Web Development Blog

Microsoft is in the middle of a major push to overhaul its certification program. Last year, they announced the new Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification, which is not a written exam but rather a practical exam that will be graded by a board of examiners. Just applying for the certification will require 10 years’ experience in IT as well as three years of practical experience as a network architect.

For those of us not quite ready for that, Microsoft has announced that it’s also going to revise other certifications. The MCSE that we’ve all come to know and love is going to be a thing of the past. In its place will be a series of specialization exams and IP Professional certification tracks.

If you’re currently an MCSE or working it, don’t worry, you have plenty of time to adapt to the new tracks. Microsoft’s official word is that the new certification structure will be implemented when the next Windows server/client version is released. For those holding MCDBAs, your current certification will remain valid and you’ll have a chance to upgrade to the new certification with SQL Server 2005.

Those of us who have been on the certification track for a while remember the outcry when Microsoft planned to phase out the much-maligned NT 4.0 certification in the move to Windows 2000. There was quite an outcry from many certified individuals who felt MS was being unreasonable in their timetable and planned lack of support for the 4.0 certification. Whether you agree with Microsoft’s planned changes, I urge you to visit Microsoft’s certification site regularly to keep up with these changes.

Whether you choose to pursue any of these new tracks is your decision, but you owe it to yourself and your career to know about the new tracks. Change is inevitable in IT and the IT certification world, and you must be aware of these changes!

CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate - a certification for IT professionals that is issued by Cisco Systems, Inc., one of the most successful computer networking companies. Cisco manufactures and markets a wide range of devices for both enterprises and telecommunications carriers. Cisco is an abbreviation of San FranCISCO.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate is an apprentice, or foundation level (along with Cisco Certified Design Associate), within the three levels of certification that include Associate, Professional, and Expert. Basically, CCNA professionals are certified to install, configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access services for small networks (100 nodes or fewer), including but not exclusive to use of these protocols: IP, IGRP, Serial, Frame Relay, IP RIP, VLANs, RIP, Ethernet, and Access Lists. The certification is valid for three years, after which recertification may be sought.

In order to hold a CCNA certification, a candidate has to pass either the Cisco Certified Network Associate Exam or a combination of Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies Exam and Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Exam. Main topics for these three exams include Planning and Designing; Design and Support; Implementation and Operation; Troubleshooting; and Technology. Other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam.

There are also some recommended training programs that may be taken before the above-mentioned examinations. These programs include Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO), Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND), and Additional Training (CCNA Prep Center Pilot). These trainings incorporate topics such as fundamental knowledge and comprehension of networking; how to select, connect, configure, and troubleshoot the various Cisco networking devices; sample questions, simulations, e-learning modules, labs, tips, etc.

Whether you’re on the road to the CCNA, CCNP, MCSE, or you’re on any other computer certification track, the odds are that sooner or later, you’re going to fail an exam. It’s happened to almost all of us, yours truly included. What you have to keep in mind in these times is that success is not a straight line. You’ve probably seen charts showing the growth of an industry or a business — you know, the ones that go from left to right, and look kind of jagged. The line goes up for a while, then down a bit, then up some more, then down a little.

The key? While every business has its setbacks, the net result is that the line goes up and progress is made. That’s how you want your certification pursuit and your career to go as well - upward!

I’m not asking you to be happy about failing an exam. You’re allowed to get mad for a few minutes, vow to never take another exam again, and be disappointed. What you’re not allowed to do is stay that way.

If you put your books away in a fit of anger, get them out. If you took some time off, it’s time to get back to work. Again, there’s nothing wrong with being unhappy about failing an exam. It’s how you handle that failure that counts. No inventor, executive, or entrepreneur has ever been right 100% of the time. Learn something from your failure. Was your study time quality study time? Did you get some hands-on practice with the technology you’re studying? Asking yourself these questions can be tough, but it can be highly valuable in making sure you don’t fail the next time. And there must be a next time - because the one thing you cannot do is quit.

Besides, take it from someone who’s been there - your temporary failure makes your eventual success that much sweeter.

In this transition phase of analog to digital photography, everyone knows the difference on how each images is processed into a nice print. For analog photography, the negative (film) is developed into photos in small shops called developing studios, low-end or high end, available some walks away from a nearby establishment.

They come in cheap price for every piece of shot but they come expensive in rolls. This is the conventional way of accomplishing photography. Nowadays there is digital camera mania everywhere! Who would not want private photograph shots from a handy dandy digital camera, where printing is done at home at one’s convenience?

Convenience and privacy are the perfect words for digital photography. The question is how convenient is it to produce a copy? About privacy, there is no doubt, when you take a shot with a digital camera, it does not have to go out of the house.

All you need is a printer. When you need a printer, the array of other needs will start to fall in line one by one because it takes the following to create you own printing of digital photography. For a good digital photography printing, you will the following:

- A high-resolution digital camera with at least 2 mega-pixel resolution

- A stand-alone digital printer (no need for a computer)

- Fully loaded personal computer

It goes to show, processing digital printing at home is not cheap. The mania is only applicable to those who have PCs at home. Let’s say you have all the equipments for digital photography printing, the next requirements are quite complex than it seems.

Digital cameras are capable of deleting undesirable shots at once. There is no more worry for wasted film for bad shots. Now it is time to transfer or load your images to your PC.

At a subdirectory you will see the photos transferred into digital files commonly in JPEG or RAW format. In the future, this will change. The setting and configuration of your digital camera will greatly affect the output you expect.

The very important aspect to be understood when doing digital photography printing is having knowledge about RESOLUTION. What you see in the computer monitor is not what you will see in the printer. This is overwhelming for beginners. Dot representation or pixels comprise an image.

At minimal requirement, a setting of 300 dpi (dots per inch) will already make a good print. For better prints, resolution must be higher. Expect the computer to slow down, assign a realistic values.

Are you having problems with Spam emails, like thousands of us we receive a few spam emails everyday in our email account. But if you don’t have any spam email protection you are more likely to receive hundreds of spam emails every week, so what can you do about this?

The first thing to do is to get anti-spam software installed on your computer this does help alot and can prevent you from receiving the hundreds of spam emails you don’t want. Most email accounts now have anti-spam software included but there are some when this is not an option, you just have to press the Junk button when you receive junk emails this does reduce them but no where as much as other email account operators. An account like AOL has anti-spam software on your email account so when and if you do receive spam emails they go directly into the Spam box. This is a good thing but you do have to check if frequently as some emails that aren’t spam do make there way into the spam box, the easy thing to do it click on the email and click on the button Not Spam, this tells AOL that it isn’t spam and from then onwards that email address will turn up in your email inbox not your spam box. This is called email filtering and accounts like Hotmail, Yahoo and Google all use this kind of software to help their users get the most out of their email account.

Microsoft Outlook 2003 and 2007 have an automatic spam protection which catches spam and places into a junk email box, this sometimes can catch regular emails too but it defiantly helps you would just need to check the spam box.

Other ways to help you stop unwanted spam getting into your email account inbox is to choose a long email address which is a combination of letters and numbers with punctuation marks. Don’t click on links on spam emails as this will allow more spam to affect you, as well as don’t open spam attachments, don’t reply to spam emails, only give your main email address to your friends and family and don’t post it on your own website or on internet directories, don’t buy products, services or donate to charity via spam emails if more people take this action the less spammers will send, if you use a spam filter report spam that gets to your inbox so the filter can block it as spam next time one is sent and finally if you do have junk spam folders check them regularly as some regular email may get through.

If you take the precautions shown above you have a very good chance of reducing the spam reaching your regular inbox, the more people who do this and everyone doesn’t respond to the spam emails, links and attachments the more likely spammers are to stop sending these spam emails. We all need to fight spam today!!!

More CCNA and CCNP candidates than ever before are putting together their own home labs, and there’s no better way to learn about Cisco technologies than working with the real thing. Getting the routers and switches is just part of putting together a great CCNA / CCNP home lab, though. You’ve got to get the right cables to connect the devices, and this is an important part of your education as well. After all, without the right cables, client networks are going to have a hard time working!

For your Cisco home lab, one important cable is the DTE/DCE cable. These cables have two major uses in a home lab. To practice directly connecting Cisco routers via Serial interfaces (an important CCNA skill), you’ll need to connect them with a DTE/DCE cable. Second, if you plan on having a Cisco router act as a frame relay switch in your lab, you’ll need multiple DTE/DCE cables to do so. (Visit my website’s Home Lab Help section for a sample Frame Relay switch configuration.)

If you have multiple switches in your lab, that’s great, because you’ll be able to get a lot of spanning tree protocol (STP) work in as well as creating Etherchannels. To connect your switches, you’ll need crossover cables.

You’ll need some straight-through cables as well to connect your routers to the switches.

Finally, if you’re lucky enough to have an access server as part of your lab, you’ll need an octal cable to connect your AS to the other routers and switches in your lab. The octal cable has one large connector on one end and eight numbered RJ-45 connectors on the other end. The large connector should be attached to the async port on your AS, and the numbered RJ-45 connectors will be connected to the console ports on your other routers and switches.

Choosing and connecting the right cables for your Cisco CCNA / CCNP home lab is a great learning experience, and it’s also an important part of your Cisco education. After all, all great networks and home labs all begin at Layer One of the OSI model!

Think paid video game testing is a myth? Well, think again. Believe it or not, video game testers get paid extremely well to test the newest and most technologically advanced games. Many of them even get to do so from the comfort of their own home, if you can believe that.

“Do all of these game testers have college degrees from established schools?” Nope. Most of them started game testing right out of high school, and they did so just by getting out there and taking it one step at a time. If you’d like to get started in video gaming testing, read and follow the simple steps below.

Step One: Know That Being a Video Game Tester is A Career, Not A Hobby

If you want to be a professional video game tester, you have to realize that it isn’t a weekend hobby that you can do whenever your in the mood. You will be required to work and meet deadlines set by your employer. Although you may be working from home, you are still required to do your job in a professional manner. If you conduct yourself professionally and treat video game testing like an actual job instead of just a fantasy where you get to do what you please, you will be much more successful with your game testing career.

Step Two: If You Want To Be a Game Tester, You Have To Get Yourself Out There

The simple fact in the matter is that game companies do not actively list “video game tester job” openings in the paper. If they did, they would be swamped by would-be testers who don’t know the first thing about testing. So, instead of merely glancing at the paper from time to time, actually head to the companies and developers and apply for a testing job.

When you apply for a job, don’t be ashamed to brag about your expertise with video games. However, be sure that all bragging is done in a professional manner; otherwise, the interviewer might be turned off. In short, just do whatever you can to convince them that you would be a great addition to their video game tester “roster”.

If there is one thing to remember in this industry, it’s this; Experience is Everything!

Step Three: Video Game Tester Jobs Must Be Completed As Specified

Any instructions given to you by your employer, in this case a game developer, must be followed to the letter. Make sure you know precisely what information the developers want, as well as any feedback that they require.

Anything you write down or report on must be clearly legible and easily understood. The developers/programmers rely on your reports to find and fix bugs & glitches; so if your writing looks like chicken scratch and your grammar is similar to the grammar of a non-English speaking immigrant, you probably won’t last long as a game tester.

Whatever the company asks of you, do it and don’t ask too many questions. The more compliant you are and the more you work, the more video game tester jobs they will ultimately hand you. Also, it is imperative that you meet all specified deadlines; so, be sure to send your work in on time, every time.

Step 4: Don’t Stop After One Video Game Tester Job, Keep Going!

Once you get and complete your first video game testing job, don’t sit around and stare at your check thinking “Wow, I did it”. Instead, get right back out there and apply for more testing jobs.

The company you did the job for, if satisfied with your reports, will probably offer you another testing job right after that one. If they don’t, well, you could always use them as a reference for your next and future video game testing jobs.

Remember, you have already landed and completed your first game testing job; so, the hard part is pretty much over. Now, all you have to do is rinse and repeat and you will be on your way to a very successful video game tester career.

Many Americans have decided to become more energy independent, and want to play a part in avoiding a very foreseeable energy crisis. They’ve decided to go solar. Creating a solar powered home is an endeavor that requires an initial investment, but the costs are being lowered everyday. Solar power provides long term benefits. Not just for the home owner, but the environment too.

Now that solar power is more efficient, you can reduce or even eliminate your electric bill, increase your home’s value and contribute to a cleaner environment, all at the same time. It’s a great time to join the move to renewable energy resources, and the perfect time to take advantage of the generous government and local utility financial incentives that can cut thousands of dollars off the price. And now that solar power is becoming even more main stream, it is growing in accessibility. Manufacturers of solar powered products have realized the potential for a solar age, and are creating new options for those who are considering a solar powered lifestyle. If you are ready to step into the solar age, you are probably wondering how and where to begin. Below is a list of ways to make your home a solar one.

Solar Attic Fans- Solar attic fans are a great example of a simple way to make your home more energy efficient without spending a lot of money. The need for air conditioning is reduced by venting hot air out of your attic. Installing a solar attic fan may also increase the life of your roof materials by keeping them at a lower temperature which also reduces moisture buildup in your attic. This prevents mold and rot in your home, and can also reduce allergens and pollution.

Solar Heating- Solar heating systems are composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat to its point of usage, and a reservoir for heat storage. The systems may be used to heat domestic hot water, swimming pool water, or for space heating. If you live in the southern half of the United States or in an equally sunny area you could potentially save between 50% and 80% on your water heating by implementing a solar hot water heater. The initial cost is hefty, but depending on how you use it, the system may pay for itself in as little as five years. The return is greater when you factor in rebates and incentives offered by states and local governments.

Solar Pumps- Depending on where you live, especially in remote areas, the cost of traditional water piping may be exorbitant. Unless you install a solar water pump. A solar power panel collects solar energy and powers a battery which can keep a consistent and plentiful water supply.

Solar Paneling-The most obvious way to break in to the solar age is to install solar panel cells on your roof. Solar cells, also known as PV cells, or Photovoltaics, come in many sizes, colors, and performance characteristics, made to fit a variety of homes and lifestyles. Another important factor to consider is that when PV panels are used in conjunction with energy efficient appliances, not as many panels may be needed to power your home! Large scale home improvement stores, as well as smaller, independent energy groups, offer installation. But if you are a savvy do-it-yourselfer, you may decide to undertake the project on your own!

But don’t bust out the screwdriver just yet. Whether you do it yourself, or hire someone to do it for you, there are a couple of technicalities to be seen to before solarizing your home. Such as building permits. In order to legally install renewable energy sources in your home, you must contact your city or county building permit agency to obtain permission. You will be able to learn about requirements specific to your neighborhood. Don’t forget about property and sales taxes. Depending on what state you live in, you may or may not be exempt from these when it comes to the purchase of your renewable energy system.

Although it is not difficult to keep up your solar systems, frequency of replacement should be considered. Solar thermal systems need valves replaced every 3-5 years and storage tanks replaced every 10 years. Luckily, solar PV systems typically do not require maintenance, other than a yearly cleaning of the solar panels. PV panel life is typically 25 years.

As a CCNA or CCNP, one thing you’ve got to get used to is that change is constant. Cisco regularly issues new IOS versions, not to mention the many different kinds of hardware they produce! While it’s always nice to have “the latest and the greatest” when it comes to routers, switches, firewalls, etc., we have to be prepared for the fact that not all our clients are going to have that latest and greatest!

For instance, there are still quite a few Catalyst 5000 switches out there humming away, and if you’re used to working on IOS-driven switches like the 2950, the same command can have dramatically different results.

Let’s say you’re going to examine the spanning tree protocol (STP) setup of a new client. You’re used to working with newer 2950 switches, and you’ve always run show span on those switches to display spanning-tree information. Then, you run show span on a Catalyst 5000 - and something like this shows:

switch (enable) show span

Destination : Port 6/1

Admin Source : Port 6/2

Oper Source : Port 6/2

Direction : transmit/receive

Incoming Packets: disabled

Learning : enabled

Multicast : enabled

Filter : -

Status : active

Total local span sessions: 1

What’s going on here?

The command show span on a 5000 will not show spanning tree stats - instead, what you’re going to see are statistics relating to Switched Port ANalyzer (SPAN). Surprise!

Consider an example where you’re used to running show span on 5000 switches to see SPAN information. When you run that on a 2950, you know now what you’re going to get - spanning tree information! On a 2950, you’ll need to run show monitor session, followed by the SPAN session number.

SW1#show monitor session 1

Session 1

———

Type : Local Session

Source Ports :

Both : Fa0/1

Destination Ports : Fa0/2

Encapsulation : Native

Ingress: Disabled

As a CCNA and CCNP, this is one of those things you just have to get used to. Commands are going to be different, sometimes radically so, between models. That’s why you need to be adept with both IOS Help and Cisco’s online documentation site. IOS Help is easy, but the online doc site take a little getting used to. Once you learn how to navigate that site, a world of Cisco knowledge is at your fingertips.

Besides, when you sit for the CCIE lab exam, that will be the only friend you have! And a valuable friend it can be - you’re just going to have to trust me on that one.

* What is an electron microscope?

Invented by a German physicist named Ernst Ruska, electron microscopes are mostly used in archaeology, medicine, and geology to look at surfaces or layers of objecs. Rather than using light, electron microscopes use electrons to produce images. They have high resolution and can magnify in small detail.

* What is a compound microscope?

Used mostly in biology, compound microscopes have two or more double convex lenses. They produce a 2-D slice image of an object, yet can attain a high enough magnification to see a hair strand. Unfortunately, they do not have excellent resolution, so the image may be blurred. On the other hand, stereoscopic microscopes, as the name implies, provide a 3-D picture of bisected items, like muscle tissue or an organ.

Compound microscopes are the simplest type of microscope and are found in many classrooms. Compound microscopes are operated entirely by hand and use ordinary ambient light from the sun or light bulb. The specimen is mounted between two glass slides, and the microscope system uses a simple series of magnifying lenses and mirrors to bring the image to the eyepiece, much like a telescope.

* What is a stereo microscope?

While a compound microscope provides a 3-D picture, a stereo microscope provides a 3-D picture of bisected items such as muscle tissue or organs. A stereo microscope is a lower-powered microscope with low magnification. Although you cannot make out separate cells, it does allow for closer viewing of the non-microscopic world.

This microscope makes tiny objects gigantic and is sometimes called a dissecting microscope. Inexpensive models of stereo microscopes are available for schools and students. The stereo microscope has a zoom as well as improved optics and lighting and can be used for professional purposes.

* What is a confocal microscope?

A confocal microscope is a step down from those above. It uses a laser beam to illuminate a specimen. Then, the image is digitally enhanced and viewed on a computer monitor. The specimen is often dyed a bright color for a more contrasting image. Unlike compound microscopes, confocal microscopes are controlled automatically with motorized mirrors that help with auto-focus.

* What is a digital microscope?

Made up of a digital camera unit and a controller, a digital microscope is fairly new to microscopy. It utilizes USB technology to produce live images viewable on a computer monitor. A high pixel color CCD and light are built into the camera unit. It makes use of inverted lens design and has a rotatable lamp. The controller has various functions such as display, record, measurement, etc. The digital microscope allows for quick observation, analysis and data processing without much preparation.