General – Page 13 – Paul's Tech Talk

A few facts about scripting language and Why you need to know about Scripting

PaulSeptember 15, 2021

Is scripting being used in automation?

Scripting can be a powerful tool for anything in the industry from building cars to even creating orders to ship. Each one has a specific reason to be there, in all there are many reason why it makes it easier for the user to have scripting. I know in my life, scripting can be used in many different reason. For one you could have a PowerShell script to automate a process to wake the daemon or make a service synchronize a service. In all even in the Microsoft world there are services that need to be restarted or maybe just synched due to the daemon not keeping up. Having seen this and having to do it from time to time or even create a script to run every hour to keep the what ever might need to be synchronized up to date. Is that something hard to do or easy, the real questions you should be asking yourself is can you really do it and not make any mistakes? After all, we are human and bound to make a mistake or two. So we have to at least consider how any script will affect us in the long run. Scripting can definitely make certain tasks so much easier when something arises that needs to be done to a server or even process.

What are the options for a script?

Before we begin the options we have to at least consider why scripts are so vastly different from applications. The short answer is that they can’t do nearly the things applications can because they aren’t integrated into the kernel or there might be processes that the script can’t do without SU permissions and programs can have SU permissions and run in the background without any need for verification from the user. Now let’s at least talk about the options for what a script be used for or how we should at least consider it to be used. First and foremost is to restart a process, and this one is the most common I have seen in the past. I used to have to restart the Xorg services or drivers due to how the applications caused it to crash for one reason or another in Linux. This was definitely when the drivers for Nvidia and AMD were still relatively new to the Linux environment. It would on occasion need to be restarted and people started to have script to use to do that so they didn’t have to write the same codes down each time to restart the service. This was truly cutting edge for Linux to be able to use a script to restart the graphics drivers and allow the user to continue to use their computer. Another good option for tasks that can be scripted is downloading files that you might use for Windows and have them update with newest version as they are coming. You could even create a script to download all the Windows Updates on Linux just like you can on Windows to be able to install them offline if the need arises.

Scripts are just Amazing!

As you can see, I really do love to use scripts and have in the past come up with scripts that can be used for the people who use Linux or might need a script for a certain situation. Each person can come up with some truly amazing scripts to share with others to help make working in the Linux environment even more better for everyone. Do you agree or disagree? Do you have a favorite script you want to share with others? why not leave a comment and let people know your script and tell them what OS it can be used on. I am going to link a few good useful bash scripts to let you explore even more.

How to install Notepad++ on Linux Mint

PaulSeptember 13, 2021

Using Wine

I like the Windows version of Notepad++ so I thought I would at least share with you my current shell script, I usually call it install_notepad++.sh but you can call it anything you would like to use for the shell script. If you want to understand shell scripting on my site, please visit my other pages. You’ll need to make sure to allow execution of the shell script before you can use it.

install_notepad++.sh

echo y|sudo apt-get install wine-stable echo y|sudo apt-get install winehq-stable xdg-open https://notepad-plus-plus.org Echo "What's the current Version of notepad-plus-plus? (example Current version 7.9.2)" |Read Version_number wget https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/download/v$Version_number/npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe wine npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe echo y|rm npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe

You can easily remove

Echo "What's the current Version of notepad-plus-plus? (example Current version 7.9.2)" |Read Version_number

if you want to use the shell without that could, You can add:

"$1" = $Version_number in the first line of the shell script. echo y|sudo apt-get install wine-stable echo y|sudo apt-get install winehq-stable xdg-open https://notepad-plus-plus.org Echo "What's the current Version of notepad-plus-plus? (example Current version 7.9.2)" |Read Version_number wget https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/releases/download/v$Version_number/npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe wine npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe echo y|rm npp.$Version_number.Installer.exe

then to use the shell script you can type:
install_notepad++.sh (insert the version numbers you are wanting to use)

Once you launch this, notepad++ will be installed. It will be under the Wine menu but can be launched like any other Linux GUI program.

Notepadqq

The next one is notpadqq which is a really good version of notepad++ but I like the look for Notepad++ better and can be used just like everything else. To install notepadqq
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:notepadqq-team/notepadqq sudo apt-get update |sudo apt-get install notepadqq

Then it will be installed in the Linux. You can also create a shell also or just copy and paste this one into the terminal. Each one of these are really useful with programming and writing scripts of many different programs.

What is your favorite program in Linux to edit or code with and why? why not leave a comment and tell people what you’re favorite editor is.

Getting the interview and how I will be ready for those questions

PaulSeptember 10, 2021

Getting that interview

I talked about the job market and how that will be more difficult to find a job. That seems to be changing for me. If you didn’t read my post about Tuesday’s call, I will go back and say it was quite a surprise to get a call 30 mins after I applied a a technical support specialist job. Fast forward two days, they call me and setup an interview time for Next Day. This would be the Thursday after the call on Tuesday and my Interview is Friday. So that’s been my week this week. I am not sure what to think, but I thought it would be a good idea to at least talk about how to know what questions they might ask me or what even if I should have questions to ask them.

Questions and Answers

Some of the questions I saw and looked over came from Indeed and other hiring sites but I compressed them into a small subset of questions and you can go back and see what they might want to ask you in your interview if you ever have one for a technical support specialist. Although this won’t be exactly what they might ask you but you should at least be somewhat prepared for the questions they ask you and have a few good answers waiting to give back to them. I am sure what you do is going to be a little bit different from company to company but you should at least have a few good answers ready.

What made you get into technical support?
What is your troubleshooting process? (see some of how I troubleshoot motherboards post issues)
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Why are you interested in Technical Support?
Why should we hire you?
What do you feel your strong Points are?
What do you feel your week points are?
What’s your strength
Why do you want to work here?
Why did you apply to our company?

These are just a few of the questions that they might ask you for a technical support job. I’ve went through as many sites as I could just to see what they might ask you but every site including Glassdoor has many different questions that might be relevant or not. No matter how well we prepare, there will be that questions that might be a surprise to you and you should approach it with the best intentions. Always remember that you are there for a reason.

Tell me about yourself?

That’s either where it begins or it ends depending on the interviewers point or if they need to know a lot about you. The one thing I can tell you and know it works is being yourself and always smiling. If they are going to hire you, that because they see potential in you. That’s pretty much how I see it. They are looking for the ideal employee but in life we rarely find that perfect person to fit the job description. This is why you should always apply for jobs that might not seem like your a good fit. You’ll know when they call you, take the ques from how they communicate with you. Are they trying to be helpful? are they trying to learn more about you? are they open to your questions? Sure you’ll have questions and that is a good sign that you want to know more about the company. Also do some research on the company and be prepared to know more about it and that way you could be ready for those types of questions.

As you can see it is a whole new world for people to hire employees but most of the time it’s just takes a little bit of effort to do the job right and nothing we say or do will ever make the greatest impact that knowing we are making a difference each and every day in someone’s life. What’s your experience been with interviews? How’d that go for you? why not leave a comment and talk about it with others who might want to know what to expect.

How to get that phone call for a potential computer technician job

PaulSeptember 8, 2021

How did I get a call for a Technical Support Specialist position?

I’ll tell you what I know and It might seem down right strange but it happened. I applied to a company on Tuesday, the day after labor day. Since this was labor day weekend, most places don’t work on Monday. This job was put up on the local Indeed.com job boards, and they just put it up that morning. I applied for the job and I kid you not, they called me like 30 minutes after I applied. He even said I was the first one to apply. We Talked for like 10 to 20 minutes and it seems really promising, and he said He’ll get back with my later on this week for a possible in person interview. So How did I do it? What’s the secret? I am sure people are curious to know what did I do to get him to pick up that phone to call me.

Cover Letters

The first thing I did was construct a cover letter, telling the potential employer why I was a good match for the job and give examples to that extent. Indeed even has an example of a good cover letter to use as a template. I did use that to at least get ideas on how to make my own cover letter, you can even find some good sample cover on the web for IT support. Draw on what you have done, or what you have learned in the past to show how you can be a valuable employee to the company that you are applying to.

Have Relevant work experience

I don’t say this lightly, if you are going to try to go into technical support, then you will most likely have to something to show that you have experience working on computers or know how a computer works. I’ve heard time and time again people applying to a job and not having the experience to back up the job. They aren’t going to make you have all the requirements but they will want you to have some experience with customer service and even computers to do the job they might be looking for. This guy I talked with today he’s had people who would apply and only put down they work for burger king or some other fast food restaurant and not show they know anything about technical support for the job they are looking to hire. This might be a reason why they didn’t call back or consider your application.

Be Honest on your Resume

Some people try to embellish there job skills but a hiring manager will know when they talk to you that you might not have the experience they are looking for. You might not even get that job that you wanted because you wasn’t completely truthful on your resume. I’m not saying it will stop you from getting that job or it might not even matter in the long run, it however will be hurdle if the hiring manager suspects you weren’t completely truthful on your application or resume. So why not start off on the right foot and just be honest with them in the application process.

These are just a few things you can do to help get you that job you are looking for. I’m sure these are nothing new to some of you but I thought I would at least talk about it as I go through the hurdles of getting hired and trying to find a job that I have always wanted to do. It can be difficult to find that job and this might just help someone out that is looking into the job field.

How to prepare for Comptia A+ certification exam

PaulSeptember 6, 2021

Can You do it?

This is probably the first time you’ve come to this class and you’ve seen what is going to be like. You sweating and worried you’re going to not get your certification. This is what most of you are thinking at least to a point. I can see those blank faces and those stares. CompTIA isn’t going to be easy, in fact, most you will probably have to do it at least twice to get the certification. I am sure it isn’t going to be fun, and we will see people get sick over trying to pass the certification. Just like everything else, if it was easy there would be so many more people doing the jobs that we wanted. You’ve seen the economy and the need for CompTIA A+ certification, if you haven’t go do some basic research or looking for your self what field you will be going into and what you are trying to accomplish in your academic studies. Is it for the dream job, or is it just because you want to be able to talk about how good you are. If you’re that guy, you might want to learn to be more humble and know that it’s not all about the certifications. Now for the rest of US that are looking for a serious career in IT and having that CompTIA A+ certification, you don’t know there are resources out on the web to help you to even make sure you are even ready to take the final test to get that A+ that you’ve been wanting since you started this journey.

CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association)

When it comes to understanding technology, we’ve been doing it forever it might seem. It however is still relatively new area that has developed over the years. I can remember a time when just having a computer was a big deal. I can even remember a time when having a TV was like the biggest thing in the house. You’d go to work and say, Yea we watch “So and so” and be able to brag about having that TV to your coworkers. Boy am I showing my age. There are people who have seen students pass and even fail in courses just like this and I don’t want anyone to fail the exam. This is where I am going to impart to you my wisdom, ack there’s my age again. I’ve seen a lot and that might be saying a lot but this isn’t going to be as difficult as you are thinking or even worrying. If you’ve seen the video an Core 1 Test Objectives Video and not at least thought about what you will do to prepare for this exam, Then your either over sure of yourself or not here to take the exam, either way this is probably not going to phase you.

Web Resources

Now what can you do to prepare for this exam? This is probably what you are thinking or wanting to at least know if you haven’t already thought about it. Here is what I am going to show you some great ways to get ready for the exam. This isn’t a complete list and it by far isn’t going to be anything that I haven’t at least looked at and even thought about doing. It however will probably make it so much easier for the time when you are going to want to take the test again or maybe it will help you get that certification the first time around. If you really try, you might be see a certification in your hand by the end of all this.

Check out the CompTIA Website (https://www.comptia.org/home) — CompTIA have some great pretest exams and will help you know where you might need to work on even more to pass the exam.
IT Pro TV (https://www.itpro.tv/) — If you haven’t checked out this website, you really should. They have some great free videos to help you prepare to take the exam. If you are wanting to go farther than that, this this is a great resource to keep you getting those certifications.
Professor Messer Free Videos on the A+ Certifications

Here are some sites Practice test exams for the CompTIA A+:

These are few sites that I know from just doing my research in this area and being that I like to listen to podcasts. I’m always listening to a lot of InfoSec and there’s an exam for that also. Either way, if you’re truly serious about passing the exam, you’d be nuts not to at least look at these places and search even more for other resources that might even help you even more. Just remember, you’re not in this alone. You’ve got your friends, family, and even teachers rooting for you to pass this course and other courses. That’s what they are here for to help you get the education that you need to get that job you are wanting or dreamed about. Even I have seen teachers help those who are struggling, just to see them pass the course. All the teachers here are available to help you if you just remember to ask for the help, if you ask them. Happy Monday and hope every succeeds in the field you are looking to get into.