How to Manually Mount a USB Flash Thumb Drive on Linux

August 30, 2011

Jimmy

If you are like me, it is quite common to work with various operating systems and platforms on a daily basis.  For the most part, these operating systems manage the things that we come to expect like making a USB thumb drive visible to you (i.e. with a drive letter or mount point) as soon as you plug it into your computer’s USB port.  Well, I have an important news flash…this doesn’t always work!

Recently, I was working with a Linux distribution and needed to copy over data to a USB thumb drive.  I connected my thumb drive, and like a disappointing magic trick, nothing happened!  So what did I do?  I had to put on my troubleshooting hat and enter the dreaded (or lovely, depending on how your perceive it) command line terminal.  At the command line, I followed this procedure to get to my USB flash drive:

  1. Elevate to root (su –) or use sudo if you are using an Ubuntu distribution then enter the appropriate password when prompted.
  2. Enter the command lsusb at the command line.  Thankfully for Plug-N-Play, your computer should recognize your USB drive.  If it does not, try plugging into another USB drive and re-issuing the lsusb command.  Since I am on Ubuntu, I have to issue the sudo command and sudo password first as seen below:


3. Look for the device assignment.  Generally, this is done by ‘searching’ using the dmseg command.  After issuing the dmseg | grep ‘disk’ command, I found my device assignment as shown in the output below:


4. Now, let’s create a folder in the Linux file directory to act as a mount point for our USB flash drive.  I am going to create a folder in the /mnt directory called /usbflash’ by issuing the mkdir /mnt/usbflash command.  Since I am on Ubuntu, I have to issue the sudo command as seen below:

5. Now, let us mount our USB drive labeled sdb to the /usbflash directory so that we can use it by issuing the  mount –t vfat /dev/sdb /mnt/usbflash command.  Since I am on Ubuntu, I have to issue the sudo command as seen below:

(Note: vfat specifies the USB flash drive file system.)

And that’s it!  After the drive is mounted, browse to the /mnt/usbflash folder using the command line or graphical file utility to access your files and folders on the USB flash drive.

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Setting up a Windows Server for Remote Monitoring with PowerShell and WMI

July 25, 2011

Jimmy

If you are a systems administrator or an individual who has inherited the responsibility of managing a group of servers, you probably will agree that monitoring server resources are not always easy or that straight forward.  Furthermore, the system administrator’s responsibilities increase and become more difficult as the data center grows with the addition of new servers.  As such, the ability to have management and monitoring from a centralized system or utility becomes a necessity for the system administrator to detect and appropriately respond to server issues.  Leveraging a few Microsoft tools and utilities makes this easier.

Off-the-shelf server monitoring software can be quite expensive, and “freeware” monitoring utilities often lack the full-feature set needed to accomplish the management tasks of the organization.  A great supplement or even alternative to monitoring software is leveraging PowerShell scripts that call WMI Windows Operating System classes to retrieve server information and statistics.  In essence, PowerShell is a scripting language and command-line shell that utilizes the .NET framework.  WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is Windows operating system’s interface to accessing information about a server, such as the operating system itself, hardware information, statistics, etc.  Whether you intend to use PowerShell to build your very own monitoring script(s), building reports, or just for simple querying, this tutorial will help you configure the remote server for monitoring with PowerShell and WMI.

Assumptions

  • Windows Version – This tutorial will utilize Windows 2008 R2 servers.  If you are following this tutorial using other Windows versions, the directions may need to be slightly adjusted such as with Windows 2003 Server.  Older versions of Windows may not work correctly as operating system interfaces have changed with newer releases.
  • Centralized Monitoring Server – This tutorial assumes that you want to remotely monitor network servers from a centralized monitoring server or computer with PowerShell 2.0, WinRM 2.0, and .NET Framework installed.
  • Network Communication – This tutorial assumes that the proper network configurations are in place.  As such, network servers can communicate with the monitoring server without interruption from incorrectly configured firewalls, access rules, or other network configurations.  (Note:  Since WMI relies on RPC/DCOM communication, ensure that TCP ports 445 and/or 139 are opened.)
  • Remote Servers are Members of an Active Directory Domain – This tutorial assumes that the remote servers that are members of an Active Directory Domain.  If the servers are not a part of a domain, this tutorial still applies, but you will have to setup additional user accounts on non-domain member servers or in other domains to connect to the remotely connected servers.  Credentials can be stored in “Stored Usernames and Passwords” (Windows 2003) or “Credential Manager” (Windows 2008) under the Control Panel.


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“The Cloud” Keeps On Moving with VMware

June 16, 2011

Jimmy

As you may recall in my last blog post, Take it to “The Cloud”, I gave a high-level overview of “the cloud” as well as examples of how Google and Amazon are leveraging and visioning cloud technology.   However, I felt that it was necessary to gain more insight from industry leading professionals and to justify and discover how cloud services and technology could be practically implemented in the workplace to improve organizational IT and business functions.  As a result, I attended the 2011 VMware Forum last month to discover more information on VMware’s “Cloud” initiative and network with IT professionals and fellow VMware enthusiasts.

Representatives from Gartner Research and VMware gave the very insightful and informational presentations.

  • Gartner’s cloud presentation provided great background into architectural and technical components that are necessary to implement and manage a cloud infrastructure, as well as an emphasis that virtualization was a key driving force in cloud technology (though some often refer to virtualization as cloud technology which is not the true case).
  • VMware speakers discussed how VMware was leading the way in cloud technology with its vCloud product and how organizations that leverage virtualization technology could implement cloud technology and IT infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

Though it may seem like a lot of techno-jargon when describing “the cloud”, the truth is that “the cloud” is coming to a data center near you in the near future!  “The cloud” is not a mysterious Internet phenomenon but rather an enabler for new way of presenting, managing, and delivering IT services.  Products such as VMware vCloud are designed to make private cloud implementations (i.e. an Intranet cloud or internal cloud) feasible for internal organizations that require on-demand delivery of such IT applications and services.  With vCloud or other private cloud alternatives, organizations can invest and manage their own cloud as an alternative to utilizing a 3rd party service such as Amazon EC2, especially if issues such as data security or data management are concerning.  Whether public, private, or federated, “the cloud” is here and growing!

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Take it to “The Cloud”

April 18, 2011

Jimmy

The hot topic in information technology is “the cloud.”  You may have heard about it online, the office, or have seen it on various TV commercials.  According to Wikipedia, cloud computing “refers to the provision of computational resources on demand via a computer network.”  The cloud gives organizations, government entities, and even individual users that ability to use highly scalable Internet services and resources for business or personal use.  Some core drivers for “cloud technology” include high-speed Internet, grid computing, utility computing, rapid/thin provisioning, clustering, and server virtualization.

Ok, so that sounds nice, but what can an individual or company expect from cloud computing?

Well, the truth is, a lot of companies are taking advantage of “cloud computing” from a service offering and marketing perspective, and companies like Amazon and Google are taking advantage of the hype!

Amazon offers a full “cloud infrastructure” that allows organizations to lease web services and virtual systems for software development and hosting.

Google has taken a different perspective on cloud computing by focusing its attention to the consumer.  Google plans to propose a browser-driven operating system and computing platform that would essentially be “cloud-driven.”  The Google notebook, which consists of a web-browser operating system (Google Chrome) and some utility software, allows an individual to perform all basic computer functions like browsing the web, using e-mail, or working with documents and spreadsheets.

However, all computer functions are driven by the “cloud” and various web services, so processing and storing (i.e. saved documents) are actually performed on remote systems rather than locally.  Aside from having a Google account, the only true requirement to use the Google notebook is being connected to the Internet.  To learn more about “cloud computing” and see Google’s vision of the technology, check out the Google Chrome OS website .

Photo Credit: How Stuff Works

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Can the iPad replace my laptop?

March 22, 2011

Matt

Last week, I created my own iPad vs. laptop challenge!  For one week I wouldn’t touch my laptop and would instead only use my iPad–even for writing the a big paper that had to be submitted by the end of the week.

Normally I would take my laptop to lectures for note-taking, but this week I attended lectures using the iPad. Although my laptop has a five hour battery life while surfing the web and typing notes, I still have to find a power outlet to use on Mondays, due to my long class schedule. With the iPad, that concern is non-existent. I was able to work for a eight hours without worrying about about re-charging.

When it came to lectures, there are many solid apps that can be used for note taking, such as Apple’s Pages, Simplenote, or even the built in notes app. Because I have solid WiFi coverage at home and school, I decided to compose my paper using Google Docs. I didn’t have to worry about saving anything, because Google Docs does that for me. Although the on-screen keyboard of the iPad is one of the best I have used, I knew I would be uncomfortable taking notes or writing a paper with it.   I opted to use a Bluetooth Apple Keyboard. It connects seamlessly to all of my mobile devices: my Macbook Pro, iPad, and iPhone 4. The only configuration required is to enable Bluetooth and enter the provided code, easy! From then on, the iPad acts like an extremely light laptop.

Of course, the iPad has plenty of non-scholastic uses as well!  There are countless apps for twitter, including the Twitter client and Echofon, both of which interface well. The Safari browser provides a speedy means to get access to Facebook, just as you would on a computer. It’s also handy to have my music collection on my iPad, so that I can listen to tunes in between classes or while I’m lounging in Paws.

iPadThe iPad and iPad2 popularity is absolutely justified. Tablets are no longer “consumption” devices. Content can be just as easily created and consumed. The $499 (and up), price tag of the iPad is expensive when compared to other accessory devices, such as an iPod. However, if viewed as a laptop replacement, the price is easily justified. It is no longer going to be a case of needing a laptop and wanting an iPad. It is going to turn into needing an iPad, and forgetting about a laptop.

Matt is a student intern with the DECO Data Center and provides desktop support in addition to working diverse IT projects.  He will be graduating in May, 2011 with a degree in Psychology but is pursuing a career in IT.

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Protecting Your Personal Information Online: An Introduction to Responsible Computing

March 3, 2011

Jimmy

In today’s digital word, Internet security has become very important, but it is often overlooked.   Online users, subscribers, and consumers must take proactive steps to ensure that their personal or financial information is protected even if it is with a trusted entity’s online store, banking website, or log-in portal.  Here are a few best practices that you can follow to help keep you protected as you venture out into cyberspace:

The Golden Rule: “Total security” is a myth – First and foremost, remember that there is no such thing as “total security” online.  You can have all of the technical safeguards in world and follow every best practice guide available for responsible computing, but there is always the potential for a security risk when using an online service.  You put a lot of your trust in a third party, and as such, your Internet security posture is only as robust as the weakest link.  Be sure that you have confidence in the entity or business that you are using for online shopping, banking, etc.  If you shop online frequently, keep an eye on your credit card and bank statements for odd activity.  If your account in compromised, finding out sooner than later will save you many headaches in the long run!

HTTPS (SSL or TLS) – When you login to a portal, proceed to a checkout section on a website, filling out a form, or use online banking, make sure you are connecting over a secure channel.  Look for the lock symbol within your browser and/or look for ‘HTTPS’ in your web browser’s address bar.   This is a security protocol that allows the creation of secure channel using a digital certificate between your computer and an entity’s web site, server, or other service.  Without going into technical detail, a successful connection using HTTPS verifies the identity of the entity as a ‘trusted’ entity and encrypts the transmission between you and the entity’s server.

If your web browser indicates an error with an entity’s certificate (i.e. name mismatch, expiration, or revocation), do not proceed with checkout, logon, or submission of a form.  Additionally, if you are presented a form asking for personal/financial information or a login prompt and you do not see HTTPS or the lock, do not proceed any further.  This means that you are sending your information in clear text, and anything that you submit, can easily be intercepted.

When I was taking the steps to purchase a home, I dealt with a mortgage company that wanted me to submit my information using a form on their website.   I declined to fill out their online form because it asked me submit personal information over an unsecure, unencrypted (non-HTTPS) connection.  In essence, be sure to keep an eye out for examples like this because they are more common than you may think!

Beware of hyperlinks – Think twice before you click that link!  Nowadays, it seems that everyone is sharing links through social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace.  Clicking on a mysterious hyperlink can open up your computer to a host of threats including pop-ups, viruses, and spyware and can potentially steal your personal information.  In other cases, login accounts (i.e. for your bank account logon or a social media service) can be easily hijacked by clicking on a malicious link, so be cautious when surfing the World Wide Web!

Watch out for phishing scams – At some point you may have gotten a phishing e-mail about your bank account or about a password expiration that is absolutely false.  Basically, phishing is a scamming method where malicious adversaries pose as legitimate individuals or entities to obtain personal information, financial information, login accounts, etc.  Some of these can be easily detected while others can be very hard to distinguish because they are targeted and tailored to a very specific audience (This is called “spear phishing”).  Here are some things to look for in a phishing message:

  • Suspicious e-mail address – Take a look at the sender’s e-mail address.  Many e-mail addresses will appear to be from a source that is like the organization in which the phisher is trying to pose (i.e. sender@paypal-inc.com vs. sender@paypal.com).  Be aware of suspicious e-mail addresses!
  • Malicious hyperlink – If you highlight over a hyperlink and see a URL at the bottom of the task bar that does not appear to be from the issuing entity’s website, this is usually a good indicator that it is a phishing scam.  Do not click on the link!
  • Suspicious headlines and requested reply – Some indications of a phishing e-mail will request that you take reply to an e-mail with personal information or request that you take action on item.  If you receive a message indicating that you need to “change your password that is expiring in 6 days” or you need to “verify that your account is still active by replying to this message with your password” is usually a good indicator that it is a phishing scam.  Do not reply to such a message!

As previously stated, if you suspect that an e-mail or message that you receive can be classified as a phish, do not reply to it or click a link that may be associated with it.  Report this to the entity or individual that the phisher is attempting to pose.  If you accidently “click through” to a link that you suspect is a phish, immediately change your account password and contact the impersonated entity or individual.

Practice Due Diligence – It is important to keep your personal computer secure and ultimately your personal information safe.  Here are a few tips to for responsible computing:

  • If you have a laptop and travel frequently, do not leave your laptop unattended in public areas.
  • Be sure to password lock your computer account to prevent unauthorized use.
  • Use an unprivileged account (non-administrator) for everyday computer use.  If you need to do something that requires administrative privileges like installing software, then use the administrator account to do so.  Using an administrator account for everyday computer use can be a security problem.  If you visit a malicious website that executes malicious code while logged in as an administrator, the health of your computer and the security of your personal information are at risk.
  • Install security updates, service packs, and software updates regularly.
  • Install a host-based firewall and anti-virus software.  Install anti-virus signature updates regularly and run scheduled scans on your hard drive(s).
  • Encrypt your personal data!  There are good (and free) software packages that provide encryption capabilities for files and entire drives.

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My path to IT

February 24, 2011

Matt Koontz

This entry marks my first blog post for tuoutreach.com.  I am a student intern with the DECO Data Center and plan on focusing my blog posts on student issues in the IT field and highlighting technologies I think are going to change the way we live, work, and socialize.  For my first post, I thought it would be best to explain my untraditional path to the world of IT.

I knew growing up that I had an interest in technology; I believe the first website that I created was in sixth or seventh grade, my parents fostered this idea and encouraged me to interact with computers. My formal training started in high school, during my junior year. I attended Thomas Edison High School of Technology’s Network Operations program, in which I earned CompTIA’s A+ and Network+ certifications. Senior year in high school marked my first job in technology, I was the “on-site” technician at a small computer shop that went into homes and small businesses to provide computer/network support. In addition, I also sold computers and accessories to the general public. After high school, my academic and professional interests really split.

While attending college, I found psychology to be enthralling—after all that is what colleges were trying to accomplish with the “general education” classes.  At the same time, I found a new job as a Helpdesk technician with the City of Gaithersburg. This was my first true foray into the world of Information Technology. My job included not only the support and installation of computer hardware, but also physical wiring and special police applications. I spent a little over two years doing this, gaining a lot of valuable experience along the way. I spent days combing through inventory and trashing old equipment. While not glamorous, or particularly interesting, I kept the mindset of “paying my dues.” As time passed, and new interns were hired, my responsibilities increased, as did my skills. I was able to transition inventory and disposal duties to others, while picking up more of the troubleshooting and server duties.

Now, here I sit, a senior psychology major graduating this summer and an intern at the DECO Data Center. My current job duties include desktop support, developing an inventory method that is easy to manage, and learning about different server technologies such as virtualization and clustering. Working in technology means a promise to never stop learning; technology evolves too rapidly to be complacent.


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Video: DECO Data Center – The New Kid on the Block

January 26, 2011

 

Jimmy

Within DECO, many units thrive and are well-known at Towson University and in the surrounding community.  Applied research units such as the Center for GIS (CGIS), the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI), Extended Education and Online Learning (EEOL), and Information Systems Solutions (ISS) have been providing services for Maryland State Agencies and the private industry for many years.  To better serve such clients and the units of DECO, a new group has emerged known as the DECO Data Center (DDC).

The DDC, led by Steve Marshall, Director, is a group of IT specialists and engineers that focus on providing IT consulting, managed hosting, and help desk services.  To learn more about the DDC and how this group can help your organization, check out this video:

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The (Frustrating) Tablet Revolution…searching for an iPad competitor

December 1, 2010

Jimmy

Okay, so we all have heard of the Apple iPad and how great it is. Even I must admit that I was very impressed with it after borrowing my friends for a couple of weeks, and I am not really an advocate for Apple products. Quite simply, the iPad is portable, sleek, and has a great user interface for a touch screen device. Other than upfront cost and a few minor flaws such as compatibility with open standards (i.e. it would be nice if there was a USB port or three), the iPad is still pretty awesome. Sadly, competition in the tablet world remains bleak, and quite frustratingly, a good competitor has yet to emerge. So how can someone compete with the iPad and better levy the competition in this one sided market and save us consumers who want to find an affordable iPad alternative?

As a consumer and hi-tech enthusiast, I offer these basic recommendations for those who are planning to manufacture a tablet and everyone else who wants to give it another try after miserably failing of producing a quality table the first time:

  • Avoid “fat-client” operating systems –Some newer tablets feature the Windows 7 operating system. As much as I love Windows 7 on my desktop and laptop, I will avoid purchasing a tablet that features Windows 7 as its operating system. With few exceptions, Windows 7 is way too bloated for tablet hardware. I have read many tablet reviews where others have complained that Windows 7 is very slow. Though proprietary, Apple’s iOS is a good example of a scalable and functional operating system for a tablet. The Android operating system has been criticized of having screen resolution and display issues. However, something tells me that a scaled-down, customized flavor of Linux could be a viable alternative!
  • Don’t try to fool us by marketing an e-reader as a tablet – The Nook and the Kindle are great for reading electronic books and periodicals. Even some of the newer editions of these e-readers offer more features such as the ability to surf the web, connect to Facebook, or to use multimedia. However, many e-readers still come up short to truly be a fully functional tablet. If you are buying one of these devices from a bookstore, it is still an e-reader! The Nook and the Kindle do not come close to competing with the iPad.
  • Screen size is important – I can tell you what I don’t want in a tablet. I do not want a 5” screen or a 12” screen. If I’m going to buy a tablet with a 5” screen, I will settle for an iPod Touch, smartphone, or an old PDA instead. If I’m going to buy a tablet with a 12” screen, I’ll stick with a laptop computer. The tablet should be small enough to remain portable, yet large enough so I can actually see the text when I am reading the electronic edition of my local newspaper. Follow Apple’s lead on this.
  • 3G is awesome – It would be nice if more tablets could be produced with the capability to use 3G standards. WiFi capability is wonderful, but it is not as highly available as 3G. Like with my smartphone, I would love to be able to connect Facebook and update my status at anytime and at anyplace using my tablet.
  • Make a tablet that is affordable and reliable – Many consumers have not jumped on the iPad bandwagon because they do not want to spend $500 or more. In retrospect, a decent laptop computer can be purchased for $500. Cheap tablets are just not worth it because they are as described: cheap! Can a reliable alternative tablet be sold for $300 or $400? I don’t see why not, but be careful who you ask. To compete with the iPad, Samsung has recently released its Android-driven Galaxy Tab. The tablet looks great and has gotten several positive reviews so far, but for an entry-level cost of $600, I think I am going to pass along with a few other people that I know.

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Rhetorically Speaking…

November 29, 2010

Susan

If you have read any of my past blogs—I know I haven’t written that many recently—then you should know that I’m working on my Master’s degree in the Professional Writing Program at Towson University.  I started off with a Grammar class.  It was not the most exciting class, but it really helped me brush up on my grammar skills, which is always good for any writer.   Then this past spring I enrolled in two classes there were even more beneficial: 1) Editing and 2) Design, Layout and Production.  Both of these classes provided me with some great hands-on experience.  This semester, I decided to take one of the required courses for the program: Modern Rhetoric.  Unlike my past three classes, this one does not offer as much practical knowledge. It has been challenging at times, but Modern Rhetoric has provided me with a different sort of learning experience.

The definition of rhetoric, according to Wikipedia, is “the art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively.”  Yet, this rhetoric class has been anything but for me.  I have spent this last semester learning about several theorists and their perspectives on rhetoric.  Since I am finding the theorists very hard to comprehend, it just seems like an oxymoron that I have to re-read a paragraph a few times to understand what the person is trying to say about ways to communicate.  Another objective of this course was to write a five-page paper on an article.  At first this seemed like it would be a simple task.  Five pages for someone in a writing program, after all, should not be too difficult.  But it was.  I did not understand the main points of the article, so I really struggled writing the paper.  In the end, however, both of these activities have enhanced my learning experience.

Modern Rhetoric has been challenging at times, but I only have three more weeks left (no offense to my professor).  I have to write one last research paper—and I probably should be working on that instead of this blog post—and take a final.  Even though this class has not been as practical as my other classes, I consider my learning experience to be worthwhile.

Thanks to this class, I have now become more conscious of my own writing, especially for work.  It has encouraged me to want to write clearly and concisely so my given audience really understands me.  This is crucial for writing effective training manuals and requirements documents.  If the user or developer has to re-read my documents multiple times just to understand them, then I have failed as a Business Analyst.  That’s the last thing I want to do!

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