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Patch ’em if you got ’em!
You probably noticed this morning that yesterday was Patch Tuesday. Microsoft released 22 patches, most of which addressed issues in the OS but the last of them was for Office Visio 2003 SP3. Make sure that if you have automatic patching disabled that you take the time to approve all of your patches manually! -M
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The Genesis of my Career as an IT Consultant and Trainer
I can’t believe it has been eight years… I wrote this article for TechRepublic while I was still working for IGS Security in Montreal. These articles are the genesis of my career as a computer consultant and IT Trainer and Presenter. The first article tells of how and why I began to transition from a…
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Keep Your Word, Be a Hero.
Last night I forgot to go out and buy soy milk for the baby. We had half a container left and it wasn’t a NOW NOW NOW emergency, but I still told Theresa I would, and I forgot. So this morning without being bidden I got out of bed a few minutes early, and while…
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Zero Day: A Cyber Thriller by a Cyber Master!
If you don’t know that the Microsoft Springboard party is always THE party to attend at TechEd, then you just haven’t been paying attention. This year Stephen Rose tipped me off that Mark Russinovich would be signing copies of his book for the first 50 people who came to our booth to pick up their…
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A New Stage in my Life
It didn’t start as I had expected it eventually would. A week ago I was driving and I had the strangest sensation… I would look down at the dashboard periodically and when I looked up I felt as if I was going to lose consciousness. Of course when you are driving down the highway with…
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A Brief History of how Microsoft (and others) Changed the World… Part 1.
In October of last year I pitched an idea to the editor of Backbone Magazine for an article about how Microsoft changed the world. We were a month shy of the 25th anniversary of Microsoft Windows, and I thought it would be a fitting and timely piece. He asked me to write a short piece…
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I am You, You are Me.
A couple of months ago I was in the cafeteria at Microsoft and I came up with an idea for a blog article, which I then gave to Rick Claus for the IT Pro Connection. It was originally titled ‘I am You, You are Me.’ He added the rest of the title, but I didn’t…
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Gartner agrees with me… Hyper-V is for real!
In September Microsoft Canada contracted me as a Virtual Partner Technology Advisor, tasking me with evangelizing Microsoft virtualization solutions. One of the reasons I was such a good fit for the role is that I am very familiar with both Microsoft’s and VMware’s server virtualization solutions – I teach and consult on both platforms. I…
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Office 365–Complex or Options?
Last week Microsoft officially launched its cloud-based infrastructure offering, Office 365. As a virtual insider I have been using this solution for the past six months for my IT consulting firm, and frankly had forgotten that it was a beta offering. That is because while the packaging may be new, all of the applications –…
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Do you have your VirtCerts?
Ok I made the term VirtCert up, and frankly I am reasonably hopeful that it doesn’t catch on. However I know the certifications are, and to help you along, Microsoft is giving you some really huge incentives! As you know from reading this blog there are three Microsoft certifications around virtualization: MCTS: Windows Server 2008,…
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It was Twenty Years Ago Today!
Ok, well it wasn’t, but I had the Beatles running through my head. It is amazing what can remind you of the oddest things from the past… In June, 1988 I was finishing Grade 10 and my last computer course on the Apple //e was behind me. I had made the decision to sell my…
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Uninstall the VMM Agent from Server Core
I found myself with a weird problem this morning. Most of the time I manage my virtualization environment with System Center Virtual Machine Manager. However because of a client project I have re-implemented System Center Essentials 2010, which has most of the VMM components that I use integrated into it. In order to add virtualization…
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A Brief Comparison of Features Between VMware and Hyper-V (Guest Blogger)
A few months ago Chris Childerhose, a consultant and MCITP with a local Microsoft Partner, impressed me when the afternoon of Day 5 of my class on Windows Server Virtualization (10215A) he sat the exam 70-659 and scored a perfect 1000. He has since gone on to pass the remaining exams to earn the certification…
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Five GREAT tips to remember when taking certification exams
I just read a blog article by Christopher Harrison, the Head Geek at GeekTrainer. He points out five key things to remember when sitting certification exams. Read them, know them, live them! Then pass your exam! –M http://blog.geektrainer.com/2011/06/taking-certification-exams.html
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Windows MultiPoint Server 2011: The future of the classroom and so much more!
One of the things I love about coming to events like TechEd is that I am able to see and learn about new products, as well as meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. On the second day of TechEd 2011 I had the opportunity to do all three simultaneously! I interviewed Dean Paron…
The World According to Mitch
The day to day ramblings of an IT Professional (and so much more…)
The World According to Mitch 