasystems.com/
Downloads: http://pgina.xpasystems.com/files/
i.e. download pGina: pGina170a.exe

Run pGina170a.exe to install.
Install to C:\pGina and accept defaults.

Download LDAP Auth:
> Downloads: http://pgina.xpasystems.com/plugins/ldapauth.php
Download instaler i.e.: ldapauth12.exe
Run to install.

Configure pGina: Select: Start + Programs + pGina + Configuration Tool

Pluggin Path: C:\pGina\plugins\ldapauth\ldapauth_plus.dll
Accept rest of defaults.

Select configure plugin button:
[LDAP configure screenshot]

LDAP Server: IP-address-goes-here

Port: 389 (default)

PrePend: uid=

Append: ou=people,dc=megacorp,dc=com

Admin User: "cn=AdminManager,dc=megacorp,dc=com"

Admin password: *******

The “Admin User” and “Admin Pass” are not required for “Map Mode”. A bind using the user login/password will take place if the Admin user/password are omitted.

Select radio button “Map Mode” then select “OK”. (Panel closes)

Select Save + Exit
(On main config panel)

Uses LDAP “Search mode”.

Select option “Scramble Passwords on Logout“. This forces LDAP authentication for each login. After an initial login, the login/password become resident locally so that subsequent logins are authenticated locally. This option forces a scramble of the password upon logout forcing Windows/pGina to authenticate with the LDAP server and NOT locally.

Optional test: Download plugin_tester.exe from http://pgina.xpasystems.com/plugins/ldapauth.php
[LDAP authentication test tool screenshot]

Select: Start + PRograms + pGina + Plugin tester

Pluggin Path: C:\pGina\plugins\ldapauth\ldapauth_plus.dll

Use login and passsword to test.

Reconfigure Windows 2000 not to authenticate against PDC:

Right click on “My Computer” + System Properties

Select “Network Identification” tab + “Properties” button.

Select “Workgroup” radio buton and remove workgroup.

Reboot and you are ready to login with LDAP authentication.

Note:

Do not use false (which can’t be resolved) or a real domain (real or real but fails).

pGina recognizes local logins if the login id can not be found in the LDAP directory.

pGina does not support “roaming profile”.

To remove pGina: Start + Control Panel + Add/Remove program + select pGina

Links:

LDAP Client Login Authentication

Alternative Logos

l0gix — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:13:50 +0000

B4U Tech: Top 25 Linux Commands !

l0gix — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:35:18 +0000

Top 25 Linux Commands !

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

B4U Tech: Top 25 Linux Commands !

Servers Servers Everywhere…

l0gix — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:25:47 +0000

Servers Servers Everywhere, and not enough power to run them.

This is what is in my garage right now. I picked them up from a company that was getting rid of all its extra equipment.

Anyone Interested?

Assholes -r- Them

l0gix — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:17:45 +0000

Posted a question in the NorCal Forum on DSLReports.com. The Question was:
“Was there a vote in San Jose Yesterday? If there was I didn’t get my reminder. Maybe they are getting wise to me and now know not to inform me anymore.”

Thats when Lilhuricane posted the first IM listed in the bottom of the image above.

Tell me what would you do about this?

Lies are not hidden on the Internet

l0gix — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:53:10 +0000

Before

After