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Moving from VMWare ESXi to Microsoft Hyper-v

Published on February 12, 2012 in IT

I've almost finished moving all my servers from ESXi to Hyper-V. It has been very easy to do this using a free tool – 5nine V2V easy converter

In the future I will be using Microsoft System Centre Essentials 2010 to perform P2V and V2V conversions.  I have used MSSCE2010 to perform a few (P/V)2V conversions already, however as I had to move the SQL server (which is a virtual guest that has the MSSCE2010 database) – …yes i know that not best practise to do and it just bit me in the ankle…

So i had to find another way to move the SQL server.

 
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Windows 7 – Howto resolve users being prompted to install printer drivers

Published on November 14, 2011 in IT

In an Active directory environment, under windows 7 – users get prompted for the driver when installing a new printer (even if the printer or driver has been installed before)

and since users don't have admin rights then they are unable to install the printer driver.

You can fix this by creating a GPO

Configure Group Policy settings for "Point and Print" on BOTH computer and user settings (Vista previously only had user settings). The Location of the settings can be found here in GPOs:

  • Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Printers\Point and Print Restrictions
  • User Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Printers\Point and Print Restrictions

 

Source: From this Microsoft Technet Forum Post

 
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HP Microserver removing the mini sas cable

Published on November 11, 2011 in IT

this connecter is super tight!

easy way to get it out is to put a screw driver or paper clip and slightly bend the metal shield.

once done the cable is very easy to remove.

 
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OSX Lion Permissions Issues – User sessions don’t save, Preview.app and Textedit.app crash

Published on October 17, 2011 in IT, OSX

some permissions on my OSX Lion accounts were having the following issues after updating to 10.7.2

It could have been caused by something else (like me screwing around with the ACL permissions on folders etc), but this was the major change at the time.

Issues included:

  • windows would not save when closing. e.g. safari would revert to home screen and didn't save open tabs.
  • restarting would load an old user session of open windows
  • Preview and TextEdit app would crash when attempting to load them

 

Download the application BatChmod
http://batchmodmac.en.softonic.com/mac

 

 

Select your user directory and set the permissions accordingly:

     Owner

          Username

          R-W-X

     Grooup

          Staff

          R

     Everyone

          R

     Options

          Change ownership and privileges

          Unlock

          Clear ACLs (10.5+)

     Apply to enclosed folders and files

 


 
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Best Exercise for Toning up?

Published on September 5, 2011 in Health

 

The best type of exercise is anything that you can do consistently!

 

 
There is no one exercise, diet, pill or silver bullet to get fit and healthy.  Its a conscious decision to become that person.
….that will be $1000 thanks!
:P
hehe
 
but seriously… if you can only walk, then fine just do it.
I remember when watching the biggest loser one season, and one of the older guy's was not allowed to do anything except walk and i think a bit of swimming and he was losing as much as the other contestants.
but its all about consistency, eating right and having a goal + a bit of determination!
You need to change your mindset to being a fit and healthy person!
 
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MacBook Air 2011 vs MacBook Pro 2009 – Benchmarks

Published on August 15, 2011 in OSX

Here is the head to head shoot out between old and new…

  13" Macbook Pro (2009) 13" Macbook Air (2011)
To Boot screen 32 seconds 15 seconds
Guest Autologin 45 seconds 15 seconds
VMware – Win7 Bootup 40 seconds 30 Seconds
     

 

Using an SSD hard drive really makes things a lot quicker.

The Boot time and load time is significantly quicker,

Apps just load up in no time.  You seriously become inpatient when using any other computer with a standard HDD.

Also, the portability of this things is just awesome, its so light that you can hardly notice it in your bag, its just like carrying around a book.

Do I miss the DVD drive? – no, i have the external USB drive and I haven't even used it once.

 

only thing i can fault is that it has a max of 4GB RAM. Its definitely acceptable, but 8GB would have been sweet though.

 
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Getting through the crap

This quote is great…

“I recognize that in every business, there’s a lot of administrative crap that comes along that you have to do so you can get to the creative work – most flowers are rooted in manure.” -Wayne Rogers

The last part is what stands out, when you think about it plants thrive in crap, literally!

So pile that shit on and thrive!
Sometimes we need some crap thrown on top of us so that we can grow stronger and let our roots grow deeper.

 
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New Macbook Air (2011) First Impressions

Published on August 11, 2011 in OSX

ok so I have had my shiny thin new MBA now for about 2 days…. and absolutely loving it. By far it is the greatest combination of size, weight and performance.

My Specs:
Maxed out 13″ MBA. i7, 250GB HDD

This new MBA is replacing my old 2009 13″ MBP and all I can say is wow.
This thing whips it to oblivion.
I can honestly say that I am never going back to a spinning Hard Drive. SSD all the way baby. the speed / performance of SSD just kicks some serious ass.
Benchmarking comparison was something like 50 v 250 to the MBA (i will get out proper benchmark screenys soon)
Geekbench was 2000 v 5800

One of the great things is that the screen resolution is much much nicer on the MBA compared to the 13MPB.

Overall the MBA is fantastic, when compared the 13″ MBP i would recommend the AIR.
Its so light and portable – you don’t notice it in your bag, it just weighs nothing.
Also the costs comparisons vs the 13″ pro is i feel the Air gives you much better value.

its rumoured the Apple is bringing out a redesigned MPB at the end of the year, most likely it will be designed like the AIRs. So when/if this happens it will be interesting to see.

MBA Cons:
4GB ram max is the only let down so far.
an 8GB upgrade option would have made this perfect for me, but i can live with 4 :)

 
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5 Point Plan for Productivity

1. Plan tomorrow today

Plan your day the night before, on paper on purpose. Review and complete the plan for the following day before the days end.

Don't wake up and figure out what you should be doing or else you will end up reacting instead of creating.

2. Review or Establish your BIG 3

Review or establish your 3 top and most important goals for the year.

3. Identify your 3 "MVP's"

Identify your three most valuable priorities for the next day.

…they may be hard, but most necessary!

4. Schedule your MVPs

Put your MVPs in your calendar and chunk your time where you can be in a "cone of silence" or not available.

5. The Very First Thing you Do

Eat that Frog, do that MVP for 90minutes straight with no interruptions

 


Thanks Darren Hardy – Listen to it here

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2060415822362

 
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My Decisions on my new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro

Published on July 28, 2011 in IT, OSX, Work

Currently i'm using a 13" 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo (C2D) MacBook Pro (MBP), and its just not cutting the mustard. …Well it does a pretty good job for most things, but when I load up VMware or just have a billion things open, it just …well struggles…

I had made up my mind, I was going to Upgrade to a 15" MBP.  Apple just released the new sandy-bridge version, it absolutely decimated the last i5/i7 roll out from the previous year, and lets face it, my C2D just aint cutting it for a IT Pro :P

I even tweeted it here (tweet, tweet :P )

My next macbook pro = Meri Vritti » 2011 15? MacBook Pro i7 2.2GHz SSD = Speed Demon: http://bit.ly/jMNjDO

The plan was to

  • upgrade to a 15" MBP and
  • max it out with a quad core i7 cpu,
  • 8GB ram (/drools…   |   if you think that is impressive, well u should see the 48GB CISCO server i got a few weeks back /…creams pants),
  • SSD HDD -
  • in other words a beast. a real desktop replacement /killer.

However there was a problem, ….its 15".  its not really portable… i mean it is, but….. i'm used to the 13", i think its a good size (no, good size is not code for too small)

ok… so why not max out a 13" MBP then, …problem solved…!!!!…yeh???…errr well not exactly

but wait, the thing that urks me with the 13" is that the screen resolution is too small. its really been giving me the shits. althouhg i do spend most of my time at my desk with an external monitor plugged in, still, when i need to go portable, the 13" res sucks balls. (/me screams at Apple…… why not HI-RES option?? why!!!!??)

grrr

but then on the AIR – the 13" has the same resolution as the 15" MBP…WTF!!!?? and you cant do this on the 13" PRO!!! seriously, why!?

Then, there is also the cost factor to upgrade the MBP from a normal HDD to an SSD. the cost is astrominical.  Even then, you can go a third party option (which i was considering) but then there are all sorts of issues with TRIM compatibility, and it still adds up.

ex:

  • upgrade MPB to 240GB SSD from OCW you are looking at $500
  • upgrade 256GB with Apple you are lookin at $620
  • …thats some serious coin$ for not much storage
  • the 128GB is an option if coupled with a Data Doubler Optical Bay Hard Drive kit (loosing the DVD drive)

And then you look at the AIR,

The 13" "ultimate" AIR comes with a

  1. 1440×900 resolution!!!! = :)
  2. 4 GB RAM (8GB upgrade would have been awesome but no bingo there /…sadface ) = same as now = :(
  3. 256 SSD HDD!!! = :)
  4. i7 CPU (ok its dual core, quad would be sweet, but fuk, its gonna cream my C2D!) = :)
  5. no DVD drive – buy USB DVD drive = :)
  6. no ethernet port  - Use wifi and buy USB adaptor for when needed = :)
  7. it even has an sd card slot = dont care never use = :)
  8. its friggen small!!! and super light = :) :)
ok i know both the AIR and 13" MBP have crap video cards, but stilll, i'm not a gamer, i mean i played Tf2 a little on my 13" MBP on low settings when i need to get my gamer on.  if i wanna game then i can use my dusty xbox 360.

OK so whats the Damage? ($)

13" MBA

  • 1.8GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
  • 256GB flash storage
  • Apple MacBook Air SuperDrive
  • Keyboard & User's Guide
  • USB Ethernet Adapter
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro – Auto-enroll
Apple RRP = A$ 2,345.99 incl. GST

13" MBP 

  • 2.3GHz Dual-core Intel Core i5
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM — 2x2GB
  • 256GB Solid State Drive
  • SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  • Backlit Keyboard & User's Guide
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook / MacBook Air / 13-inch MacBook Pro – Auto-enroll
RRP @ $2,548.00
+ $229 for i7 processor (2,776.99)
+ $100 for 8GB RAM (DIY upgrade)
15" MBP
  • 2.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
  • 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x2GB
  • 256GB Solid State Drive
  • SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
  • MacBook Pro 15-inch Hi-Res Antiglare Widescreen Display
  • Backlit Keyboard & User's Guide
  • AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook Pro – Auto-enroll

A$ 3,498.00 incl. GST= Ouch!

+$100 8GB DIY ram

 
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© Robert Kruk
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