Category: General

Why most computer technicians are all over the place.

Paul
Miniature Computer Technicians

Too many things and to few technicians

This is really the most common problem.   If you haven’t been watching there seems to be a labor shortage, that means most jobs aren’t getting filled even in the really tech related market.  I can pretty much say with some certainty, businesses are going to be picky who they hire and why they will not hire others.   They might have a goal, or want to fill a position with the best possible candidate.   I am sure most of the businesses are trying to fill the positions but people have thought long and hard and wanting to be appreciated.   This is going to not stop the labor shortages anytime soon.   You can expect that the shortage to last for some time in the future as people rethink what they want to do and how to get that dream job.   It will make it harder on the technology industry also because they will always be short handed until this levels off and the work load gets back to normal.

Most technicians are probably ADD(Attention Deficient Disorder)

Yes, you’ve probably guessed right.   We tend to be more all over the place due to to have the attention span that is normal with working on computer.   There are some that are way better at hiding it or maybe they don’t have it in the first place, but I’m willing to bet at least half do have some form of this disorder.   It’s got to be because it’s why we got into the computer field.   We enjoy seeing what might be around the  corner or what will a customer bring into a computer repair shop.   That’s something we have a lot of experience with is seeing how broken the system is due to inexperience people.

Most technicians have high level of intelligence


This could be bad or good depending on how you see it but I’ve found this to be true with most technicians.  If you seen the Big Bang Theory and seen how Sheldon reacts that is kind of what a technician might do.   Technicians sometimes don’t have those filters you would expect them to do have but they are very friendly.   I am sure if you think about Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory, you might see some of what I am talk about.

Technician’s are not socials sometimes

It might not seem like but sometimes I tend to stay around people they know or maybe even be around people that know about computers.  I know myself, I rarely go to events that isn’t interesting.   If it interests me we can talk about it for days but if it isn’t that interesting, I would probably fall asleep.   This is where computers for me at least brought me into the field of being a technician.

I know this is a short post but I thought maybe some of you would like to know what a technician might be or how he might react.  Do you have suggestions on why a technician might be all over the place or even why he acts the way he does.   Why Not leave a comment and tell your story or tell me what you know.

Are discussion boards really that Effective in Colleges?

Paul

Productivity: Adjusting a Personal Kanban for Unexpected Work

What are discussion boards?

Discussion boards are what teachers seem to rely on more and more to help keep the discussion going between students, but there seems to be no real discussion between student and teacher in these discussion boards.  I’ve been going to an local college to get my local certifications for a better job.   I’ve been doing these classes for several months now and still I get the idea that most instructors seem to want to use with their students in an online learning way.   I am sure the instructors are trying to use them good.  I’ve seen some instructors who did that and are really good at wanting to create a good discussion about a really good topic but that just seems to be far and in between for others.

Are discussion boards helpful?

This is the real question for some people because we have those students who really just don’t know how to use discussion boards.   We have the introverts and extraverts and those who are a little bit of both but I’ve found something really interesting with at least me.  I have always have been an introvert and I’ve been thriving on these boards.   I guess the problem with students is the real fact that they don’t know how to use the boards properly or have that same passion that I do with words.   The real problem is that it just really creates more work for students and I really don’t know if it is helping or just making busy work for students.   It could even be a waste of time for some students because they might know more than most about a subject and it could very well potentially scare the new students from making any comments on the discussion boards.

Do students expect anything from Discussion boards?

I have always wondered what students really expect from discussions boards.  The expectations from instructors can be a lot for new students and those who have never done any blogging or writing in their life.   This can create a real challenge for them, I suspect because they aren’t this type of a learner but more of a visual learner.   It may even be a way to check on students to make sure they maybe learning on their online classes.   I can’t really know why instructors expect so much from students but I can’t really blame them for it.

Do discussion boards look for plagiarism?

Sometimes I wonder if they are really checking for plagiarism.   I’m not really sure what it is checking for or if it actually does check for it because I’ve copied stuff from the discussion board onto my website because I thought I would share it with the world also.   I haven’t seen anything from my teachers saying I shouldn’t be copying to my website but who knows.   I am just saying if they are, the teachers haven’t said a word to me.   It could be that since I wrote the articles that I am not plagiarizing my own writings.   I can only guess.

What are the best practices of Discussion boards?

This is something that I am very sure of at least when it comes to me using the discussions boards on canvas .  People need to be considerate of other people’s discussions.  I haven’t had any problems with any students on the discussion boards but I am sure it has happened to someone.   I am also sure the teachers will step in and make sure the students don’t do that but you shouldn’t be that guy.  The are some other etiquettes that you should consider when posting to a discussion board.  Here’s a few other things to consider when posting.  Some things you should say in a reply are:

  • Don’t be that guy that just says “Hey good post” or “That’s an awesome post”
  • Make the reply something that you would say in person.
  • Find something that makes you change your thoughts on the subject
  • Consider if the person doesn’t know much about discussion boards
  • encourage the writer/reader by saying something good about the post.

More about Discussion boards

I thought it would be interesting to at least link to other blogs or discussions about the discussion boards.  I am sure it might be interesting to at least check out what other’s have said about discussion boards and consider how useful they might be in your current situations.

These are just a few that I found that might be helpful to those who might want to know more about the subject.   I am curious to know what people think about the discussion boards?  Do you like them or hate them or do you think it is useful?   I want to hear what you think by leaving a comment and talk about your experiences on the subject.

 

How virtual desktop infrastructure will help us in the IT field

Paul

BGinfo Group Policy

 

What’s is VDI and why do we need it in IT?

Virtual Desktop Infrastructures (VDI) are just that Virtual desktops that anyone can use on any given system around the world.   According to Citrix each VDI “includes an operating system image, typically Microsoft Windows“.  So what does that really mean?  The real question we should be asking ourselves is what does it do or how can we use that in virtualization.   The answer is quite simple, the truth of the matter is that VDI will help servers move a desktop from one server or even allow the user to do what they would normally do in the office and be able to do it anywhere the world.    The company could also give them really cheap or maybe even Chromebooks to do their work from home.   Ever since the start of virtual machines this has been something that was readily deployed because it kept the information in a centralized server and the user wouldn’t need to worry about any sensitive information leaks by someone stealing a laptop or a desktop.

Persistent and non-Persistent

Each VDI can allow a user to make changes to the desktop or not make changes depending on the settings the administrator decides to use.   Although this has not been a major point to people to try to get around the need to make the desktop a more personable environment.   It does help to prevent unwanted programs and people making changes to the OS which could make it even harder to prevent malware and viruses from getting onto the VDI.  Administrator’s have the option to allow users to change the desktop or keep the desktop as it is and you have to use it like it is.   If you have several users that are using the same exact desktop than this would be my option to keep all the users happy.

Considerations of VDI

Even I know the power of Virtualization but some users will not know what they are missing or getting when they are using a VDI.  According to IT Pro Today, We should consider a multitude of things when we deploy a VDI.   Security is always going to be a big issue when it comes to how the user will interact with the virtual desktop, which could bring even more problems but most of time it will help keep the problems away.  They even go as far as to make a point of how important it is to control the BYOD or even know the level of the user who is using the Virtual Desktop.   Each one of these is important to keep the user safe and secure.   It just depends on how well we control what they do and how they do it on it.   We should be able to monitor the VM and know that it is safe in our hands as we can control the group policies of it and keep the user from going to sites or installing software that isn’t approved to be used on the system.   Yet, I am sure we will see more users try to get around those restrictions because of one reason or another.  Time will always be against the administrator because someone is bound to test the limits.

Do you agree or disagree, or do you think it will help us or hinder us to have to be watchful of the users and how they use the VDI?

 

It’s hard getting a computer technician job

Paul
Photo by: Michal Jarmoluk on Pixabay

Trying to get a job in 2021

Even I have been trying to get a job in the computer field the last few weeks because I want the experience but most of the time they require 2 or 3 years of experiences.   This is ridiculous because most people don’t even have that for entry level jobs.   Then You try to get jobs that looks good on the Indeed or other job posting sites and then you get into the interview and they are will to pay you less than you could be working at McDonalds or even Target.   They are willing to pay you 12$ or 14$ dollars an hour.   My Goodness why did I get the education if I could go back doing what I did last year.

People want to work

There is a fallacy going around saying “People don’t want to work“, I say yes they do but you aren’t wanting to pay them for their talents or their expertise.   Here’s the way I see it, if you are going to tell me I have to get a pay cut just to get the experience that I know I already have than what’s the point in accepting a job that will keep me poor?   These are the types of jobs in the job market.   I have tried to know my worth and know that when I finally get hired onto a job, I will have the pay I deserve for my hard work going to college to get those technical certifications.   This is where recruiters will realize that the people who will fill those jobs are going to not want to work or do as a good as a job as those who are being paid for their talents.

People aren’t motivated or lazy

It has been said many times that if you want a job, they are out there and you just don’t want to work but I say comment is wrong in so many ways.   People went through a year lockdowns and social distancing and the fear of Covid19 for so long.   People have rethought about what actually has meaning and what they are willing to accept and not accept.   I can understand people who don’t want to work in the fast food industry.  You get those really mean customers who will call you names or even spit in your face just because you made mistake.   I get that part, that is one place where it will always be difficult to fill those positions.   Workers now know what makes them feel like they have meaning or a connection in life.  Please just stop saying comments like this because it doesn’t help the situation out with people getting a job.

Hire ME!

I throw this out to anyone who might want to say people are lazy and unmotivated.   If you really have a job that I can do in the computer technology area.   Please send me an email and let me know, I’ve been applying to everything that looks good on Indeed, Monster, and Zip recruiter so I haven’t had any luck yet.  I challenge you to prove me wrong.   I am looking just like every other computer technician for local jobs but If I have to do a remote, I will be more than willing to do that also.   I will say I can only work part time, 28 ish hours is the max, until January but after that I can and will work full time.

What does Storage have to do with Virtual Machines and why?

Paul

"A Thought Experiment" by Manupriyam Dubey, University of Lausanne
A thought Experiment

“As an administrator, you are given a single host server configured with four six-core processors, 256 GB of memory, and 1 TB of storage to deploy a number of virtual web servers. You have been told that each virtual machine will require 8 GB of memory, one processor, and 100 GB of disk storage. How many virtual machines will you able to deploy? What is the limiting factor?” Portnoy, Matthew. Virtualization Essentials

This is a good little question in a text book.  I thought it would be good to at least talk about this and hear what people have to say about this.   Each person is different and will have different answers but I will at least talk about this and the best practices for virtualization and hopefully we will come to the same reason.    If anything it will teach me and maybe even you the right answer and it will allow us to learn even more about virtualization.

Best Practices

The best practices for virtual machines depends on a lot of math and understanding of what will the virtual machine be used for.  We’ll come to that in a little bit.   The question right now is how many can you deploy on a single server.   On any given server the best practice is to do a 1:1 with cores.  So in this thought experiment, there are 24 cores, so we should be able to do 24 VM at the minimum.  According to Nakivo.com here’s the Virtual Machines cores and best practices:

  • 1:1 (optimal)
  • 2.1 (Normal)
  • 3:1 (Not optimal)
  • 4:1 (Maybe)
  • 5:1 (Problematic)
  • 6:1 (Probably not going to work)

I Found an excellent article about this and thought we should at least talk about some of these facts.   I agree with what they said.  The more VM’s you add to a core will make it more unstable and that isn’t even the main thing we need to consider.

Hardware

The Next thing we need to consider is the hardware.   We should always plan around capacity, growth, and business alignment.  When I say this I am talk about the size of memory and the total amount of disk space we will have per VM.  We can easily deploy up to 10 VM if they use 100 GB of space maybe it would be more like 9.   Since we only have 1 TB drive that would limit us to how many VM we could deploy at this time.    We need to consider that if we actually use the 100 GB right now the Virtual Machines we could deploy only 9 VM’s but if we dropped the requirement of 100 GB and made it expandable when it is needed than we could probably get away with the 24 virtual machines.  We could without a doubt do 24 VM comfortably with the amount of ram we had available.  It would leave use with enough overhead for more VM’s later on if we need to.  We could easily go up to 30 VM if we had to but I wouldn’t push it past that limit unless we install more memory down the road.  You will always need to determine your workload when it comes to how many VM’s you can install at one time on a server.

Type of Virtual Machines

Depending on what you intend to use this for such as databases or even web servers.  You will need to consider just how much of an impact the VM will have on other VM on the same system.  The utilization of the speed of the server will always be an indication of to much or not enough.  We will also have to consider the implications of ballooning or the impact of spikes in the server on a day to day routine.

These are just a few thoughts on this question.   I thought I would share with you what I have learned and maybe learn even more from my users.

Finally, the virtual machine is a powerful tool the enterprise and also small business in hand.  We can see that it can be used in many different ways and create even more uses