If you forget to use sudo and spend some time editing a file with vim, not all is lost. You can actually escalate using sudo without leaving vim, and losing your changes.
:w !sudo tee %
Note : this only escalates for one write. You must run the command again if you want to save file after making more changes.
We are having a baby tomorrow. The c-scheduled for tomorrow morning. We have to be at the hospital at 5am.
Two kids under 2. Life is going to be crazy.
I stopped after work to fish a fully fresthwater retention pond for bass. A saltwater tarpon in a retention pond is something you see everyday.. Definitely not what I was expecting. I had to go in and get him out of the hydrilla. I took a video of the fight because I was 100% sure I was gonna lose him on 10lb test. What an epic battle!
Here is the video...
Some of ya'll need to hear this...
Welp, I made the jump into the IT security world. I am leaving Windows System Administration to join IT security full time. I wanted to make the announcement last week, but with the hurricane I figured I would wait.
When I started my career at GeekSquad for $10 an hour back in 2004 I would never imagine where I would be today. Fast forward 12 years and I am working an IT security job for a enterprise organization.
I have no degree and my path certainly wasn't easy. I started out at the bottom and worked my way up every chance I could get.
2004 - Geek Squad
2005-2006 - Enterprise Help Desk
2007 - 2008 - Desktop Support
2008-2010 - Network Technician (basically entry level system admin)
2010-2012 - System Admin
2012-2016 - Network Administrator II (basically high level System Admin)
2016 - Cyber Security Vulnerability Manager
I wanted to share my journey because if you have enough drive anything is possible. A degree is definitely not needed. I started out of high school when all my colleagues started by getting a 4 year degree. I am ahead of my everyone of my colleagues that I talk to that has a degree.
I am only 29 years old so my journey is far from over.
Ugh CEH is the worse option. I have it and that is scam certification IMO. It is like over $1000 to take a test that is multiple choice and extremely easy.
CISSP - Great, but you have to commit a good amount of time and brainpower to it. I have it and it was pain in the ass, but well worth it.
CISM - Weighed the same as CISSP by DoD DIrective 8570, but an easier test.
Security + - Used to be a basic watered down security cert like Scott said, but recently was made much tougher and is more well respected now
If I wanted the most value and was willing to do the work I would do CISSP.
If I wanted a good amount of value and wanted an easier test, I would do CISM
If I wanted to learn something and build a good base, I would do Security +
Luckily we didn't have any structural damage to the house during the Hurricane, but I did lose a good portion of my fence, some siding, and a very nice palm tree. We are lucky enough to be on the same power grid as an elementary school (we are directly behind the school) so we got power back very early on. However, we didn't get water until last night.
I am glad to be back at work as things return somewhat to normal.
@travisdh1 said in Split Hotel Room for MangoCon '16?:
Well, that idea appears to be a bust, the only rooms available are the ones with single beds.
http://www.aaronmchugh.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/planes-trains-and-automobiles-1.jpg
@scottalanmiller said in Helpdesk - PC replacement routines:
@IRJ said in Helpdesk - PC replacement routines:
The Helpdesk team exists to be a human shield for users. Your main job is keep users away from the rest of IT. Customer service and user support is the job. Since your Helpdesk should be made up of entry level with fair turnover, I'm not sure you're gonna ever be efficient nor is that really the goal.
I started in Helpdesk as did many others I've met in higher IT positions. The employees that you have that are really good are not meant to stay there too long. If your company doesn't have the foresite to promote top performers, they will just leave and go somewhere else.
The TLDR is Helpdesk is supposed to be a a human shield for IT. It should be a starting place for aspiring IT professionals, and if they are knowledgeable enough to improve these processes they won't be around long (one way or another).
That said, some people like the interaction and choose to stay there. But that's not the norm. But even then, it's a customer service role for sure and "performance" will always be difficult. In fact, you might dislike performance if it means less human interactions with end users.
Yep. I've seen it. There's one guy that I worked with that just loved everything about Helpdesk. Far more capable than the desk. He could be working with servers, cloud, etc. He just decided he loved what he was doing and stayed there for many years. I kept in touch for many years beyond us working together and he was always there. Big fish in little pond so to speak, and I think he likes that.
@Pete-S said in Helpdesk - PC replacement routines:
@IRJ said in Helpdesk - PC replacement routines:
The Helpdesk team exists to be a human shield for users. Your main job is keep users away from the rest of IT. Customer service and user support is the job. Since your Helpdesk should be made up of entry level with fair turnover, I'm not sure you're gonna ever be efficient nor is that really the goal.
I started in Helpdesk as did many others I've met in higher IT positions. The employees that you have that are really good are not meant to stay there too long. If your company doesn't have the foresite to promote top performers, they will just leave and go somewhere else.
The TLDR is Helpdesk is supposed to be a a human shield for IT. It should be a starting place for aspiring IT professionals, and if they are knowledgeable enough to improve these processes they won't be around long (one way or another).
@IRJ What you say makes perfect sense.
Wouldn't you agree that replacing a PC is at least a two stage process? One where you get the new computer and get it 100% ready for the user. And another where you would handhold the user - if they need help. And only the second one would actually be a helpdesk job.
If I understand correctly, the actual problem that @annalynnetech have is that the PC isn't ready to go when the end-user get it.
Yes it's definitely a two stage process. In most companies it would be separate teams and you'd even have levels at a large Helpdesk like tier 1, 2, and 3.
If I were to walk in a situation and the two things were combined, I would probably split the employees up and assign some to desktop builds and tier 2 support when they aren't doing builds. Then I'd have tier 1 guys reading a script basically and if it goes too far beyond that they escalate to tier 2. I would do these even if I only had 2-5 employees.
The Helpdesk team exists to be a human shield for users. Your main job is keep users away from the rest of IT. Customer service and user support is the job. Since your Helpdesk should be made up of entry level with fair turnover, I'm not sure you're gonna ever be efficient nor is that really the goal.
I started in Helpdesk as did many others I've met in higher IT positions. The employees that you have that are really good are not meant to stay there too long. If your company doesn't have the foresite to promote top performers, they will just leave and go somewhere else.
The TLDR is Helpdesk is supposed to be a a human shield for IT. It should be a starting place for aspiring IT professionals, and if they are knowledgeable enough to improve these processes they won't be around long (one way or another).
@Obsolesce said in Astrophotography:
Happy holidays all!
Jupiter Christmas night, 2022-12-25.
Less than ideal seeing conditions and lots of light pollution, but was still able to bring out some detail!
Jupiter was 456,134,146 miles from earth when I took the photo. It took almost 41 minutes for light to travel from Jupiter to my camera. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, has 80 moons, and is large enough to fit about 1,300 Earths inside.
Can you explain your setup a bit?
@Carnival-Boy said in [SAMIT: Should You Provide Equipment for Work from Home
But look, we're getting in ad hominem replies now. I don't see the relevance. I get that this is primarily a forum for US MSPs and I'm a European ERP specialist, but I'm just offering my perspective. But when it gets to the level of replies (IRJ, not you) that say I'm not really IT, or that I don't need any training because I can fall back on Microsoft, or I don't have the commitment of "real" IT people then it's getting pointless.
It's ok for us to hear your perspective, but not mine?
Salary (incentives) and taxes are much different different in US and Europe. I mean that's just fact. There's pros and cons to both. In the US, alot of times its a struggle to get past that first level for many people. People get abused and bullied into lower salaries and insane workloads. It happens every day in the US and the percentage of workers that get stuck in that is higher than you think. You need both technical and soft skills to get out of it. Even then it really is a grind, and external factors surely can make it feel impossible to beat.
You've made it clear the type of work you do, my definition of it may differ from others.
That all being said, Scott's view on company not providing a laptop is extremely unusual in US. I've never come across a position like that.
Although, @scottalanmiller and I would never work the same type of jobs. I prefer to be an employee of a company vs being consultant or contractor. I have my reasons for it, and @scottalanmiller and others on here have their reasons why they like consulting.
I would never consider or accept a job where I had to provide my own computer. I also, think it's ludicrous to be an IT employee and not have your own personal computer. It just shows that computers aren't really part of your passion. If I worked first mate on a fishing boat, I don't need a fishing rod for my job. But if I didn't have one at home, that would be an extremely weird situation. It's not something I'd ever ask in an interview because I could just tell by talking to someone of they are passionate about IT (or fishing). I would never have to even ask them if they had a computer (or fishing rod). As @scottalanmiller mentioned, they would be extremely lucky to make it to first interview, and would never make it to second.
@Carnival-Boy said in SAMIT: Should You Provide Equipment for Work from Home Staff?:
@scottalanmiller said in SAMIT: Should You Provide Equipment for Work from Home Staff?:
It goes almost without saying that the things we value you'd hate as an employee.
Try me
We aren't a "here is the thing that you do" kind of company. We cross train, we constantly do new things, we take on different technology all of the time, everyone spends their days advising non-IT on approaches, options, looking for improvements to process, and so forth
We do all of those things to. I still don't know why you'd think we don't.
As usual, you've just jumped to conclusions about someone based on a spurious metric (they don't own a PC).
Had to catch up on this long thread, but from what I've read I don't think you're really IT. You mentioned you'd fire a client for not using Microsoft products. That seems more like a sales engineer position to me. You don't really need any training because you can always fall back on Microsoft for support. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it's obviously more relaxed than true IT positions where you HAVE to make things work with what you have, and you actually do analysis of different products. If the answer is Microsoft eveytime, that explains why you don't have to commit to the level of those doing IT.
Also, if I remember correctly you're in Europe. European and American IT have much different mindset. In US, it's sink or swim with incentives to 1-4x your salary. It's built into our heads that we must be better or we will be left behind. From what I've seen in Europe jobs pay more equally so that translates into less incentive. On the flip side, I believe European model is probably easier and less stressful for individuals, but also less likely to unlock full potential.
Please don't take this post as being negative or even taking a side. I'm just pointing out that I believe you and @scottalanmiller are talking apples and oranges. Basically his comments don't apply to you and your comments don't really apply to American job market. Not that one is right or wrong.
@pattonb said in ps2 to usb adapters:
@IRJ sadly, have my "attachments" and a couple of my old keyboards fall into that category, they have worked for "oh so many years" and just keep on working, thus
my attachments.
I get it. I happen to like that style and feel myself. Build yourself a nice keyboard some day. You'll really like it.
@pmoncho said in ps2 to usb adapters:
@pattonb said in ps2 to usb adapters:
Has anybody had success using ps2 to usb adapters ? ( specifically for keyboards)
I have one and can't get the keyboard recognized, I still have a few "favourite" ps2 keyboards. Does it make any sense, to cut off the ps2 end, and replace with usb ?
thanks in advance.
I have had luck with these for my Raritan KVM.
https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-USB-PS-2-Adapter/dp/B000ELSXFY
Then you can convert it to USB C 
Do not pay $30 for an adapter. Get a modern USB mechanical keyboard for a few bucks more lol
Just buy a new keyboard, dude. You can get mechanical keyboards with all different types of feedback. I like the super old and loud keyboards with tons of noise.
There's alot of choices for mechanical keyboards that behave like your old ones. Let the PS2 keyboard go... Take it to scrap yard, and set it free
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