Features

Features

• What are some of the risks associated with iSCSI?

  There are two risks VARs need to make customers aware about when using iSCSI. Since the technology is so easy to deploy, it is also easy to loose track of all the details. Customers also need to be aware that iSCSI can hog bandwidth on a network.  Continue Reading

• What are the disadvantages of iSCSI?

  Deploying iSCSI in mission-critical situations isn't a risk-free proposition. Customers may have to cope with higher latency and performance issues in mixed networks after an iSCSI implementation.  Continue Reading

• What are some of the advantages of iSCSI over traditional Fibre Channel SANs?

  iSCSI SANs allow for much cheaper connectivity than a Fibre Channel SAN. The initial sticker shock Fibre Channel gives customers may turn them away, while iSCSI allows customers to build on their networking experience, negate the problem of distance...  Continue Reading

• Top five Snort tips

  Snort can be immensely helpful as an intrusion detection system on your clients' networks. Check out our most useful tips on basics such configuration and troubleshooting, and advanced topics, such as upgrading, compiled from the Snort Report.  Continue Reading

• Bot and botnet 101

  Bots can be controlled by attackers and used simultaneously with other bots under a botnet. Learn the basics of bots and botnets and how they can be used as spyware.  Continue Reading

• Generating revenue with open source software

  Many companies are looking to open source software to lower IT costs. We've outlined opportunities and tips within the open source world in a Channel Hot Spot Tutorial. This introductory chapter will give you an overview.  Continue Reading

• IT distribution channel (distributors)

  Distributors are wholesalers that act as intermediaries between vendors and value-added resellers (VARs) or system integrators (SIs). Learn more about the role of distributors in the channel -- and how it's changing.  Continue Reading

• Top five network security concerns

  Securing a computer network requires mastery of many skills and concepts -- network design, device configuration, protocols, etc. As an expert on sister site SearchSecurity.com, Mike Chapple, CISSP, answers end users questions on these topics and ...  Continue Reading

• Understanding security risk management: Criticality categories

  Security risk management involves a sober assessment of your client's business operations and the relative security risks of each. Once the need for security risk analysis has been recognized by your client, the next step is to establish catageories...  Continue Reading

• Understanding security risk management: Recovery time requirements

  After you help your clients see the need for security risk analysis and establish a methodology and priorities for security risk mitigation, the next step is to assess recovery time. This will able you to help your clients understand the operational...  Continue Reading

• Refining your criteria for prospective networking partners

  As you continue the iterative process of choosing a networking partner, it's important to revise your selection criteria after discussing it with colleagues. Learn how to do so by using this tip.  Continue Reading

• How to design and implement a business VoIP network

  Once you've established that a customer's hardware and network connection can support business VoIP services, the next step is to design and the implement those services. Learn the basics of designing and implementing a simple end-to-end VoIP ...  Continue Reading

• Storage network backup of file servers

  Storage network backup of file servers is crucial since all applications store their data in file systems. This excerpt from Network Backup Explained discusses fundamental requirements and problems, as well as examining the functionality of modern ...  Continue Reading

• Storage network backup: Next generation

  Storage network backup offers new possibilities for getting around performance bottlenecks. This excerpt from Storage Networks Explained describes your options and what to consider when deciding which one best suits your clients' system.  Continue Reading

• Getting Barnyard working with Snort databases

  Having Snort write output to the hard drive and letting a tool like Barnyard handle database inserts, as explored here, considerably improves Snort performance.  Continue Reading

• Barnyard processing logs for Snort

  How Barnyard processes Snort IDS logs.  Continue Reading

• Storage network backup: Server components

  Storage network backup servers are comprised of a range of component parts. This excerpt from "Storage Networks Explained" discusses the main components. Learn what they do and how they work.  Continue Reading

• Examining unified Snort output

  Take a look at Snort's unified output.  Continue Reading

• Verify the Address Resolution Protocol table

  Learn how to verify the ARP table as part of troubleshooting networking issues with Cisco Express Forwarding. The first step in troubleshooting IP connectivity issues and Cisco Express Forwarding from a Layer 3 perspective is to consult the ARP ...  Continue Reading

• Conduct hardware-specific troubleshooting

  If you are troubleshooting a Cisco Express Forwarding platform that supports dCEF or hardware switching, the final step is looking for potential hardware-specific problems.  Continue Reading

• Scope the network topology

  Learn how to scope a network's topology to troubleshooting IP connectivity problems involving Cisco Express Forwarding. A sample physical topology is included to illustrate the discussion.  Continue Reading

• Verify the adjacency table

  Once the FIB table has been checked, the next step in troubleshooting Cisco Express Forwarding lies with the rewrite information in the adjacency table.  Continue Reading

• Verify the CEF Forwarding Information Base table

  Learn how to take a stepwise approach to troubleshooting the Cisco Express Forwarding FIB table, a critical part of any methodology for resolving Cisco IP connectivity issues.  Continue Reading

• Verify the IP routing table

  Verifying the Cisco IP routing table is a key part of troubleshooting Cisco Express Forwarding's network switching. Learn the necessary steps for identifying and remediating problems.  Continue Reading

• Managed IT services provider business plan

  A business plan is an essential part of success as a managed IT services provider. Here is a sample business plan that takes into account the special concerns of a value-added reseller (VAR) changing their business model to offer managed IT services.  Continue Reading

• Managed services, your business plan and you

  Learn why a business plan is an essential part of any reseller's successful managed services business. Discover how to use a business plan as the impetus for refining your marketing strategy, locating sources of revenue and sizing up the competition.  Continue Reading

• Snort.conf output options

  Snort offers functional equivalents for FAST, FULL and SYSLOG command line output modes, as shown here.  Continue Reading

• Snort command line output modes

  Snort command line output modes, as described here, are usually selected for testing purposes or demonstrations.  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: ON and OFF

  Disabling Oracle's RAC options may be necessary when testing the Oracle Database 10g. Steps are outlined in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Debugging CRS and GSD using DTRACING

  Oracle RAC tracing facility can be enabled to provide additional screen output in Oracle 10g. The steps are outlined in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Log directory structure in cluster ready services

  When diagnosing Oracle 10g problems in cluster ready services do what Oracle support does -- examine installation log files and respective directories. Learn more in this book excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Debugging node eviction issues

  Oracle RAC's node eviction root cause analysis (RCA) is common and complex. This excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Applications Clusters Handbook" shows you how to recover from a communication failure in Oracle 10g.  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC troubleshooting

  Oracle RAC shared disk method of clustering databases increases scalability and lowers costs. However, it can be challenging to find and fix bugs in Oracle 10g. This chapter excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook" ...  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Database performance issues

  Oracle's RAC databases share resources with other applications which are also in demand. Sometimes resource management runs into a deadlock. This excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Applications Clusters Handbook" examines what happens to a ...  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Cluster reconfiguration steps

  Oracle RACs cluster reconfiguration process entails seven steps. Learn what they are in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC and the Lamport algorithm

  In Oracle's RAC, the Lamport algorithm works with system change numbers (SCN) and the distributed lock manager (DLM) to control and lock management and conflict resolution; read more in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application ...  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Log directory structure in Oracle RDBMS

  Oracle 10g RAC installations include log files that provide diagnostic and bug-repairing tools. Learn more in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Oracle RAC: Member voting

  Use Oracle RAC's member voting to check member validity in Oracle database 10g. Learn how in this excerpt from "Oracle Database 10g: Real Application Clusters Handbook."  Continue Reading

• Ethical hacking tools and techniques: Information gathering

  This portion of a tip on network penetration testing and ethical hacking tools and techniques discusses information gathering for security consultants and value-added resellers (VARs).  Continue Reading

• Ethical hacking tools and techniques: Port scanning

  In this portion of a tip on network penetration testing and ethical hacking tools and techniques, security consultants and value-added resellers (VARs) will learn about port scanning.  Continue Reading

• Ethical hacking tools and techniques: Vulnerability scanning

  In this portion of a tip on network penetration testing and ethical hacking tools and techniques, security consultants and value-added resellers (VARs) will learn about vulnerability scanning.  Continue Reading

• Ethical hacking tools and techniques: Password cracking

  In this portion of a tip on network penetration testing and ethical hacking tools and techniques, security consultants and value-added resellers (VARs) will learn about password cracking.  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel man-in-the-middle attacks

  A Fibre Channel man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is the act of an untrusted third party intercepting communication between two trusted entities. Learn more about man-in-the-middle attacks in this excerpt from "Securing Storage: A Practical Guide to ...  Continue Reading

• Storage area network (SAN) risks

  Storage area network (SAN) security risks manifest as easily infiltrated gaps in your customers' storage; learn where weaknesses lie in a SAN architecture as outlined in this book excerpt from "Securing Storage:A Practical Guide to SAN and NAS ...  Continue Reading

• Benefits of providing managed services

  Recurring revenue is one obvious benefit of providing managed services, but don't overlook these other MSP advantages.  Continue Reading

• The managed service provider (MSP) model

  Determine if the managed service provider (MSP) model is a good fit for your channel business. The nine questions and corresponding expert advice in this tip will get you started on the road toward or away from the MSP model.  Continue Reading

• How to price managed service provider (MSP) offerings

  To price a managed service provider (MSP) offering, you must weigh how much your client pays to manage apps in-house versus how much they may pay to have you manage them.  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel address weaknesses

  Fibre Channel address weaknesses include manipulation of the 24-bit fabric address, which can cause significant damage and denial of service in a storage area network (SAN). Learn where the vulnerabilities lie in this excerpt from "Securing Storage:...  Continue Reading

• Storage area network (SAN) hacking

  SAN hacking translates into network insecurity and lost or corrupted data. Get to know SAN threats as outlined in this excerpt from "Securing Storage: A Practical Guide to SAN and NAS Security."  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel man-in-the-middle attack assessment exercise

  Fibre Channel man-in-the-middle attacks come as a result of the architecture's communications weaknesses. Learn how to find these Fibre Channel vulnerabilities with the assessment tool in this excerpt from "Securing Storage: A Practical Guide to ...  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel risks

  Fibre Channel risks and security weaknesses leave this infrastructure open to attack. Learn about Fibre Channel vulnerabilities in this excerpt from "Securing Storage: A Practical Guide to SAN and NAS Security."  Continue Reading

• Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) security

  Underestimating storage area network (SAN) and Fibre Channel security risks could lead your customers to data loss. This chapter excerpt from "Securing Storage: A Practical Guide to SAN and NAS Security" provides full descriptions of Fibre Channel ...  Continue Reading

• Becoming a managed service provider (MSP): Essential questions to ask first

  Before becoming a managed service provider (MSP), ask yourself these essential questions and determine if the MSP model is right for you.  Continue Reading

• Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) vendor

  Managed service provider (MSP) partnerships are rarely as fruitful as both sides would like. When choosing an MSP vendor, ask these questions to determine if your partnership will be a good one.  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: Loading rules

  Learn how to load Sourcefire and Bleeding Edge Threats rules for the open source intrusion detection tool Snort.  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: Acquiring Snort rules

  Learn how to acquire the rules you'll need to run Snort to your specifications.  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: Bleeding Edge Threats rules

  This section of the Snort Report on Snort IDS rules covers rules privded by Bleeding Edge Threats (BET).  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: False positives

  In this portion of the Snort Report on IDS Snort rules, Richard Bejtlich discusses how to identify and deal with false positives.  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: Activating Snort rules

  Learn the dos and don'ts of activating the Snort Sourcefire and Bleeding Edge Threats rules.  Continue Reading

• IDS Snort rules: Sourcefire rules

  This portion of the Snort report on Snort IDS rules covers rules provided by Sourcefire. It also discusses the pros and cons of rules by subscription, free rules and rules submitted by the Snort community.  Continue Reading

• Multi-core processor benefits and trends

  Dual-core success has paved the way for quad-core or many-more-core processors. Author Barb Goldworm highlights the benefits of using multi-core processors in customer shops.  Continue Reading

• Licensing requirements for multi-core processors and server virtualization

  Multi-core processors and server virtualization advancements have left licensing doors open to interpretation by vendors. Know your licensing requirements and limitations.  Continue Reading

• Common SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package management scenarios

  Whether connecting to SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), running packages or viewing package summaries, these scenarios will answer basic SSIS package management questions, from the book "Inside Server SQL Tools."  Continue Reading

• Common SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package deployment scenarios

  Prepare SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) projects for deployment and testing with assistance from this excerpt from "Inside SQL Server 2005 Tools."  Continue Reading

• Common SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package development scenarios

  Learn how common SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package development scenarios can benefit your customers' business intelligence plans in this excerpt from "Inside Server SQL 2005 Tools".  Continue Reading

• Using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) tools in business scenarios

  Applying SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (SSIS) to business scenarios involves development and testing, deployment and administration. Get answers to common questions that arise when working with SSIS in this excerpt from "Inside SQL Server ...  Continue Reading

• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) overview

  SQL Server 2005 Integration Services (SSIS) introduces the concepts of control flow and data flow in packages. Learn more about this SQL Server 2005 tool in this excerpt from "Inside SQL Server 2005 Tools."  Continue Reading

• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) tools

  Server 2005 Integration Services (SSIS) introduces a rich toolset that supports development, deployment and administration of extract, transform, load (ETL) solutions. Learn more about these SQL Server tools in this excerpt from "Inside SQL Server ...  Continue Reading

• SQL Server 2005 Practical Troubleshooting

  When it comes to data corruption and recovery, BACKUP and RESTORE are your most important tools; find out what to do when these commands fail in this book excerpt.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server 2005 Practical Troubleshooting: User database inaccessible

  Learn SQL Server 2005 tools that allow access to an inaccessible database. This excerpt from "SQL Server 2005" provides the toolbox.  Continue Reading

• Elements of service support

  The interdependencies of incident management, problem management, configuration management, change management and release management are discussed in this book excerpt by Dan Sullivan.  Continue Reading

• Mastering the problem management process for service delivery

  Problem management should help your clients reduce incidents and their impact on an operations, but it's not the same as incident management, as described in this book excerpt by Dan Sullivan.  Continue Reading

• Incident management

  Incident management policies and processes should meet certain goals when responding to customer's incidents, as outlined in this book excerpt by Dan Sullivan.  Continue Reading

• Mastering the release management process for service delivery

  Release management helps you preserve customers' production systems when new software and hardware is deployed. Learn about release management processes in this book excerpt by Dan Sullivan.  Continue Reading

• Cloning Virtual Machines Utilizing ESX Shell Scripts

  With VMware you can create exact replicas of your virtual machine's virtual disk. Learn how here.  Continue Reading

• Securing wireless access points: WLAN vulnerabilities, SSID issues, WEP weakness

  This portion of the Vines penetration testing tip on securing wireless access points describes WLAN vulnerabilities, SSID issues, and WEP weakness.  Continue Reading

• Scripting creation of virtual machines in ESX shell

  Scripting the creation of virtual machines using VMware power tools is simpler that you might think. This book excerpt tells you how.  Continue Reading

• Securing wireless access points: WLAN security countermeasures

  This portion of the Vines penetration testing tip on securing wireless access points describes WLAN security countermeasures.  Continue Reading

• Securing wireless access points: War driving and war walking

  This portion of the Vines penetration testing tip on securing wireless access points describes war driving and war walking.  Continue Reading

• Scripting Creation of Virtual Machines in Perl Scripts

  Use VMware with VMperl to create your or your customer's virtual machine. Learn more about this partnership here.  Continue Reading

• Creation of virtual machines utilizing command-line tools

  Creating virtual machines for your customers is useful for them and lucrative for you. This excerpt outlines VMware ESX Server's creation and cloning tools.  Continue Reading

• Configure Linux Disk Drive, Task 2.5

  Linux system performance and stability relies heavily on the hard drive disk configuration. Learn more here.  Continue Reading

• Configure and Compile a Kernel for Linux, task 2.6

  The Linux kernel provides the interface between your hardware and your programs. Configuring it enables support for new hardware needs. Learn more here.  Continue Reading

• Resolve hardware conflicts with Linux, task 2.3

  When managing hardware conflicts for a Linux system, you have many options. This excerpt presents various senarios, choices and assessment tools.  Continue Reading

• Configure USB devices to Linux: task 2.4

  Configuring USB devices to a Linux system important because most accessories now interface through computers with them. Learn more here.  Continue Reading

• Set BIOS options for Linux: task 2.1

  Setting BIOS options correctly ensures that a computer will boot-up and initialize hardware properly. Get the necessary tools for a smooth Linux installation here.  Continue Reading

• Managing Linux hardware and the kernel: Introduction

  Hardware management for Linux software requires a particular set of street smarts. Learn the lay of the land and offer this knowledge to your customers.  Continue Reading

• Unix-to-Linux migration benefits

  Linux migration is an appealing option to some Unix customers looking to upgrade and save money. Get additional benefits of a Unix-to-Linux migration.  Continue Reading

• Linux migration -- Why and when to move from Unix to Linux

  Unix-to-Linux server migrations should only be undertaken when customers are certain that moving from one platform to the other is best for their business.  Continue Reading

• Snort configuration -- Non-dynamic preprocessors

  This segment of the Snort configuration tip deals with non-dynamic preprocessors.  Continue Reading

• Snort configuration -- Defining IP ranges of interest

  This segment of Snort configuration discusses how channel professionals can define IP ranges of interest.  Continue Reading

• Snort configuration -- snort.conf file

  This portion of Snort Report helps channel professionals understand the snort.conf file.  Continue Reading

• MySQL versions, by the numbers

  Keeping track of MySQL versions can be challenging. This list of version numbers will help you get started.  Continue Reading

• Using MySQL licensing: Open source license vs. commercial license

  Get an overview of the MySQL open source licensing options in this excerpt from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5".  Continue Reading

• MySQL limitations

  Prepare yourself to overcome or avoid this list of MySQL shortcomings from the book "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5".  Continue Reading

• What are the top MySQL features?

  Find the most important MySQL properties listed in this book excerpt from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5".  Continue Reading

• MySQL database glossary

  Look up basic database and MySQL terms in this book excerpt from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5"  Continue Reading

• MySQL version names

  Since MySQL 4.0, free and commercial MySQL versions have different names, outlined in this excerpt from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5".  Continue Reading

• MySQL alternatives

  IBM DB2, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle are some of the expensive alternatives to MySQL, described in this excerpt from "The Definitive Guide to MySQL 5".  Continue Reading

• Five components of a data protection strategy

  When developing a data protection strategy, you have five storage practices and techniques to consider.  Continue Reading