[Question to network admins]

:blushes:

As part of my job I am responsible for networks in and across a bunch of huuuuge server / software test labs.

I get reports of 'network problems' frequently. I would estimate at most 15% of 'network problems' are actually a network problem. All the rest are server or app misconfiguration or just plain and simple pilot error. The network bears the brunt of blame because it is often the 'common element' which they have just enough understanding of to draw dangerously misguided conclusions about.

You will need to fight your corner and challenge these accusations if appropriate.

All that said - out on t'internet, network administration is a much more pure beast. A crazy world of wire protocols, encapsulation, BGP, AS and peering agreements. Not too many producers/eaters and not something I profess to understand in much detail. But languages might be less useful here except of course you need to get all the health data back to the NOC and presented in a meaningful way.

[Question to network admins]

I voted "A Little".

Reason being is that 'network admin' can mean many things to many people.

I agree that if you are just operating on network infrastructure components itself then you dont really need C, Java or any of the other stuff. You do need to be able to cut a script though.

But imagine you are looking at the network from a different angle - maybe form a monitoring point of view - gathering data via SNMP / netflow / sflow or whatever - then you need to understand networks and also a means to gather and manipulate that data to make it useful.

Equally - if you have a network problem it usually involves a system/server/device - these devices are not network elements, but packet producers/eaters. It really does help to be able to find your way around and understand what it might be doing programatically.

All that said - it is a Uni Course - it is built up of modules specific to your course and specific to other courses - maybe you are expecting too much. Add to that - you might find that you dont want to be a network monkey forever and want to branch out into a parallel field.

But I would say almost everything you describe above can be covered by the term 'Network Computing;.

My advice - do a Marketing module and get some totty time.

[Anyone use a S.E Xperia X10?]

Big. Ugly. Flimsy.

Better off with a Desire, Lengend or Wildfire IMO.

[New Skoda service plan 'poor value for money']

Been offered this deal this week (2 services for £299).

Have 2nd service due end of the month on my now 3 year old car, had from new. Had 1st variable service at 2 years, changed to fixed as agreed with dealer that my approx 5000m a year use warranted better care..

Would this 2 year deal cover me for the cambelt change due at 4 years? (ie service after the one due this month) If so, it would be well worth me going for it... Anyone know if its covered? (doubtful surely!)

Thanks..

IIRC the small print excludes cambelt.

I took this out for services 1 & 2. I wanted to shell out now and cut outgoings, plus it forces me into a fixed service routine for 2 years, which is better for the car.

[Somebody stole my bonnet release lever]

I think its designed to fall off in an accident. The lever is a interference fit onto the boss. Are you sure it isn't in the footwell somewhere?

Why would this falling off in an accident be a good thing?

[Scout vs 4x4 vs Standard Estate suspension]

My sump guard is metal.

[Find info via ip address]

TBH if it is China even if there was an 'abuse' alias listed it would be futile.

Chances are this is a DSL dhcp address.

$ whois 117.35.90.148

#

# Query terms are ambiguous. The query is assumed to be:

# "n 117.35.90.148"

#

# Use "?" to get help.

#

#

# The following results may also be obtained via:

# http://whois.arin.net/rest/nets;q=117.35.90.148?showDetails=true&showARIN=false

#

NetRange: 117.0.0.0 - 117.255.255.255

CIDR: 117.0.0.0/8

OriginAS:

NetName: APNIC-117

NetHandle: NET-117-0-0-0-1

Parent:

NetType: Allocated to APNIC

NameServer: TINNIE.ARIN.NET

NameServer: SEC1.AUTHDNS.RIPE.NET

NameServer: NS4.APNIC.NET

NameServer: NS3.APNIC.NET

NameServer: NS1.APNIC.NET

NameServer: NS2.LACNIC.NET

Comment: This IP address range is not registered in the ARIN database.

Comment: For details, refer to the APNIC Whois Database via

Comment: WHOIS.APNIC.NET or http://wq.apnic.net/apnic-bin/whois.pl

Comment: ** IMPORTANT NOTE: APNIC is the Regional Internet Registry

Comment: for the Asia Pacific region. APNIC does not operate networks

Comment: using this IP address range and is not able to investigate

Comment: spam or abuse reports relating to these addresses. For more

Comment: help, refer to http://www.apnic.net/apnic-info/whois_search2/abuse-and-spamming

RegDate: 2007-01-17

Updated: 2010-07-30

Ref: http://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-117-0-0-0-1

OrgName: Asia Pacific Network Information Centre

OrgId: APNIC

Address: PO Box 2131

City: Milton

StateProv: QLD

PostalCode: 4064

Country: AU

RegDate:

Updated: 2004-03-01

Ref: http://whois.arin.net/rest/org/APNIC

ReferralServer: whois://whois.apnic.net

OrgTechHandle: AWC12-ARIN

OrgTechName: APNIC Whois Contact

OrgTechPhone: +61 7 3858 3188

OrgTechEmail: [email protected]

OrgTechRef: http://whois.arin.net/rest/poc/AWC12-ARIN

#

# ARIN WHOIS data and services are subject to the Terms of Use

# available at: https://www.arin.net/whois_tou.html

#

% [whois.apnic.net node-3]

% Whois data copyright terms http://www.apnic.net/db/dbcopyright.html

inetnum: 117.32.0.0 - 117.39.255.255

netname: CHINANET-SN

descr: CHINANET Shanxi(SN) province network

descr: China Telecom

descr: A12,Xin-Jie-Kou-Wai Street

descr: Beijing 100088

country: CN

admin-c: CH93-AP

tech-c: XC9-AP

mnt-by: APNIC-HM

mnt-routes: MAINT-CHINANET-SHAANXI

mnt-lower: MAINT-CHINANET-SHAANXI

status: ALLOCATED PORTABLE

remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

remarks: This object can only be updated by APNIC hostmasters.

remarks: To update this object, please contact APNIC

remarks: hostmasters and include your organisation's account

remarks: name in the subject line.

remarks: -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

changed: [email protected] 20070615

source: APNIC

person: Chinanet Hostmaster

nic-hdl: CH93-AP

e-mail: [email protected]

address: No.31 ,jingrong street,beijing

address: 100032

phone: +86-10-58501724

fax-no: +86-10-58501724

country: CN

changed: [email protected] 20070416

mnt-by: MAINT-CHINANET

source: APNIC

person: Xianghong Cao

address: Shanxi provice data communication Bureau

address: 185# zhuque Road

address: Xi'an city, Shanxi provice 710061

address: CN

phone: +8629-523-3633

fax-no: +8629-522-8093

e-mail: [email protected]

nic-hdl: XC9-AP

mnt-by: MAINT-NULL

changed: [email protected] 19990409

source: APNIC

[Home network help]

You could use another wireless AP with a different SSID without problem.

[Just taken delivery of my new Scout]

Very nice. Reminds me of when mine was clean and shiny, instead of coated in a thin film of farmers mud.

[Favourite game of all time?]

Elite

Super Mario

CnC Generals

*Repton probably also needs a mention*

[New Scout arrived & new rails required:(]

Powder coat would work a treat!

[Cost of Buying a Diesel]

<edit> also you need to look at likely fuel prices over three years rather than just current ones.

Um. If you can factor that in then you could make enough money that I doubt you would care.

[Bolero - can it really handle 32GB cards?]

I agree that this seems more likely to do with the Bolero's ability to index and present the SD contents than the card itself.

[Orange - T-Mobile share mobile networks]

My experience of 3 was "Everything in India".

[stop and start function]

SWMBO's last two cars have had stop start (mini / yaris) and I find it unobtrusive, it certainly saves fuel.

[Orange - T-Mobile share mobile networks]

They are changing their name to Everything Everywhere

Given that my past experience of T-Mobile was 'nothing everywhere' I am concerned they might be pushing it a bit.

[skoda have added 3 months to my order! Update Page 2]

Indeed. If you ever see a car without 'tinted' windows these days they look odd. Very odd. Nearly every cars has tints.

Sunset or Privacy Glass is a different thing altogether.

[The Eagle has Landed]

Looks really good in that colour.

[The Eagle has Landed]

Nice. What colour is that?

[Auto Windscreens incompetance]

I don't see how this is any different really from the tech crashing his van into your car.

You got a quote and they need to pony up either through insurance or pocket.

I hope you get some joy soon, before rust spots start to appear.

[Missing Heated Seats with Alcantara Leather?]

My scout has alcantara and certainly has heated seats.

1 year old now though.

[Fitting new number plates]

I guess the point is that the filth are not generally known for their latitude or listening to reason.

FWIW the logo's look cluttered, aside from that I like em.

[DNS and Multiple Public IPs]

Dont think of it as adding complexity, think of it as preventing a mire of workarounds and disperse and interdependent configuration (which is inherently hard to maintain & manage).

[broadband suppliers]

One thing I found out.......plusnet and BT are the same company

Indeed. BT bought Plusnet, but operate them as an independent company. Thank ****.

[hill hold]

On a hill of less than23%, briefly release the brake, and press it a second time. It will then stay on for a few seconds. Works on a manual scout.

No need for a second push on my car. It just works so long as the gradient is over a certain threshold.