SysAdmin Show

In this episode I discuss Apple’s proposal to lower SSL/TLS certificate max life from 398 days to 47 days. Tim Callan from Sectigo and the Root Causes podcast joins me. Connect with Tim Callan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-callan/ Root Causes Podcast: https://www.sectigo.com/root-causes-podcast

In this episode Robert Collcott joins me again on the show. It has been 4 years and since Robert was last on the show, episode 47. We discuss common security threats and ways to protect against them. Connect with Robert: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-collcott/

In this episode I talk to Jeroen Schutrup about his home lab. He has dedicated an entire room to it with a nicely populated rack. He even made network diagrams (see his blog linked below)! Connect with Jeroen LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroenschutrup/ Blog: https://megalith.rocks/homelab/ My Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

In this episode I speak with Amanda Berlin, the Lead Incident Detection Engineer at Blumira, about her project Logmira. We discuss the benefits of enabling enhanced logging on Windows systems and how Logmira can streamline that process. Connect with Amanda Twitter: https://twitter.com/InfoSystir Mental Health Hackers: https://twitter.com/HackersHealth Logmira: https://github.com/Blumira/Logmira Blumira: https://twitter.com/blumirasec My Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

This is the fourth of a twelve episode series called IT Without A Degree. It is the original concept that lead me to start the podcast. When I started in IT I had no degree or formal training. This isn’t the path for everyone, but it worked for me an can work for you. In this episode I explain how to move to your second IT job. Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Twitter: @sysadminshow Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

This is the third of a 12 episode series called IT Without A Degree. It is the original concept that lead me to start the podcast. When I started in IT I had no degree or formal training. This isn’t the path for everyone, but it worked for me an can work for you. In this episode I explain how to find your first IT job. Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Twitter: @sysadminshow Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Levan the CTO of CloudSkills.io. In this episode we talk about passion in IT and why it has been getting a bad reputation recently. Connect with Michael Website: https://cloudskills.io Podcast: https://cloudskills.fm LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellevan My Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak Episode edited by Jesse Rutledge

This is the second of a 12 episode series called IT Without A Degree. It is the original concept that lead me to start the podcast. When I started in IT I had no degree or formal training. This isn’t the path for everyone, but it worked for me an can work for you. In this episode I cover what steps you should take as soon as you decide you want to go into IT. Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

This is the first of a 12 episode series called IT Without A Degree. It is the original concept that lead me to start the podcast. When I started in IT I had no degree or formal training. This isn’t the path for everyone, but it worked for me an can work for you. Contact Info: [email protected] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinreybrouck/ Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak

In this episode I give an overview of several of the IT career paths common in the IT field. The field is so vast and varied I was only able to scratch the surface here. IT SupportCall CenterCorporate Help DeskSole ProprietorMSPStorage AdminEMC/DELLNetAPP3PARNutanixDatabase AdminMSSQLOracleMySQLNetworking AdminCisco/HPE/Juniper/Palo Alto, FortinetISP, Corporate, ConsultantAWS, AzureDeveloperTraditional AppsMobile AppsWeb AppsDevOpsSecOpsCyber SecurityPEN TestingLog Review/MaintenanceDesign/ArchitectureRisk Management/Business ContinuityArchitect/Sales EngineerYears of experienceDeep product knowledgeGood interpersonal skillsPartially a sales roleIT ManagementIT ManagerOne SegmentIT DirectorMultiple business segmentsDay to day operationsCIOStrategy and leadershipIT Project ManagementInternalVAREducationBloggingYouTubePodcastingClassroomOne on oneBooksFinal ThoughtsThink about the kind of work you really want to doMake a plan for how to get thereLook at LinkedIN profiles for others with that jobStart somewhere Credits: Music by Ian Mayzak Podcast edited by Jesse Rutledge

In this episode I talk with Dylan Shields about AWS Security best practices. The cloud is great and does make deployment and scaling easier than ever, but security best practices still remain a big responsibility of the cloud customer. Connect with Dylan: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-shields-6802b1168 AWS Security Book: https://www.manning.com/books/aws-security Use discount code PODSYS19 for %40 off any book at Manning!

In this episode I have a conversation with Rober Collcott, A IT Technician, First Line Engineer & Microsoft 365 Specialist. We discuss the key skills for entering the information technology field. PSA: I’m looking for someone to help me edit/produce the show. This is a volunteer position using Adobe Audition to process about 2 hours of audio per month. IT/SysAdmin knowledge required. Great way to build experience and you name/ contact info will be included in the show credits. and show notes. Connect with Robert: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-collcott/ Pictures of Robert’s home lab PC he mentioned in the show!

In this episode I talk with Chris Tresco. Chris is an accomplished Architect and Engineer focusing on using nextgen technologies like SDDC, Virtualization, Cloud, Automation, and Security to solve real world, complex business-related problems. We talked about HCI, what it is and what problem it solves. Connect with Chris: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-tresco-6815502/

In this episode I talk with Ken Youens-Clark about using Python for some basic scripting tasks. We directly compare writing a small program written in both Bash and Python to see the benefits of using Python. This is an “In The Lab” episode and an YouTube link to the video is listed below. Thanks to Manning Publications for sponsoring this episode! Visit www.manning.com and use the discount code podsys19 for 40% off any product. Good anytime, so save it for when you need it. Find/Follow Ken: Ken’s Book – Tiny Python Projects: https://www.manning.com/books/tiny-python-projects Twitter: https://twitter.com/kycl4rk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kyclark Resources: YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/va5OJ2ney24 Code Examples: https://github.com/kyclark/sysadminshow https://github.com/kyclark/tiny_python_projects

In this episode I talk with Doug Farrell about using Python to help automate sysadmin tasks. Doug Farrell is a senior software developer with over 20 years of experience focusing on Python and JavaScript. Thanks to Manning Publications for sponsoring this episode! Visit www.manning.com and use the discount code podsys19 for 40% off any product. Good anytime, so save it for when you need it. Find/Follow Doug: The Well=Grounded Python Developer https://www.manning.com/books/the-well-grounded-python-developer Twitter: https://twitter.com/writeson Website: https://writeson.pythonanywhere.com Resources: Python Packages: https://pypi.org

In this episode I discuss my experience with test prep for the CISSP exam including a 6-day boot camp I recently attended. https://www.isc2.org/-/media/ISC2/Certifications/Exam-Outlines/CISSP-Exam-Outline-121417–Final.ashx

In this episode I talk with Jeff Brown, a system engineer and cloud administrator with 13+ years of experience in server and application administration. We discuss his transition from music to IT and how he navigated his IT career to keep himself engaged and challenged. Connect with Jeff: Blog: https://www.jeffbrown.tech LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffwaynebrown Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jeffwbrown

In this episode I talk with Josh Duffeny about decluttering our digital lives. Josh is a DevOps Engineer, Pluralsight Author, Speaker, Blogger and PowerShell Advocate. This is a great way to look at what technology you are using and if it is helping or harming your productivity. We all only have so much mental capacity and when it is used up by “clutter” we can’t think as clearly or deeply. Connect with Josh: Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshduffney LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshduffney/ Blog: http://duffney.io/

In this episode I talk with Jon Clarke, an IT professional, instructor and online content creator with over 25 years of experience. We discuss how Jon got his start in IT as well as common career paths and recommendations. Connect with Jon: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxf9VicLnyvZhGplp1SMWVA Twitter: https://twitter.com/it_taster

In the episode I talk with Michael Levan about transitioning to DevOps.  Michael Levan is owner and Chief Engineer at CloudDev.Engineering as well as an Author, Blogger & Public Speaker.  Having been a system administrator Micheal knows first hand what it takes to take that knowledge and apply it in a DevOps role. Connect with Michael: Twitter: @TheNJDevOpsGuy Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.clouddev.engineering

In this episode I have a conversation with Joseph Bragdon.  He is a Client Support Specialist II and he talks about his experiences in this role.   Connect with Joseph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephbragdon/ [email protected]

In this episode I have a conversation with Adam Bertram about side hustles, consulting, writing and training.  Adam Bertram has been working in IT for 21 years . He is an entrepreneur, IT influencer, Microsoft MVP, blogger, trainer, author and content marketing writer for multiple technology companies.  We talk about how he got started in IT and his journey to self employment.   Connect with Adam: https://adamtheautomator.com https://twitter.com/adbertram https://linkedin.com/in/adambertram  

In this in the lab episode I go over the setup process for my new home lab.  I recently got a full height fully enclosed 4-post rack that prompted me to rethink my whole network setup.  I recorded several videos throughout this build that are linked below. VMware User Group: VMUG YouTube Videos: Home Lab: 4-Post Network Rack Planning In the Lab: 4-Post Rack Completed In The Lab: 4-post Installing Equipment In The Lab: Using A Keystone Jack In The Lab: Basic Network Cable Testing New rack Post adjustments Give space for network cables New location Patch panels Lowering power usage $30/month to $15/month ~200 watts without G6 server 3x HP Elite 8300 Ultra-Slim Desktop 16GB 500GB SSD ESXi 6.7 Single NIC Page allocation error Disable UEFI Enable Virtualization Technology vCenter Appliance 6.7 10GB RAM Server 2019 1806 Desktop Experience and Core Windows 10 1903   Final Thoughts Use for server 2019 testing DevOps Testing, PowerShell & Ansible Building a local AD/Exchange environment to test Office 365 hybrid configuration and migration

In this episode I have a conversation with Ron Sivonda about his transition from military to IT.  Anyone looking to get into IT from the military or otherwise will benefit from hearing about Ron’s story and several insights from his perspective as a VP of a cyber security firm. Show Links: https://www.veterati.com/ https://vets2pm.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-sivonda_veterans-cybersecurity-veterati-ugcPost-6629099467645812736-WfpH

In this episode I talk with the SysAdmin & Business owner Johnard Owens.  We talk about how he got started in IT, what he does to stay current and his experiences in stating an IT services company. You can find more information about Johnard’s company at www.technicalevolutions.com

This episode is an arbitrary update where I talk about whatever is on my mind.  After putting if off over a year I recently built a new computer to help with video streaming & editing.  I also have started fresh with my Lab environment adding my old desktop to it.  I’ve spent the last few weeks working on PowerShell scripts to help automate some of my routing SysAdmin tasks. This episode was also streamed live to YouTube as I recorded it.  You can watch it here.  

In this episode I talk with Travis Plunk and Tyler Leonhardt about their new book Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Linux and macOS Edition.  We discuss the book writing process, installing PowerShell on Linux and macOS, using Visual Studio Code and how PowerShell can make you more productive. The Book https://www.manning.com/books/learn-powershell-in-a-month-of-lunches-linux-and-macos-edition?query=Power Find Travis or Tyler on Twitter https://twitter.com/TylerLeonhardt https://twitter.com/TravisPlunk Recommended Repositories  https://github.com/powershell/powershell https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell-Docker https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell-Snap https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell-RFC

In this episode I walk through the process to setup an AWS Lightsail WordPress multi-site server.  This is also available as a video on my YouTube channel. https://lightsail.aws.amazon.com Affordable, configurable, fast  Transfer allowance In and out count towards allowance Inbound traffic is free after allowance is met $0.09/GB after allowance 1TB = $90 5 static IP’s, 3 domain zones 20 SSL certificates per year 10 SAN’s per certificate Snapshots $0.05/GB/month 20GB = $1/month Create AWS account Create Lightsail instance WordPress Multi-site Login to console Find password Login to WordPress Configure DNS Setup primary domain https://docs.bitnami.com/aws/apps/wordpress-multisite/configuration/configure-wordpress-multisite/ Setup SSL https://docs.bitnami.com/aws/how-to/understand-bncert/ Fix “Cookies are blocked” login issues https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-cookies-are-blocked-or-not-supported-by-your-browser-15/ Remove bitnami banner https://docs.bitnami.com/aws/how-to/bitnami-remove-banner/  

In this episode I share the audio from my first YouTube live stream. It was an open question and answer session, but since no questions came up I share a bit of my story of how I got into the information technology field. If you would like to watch the video you can find it on my YouTube channel with the link below. https://youtu.be/IuOAty2CTxY

This episode is an update of what I’ve been working on recently. Lync/AudioCodes Setting up a new gateway Working with a vendor We are going ultimately responsible for the support and reliability of our solutions Cloud and on premises  HP ML350 G6 48GB Ram 2x Xeon E5530 1TB Samsung Evo SSD Sata III Card USB 3 Card Windows 10 Behind the Podcast Approaching 1 year consistent Approaching 10k downloads 175 Subscribers, 300+ downloads per episode Limited user feedback Video in the Lab I’m having a ton of fun Live-stream Q&A session on Thursday 9/5 at 9pm EST Email me to register [email protected]

In this lab episode I run through the setup process for OpenVPN on pfSense.  If you’re new to pfSense check out episode 10.  This is a great opportunity to get hands on experience with networking, VLANs and working with certificates.  Education and book knowledge is important, but hand on experience is critical! You can also check on this episode on my YouTube channel.

In today’s show I have the opportunity to speak with Will Courson. He is a listen who is an IT Technician in the process of transition to a SysAdmin role. Will’s story is a great example of how to get started and progress in your IT career. If you want to contact me you can send emails to [email protected]

This episode is all about the resume writing and interviewing process.  You may not need this information now, but when you do following these guidelines will help you get the job you want with competitive compensation. Fitness Plug: Anyone interested in achieving some fitness goals should check out my wife’s Instagram.  She is a Beachbody coach as is great at helping people get on a fitness and nutrition plan that works for them.  https://www.instagram.com/hreybrouck Resume Having a quality resume will help you stand out in the pile of other equally qualified candidates A cover letter takes some extra effort, but can show that you are a serious candidate and are being proactive Research Your resume should be specific for the position you want and the hiring company Visit their website and social media accounts Look at job postings for similar roles with other companies Look at the experience people in that role have in Linked-In What should resumes look like What information should be included or avoided? Have someone proofread it Example job posting Resume example Cover Letter example Don’t mention salary Interviewing Dress as best you are able.  Suit and tie preferably.  Even if the dress code is relaxed for the position, looking professional for the interview is important Be ready to explain or expand on every aspect of your resume Practice answering common interview questions Have questions ready to ask them This show genuine interest and preparation 360 interview Bring a notepad and pen to take notes Never refer to notes during an interview Make eye contact but occasionally look away too It’s ok to be nervous, it’s expected and not usually held against you unless it’s extreme If so then practice with a friend Don’t bring up salary or compensation If questioned on it say that you are open to any reasonable offers You want them to give a number first You can decline to disclose current or past compensation levels Negotiation begins after you’ve been offered the job Salary Bonus PTO 401k Health Insurance Retirement Perks Research compensation for similar roles in your region Be prepared to backup what you’re asking for with market data Glass door Unless specifically outlined in the offer don’t expect large performance based increases after you “prove” yourself

In this lab episode I run through a recent PowerShell project.  This is a very basic example will give you an idea what can be done with PowerShell.  The YouTube video for this episode can be found at https://youtu.be/SXv-ZVV9ioc.   As promised I have included the final scripts below. ##########################demo.ps1##################### #Define variables $webdata = “” $complete = “” #scrape website content to variable $webdata = Invoke-WebRequest “www.sysadminshow.com” while ($complete -ne “1”) { if($webdata -like “*SysAdmin Show*”) # check for specific string { write-host “Found it!” $complete = “1” Start-Process calc.exe } else { write-host “Not Ready” } Start-Sleep -Seconds 1 } ####################launch.bat##################### powershell -WindowStyle Hidden “c:\scripts\demo.ps1”  

This episode is an overview of the Security+ course I recently took. The Security+ course is intended for those with 2 year of IT experience The course is broken down into 6 modules 21 Hours of training videos on LinkedIn Learning https://www.comptia.jp/pdf/Security%2B%20SY0-501%20Exam%20Objectives.pdf Threats attacks and vulnerabilities – 21% Types of attacks/threats Pen testing Technology and tools – 22% Setting up network equipment Introduction to various types of networking technology Architecture and design – 15% Deploying secure solutions Identity and access management – 16% Introduction to various authentication and authorization methods Risk Management – 14% How to balance risk vs cost Cryptography and PKI – 12% Cyphers, encryption and certificates Exam SYO-501 90 Questions or less Multiple Choice Performance Based https://simulation.comptia.org/ 90 Minutes Passing Score of 750 out of 900 Even if you don’t intend to get the certification the information in this course is a valuable asset to anyone working in IT.

Today’s episode is all about getting motivated. If you feel like your stuck spinning your wheels in your IT career this episode will help you get moving! We are motivated for many different reasons Basic needs Food Water Shelter Peer pressure They want Guilt/Fear/Obligation I should Reward I can Internal desire – the most rare I want Why does motivation matter? You will be most satisfied with a career founded on an internal desire Recognition, guild and money will only bring you so much satisfaction You will likely spend 30-40 years working, so you might as well enjoy it You will earn more if you enjoy do How to get motivated Motivation follows action Try something, even if you don’t want to Think about what you have liked in the past Make a plan Take steps toward your goal, anything to get you closer to it Focus on one primary goal for a specific period of time Create affirmation statements I am valuable Identify and remove self limiting beliefs I don’t deserve to make over X Work shouldn’t be fun Final Thoughts Feeling that your work matters and that you are making a difference is considered the number one reason for job satisfaction

This is a new type of episode I’m trying out.  In there “Arbitrary Update” episodes I will be sharing anything and everything that is on my mind.  Some of it may be SysAdmin and Technology focused, but not all of it.  I do expect most of it will resonate with many of you.  I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this new format that will be mixed in with my topical and lab episodes.  You can send your questions or comments to [email protected]. In today’s show I discuss: Avengers Endgame Influx – Daniel Suarez Security+ DevOps Fitness Journey Life is hard, give yourself a break

In today’s show I discuss what ticketing systems are and some of their primary features.  Overview Ticketing systems allow us to collect, assign and report on specific tasks I consider a basic ticketing  system a necessity for any IT team Centralized Request Management What happens if someone is  out sick or on vacation? How do you check the status of an open request that you aren’t working on? All requests should be centralized Support Contact Methods Email Call Website Chat Walk-ups Team Workflow Who reviews new requests  (triage) Do you have specific people for specific applications, or support tiers based on complexity? Do you need to work with other departments or vendors at times? Automation Auto-Response for new requests to confirm receipt and set expectations Notifications Emails/Text messages sent to requester & agents as needed Escalation New request actions Request due date actions Reporting & Metrics Agent activity report Most troublesome systems Total support requests per week/month/year This can show the need for more staff Use Cases Internal IT team Customer Support Team Facilities Management Team Procurement/Purchasing Team   Final Thoughts Any system you can put in that reduces the opportunity for mistakes is recommended As with any technology or software it will only work as well as your processes.  It won’t replace the need for a well understood workflow. Can be on-premises or cloud based Free options are available including Spiceworks Next week – Asset Management

In this episode I walk  through the process of installing Server 2019 Core. Hands on experience is critical for anyone looking to start or enhance their IT career. I am using my Windows 10 Pro computer with Hyper-V for this lab, so give this a try at  home and let  me know how it goes.  I plan to continue building out this Hyper-V lab in future episodes. As requested a YouTube screen capture of this episode is also available.  https://youtu.be/_ZYv6BHqvgE

In this episode I join Paul Joyner on his podcast Sysadmin Today.  We cover a wide range of topics including SPAM Filters, Exchange, Office 365, Meraki, SD-WAN & ISP Migrations.

In today’s episode I talk about patching various types of systems and my recommendations for each.   Workstations BIOS/Firmware Update at deployment then as needed Drivers Update at deployment then as needed OS Update monthly Delay one month from release date unless critical Applications Enable auto-update if available Update monthly if reasonable, otherwise as needed Level of effort Cost Servers BIOS/Firmware Update at deployment then as needed Drivers Update at deployment then as needed OS Update monthly Delay one month from release date unless critical Applications Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Networking Firmware Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Printers Firmware Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Drivers Deploy stable version and update as needed Mobile Smartphones Update major version as stable Enable auto-update for minor version if historically stable Apps should auto-update, delayed if necessary for testing Tablets Update major version as stable Enable auto-update for minor version if historically stable Apps should auto-update, delayed if necessary for testing Misc IOT Try to deploy only if reputable manufacturer Enable auto-updates Intrusion Prevention Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Access Control Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Fire Alarm Deploy stable version and update annually or as needed Final Thoughts Keeping systems updated is typically around 25% of your time as a SysAdmin Depending on the system much of this work will need to be completed after hours Choosing how often a system is updated is an important balance between required up time, stability and security

This episode is an an interview with Jack McCarthy.  He has been working in IT for 6 months and it currently an IT Client Support Specialist. Some takeaways from my conversation with Jack are: Don’t be afraid to try different things Get a job that is close to what you want, even if not the exact field Be read for opportunities, they often come unexpectedly Once you find what you like, make a 5 year plan/goal GCIH Certification: https://www.giac.org/certification/certified-incident-handler-gcih

I today’s episode I explain how it feels to learn a new technology and my process for getting past uncertainty.

In this episode I talk about why System Administrator is my favorite IT role. Today’s Show This following is highly influenced by my own opinions and experiences The System Administrator role is my favorite in the IT field Education & Experience requirements 4+ years with 4 year degree 8+ years without degree Responsibilities Wide range of technology Highly transferable skills High impact on business goals Compensation – https://www.glassdoor.com Privately owned company with < 1000 users IT department isn’t too large Company more likely to care More able to move the needle Company culture/IT culture is important Limited on call work Reasonable approach to maintenance, projects and budgeting Employee success encouraged Training available Mentoring available Why I can provide for my family of 6 I get to do work that I enjoy and is challenging and rewarding I am proud of my job and the company I work for I can focus on my family when I’m not at work Final Thoughts Don’t focus only on technical skills.  Take time to grow your people skills, public speaking and project management abilities. You may need to switch employers a few times to get the necessary experience, or to land your desired role No one should be holding you back, but don’t rush it.  Be realistic about your experience level. You are in control of your own career.  Yes you can just coast and it won’t really effect you much up front, but what do you want to be doing in 5 years, or 10 years.  If you are not working towards that now it will most likely  never occur.  Prepare now, so that you will be ready when the opportunity arrives. You can email me with any feedback [email protected]

In this episode I talk about the importance of being prepared for a disaster that takes your primary data center offline. Being prepared to keep IT systems operating during or after a disaster is critical What is DR, how does it work? How will you offer IT services if a fire destroys your data center? Email Voice Business Software Billing Accounts Payable Payroll CRM What servers will you use? How recent will the data on them be? What services and data will be available? This should be driven from management as a part of business continuity It should be driven by IT even if BC isn’t in place Hosting On premises, separate facility Up front cost Maintenance Space Data center Ongoing cost Maintenance Cloud Scope What needs to be included? Is restoring from nightly backups enough for some servers? RPO – recovery point objective RTO – recovery time objective Budget Testing Soft failover Hard failover   Final Thoughts DR should be considered a critical part of every IT infrastructure, make  sure you have it, that the scope is accurate and that it works. You can contact me by email [email protected] and twitter @sysadminshow. Thanks for listening!

In today’s  show I add email to the lab with Exchange 2016. Follow Up From last show Grounding bar Conduits and ladder rack Airflow Data Closet Specs Today’s Show Exchange 2016 Cu11 install files https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=57388 The 2016 trial will not install on server 2016, but the CU is a full installer and will go into trial mode VCC 2013: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40784 UCMA Runtime 4.0: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34992 .Net 4.7.1 Web Installer: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=56115 Office 365 ProPlus Evaluation https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-office-365-proplus VMware Snapshots Email Server VM Client workstation VMs Create User1 & User2 accounts on the domain Add Email accounts for them Exchange Admin Center Web based https://lab-email01/eac Ignore self-signed certificate Setup Outlook on both workstations Send test email from user1 on workstation01 to user2 on workstation02 Final Thoughts Exchange is a fairly advanced topic, so it is great to have access to it in the lab.  I could easily dedicate this podcast to only Exchange and never run out of things to talk about.  I expect to go future episodes it. Building a DAG would be the next logical step Where should we go from here in the Lab

Server Room Diagram In today’s episode I go over all the requirements for building or remodeling a server room. Today’s Show – Building a Server Room New construction or remodel Project Management Depending on the scope IT maybe expected to manage this project If not managed by IT you will want to ensure you are involved as early as possible Communication Email is best to communicate instructions It’s good to review, debate and plan in person or on the phone, but follow meetings up with emails outlining what is being done, by who and by when If possible have someone take meeting notes Room location 1st floor or above, not a basement  if possible Opening to an office area, not a shop or garage Away from outside walls No windows Room size 2 racks minimum, 10′ x 10′ Will provide at least 3′ on every side Floor, walls, ceiling 9′ drop  ceiling Full height walls, no crawl spaces above the ceiling to other rooms Painted drywall Anti-Static floors Door Metal if possible Open out Locking Lightning LED if possible Above from and rear of racks A/C Dedicated split unit Calculate size Power Input  power requirements Hard line / Plug Type Amps UPS, Calculate size & run time PDU Generator backup Racks 7′ H, 3′ D, 2′ W Cable management  6″ KVM Console & KVM Switcher Demarc 3/4 Plywood, Painted Outlets fed from UPS Access Control Unique key or electronic lock Environmental Monitoring Report of Temp, Humidity, Water Storage Cabinet Safe Budget Sometimes dictated, sometimes generated by IT Should include all materials and labor Include time required by internal resources, so you can plan accordingly Final Thoughts Many companies will not see the value in building a proper server room, do research to advocate for it If you do not get involved early in the conversation it will be an afterthought and very difficult to do it properly Server rooms don’t change very often, so expect that you will need to make it work for the next 5-10 years of growth As with any negotiation divide you requirements into needs and wants.   Don’t fight so hard for what you want that you cannot get what you need Email me with any questions or comments on this episode: [email protected]

In today’s show we will continue working in the lab.  I walk through the process of deploying Active Directory on a new Server 2016 VM with DNS and DHCP.  We also setup a file server with a basic network share. Follow-Up One way conversation so far, I want to hear from you [email protected] @sysadminshow Some upcoming topics include server room specs, DR, patch management I got VMRC working on Linux Mint Download the linux .bundle file from VMware Run sudo sh, follow install instructions If you want to catch up go back to episodes 7,8,10.  So far we have Setup VMware ESXi Setup Server 2016 & Windows 10 templates Setup dedicated VLAN for the LAB Follow Up Today’s Show Cloning VMs in ESXi https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/ Psgetsid Setup domain controller, new domain I setup my lab root domain as corp.sysadminshow.com, but I should have done it just sysadminshow.com.  No real harm, just more to type. Setup DNS Setup forward and reverse zones Set DHCP Setup IPv4 scope Setup VMware client network Set our lab VMs to use the Lab network we created earlier

We continue getting the lab setup.  Configuring a dedicated network with internet access for the lab  using pfSense and VLANs on a managed switch. https://www.pfsense.org/download/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network Configure VLANs on pfSense Home Public Lab Reset and Configure managed switch Patch in and test Configure VMware networking Testing

Follow-Up Missed from SAS 006 Testing Hardware/Software Test everything, try to break it Don’t assume anything Testing backups Monthly backup tests Quarterly disaster recovery tests Annual business continuity tests Today’s Show – Managing IT Vendor Relationships Everyone will need an IT vendor at some point, so build good relationships for when you need them Staffing help Emergencies Technical assistance for core infrastructure Evaluation process Reputation Size Cost Price is important, but isn’t everything Core competencies Availability Location Qualify engineer who will actually be doing the work – these are often the best relationships Contract Review Larger companies won’t budge much This is the basis of the relationship Fixed price vs T&M vs Not to Exceed Final Thoughts Implement changes over time They work for you,  you can override their recommendations   You can send feedback and ideas for future episodes to [email protected].