SysAdmin

Use BGInfo to Build a Database of System Information of Your Network Computers : " One of the more popular tools of the Sysinternals suite among system administrators is BGInfo which tacks real-time system information to your desktop wallpaper when you first login. For obvious reasons, having information such as system memory, available hard drive space and system up time (among others) right in front of you is very convenient when you are managing several systems. A little known feature about this handy utility is the ability to have system information automatically saved to a SQL database or some other data file. With a few minutes of setup work you can easily configure BGInfo to record system information of all your network computers in a centralized storage location. You can then use this data to monitor or report on these systems however you see fit. BGInfo Setup If you are familiar with BGInfo, you can skip this section. However, if you have never used this tool, it takes ju...

Manage your VirtualBox VMs via the web with phpVirtualBox : " Generally speaking, if it is a web-based tool that starts with “php” (such as phpMyAdmin or phpLDAPadmin) you know that tool is going to make your administrative life a lot easier. Such is the case with a php-based tool created to help you manage all of your VirutalBox VMs from a single tool, from anywhere (so long as said “anywhere” is accessible from, you guessed it, anywhere). I do use VirtualBox and was thrilled to come across phpVirtualBox . This tool is an AJAX implementation of the familiar VirtualBox user interface, so the minute you log in you will be instantly at home. Let’s take a look at how this tool is installed and used. First things first You need to make sure you have the latest VirtualBox installed as well as the Extension Pack. You can run phpVirtualBox with the 3.x release of VirtualBox, but there are a lot more features available in the 4.x release. You can download both from the VirtualBox download...

How to Quickly Add Multiple IP Addresses to Windows Servers : " If you have ever added multiple IP addresses to a single Windows server, going through the graphical interface is an incredible pain as each IP must be added manually, each in a new dialog box. Here’s a simple solution. Needless to say, this can be incredibly monotonous and time consuming if you are adding more than a few IP addresses. Thankfully, there is a much easier way which allows you to add an entire subnet (or more) in seconds. Adding an IP Address from the Command Line Windows includes the “netsh” command which allows you to configure just about any aspect of your network connections. If you view the accepted parameters using “netsh /?” you will be presented with a list of commands each which have their own list of commands (and so on). For the purpose of adding IP addresses, we are interested in this string of parameters: netsh interface ipv4 add address Note: For Windows Server 2003/XP and earlier, “ipv4″ ...

16 Stable & Free IDEs For Designers/Developers : " For a productive development process, every web designer/developer needs tools that are functional and make you feel comfortable. An IDE (integrated development environment) is possibly the most frequently used tool as it is your touch to the code whether you're building something from scratch or applying just a small update. And, you don't have to use only a single IDE , maybe something complicated with a debugger, built-in FTP, etc. as the main code editor and something simpler for quickly making updates + viewing source codes. Here are 16 free IDEs for designers/developers that are used widely and proven to be stable: Aptana Studio (Windows, Mac, Linux) Aptana Studio is a very impressive and open source development tool that supports HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and Ruby, Rails, PHP & Python on the server side. It has a "code assist" feature where you can find out details about functions, elements, etc...

Evolving backup: From tape to disk to cloud or none at all? : " Evolving backup: From tape to disk to cloud or none at all? Takeaway: Scott Lowe shares his thoughts about various data protection options. He also discusses why some organizations, including Microsoft IT, are eliminating backups altogether. The backup market continues to expand with new options and capabilities, despite the fact that organizations tend to be pretty conservative when it comes to making large scale changes to backup infrastructure and processes. These backup options come with new processes and opportunities that can be exploited for improved disaster recovery or streamlined operations. In a September 2010 TechRepublic article, I discussed Westminster College’s pending migration from Backup Exec to Microsoft’s Data Protection Manager 2010 and, more recently, I provided an update to that article that outlines where we are now . However, with the move from a 100% ta...

The 10 hottest 10 Things lists of 2010 : " The 10 hottest 10 Things lists of 2010 Del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook Google Buzz Hacker News LinkedIn Print Reddit Add to Favorites StumbleUpon Technorati Twitter By Jody Gilbert December 20, 2010, 9:41 AM PST Takeaway: Tools, tweaks, and troubleshooting strategies took top billing in the 10 Things blog this year. Here’s a look at the most popular lists of 2010. In 2010, we posted roughly 160 lists in the 10 Things blog, covering topics that ranged from registry hacks, job search strategies, and database design to Windows 7 power tweaks, system slowdowns, and IPv6 addressing. The following 10 articles topped this list of lists. 1: 10 must-have Android apps The Android Market is teeming with apps that can make your life easier in countless ways. These 10 are among the best. 2: 10 ways you might ...