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Friday, January 25, 2008

Hebrew 13:5

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)


"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber strands are typically bundled within a cable. The strands can be placed in a "tight" or "loose" buffer tube array. The loose buffer tube array is the most commonly deployed for outside plant applications. Tight buffered cable is generally used within a building for riser and horizontal cable. Tight buffer cable is also used for an "indoor/outdoor" application. This cable is constructed with a weather/moisture resistant cable sheath, and is generally used to get from a splice box located within several hundred feet of a building utility entrance, and must be run several hundred feet within a building to the main fiber distribution point. If the main fiber distribution point is less than 100 feet from the building entrance, there may be no advantage to using the indoor/outdoor cable.

Outside plant cable is constructed to withstand immersion in water, will resist exposure to ultraviolet rays, and is protected from rodents and birds.

Fiber strands are placed in a large (relatively) diameter tube and allowed to "float" with considerable movement. As the fiber cable is pulled into place (in conduit, directly buried, or placed on a pole) the strands are not subjected to the forces of the pulling tension. The strands therefore sustain minimal damage or distortion from stretching.

Fiber cables are (as are all communications cables) manufactured based on their intended use. Each cable will have a standard set of markings indicating its primary use, the name of the manufacturer a National Electrical Code rating and a UL approval code, the number of fibers contained within the cable, the outside diameter of the cable, and the manufacturer's product nomenclature. All of these items should be checked when the cable is delivered to a storage area and then at the job-site before the cable is installed.




Fiber Cable Color Identification Chart

Buffer Tube / Fiber Strand Number Color

1 Blue

2 Orange

3 Green

4 Brown

5 Slate

6 White

7 Red

8 Black

9 Yellow

10 Violet

11 Rose

12 Aqua

13 Blue/Black Tracer

14 Orange/Black Tracer

15 Green/Black Tracer

16 Brown/Black Tracer

17 Slate/Black Tracer

18 White/Black Tracer

19 Red/Black Tracer

20 Black/Yellow Tracer

21 Yellow/Black Tracer

22 Violet/Black Tracer

23 Rose/Black Tracer

24 Aqua/Black Tracer

Thursday, January 24, 2008

File Sharing in MAC OS X

Prepare to Share

Connect computers to each other or to Internet

To share between computers that are at the same location, connect them to an Ethernet network or an AirPort network. For more information, see technical document 106658: "Creating a Small Ethernet Network"

You may also share over the Internet. A single computer using any kind of modem to connect to the Internet can share files, but the "Connecting between remote networks" section below applies.

Computers need IP addresses

If you can connect to the Internet, then your computer already has an IP address that is valid for your network. But if your computer does not have a valid IP address, which you can check in the Network pane of System Preferences, see technical document 106659: "Mac OS: How to Get an IP Address for Connecting to the Internet"

Connecting to the Internet and a local network (or LAN) at the same time

In most cases, users of institutional networks and home broadband will be advised to have their networks set up in a way that makes this goal effortless. Home users who don't have some type of routing device should see How to Connect to the Internet and Share Files Locally at the Same Time.

File Sharing with other Apple operating systems

This article concentrates only on File Sharing for Mac OS X. When properly set up, various Apple operating systems (such as Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, and AppleShare IP) can connect with each other. Be aware that the sharing service has other names, such as AppleShare and Apple File Protocol (AFP). When you connect to any of them, their behavior is superficially the same. If you use AppleTalk, review the AppleTalk issues section below.

Sharing with non-Apple operating systems

This article describes the most simple form of sharing available to Macintosh users (AppleShare). Other methods are available for communicating with other operating systems. See technical documents:

106660: "Mac OS X: Sharing With Non-Apple Operating Systems"
19652: "Macintosh: Networking With a Windows PC"

Connecting between remote networks

Mac OS X can share over the Internet (TCP/IP), as can Mac OS 9 and AppleShare IP. This allows Macintosh computers in remote locations to share files with any type of Internet connection. For more information, see technical document 106661: "Mac OS: Sharing Between Remote Networks, Sharing Over the Internet"

All Public folders are shared. Only Public folders are shared.

See technical document 106662: "Mac OS X: Only Public Folders Are Shared"

File Sharing is for up to 10 users

Up to 10 users may connect to File Sharing simultaneously. If you need to connect more users at once, you should upgrade to Unlimited-Client version of Mac OS X Server (http://www.apple.com/server/).


II. Start Sharing

1. Place files to share in your Public folder.
2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu. See Note 1.
3. Click the Network icon.
4. Choose the port you are going to share on (Built-in Ethernet or AirPort) from the Show pop-up menu. See Note 2.
5. Click the AppleTalk tab.
6. Click the checkbox to select Make AppleTalk Active.
7. Click Apply Now.
8. Click the Show All button in the upper left corner of the window.
9. Click the Sharing icon.
10. In the Computer Name field, type the name you wish to appear on the network for your computer. See Note 3.
11. Click Start in the File Sharing section. For Mac OS X 10.2 and later, select Personal File Sharing.


Repeat this process on any other Mac OS X computer that you wish to receive File Sharing connections.

Notes:

1. Users sharing between remote locations skip steps 3 to 8. Users of dial-up must connect before step 11.
2. Prior to Mac OS X 10.1, the Show menu was named "Configure."
3. If you change your Computer Name in the future, you must stop and restart File Sharing for the name change to take effect.

Managing privileges for shared data

Optionally, you can change the access privileges for items in your Public folder.

To change privileges for your entire Public folder:

1. Select your Public folder in a Finder window.
2. Choose Get Info (or Show Info) from the File menu.
3. Set the Show pop-up menu to Privileges.
4. You may now adjust user access privileges for the folder.


You can use the same steps for items in the Public folder.

III. Connect to a Sharing computer

How you connect to a Mac OS X computer that is sharing depends on two major factors:

  • the version of Mac OS on the connecting, or "client," computer
  • whether the client is local (on the same network) or remote

The steps you need to follow are found in technical document 107369, "Mac OS: How to Connect to File Sharing or Apple File Services (AFP)".

IV. Troubleshooting

AppleTalk issues

Mac OS 8, Mac OS 9, and Mac OS X 10.1 to 10.3.9 support file sharing (AFP) connections over AppleTalk. However, Mac OS X versions 10.0 to 10.0.4 (more) and 10.4 and later (more) can only connect to AppleShare over TCP/IP.

If you want to connect from versions 10.1 to 10.3.9 to Mac OS 8 sharing (which is AppleTalk only), be sure to enable AppleTalk as described in steps 5 and 6 in Section II, above. Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X can both connect over TCP/IP without AppleTalk, so this step is optional in the absence of Mac OS 8.

Mac OS X 10.4 and later don't support Personal File Sharing (or other AFP) over Appletalk, though by initiating the connection from the opposite direction you could still achieve an IP connection from a Mac OS 8 computer to a sharing Mac OS X computer. The Network preference pane in Mac OS X 10.4 and later still offers the AppleTalk checkbox, but it is for browsing AppleTalk-advertised resources and zones. The subsequent connection must be over TCP/IP.

General troubleshooting steps:

1. First, be sure you have followed the steps in this article correctly and reviewed the topics in Section I.
2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
3. Click Network.
4. Choose the network interface you are using from the Configure pop-up menu.
5. Click the TCP/IP tab.
6. Check to be sure that your computer has an IP address that is valid for your network. If your Configure menu is set to Manually, you also need to ensure that the Router and Subnet Mask entries are correct for your network. If you are not sure, check with the network administrator or Internet service provider.
7. Double check your physical connection: a phone line, Ethernet cable, or AirPort card and antenna. Be sure that what you are using is properly connected. Try swapping cables, or check to see that your AirPort card is properly seated. You can search the Knowledge Base for "AirPort and install." Select the document that matches your computer.
8. For the most reliable AppleTalk connections, Spanning Tree protocol should not be used on the network. See technical document 30922: "Spanning Tree Protocol: AppleTalk Issues".

Friday, January 18, 2008

Strategy

Buy Core Spare Parts

Service Parts Management is the main component of a complete strategic service management process that companies use to ensure that right spare part and resources are at the right place (where the broken part is) at the right time.

Strategic Service Management, SSM, is a new customer commitment-centric business strategy that optimizes a company’s service business processes through a single, integrated view of post-sale service operations, by taking into consideration the planning and forecasting of service parts and resources, and the strategy and management of customer commitments, service partners, and service pricing.

Economic Considerations

Spare parts are sometimes considered uneconomical since:

  • the parts might never be used
  • the parts might not be stored properly
  • the cost of inventory for spare parts on hand
  • the ability to obtain the parts when needed from a remote source, such as a vendor, supplier, parts department, etc.


But without the spare part on hand, a company's customer satisfaction levels could drop if a customer has to wait too long for their item to be fixed. Therefore company's need to plan and align their service parts inventory and workforce resources to achieve optimal customer satisfaction levels with minimal costs.

User Considerations

The user of the mechanical item, which might require the parts, may overlook the economic considerations because:

  • the expense is not the user’s, but the employer’s
  • of a known high rate of failure of certain equipment
  • of delays in getting the part from a vendor or a supply room, resulting in machine outage
  • to have the parts on hand requires less “paperwork” when the parts are suddenly needed
  • of the mental comfort it provides to the user in knowing the parts are on-hand when needed

Cost-Effect Compromise

In many cases, where the mechanical item, is not stationary, a compromise is reached between cost and statistical probability. Some examples:

  • an automobile carries a “donut” tire as a spare part instead of an actual tire.
  • a member of a household buys extra light bulbs since it is probable that one of the lights in the house will eventually burn out and require replacement.
  • a computer user will purchase a ream of computer paper instead of a sheet at a time.
  • a race car team will bring with them to the race track another engine, “just in case.”
Reason for Strategic Service Management

  • Products have become commodities and product-based profit margins have decreased over time therefore companies are looking for new sources of revenue
  • Companies are looking to differentiate themselves from the competition and a best in class service organization can definitely lead to customer loyalty
  • Customers are expecting faster resolution time when they place a service call
  • Asset management responsibility and accountability are shifting from the enduser

enterprise to OEMs and their service provider partners

  • Cost cuts require higher worker productivity
  • a ship carries “spare parts” for its engine in case of breakdown at sea.

Purchase Small Stopgap Upgrades

Common hardware upgrades are installing additional memory (RAM), adding larger hard disks, replacing microprocessor cards or graphics cards, and installing new versions of software, although many other upgrades are often possible as well.

Common software upgrades include changing the version of an operating system, office suite, anti-virus program, or various other tools.

Common firmware upgrades include the updating of the iPod control menus, the XBox 360 dashboard, or the non-volatile flash memory that contains the embedded operating system for consumer electronics.

Software and firmware upgrades are often downloaded from the Internet. Often the download is a patch—it does not contain the new version of the software in its entirety, just the changes that need to be made. Software patches usually aim to improve functionality or solve problems with security. Rushed patches have been known to cause more harm then good and are therefore sometimes regarded with skepticism for a short time after release. Patches are generally free.

A software or firmware upgrade can be major or minor and the release version is increased accordingly. A major upgrade will change the version number, whereas the minor will usually follow with a ".01", ".02", ".03", etc. For example, version 10.03 means that that is the third minor upgrade of version 10. The minor upgrades (or updates) are generally free, but the major versions must be purchased. See also: sidegrade.

An "upgrade" is when you replace a product with a newer version of that same product. When you make an upgrade of the same product from one company to the other, you are making a "competitive upgrade".


Project control systems

Project control is that element of a project that keeps it on-track, on-time, and within budget. Project control begins early in the project with planning and ends late in the project with post-implementation review, having a thorough involvement of each step in the process. Each project should be assessed for the appropriate level of control needed: too much control is too time consuming, too little control is too costly. If control is not implemented correctly, the cost to the business should be clarified in terms of errors, fixes, and additional audit fees. The practices of project control are part of the field of cost engineering.

Control systems are needed for cost, risk, quality, communication, time, change, procurement, and human resources. In addition, auditors should consider how important the projects are to the financial statements, how reliant the stakeholders are on controls, and how many controls exist. Auditors should review the development process and procedures for how they are implemented. The process of development and the quality of the final product may also be assessed if needed or requested. A business may want the auditing firm to be involved throughout the process to catch problems earlier on so that they can be fixed more easily. An auditor can serve as a controls consultant as part of the development team or as an independent auditor as part of an audit.

Businesses sometimes use formal systems development processes. These help assure that systems are developed successfully. A formal process is more effective in creating strong controls, and auditors should review this process to confirm that it is well designed and is followed in practice. A good formal systems development plan outlines:

  • A strategy to align development with the organization’s broader objectives
  • Standards for new systems
  • Project management policies for timing and budgeting
  • Procedures describing the process


Friday, January 11, 2008

Ability to assess needs

To be able to become a good IT manager, you should have the ability to assess the needs of your company, because it is one of your many responsibilities as an IT manager in a company. Having this ability does not matter on what level you are; you just have to develop this kind of ability that will put you in a good position for more responsibility. A good assessment skill can really help you as an IT manager and your company to save thousands of dollars, because there failure of assessing technology means failure of your work as an IT manager which also means useless expense of the company. You should have a good initiative to meet your target and have a profitable expense for the company. It is also important to know the needs of your company to be able to solve the problems. Assessing technology needs plays a major part in helping your career advance, because with this assessing ability you have the edge with other IT managers who have a weak assessment skill. It is your role is to know the real needs of your company especially in technical field as an IT manager. You can easily estimate the worth of the technology with what the company needs. In addition, with this technology the company might achieve their goal or objective. Before going to make an “IT agenda”, it is better to know first the objective and the tangible issues of the company before planning anything, because if you do not know the real issues you might lead to work on the wrong things. If you know what is the goal of the company you can now make a good IT agenda for the company or plans to make the company successful in their line of business.