Five Leadership Tactics That Will Make 2008 a Pivotal Business Year

Want to make a New Year's Resolution that not only improves your bottom
line but actually has staying power? Quint Studer, author of the
bestseller 'Results That Last', offers five simple tips for turning it all
around...fast. ...continue reading 'Five Leadership Tactics That Will Make 2008 a Pivotal Business Year'

Unix Tip: The crossover LAN

Sandra Henry-Stocker, ITworld.com

You have probably heard that a two-node LAN can be configured by stringing a crossover cable between the network ports on two systems. Not only is this true, but it's not all that hard to do provided you have a few tools, a length of CAT 5 cable and a couple RJ45 connectors. Using a crossover cable has one decided advantage over a traditional network hookup -- it avoids the requirement that a hub be used to connect the two systems, saving both money and rack space. So, let's examine what is needed to create your own crossover cable. ...continue reading 'Unix Tip: The crossover LAN'

The folder is corrupt

Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises

Recently, a user contacted me about a problem involving Internet Explorer 7. Every time she tried to open IE, she got a message saying "folder is corrupt". Here are steps you can take to troubleshoot an issue like that. ...continue reading 'The folder is corrupt'

How to be a good CCIE mentor

Emmanuel Conde, ITworld.com

For all my efforts in locating mentors for future CCIEs I had not given much time to sharing my thoughts on what makes a good mentor. A CCIE with a 4 digit number is a good prospect. He or she has been in the industry for some time, and will have recertified and watched the emerging technology take hold and have an impact on the real world. More recent CCIEs will have the testing and lab experience fresh and often they benefited from being mentored themselves. Beyond this, what should a CCIE mentor bring to the table? A good ear is a starting place. ...continue reading 'How to be a good CCIE mentor'

Printing privacy - A problem or a feature?

Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises

If multiple users share the same shared printer attached to a print server, then each user will be able to see all the documents queued up for printing from all other users. The question arises, is this a "problem" or a "feature"?

Maximizing your technology dollar

James Gaskin, Network World

Your trusted technology advisor (you did get one since I recommended that last time, right?) can help you in more ways than you know. In fact, that's exactly why they can help you: they know ways technology can improve your business you don't know. So let's look at three steps to get even more bang for your technology buck. ...continue reading 'Maximizing your technology dollar'

Windows: Five tips from Santa

By Mitch Tulloch, Microsoft MVP

Troubleshoot Group Policy issues using this cool tool. Find out more about the hardware on your box than Device Manager or Msinfo32.exe can display. Print labels or do a mail merge from Excel. And so on. ...continue reading 'Windows: Five tips from Santa'

One-on-one with a global CCIE headhunter

Eman (Emmanuel Conde) is a global CCIE headhunter. He connects with CCIEs in over a dozen countries and uses innovative techniques to find great new minds. Today, he shares his thoughts on recruiting smart IT professionals, things you need to do now to prepare for 2008 and his exciting email mentor efforts. ...continue reading 'One-on-one with a global CCIE headhunter'

How to network: 12 tips for shy people

Meridith Levinson, CIO

Networking helps you find jobs, recruit talent, win new customers and discover investors who'll support your ideas. But it can be a trial for shy people - geeks especially. Here's some common-sense advice for increasing your networking mojo. ...continue reading 'How to network: 12 tips for shy people'

Ten ways to create a culture of execution

Companies frequently develop vision and mission statements about being number one in their industry, the great service they provide to customers, and their rewarding work environment. Yet more often than not, these statements are so far from reality that they become joke fodder for customers and employees alike. It doesn't have to be this way, says Richard Lepsinger. Your company really can keep the promises you make -- but first you must create a culture of execution. ...continue reading 'Ten ways to create a culture of execution'

Using VNC to access remote systems

By Sandra Henry-Stocker, ITworld

Similar to Remote Desktop, VNC (Virtual Network Computing) provides its users with access to remote systems' displays from their desks.

VNC is platform-independent. You can have a viewer on almost any type of system and a server on almost any type of system. You might control your Solaris system from a Windows desktop, your Windows system from your Linux desktop and so on. Plus, an added bonus is that many people can connect to the same server at the same time. ...continue reading 'Using VNC to access remote systems'

Ensuring software compatibility in XP

Simon Williams, PC Advisor

Compatibility issues have been a major concern since Vista's launch in early 2007. But XP isn't innocent in all this. It, too, has it's own fair share of conflicts and, equally, tricks to get around them. ...continue reading 'Ensuring software compatibility in XP'

Making programs work with Vista

Simon Williams, PC Advisor

Windows Vista hasn't changed the world after all, and compatibility issues have been a major concern. Here are six simple things you can do to get around the conflicts. ...continue reading 'Making programs work with Vista'

How to filter out bad ideas from your boss

James Gaskin, ITworld

Crap flows downhill, and bad ideas from your boss can end up mucking up the whole department. But these tips can help you filter out the worst and gently guide your superiors in the right direction. ...continue reading 'How to filter out bad ideas from your boss'

File Typing with Magic

Sandra Henry-Stocker, ITworld

Several readers suggest the /etc/magic file and the file signatures that it provides to identify file types regardless of how the files are named -- even, in fact, when no file extensions are used. ...continue reading 'File Typing with Magic'

System restores made easy

By Mitch Tulloch, Microsoft MVP

Restore a backup to a different hardware platform using virtualization. ...continue reading 'System restores made easy'

Access storage arrays remotely, securely

By David Hill, Mesabi Group

Your business can benefit from remote management, but take the necessary actions to ensure security. ...continue reading 'Access storage arrays remotely, securely'