Cisco Catalyst 3750E

Looking at the Cisco 3750E strictly from a design perspective, I have to say I really like what they have done with this 1U switch. As usual Cisco ships this switch with mounting brackets, rack screws, stack cables, and cable management.

However what I really like about this switch is the fact that it comes with a field replaceable power supply and fan. Two thumbs screws, depending how tight they are, is all that separates you from having a bad fan or power supply replaced in no time.

To see how the 3750E stacks up against other switches in it's class, check out the review in Network World.

10 Gig access switches: Not just packet pushers anymore

Who's On First, well sort of.

I have no idea who came up with this because it was forwarded to me at some point through a chain of emails, but it makes me chuckle every time I read it so I feel the need to share it.

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and
too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this.
For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers,
please read on... If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today,
their infamous sketch, "Who's on First?" might have turned out
something like this:

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm
thinking about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?


ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.


ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to
write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do
you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just
say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.
What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start
with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping?
You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?


ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on "START".....

Wireshark quick tip

If you ever need to get a quick and dirty unfiltered capture off a remote Linux box you can simply just use the tshark command.

"tshark -i eth0 -w filename.cap"

This command will allow you to capture all packets from eth0 and write the content out to a file that can then be copied to another machine running Wireshark for further analysis.

Error light on Sun server

Ever wonder why that pesky amber light is on your Sun server?

Here is just the command to tell you why.

prtdiag

With only a couple of options, I just use "prtdiag -v", you should be able to find out in no time why that light is on.

Oh and by the way, Sun tech support is most likely going to call and ask you to run this anyway.

Enjoy

Power Point

While this isn't a technical video, it is a short video that I happen to agree with when faced with the proposition of using Power Point for a presentation.

10 20 30 Rule