A Career in Computers…without losing your MIND

By Douglas Chick

Copyright © 2006 by Douglas Chick. All Rights Reserved.

Published by TheNetworkAdministrator.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or
otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the
1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior
written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through
payment of the appropriate per copy fee to
[email protected]

ISBN 0-9744630-3-5

Print 3

Publisher –TheNetworkAdministrator.com
201 W Cottesmore Cir
Longwood FL 32779

www.thenetworkadministrator.com

Janet Hays, Editor

Other books by Douglas Chick
What All Network Administrators Know ISBN:
0974463000

Steel Bolt Hacking ISBN: 0974463019

Hacking the IT Cube: The Information Technology

Survival Guide ISBN: 0974463027

A Career in Computers…without losing your

MIND
ISBN: 0974463035
 Hacking the IT Cube:

The Information Technology Department

Survival Guide

By Douglas Chick
README.TXT 1

Chapter 1: Information Technologies 101

A Word about Computer People 4
Preparing for a Career in Computers 5
Degree verses Computer Certifications 8
Obtaining a Job without Experience 11
Overlooking Inexperience 12
Can I quit my job, go to a certification boot camp and make
70K in 3 months 15
Certification Resources 17
Typing Skills 18
How much do Computer People Make 18
Salaried Position 20

Chapter 2:

Positions in an IT Department
IT Position Introduction 22

Helpdesk Phone Support 23

Terms and Comprehension * 26
Helpdesk Technician 29
Helpdesk Queue
Helpdesk Software 30
Education
Associated Skills 31
The Blame Game 32
The Magic of Reboot * 33
Network Analyst 37
Duties assigned to a network analyst:
Education
Associated Skills
Network Administrator 41
Education and Certifications 42
Associated Skills
What you should already Know 44
My New Network Administrator * 50
Network Engineer 56
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills
Network Security Administrator 58
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills 58
Database Administrators 61
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills
Webmaster 63
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills
Programmers 64
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills
IT Consultants 65
Programmers
IT Consultants 65
Director of Information Technology 66
Education and Certifications
Associated Skills
Chief Information Officer 68

Chapter 3:

When Looking for a Job

What to Expect When Looking for a Job 71
Recruiters, Headhunters, Contractors, and Agencies 71
Working for a Start-up 73
Don’t Be Fooled By Job Vultures 75
Discovering Jobs through Word of Mouth 76
Temp Workers
Job Relocation
Doing your Homework 77
Resumes 78
Correct Contact Person
Writing your Resume 79
Sample Cover Letter 82
Writing Your Resume – with work experience 84
Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume 86
Sample Resume – with job experience 87
Writing Your Resume – without work experience 89
Posting Your Resume 90
When Have You Sent Enough Resumes 91
The Interview
Interview Attire 93
Cramming for an Interview
Arriving on Time 94
Shaking Hands Firmly?
Listening to the Interviewer 95
Looking the Interviewer in the Eyes
Learning from Job Interviews 96
Don’t Over Answer Questions 97
Being Positive
Negative Image
When to Talk About Money and Benefits 98
10 Helpful Tips on Lying Your Way Through an Interview
Symptoms Related to Lying During a Job Interview 100
Closing the Interview 101
After the Interview
Writing a Thank You Letter 101
Worrying about all the Things that can go wrong during an Interview
(or Do-Overs) 102
The Right Fit
Settling for a Lesser Position 103

Chapter 4:
Hack / Anti Hacking Tools and Methods
Hack / Anti Hacking Tools 106
Hiding in Windows Registry
Finding The Hidden Process 108
Fport
PSTools 109
Tlist 110
Tasklist
Process Killers
PsKill.exe
Kill.exe
TaskKill.exe
Network Analyzers 114
Commview
Ethereal 115
EtterCap 115
Snort 116
WinDump / TCPDump
Dsniff
Scanning Tools 117
NMap
Sam Spade 118
NetScanTools Pro
SuperScan
NetCat 119
Wireless Scanners 119
Network Stumbler
Ethereal 120
AirSnort
Networking Tools for the Professional 121
Ping
Trace Route 121
Telnet 122
NSLOOKUP
WhoIS
Netstat
Nbtstat
Vulnerability Assessments / Penetration Testing 123
Nessus
Microsoft Assessment Tools
N-Slalker
GFI LANguard
Password Recovery 124
Command Line Utilities 125
Windows Command 126
Linux Command 127
What to know about viruses 133
Computer and Network “Security” 136
Firewalls 137
Common Attacks 141
Denial-of-Service Buffer Overflows
Data Diddling
E-mail Spoofing
Mail Spamming Worms / Virus Attacks
Logic Bombs
Password Cracking 142
E=mailSpam2 144
Open Relay Exploit
How to test for open relay
Buffer Overflow Spam 145
Advanced Google Searches (Google Hacking) 147

Chapter 5:
Managing Your Network and Server Room
Learning Under Fire or Submersion Learning 154
Know the Server Room 158
The Demarc
CSU /DSU
Routers
Hubs
Switches
Patch Panel
UPS
Know Your Servers 162
Database Servers
File and Print Servers
Time Clock Server
DHCP Server 164
E-mail Servers
DNS Server
Web Servers
FTP Servers
What Server Operating Systems Should I Know 167
Rebooting the Server 168
Passwords 169
What to Do When a Server Crashes 170
Differential
Incremental
Full backup
The Recommended Back Up Strategies 173
Tape backups
Hard drive backups
Monthly backups
Other types of tape rotations
Troubleshooting Tips: 175
Upgrades 177
Chapter 6:
Managing an IT Department
From Tech to Manager 179
Being an IT Manager 180
Manager / Executive
Pagers / Cell Phones / Laptops 181
Company Politics 182
Purchasing Computer Product 184
Specialist and Generalist 185
A Job 24 / 7 187
Over-Clockers 188
IT Ethics 189
Confidential Disclosure Agreement 191
Writing Network and Internet Policy 194
Software Licenses 195
Proprietary Software
Suggesting New Technology 197
Being Good at Prioritizing
The Politics of Getting What You Need 200
The Computer Person before you 203
Working Without Supervision 204
Working in a Team Environment
Training Yourself and Your Staff 206
Communication Skills 208

Chapter 7:
Bitter Facts from Experiences
Keeping a Messy Office 210
A Word about Computer Part Magazines 211
User’s Computer Desk Clutter 213
Cleaning Keyboard and Fans
What You Need to Know About Computer End Users * 215
The Differences Between End-users and 218
African Mountain Gorilla *
Why do end-users call their computers modems? * 220
End-user Soup * 222
Eating Habits of the Office Worker * 225
Computer Users Mating Habits *
Repairing Home Computers 226
Working with Outside Consultants 226
Job Stasis 228
Most Common Mistakes by Computer Department 229
Who has the Power 232
Taking the Emotion out of “IT” 233
Birthday Cake Day 234
The Internet is a Living Body* 235
10 Signs that you might be a Geek * 236
Meetings 237
Performance Anxiety
Appendix A
Cabling 238
Bulk Cable
Different Categories of CAT Cable 238
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) 240
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)
Screened Twisted Pair 240
Standard Ethernet Patch Cable 241
RJ-45 Connector
Crossover Cable 242
Coaxial Cable 243
Thicknet 244
Thinnet
Fiber Optic 244

Appendix B
Computer Terms and Definitions 246
 Hacking the IT Cube

README.TXT
Hacking the Cube is a straightforward and sometimes comical
look into the everyday world of information technology. It
answers questions that many IT professionals and newcomers
ask about the tools and skills needed to survive one of the most
complex career fields in the world. Most computer books deal
with configuring software and do little to help you learn what
you need to know to work in a network office environment.
Most people are unprepared for the social, political, or
psychological aptitude needed to survive in the office
workplace. The majority of computer books are software
proprietary and they do not provide you with the necessary
information on programs commonly found in the field of
computers.
Many of the topics in this book are situations based on
my experience and the experiences of other computer
professionals that you would not typically have access to
without actually having a job in an IT department. Other topics
in this book are questions that have been e-mailed to my
website, www.thenetworkadministrator.com, from people
0H

entering the information technology field for the first time. It

also contains notes sent to me from well-established IT
professionals about their experiences. This book is a mix of
fact and story, humor and frustration. If you are new to the
field of computers, Hacking the IT Cube is going to give you a
unique insight that only experience can provide. On the other
hand, if you are a seasoned veteran, you will laugh and cry at
familiar situations that may have sent you to a place of liquid
intoxication.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

This book is written by a computer person for computer

people and might not have some of the same nuances as a book
written by a professional writer, such as proper structure,
correct grammar, and a multi-million dollar support staff. I
write from the experience of being on the job, and with a great
deal of help from my friends, and spelling and grammar
checker. I am an IT Director for a national company, and
creator of a popular IT website. Hacking the IT Cube is an
expanded edition of a much smaller issue titled, What All
Network Administrators Know. With both books, I try to mix
humor with textual fact to break up the monotonous boredom
often associated with computer books.
For the newcomers, or those that are thinking about
entering into a career with computers, do not allow any of the
things I say to discourage you. I am merely trying to help you
avoid some of the pitfalls and mistakes that I have seen, and
some that I have made. Additionally, in terms of software
knowledge, being a computer professional requires a great deal
of acquired knowledge that you are not going to be able to
learn overnight. So remember, nothing long lasting or worth
having, such as a professional career, can happen overnight.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Chapter 1

Information Technologies 101

‰ A Word about Computer People
‰ Preparing for a Career in Computers
‰ Degree verses Computer Certifications
‰ Obtaining a Job without Experience
‰ Overlooking Inexperience
‰ Can I quit my job, go to a certification boot
camp, and make 70K in 3 months
‰ Certification Resources
‰ Typing Skills
‰ How Much do Computer People Make
‰ Salaried Position

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 Hacking the IT Cube

A Word about Computer People

The world of information technology is a strange and
sometimes mysterious place to those that are on the outside.
Computer people are smart, well trained, notoriously arrogant,
and are responsible for the distribution of more gynecological
imagery on the Internet than the mind can comfortably
conceive.
In 2003, there were 25,007,505 reported businesses in the
United States, with an estimated 98% using computers, which
require a skilled computer person to repair, maintain, and
manage their systems and operations. The U.S. Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that there are 2
million computer professionals in the U.S., with an estimated
200 million computers. This means that one computer person is
responsible for 100 computers. However, the Department of
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, also reports that 5 % of the
work force is home sick on a daily basis. This leaves
10,000,000 computers divided among the remaining
workforces.
Two million hacking, cracking, Internet surfing, socially
challenged techno-wizards are in charge of every database, e-
mail server, web server, payroll system, bank, and airplane-
controlling computer in the United States. There are computer
people that use their powers for good, and those that use their
powers for spam. We are a small group of professionals that
are in charge of a large amount of important equipment. (In
case, you forgot.) Another “interesting” statistic is that there
are more people in North America with webbed toes than there
are computer people and we are responsible for the data that
drives the economy of the world. What do web-toed people
contribute? It is not as if they are out there using their gifts
winning gold medals in Olympic swim meets.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Preparing for a Career in Computers

There are certain requirements one must attend to before first
applying for a job in a professional career. You must be
educated, either through an institution (university, trade school,
or junior college), self-educated, (books, Internet, home
network) or from self-experience (talented liar). When there
are not any jobs available after college, some people have no
choice but to continue their education for another two years,
and then two more. Some computer people spend up to 8-years
in college before actually looking for a job. Many of those
people simply become professors and teach the academics of
what they learned in school. There are even others not
comfortable with looking for a job unless they have every
computer certification known to humankind behind their
names.

John Doe, PhD, CCIE, CCNP, CCNA, CISSP,

CCSP, MCSE, MCSA, MCSD, MCDBA, CAN,
CDE, CIW, UNIX, Linux, Network+, A+…

This is too many certifications just to tell people to

reboot, check their printers for paper, and turn off their
keyboard cap locks. Once you have the primary knowledge you
need for a resume, the real job begins, looking for a job.
Certainly many books teach you about network protocols,
configuring a database, writing and compiling the “Hello
World” program in every programming language. Additionally,
there are even more resources on how to write a great resume.
After that, there seems to be a huge void of information that
will tell you how to get a job, what to expect once you have a
job, and how to keep it.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Nothing will impress a perspective employer more than

experience. One year of experience is equal to 4 years of
college. If you disagree with this, then you can argue the
subject during your next job interview.
For those of you who want to enter into a career in
computers, there is plenty of confusion about where to go and
what to learn. This is especially true for those who want to
become a Network Administrator. Colleges are not very
specific when it comes to the computer sciences. They offer
generalized degrees, not presenting an explicit career title.
They may teach elements in basic networking, some
programming, and quite a bit of desktop software instruction,
however, none of which gives you enough insight into applying
for a job for which you trained. The IT degree does not offer a
career, just a field. Many graduates are on their own in finding
a position within IT that they would like to pursue--even
masters in computer logic and probabilities, or a PhD in
probable fuzzy logic. What real career opportunities are there
for people with nonsensical degrees? There are not any. This is
why many people with higher degrees must teach. With respect
to the many intelligent teachers and professors in the world, I
have worked in a university’s IT department and there is a
huge disparity between teaching and doing. The difference
with having experience is that it replaces what you have
learned in the classroom and exercises your troubleshooting
skills.

If universities really wanted to teach you a career in

computers, there would be courses in printer repair and fax
machines.
-- bitter network administrator

However, please understand me; you have a far better

chance of getting a job with a degree than you would without

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 Hacking the IT Cube

one. I only mention this because, like computer certifications,

many people believe because they have one; they expect to
have immediate acceptance as an expert in the field. Do not
allow that last statement to discourage you. Lack of experience
does not mean that you will not get a job; it just means that you
are not likely to get the top job, without first gaining a little
experience. Experience is the curse of the unemployed.
Every company has the position of Network
Administrator; however, it is not a career position taught in
school. There is no formal training to become a Network
Administrator, because the job itself is a position of acquired
skill and knowledge. Simply put, it is a job of experience. It is
unlikely that a company will hire you as a Network
Administrator right out of school. You do not have enough
acquired knowledge to perform the job. You can, however, be
hired on a helpdesk or as a network analyst or a systems
analyst. These jobs are like an internship to becoming a
Network Administrator or a Network Engineer. How long it
takes you to become a Network Administrator or Network
Engineer depends on how much time you are willing to invest
in learning the key skills required to do the job. Database
programmer is another example. Unless you are exceptionally
talented, it is unlikely that a company will hire you out of
school as a senior programmer to rewrite a mission critical
database. To get the best job you can, you need to prepare
yourself to the best of your ability.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Degree verses Computer Certifications

There are many computer people that have studied hard to
collect the standard computer certifications, such as, an MCSE,
CCNA or CCNP, Linux, Netware and a Unix certification.
These are all good certifications to have, but remember, in
today’s job market, certifications are the basic minimum
required by employers. Most positions require a degree as well
as certifications. If you have the opportunity to go to a college
or university then you need to do so. There are those that can
just sneak by with a few certifications and land a high paying
computer job, and many others that are extremely disappointed.
If you are of the personality that is aggressive and smart, you
will find a job in anything you seek, however, if you are the
type of person that must rely on your credentials, you will need
all the help you can get. Computer certifications without
working experience are only a garnishment to a resume,
therefore, you cannot rely on them to land you a job.
If you have just graduated high school and have the
financial means to attend college but are undecided, you had
better take my advice and get the degree. There are not many
17 to 21 year old computer professionals. Additionally, not
having a degree hinders your ability to advance within a large
corporate environment. You may very well sit on a help desk
for four years and lose a promotion to Systems Engineer to a
recent college graduate.
What happens if you do not have the resources to attend
college? Will someone still want to hire you without a degree?
Yes, and it happens every day. I taught myself, just as many of
my friends have done. As I stated earlier, without a degree, our
selections are limited. If one day you want to become a CIO
(Chief Information Officer) or Vice President of Technology,
you will be required to have a degree. As an IT Director, I
might have to accept that, because I do not have a degree. Of

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 Hacking the IT Cube

course, if this sounds like a path you will take, you will
discover other options in the course of your career and being a
CIO will not really matter.
However, I know plenty of people that are self-taught,
self-studied for their certifications, and they are working in the
industry today. You just have to be dedicated and self-
disciplined. If you do not have these two traits, you are going
to have to learn them or lessons will be long and slow for you.
When people ask me how I learned computers or networking, I
like to tell them, “I taught myself. Because I didn’t know much
to begin with, lessons were long and slow and the instructor
wouldn’t stop talking about himself.”
Many employers place a great deal of value in someone
that is self-taught. I know a woman named Ellen that is a good
example of this. She quit her job, dedicated herself to doing
nothing but learning networking, self-studied, and in two
months, she got an MCSE. In her first week, she had five
interviews; four with Microsoft and received four offers. She
chose the job with Cisco Routers on the Microsoft backbone in
Redmond, Washington. Dave, her boss, picked her because of
her drive and determination and her ability to learn. It took her
another five years before she ever looked at a local area
network. I always choose someone with a positive attitude and
the aggressiveness to learn above anyone else. I will always
hire someone eager without experience over someone
lackluster with experience.
When I review a resume, the first thing that I look at is
what software knowledge is listed. There are many instances
when a network manager or an IT Director needs someone with
knowledge that falls just below a certain salary level. The
problem with hiring someone with too much experience is he
or she often comes with higher salary requirements and bad
work habits. Sometimes it is better to hire someone smart and
eager who just needs a break. You will find that most

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 Hacking the IT Cube

employers think in these same terms. Managers who do not

agree with this philosophy will never call you based on your
resume in the first place, so you will never have to address
their issues with inexperienced workers. If you only have self-
experience to offer a potential employer, be confident enough
in what you have listed on your resume to do the job. When
you submit a resume, you are telling a potential employer that
you have done the best you can on your own, to make yourself
ready for this position.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Obtaining a Job Without Experience?

One of the greatest things about having a computer job is;
someone pays you to obtain enough experience to find a better
one.
-- I said that.

No one is born with experience, except for maybe the

French…and civil servants. Besides these two groups, no one
else is born with working job experience. Everyone has had a
job without prior experience at least once; and you will too.
Worrying whether or not you can get a job without experience
is foolish; worrying about getting a 200K per year job without
experience is also foolish, because it will not happen. (At least
there is a high enough probability that it is unlikely.)

--Anyone that has ever had a job was hired at least one time in
his or her life without some form of job experience.

Starting at the Top

Many people have been convinced that if they get a degree
or certain certifications they will obtain a top-paying job in a
company of their choosing. God bless your naive little
hearts. I am not saying that it is not possible. With the
“right” last name and from the “right” school, you could be
president of the United States, but you had better have great
connections, because a corporation is not as likely to start
you at the top, as an elected office will. Even Bill Gates and
Paul Allen started at the bottom. I mean, granted they started
from a higher altitude, but it was still a bottom position.
Because I hear so many IT managers complain about
a young, just out of school candidate, or someone with a boot

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 Hacking the IT Cube

camp certification, enter an interview with a list of demands,

I feel it is an important issue to address. I even interviewed a
young man one time, with no experience, first time job.
When I asked if he had any questions, he replied that he
wanted a new laptop, a credit card, and asked about a
company car. I saved him the embarrassment of failing the
company drug test.

Overlooking Inexperience
Product knowledge is the key to overcoming lack of
experience. Computer programs create computer careers.
Software companies create programmers, network
administrators, SQL programmers, and router administrators.
Inexperience is secondary if you know the product. In other
words, product knowledge is an acceptable replacement for
experience. Product knowledge can be described as knowing
an operating system, a programming language, a router OS, or
an SQL language inside and out. While studying C++, I was
talking to a Vice President at Microsoft, and he asked me how
well I knew C++? He needed C++ programmer’s right then. He
knew I had no programming experience but he was willing to
overlook it, if I was eager and knowledgeable enough to use
the product. I was not, and subsequently he did not pursue it
any further.
You can also gain knowledge from self-experience. Self-
experience sounds a lot like what lonely people do, but in this
context, self-experience can be setting up networks and servers
from your home or a lab. Self-experience can be labeled as
writing computer programs on your own. Simply put, self-
experience is when you teach yourself, either from a school or

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 Hacking the IT Cube

from home product knowledge. When real experience is not

available, you just have to do the next best thing.
Product knowledge is the most important tool you can
have when looking for a job, whether you are a seasoned
professional or just starting out. A degree in computer science
is a nice adornment on a resume, but it does little to help you
get a job without some type of software knowledge.
Every time that you install a network operating system,
create a user account, or set up a DNS, DHCP, WINS, or Print
Server, you have that knowledge to use at a later time. Many
people tell me that they cannot learn out of a book, they can
only learn from hands-on work. It is true that it is difficult to
retain computer knowledge when you read it from a book. I
have difficulty learning from a book unless I can apply the
knowledge to a specific task. Sometimes what does not seem to
make much sense in a book, will one day suddenly make a lot
of sense the first time you have to apply it.
Reading a book about computers or computer programs
is an acquired skill. Readers have compared the experience to
watching senior citizens play golf. Computer books are dry,
uninteresting, and often require the reader to keep a festering
open wound so that he or she may continually jab at it to stay
awake. Many new people never make it past the first 50 pages
of a computer book, (also known as the wall). Because of this,
they never pursue a career in computers. It is my theory that
these first 50 pages are specifically designed to prevent an over
population in the field of computers. These pages include a
review of the history and creation of the subject matter and
gives credit to all of the principle parties that have in some way
contributed to the program or protocol in question. Also
included is the description of how to use the book, who should
read it, the type of paper used to create the book, and how
many stitches are in the binding. Last, but not least, on the
fiftieth page is a section dedicated to conventions that are used

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 Hacking the IT Cube

in understanding the book that are almost immediately

forgotten the moment they are read. Those that are computer
professionals today, had the instinct to flip past the first 50
pages, and therefore not subjected to the mind numbing
characterless beginnings that plague every computer book. In
case you were wondering, I eliminated these first 50 pages.
I know that I wandered away a bit from the subject, but
I am trying to sneak in the answers to other questions that are
typically associated to this one. So yes, you can get a job
without experience, but it does not mean you can get away
without learning how to do the job.

While we are here, I will quickly address another question that

I am always asked:

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Can I quit my job, go to a certification boot

camp and make 70K in 3 months?
No.
This is a troubling question, and I get it quite a bit. Junior
colleges and certification boot camps advertise that you can
change your career within 6 to 8 weeks, receive a certification
and make over 50K a year right out of the blocks. I was in a
bookstore, when a man standing in front of the MCSE
certification section, explained to me that he qualified for a
government grant to get an MCSE. He said he was going to
quit his job in advertising and make more money in the
computer field. I tried to explain to him that it might not be
that easy, because the tech sector is suffering from the
economy, and if he already has a job, he might want to think
about keeping it. He gave me a dirty look and wandered away
with a $200.00 set of certification books. I should have never
broached my opinion on the subject. People never listen
anyway. But, the chances of a 50-year old man or woman,
starting without any computer knowledge, and then getting a
quick certification to a high paying career in computers, is not
very likely.
If a certification boot camp or learning institution tells
you that after taking their course, you can get an instant, high
paying career in anything, you should at least be a little
suspicious. If they had any credibility at all, they could furnish
you with a list of successful candidates. In fact, should not
most or all of their graduating classes already be making big
money in computers?

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Ask yourself how many jobs there are in the world that
starts out with an inexperienced worker at the top, not very
many.

Look at the employment section of your local paper and

tell me how many legitimate jobs are listed that state:

Wanted: no experience necessary. With only 6 weeks of

education to pass a test, we will hire you to manage all the
servers, workstations, and network in our company. You only
need to apply with a certification and a note from your
instructor that states you were a good test taker.

Just be careful when people tell you what certifications

can do. The certification freight train has already left the
station. A great deal of money has been made by companies
that promised a computer certification would get you a great
job, and because of this, they saturated the market with
unskilled, highly certified workers that cannot find work.
Without work experience, certifications only
compliment your actual product knowledge. Most IT job
interviews include a technical interview that includes very
specific questions about your product knowledge. If you cannot
answer basic questions or perform specific tasks, you will not
pass the interview. I know network managers who will end the
interview immediately if someone answers technical questions
with, “I’m certified in it, aren’t I?” Very few people are
capable of faking a technical interview. If you are someone that
can, you may skip this section and go straight to, “How long
should I hold out before accepting the job?” (Note: there is not
really a section titled, “How long should I hold out before
accepting the job?”)

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 Hacking the IT Cube

During an interview, you should tell the interviewer just

what you know, how you earned it, that you have done all you
can to teach yourself, and now you are looking for an
opportunity to learn first hand. Network Managers and IT
Directors are so gun shy, that if you cannot answer their
questions, then this is the only answer they want to hear. A
certification will not hold up in a job interview, if you did not
retain the data necessary to pass the course. If reading this
makes you nervous, you need to go back to the books and set
up as many different networks as you can. At the bare
minimum, you must at least be able to do what you have listed
on your resume. If self-experience is the only thing you can
offer, you had better be good at it. Network Analyst, System
Analyst, and Helpdesk Technicians are all positions that are
available without prior experience. These positions give you an
opportunity to gain first hand experience on a network server,
workstations, and even in the server room.

Certification Resources
The following resources have helpful information regarding
certifications and training.

http://www.Brainbench.com/
http://www.Mcpmag.com/
http://www.Certmag.com/
http://www.CramSession.com/

Beware of brain dumps. Certification brain dumps are websites

where test takers share their test results, questions, and answers.
Brain dumps are not a reliable source of information and if
caught using one, you can lose your certifications.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

IT Tip

Typing Skills
It is an odd thing, but your typing skills may determine your
abilities and experience level as seen by others. Immediately
upon entering the computer field, I noticed that I was looked
down upon because I used the hunt and peck method of typing.
Someone who makes a career on instruments that use a
keyboard as its primary input device should master such a
device. It is like turning your car over to a mechanic who does
not know how to use a wrench properly. To overcome this, I
practiced using a typing program for 30 minutes a night for one
month, and at the end of the month, I could type 60 words a
minute. Computer professionals type, not hunt and peck. Poor
keyboard skills stand out.

How Much Do Computer People Make?

The number one question I receive on my website is; how
much do computer people make? The very first thing you
should know, never trust those lying “Salary Surveys” posted
on the Internet. I have been in salary negotiations where the
person brought one of those salary surveys, and declared that
they should be making the industry standard. They stated that
if their salary did not meet industry standards, they were going
to quit. That survey cost Poindexter his job that day, as my
boss told him that we did not want to hold anyone back from
fulfilling his or her potential. Pride forced Poindexter to walk
out and stupidity caused him to trust a salary survey. I later
convinced my boss, who was the CEO of the company, to take
Poindexter back, but it cost him a week’s worth of wages and
another year to get a reasonable raise.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

I determined one time that for a salary survey to be

accurate in my area, at least one computer person had to make
8 million dollars a year to average out the survey’s numbers.
Another mistake made by job applicants in today’s job
market is that they are demanding too much money when he or
she has no experience. There was a time that you could
graduate from college or acquire several certifications, with no
experience, and demand big wages. That ship sailed to India.
Unless you can offer a company something that no one else
can, you better be humble, appreciative, and look for an
opportunity to test what you have learned, so you can gain
experience. Why is that? Because you are in competition with
a multitude of others willing to work cheaper just to get a shot
at earning experience, and attitude means everything. I know
five IT Directors right now that would disqualify you in an
instant just for being too cocky or that you overstate your
knowledge because you have a few certifications.
A Network Administrator makes on the average
anywhere between $40,000 and $75,000 a year. Helpdesk
technicians and programmers rate a different range. Because
every area of the world has a different local economy, it is
impossible for me to tell you how much you can make. The
best source of how much money you can make in your area is
to search the job market online, either at www.monster.com,
www.dice.com, www.hotjobs.com or through your local
newspaper’s employment ads. This is also a good reference to
find out what software you should know as well.
Spoiled in the past with high wages, so many computer
people allow their pride to get in the way and not accept
anything less than what they were making before. If you can
get a job—take it! Remember, it is easier to get a job when you
already have one, then to find one when you are desperate and
behind on paying your bills.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Salaried Position
Generally, IT positions are salaried. Why is that? Because IT
people often have to work many nights, weekends, and
employers do not want to pay for it, so you must manage your
time wisely. Sometimes, no matter how well you manage your
time, you are just going to have work late. Viruses are probably
the number one cause for your unpaid overtime hours. This is
why so many Network Administrators want to form a vigilante
militia to hunt virus makers and hackers and dole out our own
brand of justice. I am not sure what that is exactly, but it will
be severe. Viruses are not the only reason for unpaid overtime
hours; upgrades, updates, new install, server crashes, and
service packs. There are critical security patches, more security
patches, and even more security patches and do not forget
about those critical security patches, because if you are not up
on those babies, it is back to viruses and hackers.
Years ago, when I had to have stitches in my hand, the
doctor turned towards me with a needle and said, “It is going to
hurt and that’s just the way it is.” I smiled because I thought he
was kidding…filthy animal.
It is the same with being a salaried IT worker; sometimes
it is just going to hurt, but there are so many other benefits in
the computer department that the occasional late night install
does not matter.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Chapter 2

Positions in an IT Department
‰ Helpdesk Phone Support
‰ Helpdesk Technician
‰ Network Analyst
‰ Network Administrator
‰ Network Engineer
‰ Network Security Administrator
‰ Database Administrators
‰ Webmaster
‰ Programmers
‰ IT Consultants
‰ Director of Information Technology
‰ Chief Information Officer

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 Hacking the IT Cube

IT Positions
IT departments will vary on how they determine the title of a
position, which can cause confusion. Examples of this are the
titles, Helpdesk Technician and Support Technician. Both jobs
perform the same task but have different names. In this
section, I have compiled a list of typically used job titles,
needed education, associated skills, and duties.

ƒ Helpdesk Phone Support

ƒ Helpdesk Technician
ƒ Network Analyst
ƒ Network Administrator
ƒ Network Engineer
ƒ Network Security Specialist
ƒ E-mail Administrator
ƒ Database Administrator
ƒ Web Designer
ƒ Web Developer
ƒ Programmer
ƒ IT Consultant
ƒ Director of Information Systems (IT Manager)
ƒ Chief Information Officer

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Helpdesk Phone Support (Phone Support Analyst,

Support Services, Phone Support Engineer)

When the statement “Click Here” is difficult to understand,

when “Press Any Key” does not provide enough options, and
when you are not quite sure if you should say yes to “Format
Hard Drive Now,” the helpdesk support hotline is there for
you.
To be a Phone Support Engineer, you must be a kind and
understanding person, enjoy people, and have the psychic
ability to read minds. You must also have strong translation
skills. You have to be able to translate the word ‘thingy,” into
its hardware or software equivalent, that can change between
computer terms within seconds. Patience is the key to computer
phone support. If you are not a patient person, you should not
consider this as a long-time career goal.
Helping people with their computer problems by phone is
far more difficult than in person. Talking someone through
something as simple as a right click of the mouse can be
misinterpreted as writing the word click. Right Click can equal
Write Click, C: prompt can be Sea-prompt, and Reboot can be
turn off your monitor. Proper communication is the key to
working a helpdesk support line; this also means that you must
translate your language into what stupid people can understand.

Education

A college degree is not typically required for this type of

computer position, although certifications can be a plus. A
helpdesk support person may even have an A+ or Microsoft
Office certification. A helpdesk tech usually learns his or her
technical skills on the job. Their support ranges from e-mail,
MS Office, to connectivity issues. Most companies also have
their own priority software, which the helpdesk also supports.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

The helpdesk is generally an entry-level position and in many

cases, a base launching point into other IT career levels. It is
common to see newly graduated IT majors beginning their
careers at the helpdesk. It is my opinion that every computer
person should spend time on the helpdesk.

Associated Skills

Service packs and security updates: Systems that are not up-to-
date on service packs and security updates are not only a threat
to their own normal operations, but to everyone in the
company. Even though updates do not keep out all pests, they
do keep out all known pests. After all, no one wants to fight
yesterday’s fires.

Printer error troubleshooting: With this type of computer

position, be aware that you will receive many calls concerning
printer problems. Jammed paper, (feeder roller or tray problem)
out of ink, cannot connect to printer (check cable or network
connections); these are all typical user problems which you
will be required to resolve.

Monitor problems: Intermittent flickering of monitor, missing

colors, black screen; these are also common problems
associated with monitor errors.

Hard drive problems: Hard drive making a clicking sound,

(step up barring or motor failure) missing folders, foreign and
ineligible characters replace file or folder names. Not all hard
drives suddenly crash and stop working. In many cases, a hard
drive will show signs that it is having trouble.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

RAM (memory) problems: Low ram can cause a multitude of

problems if too many programs are running at once. Ad ware
and viruses will also cause memory shortages.

Internet connections: Loss of Internet connection is always a

favorite on the helpdesk. You must look at cable connections,
IP address status, or wrong user names.

Operating systems: Desktop operating systems are company

specific. Some companies may still employ Windows NT
workstations, while others may be up-to-date with the current
OS. I have seen OS2, Mac, Linux, Unix, Windows NT 4,
Windows 95, 98, Millennium, 2000, and XP. Only experience
can give you knowledge of the many operating systems
available.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Terms and Comprehension

The most difficult part of any computer support is the misuse
of the terms that computer people use, and their meanings
according to the computer user. Here are several
misunderstood computer terms by the computer end-user.

Your Understanding Their Understanding

Backup: data being backed up Backup: The opposite of go

to storage device. forward.
Cursor: Flashing pointer
Cursor: A rap artist
positioning.
Dump: A Network
Dump: Server Blue Screen
Administrator’s work area
Defrag: Defragmentation
Defrag: What some religious
collects streams of data and
groups claim they can
stores it together on the hard
accomplish with counseling.
disk.
Dongle: Something that if
Dongle: A device that prevents
touched in front of an end-
the unauthorized use of
user, may cause a sexual
hardware or software.
harassment lawsuit.
DSL: Digital subscriber lines
DSL: Cable Modem
up to 1.5 mbps
Modem: Computer case,
Modem: A modem is device
hard drive, monitor,
that converts computer data
motherboard, mouse,
into sound that can be
keyboard, a sound that cats
transmitted over phone lines.
make while in heat.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

E-mail: A medium used to

E-mail: Electronic mail send cat pictures to friends
that cannot have children
Emoticon: Geeks that cannot
Emoticon: :-)
express feelings
Encryption: Encryption is the
Encryption: A language
process of changing data into a
used to explain computer
form that can be read only by
problems to end-users.
the intended receiver.
FAT: The AP department of
every company in the world
FAT: file allocation table
and many programmers as
well.
Fat binary: A very large
Fat binary: Large files that
single digit that is typically
Macintosh and Power Mac can
used while driving behind
send.
the elderly.
Flash ROM: Reprogramming Flash ROM: What I am
a new BIOS going to do if I get fired.
Ghosting: Copying a hard Ghosting: What I am going
drive sector by sector to do if I am fired.
Gigabyte: Why Herb Albert
Gigabyte: 1,073,741,824 bytes
went to court.
Gopher: An accounting
Gopher: Helpdesk Engineer.
clerk.
Phong shading: In 3D Phong shading: When you
graphics, the polygons that want to wear a thong, but
make up the graphics need to only have a black magic
be shaded. marker.
Ping: The sound that the
monitor makes when users
Ping: Packet Internet Groper
bump their head against the
glass.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

POP: The sound that is made

POP: Post Office Protocol the second time their head
hits the monitor.
PPP: What happens if they
PPP: point-to-point protocol
drink too much coffee
Public domain: Food in the Public domain: Food in the
lunch room refrigerator after lunch room refrigerator after
12:30 PM 12:30 PM
RAID: redundant array of RAID: Going through your
independent (or inexpensive) desk after we fix your
disks computer.
RAM: random access memory RAM: Male sheep
Resolution: Resolution is a
Resolution: To quit smoking
measure of graphics that is
and lose weight after the
used to describe what a printer
holidays.
can print.
Twisted pair: Telephone
Twisted pair: When a
companies commonly run
computer geek marries the
twisted pairs of copper wires to
graphic artist in marketing.
each customer household
TWAIN: Another word for
TWAIN: Scanner driver
locomotive.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Helpdesk Technician (Helpdesk Engineer, Customer

Support, Helpdesk Analyst)

Those who have worked in a helpdesk position and survived,

compare the experience to working in a mental asylum for the
criminally insane, but much, much, worse. It is worse because
in a mental asylum, you can sometimes get the occasional hug
shortly after morning meds. Not to say that you will not get the
occasional hug in the office workplace—you will—but it is a
brief encounter that only occurs after removing a jammed piece
of paper from the printer.
Seriously, a well-trained helpdesk, that is to say, a
helpdesk that has trained their computer users well, will not
have near the problems as a department that has not. By
trained, I mean that you must create procedures and strictly
maintain them. If you allow people to call or come to your
office with every problem, the job can quickly become chaotic
and too overwhelming to handle.

Helpdesk Queue

Many helpdesks deploy some type of helpdesk form that

allows their users to file requests that go into a queue. In my
opinion, this is the best method to use. Using a database
(MySQL, Access), a scripting language (PHP, ASP, Perl), and
a Web program, (Apache, IIS…etc) you can develop your own.
Any program that allows users to enter their problem into
a database and return a report number to them through e-mail,
or the web page itself, is a good program. (You might even
want the e-mail or web page to have a few helpful suggestions
while waiting, such as; reboot, cap locks, add paper.)
I visited one large company and was surprised to find a
clipboard on a hook. If a computer user had a problem, they

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 Hacking the IT Cube

would walk up and write in their name, station number,

problem, and time. I find this method to be extremely
disorganized and difficult to track.
Organization is the key to keeping you and your
company’s computer users from becoming frustrated. I have
seen an entire billing department go home because someone
said that their billing program would be down for the entire
day, when in fact it was only down for 20 minutes. Once the
database was up again, they did not want to be the only
department working, and forfeited 7 hours worth of pay.
If they have to follow a queue system, and they receive
confirmation that their complaints were processed, then they
are happy to wait for a resolution to their problem. However, if
they just send an e-mail or put their name on the list without
some form of reciprocation, within minutes, they will become
stressed, and in many cases, angry. An angry computer user
is a crazed one.

Helpdesk Software

• QuickLogs: http://www.quicklogs.com/
3H1

• Helpdesk Reporter: http://www.helpdeskreporter.com/

4H2

• Trouble Ticket Management: http://e11online.com/

5H3

• Helpdesk Pro: http://www.helpdeskpro.net/

6H4

• MagicIT: http://www.remedy.com/solutions/magic/
7H5

• BridgeTrak: http://www.kemma.com/
8H6

Education

A college degree is helpful in any career field; however, it is

not necessary to gain employment as a helpdesk technician.
Experience and certifications are useful in this position. A+,

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 Hacking the IT Cube

MCP, Network+, and a Novell’s CNA would be particularly

helpful as a Helpdesk Technician.

Associated Skills

Hardware trouble-shooting basics: In any computer-related

field, it is always a good idea to learn the hardware basics.
Because hardware drives the software of a computer, it is
difficult to trouble-shoot a computer problem without proper
hardware knowledge.

Network configuration: Because most office software connects

to a network database, you must at least learn how to configure
a desktop’s network options, more specifically, TCP/IP setting.
Learn the uses for DHCP, DNS, ODBC, and default gateway
settings. Learn how to trouble-shoot network connectivity. In
addition, you should learn logon profiles and their application
in a corporate environment. Mapping network drives is a
common practice as a Helpdesk Tech, as well.

Network hardware basics: Learn basic network equipment uses

and configurations, such as network cards, hubs, switches,
bridges, and routers.

Printer installation: Printer “problems” are a major issue in

any office environment. The person in this computer position
should already have a good understanding of configuration and
installations.

Viruses: Helpdesk Technicians are on the front line with

computer viruses. Depending upon the anti-virus system, the
Helpdesk Tech removes viruses, adware, and general malware.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Service packs and security updates: Systems that are not up-to-
date on service packs and security updates are not only a threat
to their own normal operations, but to everyone in the
company. Even though updates do not keep out all pests, they
do keep out all known pests. After all, no one wants to fight
yesterday’s fires.

Repairing PCs and building Clones: Helpdesk Techs are often

required to handle hardware repairs and build clone PCs from
the ground up. This is where an A+ certification can come in
handy.

Desktop applications: Trouble-shooting e-mail, word

processing, spreadsheet programs, databases connections, and
Internet browser’s applications are everyday occurrences.

The Blame Game

Creditability, integrity, and accountability are three important
human traits that you will not find in politics, or the office
workplace. From the CEO down to the ranks of the lowly
office clerk, no one is willing to be accountable for anything.
No other department is as sensitive to this problem as the
computer department. If an accountant deletes a spreadsheet
and you have a nightly backup, then there should have been an
hourly backup. Another action that you will see working in an
IT department, is the fear associated with a computer problem.
In almost every case, even at the executive level, even from
your boss, even from the CEO of the company, when you show
up to fix a computer problem, the user first apologizes and then
begins telling you that it was not their fault. A helpdesk

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 Hacking the IT Cube

position can be a first stage building block in helping enhance

the self-esteem of a computer geek.
Although I should add that from time to time, some
people will actually admit they must have done something
wrong. This type of response is extremely rare and often causes
a tear to well up in your eye.
Most company computer users, no matter how miniscule
the problem, are afraid they will be blamed for breaking the
computer. They are quick to tell you that they did not cause the
problem. Then they will spend the next 30 minutes (if you let
them), explaining what they think the problem is, and finally
closing with how they hate computers and it is your fault. Like
the person in a complaints department, a computer person must
be thick-skinned. Blaming the IT department for every
computer problem is just part of the problem and those that
cannot adjust usually find another career quickly.

The Magic of Reboot

Computer programmers and computer users alike both believe
that “reboot” is the lazy IT department’s way of fixing every
computer problem, and in many respects, this is true. The view
from a Helpdesk Tech is this: most helpdesks are under-
manned, and there is just not enough time to sit at a computer
and try to figure out what the user or user’s programs are doing
wrong to cause the computer to freeze. In most causes, it is a
simple matter of too many programs jockeying for position on
the computers RAM. Most companies purchase their
computers in bulk, or from the lowest bid, which usually
results in sacrificing performance. (RAM, CPU speed, video
card, network card…you get it). In many large companies, the

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 Hacking the IT Cube

act of adding more memory or upgrades to a computer almost

requires an Act of Congress (without the pork projects).

Step 1.Æ The Helpdesk Tech makes a request through the

Network Administrator, for additional RAM for Alice in the
Billing Department. The Network Administrator looks it over,
fills out a purchase order, signs it, and then passes it up to his
or her boss; the Director of Information Technology.

Step 2.Æ The purchase order goes to the Director of

Information Technology for his or her approval. The director
looks it over, agrees or disagrees, and the purchase order is
then sent to someone in budget.

Step 3. Æ A clerk in “budget” looks over the purchase order,

associates it to the department that will receive the RAM, sends
a copy of the purchase order to the head of that department,
and waits for an approval.

Step 4. Æ The department head looks over the request, glances

at the price, gets up and walks over to the person whose
computer is freezing up, and asks Alice if they really need to
spend $50 of their budget on RAM. Alice gets nervous, says
that she is not really having a problem, and the P.O. is rejected.

Alice continues to have a problem and complains bitterly that

the IT department is incompetent.

Scenario 1.2:

Alice: “The thing that you added to my computer didn’t work.

My computer is frozen again. I’m getting very aggravated with
this, Gerald!” (Gerald is the name of our example helpdesk
person.)

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Helpdesk: “What were you doing when your computer froze?”

Alice: “What was I doing? Why, I wasn’t doing anything—it

just froze!”

(At this point, Alice has fallen into a defensive position.)

Helpdesk: “I wasn’t suggesting that you did anything wrong,

I’m just trying to troubleshoot the problem.”

Alice: “The problem is you put more RAM in my modem,

instead of fixing the real problem!”

(Alice has quickly turned her frustration into anger and

directed it towards Gerald. Additionally, company computer
users always call their computer case a modem, or CPU. I do
not know why; they are just stupid.)

Helpdesk: “…”

(Immediately Gerald has felt Alice’s anger and he becomes

angry. Instead of lashing back at her, he calms the situation by
saying…”

Helpdesk: “I think there is cake in the lunch room.”

Alice: “Cake?”

Helpdesk: “I think it’s your boss’ birthday—her 50th?”

Alice: “Oh no…umm, I’ll just reboot and get back to you
later.”

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Alice runs off in a frantic tizzy, thinking she has forgotten her
boss’ birthday and is now rushing into her office to wish her a
happy 50th birthday. Gerald, a seasoned helpdesk tech, avoided
a hostile confrontation that could have potentially gotten him
written up, and instead sent Alice to her boss’ office where she
made a complete and utter fool of herself by wishing her 40-
year- old boss a happy birthday.

It is difficult to diagnose “Frozen Users Computer Kiosk

Syndrome” because any combination of events could cause a
computer to freeze. Frozen Users Computer Kiosk Syndrome
can be caused by two programs trying to use the same register
in the CPU or Memory space, program error, or even little kitty
dancing across the computer monitor at the exact instant a
mission critical process was trying to update the user’s
database.

Like in a hospital emergency room, the computer

helpdesk is a difficult environment to work because you only
work with people that are in pain. By the time they contact you,
they are aggravated, irritable, and difficult to handle.
Frequently, I have a pep talk with my helpdesk staff, reassuring
them that humanity is worth saving…but not all of it.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Network Analyst (Network Specialist, Support

Technician, LAN Support)

A Network Analyst is somewhere between the helpdesk and

the Network Administrator. This position supports computer
users, helpdesk staff, and the Network Administrator. Network
Analysts work on special projects. The projects assigned to
Network Analysts can be computer rollouts, the deployment of
a videoconference system, or the current project at hand. A
Network Analyst usually has a specific network segment to
manage as well as a territory. In this position, you can build
stronger server and networking skills that will help you
advance to a Network Administrator.

Duties assigned to a Network Analyst:

• Backups
• Server service packs and security updates
• Network equipment support
• Network monitoring
• Systems utilization reporting
• Traffic shaping
• Systems and license auditing
• Desktop and network equipment maintenance
• Inventory

Education

A college degree is helpful in any career field. The more

education and certifications you have, the more likely you will
be able to obtain a job as a Network Analyst. Many IT
graduates begin as a Network Analyst and obtain their
experience to move on to higher-level computer jobs.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

An IT, MIS, or Computer Science degree is the preferred

college degree, however many computer people may have
other types of degrees that are completely unrelated to
computers. I know of many IT people with engineering
degrees, degrees in physics, and even graphic design. It is
common to get to the last year of college and realize that you
would rather work with computers. My department once hired
a recent graduate as a Webmaster, with a degree in fisheries.
He later moved on to become an SQL admin for Microsoft.
Some of the certifications helpful to this position; A+,
Network+, Server +, Microsoft’s MCP, MCSE, Novell’s CNA,
Cisco’s CCNA, or CCNP.

Associated Skills

Hardware trouble-shooting basics: In any computer related

field, it is always a good idea to learn the hardware basics.
Because hardware drives the software of a computer, it is
difficult to trouble-shoot a computer problem without proper
hardware knowledge.

Network configuration: Because most office software connects

to a network database, you must already know how to
configure a desktop’s network options. You should know how
to configure the client side of ODBC connections, DHCP,
DNS, and know the uses for a default gateway. Additionally, as
a Network Analyst, you may need to configure a DHCP, DNS
server. You should also know by now how to map network
drives at the GUI and command line level.

User Management: How to manage user profiles, logons, and

home directories.

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 Hacking the IT Cube

Network hardware: It is common for a Network Analyst to

work beside a network administrator or network engineer,
along with the installation and configuration of a variety of
network appliances, such as network cards, hubs, switches,
bridges and routers.

Printer installation: Printer “problems” are a major issue in

any office environment. Drives become corrupt, rollers always
need replaced, and of course—paper jams. As a Helpdesk
Tech, you are already familiar with how to install printers to a
desktop and how to map to network shared printers. In the
position of Network Analyst, you may need to install network
printers using TCP/IP, DLC, and other network protocols.

Viruses: A Network Analyst often moves from fighting viruses

from the desktop to the server enterprise level. Many IT
departments employ the use of an anti-virus program that scans
and manages anti-virus software from a centralized location,
such as a server. This eliminates the need to install anti-virus
software on each desktop personally. Enterprise software will
push the software onto the computers that you direct to receive
it.

Service packs and security updates: Systems that are not up-
to-date on service packs and security updates are not only a
threat to their own normal operations, but to everyone in the
company. Even though updates do not keep out all pests, they
do keep out all known pests. After all, no one wants to fight
yesterday’s fires. Because of this, it is important to make sure
your servers and workstations are up-to-date on their patches.
Most computer systems can be configured to update patches at
a predetermined time without the aid of the IT department
having to update manually every system, everyday. However,

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 Hacking the IT Cube

it is often necessary to check to see if your machines are doing

what they were configured to do.

Repairing PCs and building Clones: Helpdesk techs, Network

Analysts, and Network Administrators are often required to
provide hardware repairs and build clone PCs from the ground
up.

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Network Administrator (Systems Administrator,

LAN Admin, Server Admin)

Being a Network Administrator is a lot like being an African

Rhinoceros; you have to be thick skinned, have keen listening
skills, and have the ability to rush in and put out fires.
(Rhinoceros are sometimes known to charge into campsites and
stomp out campfires.) Another similarity between Network
Administrators and the Rhinoceros is the fact they are tracked
in the wild, but instead of being ear tagged or radio collared;
computer people are impaled with cell phones and pagers. The
difference between the two species is that if you wake a
Rhinoceros at 6 a.m. asking if the e-mail server is down, the
Rhino will most probably kill you, whereas a Network
Administrator will only wish death upon you.

A Network Administrator is typically in charge of a

company’s local area network, but in mid to small sized
companies, a Network Administrator is the local and wide area
network admin, e-mail admin, Webmaster, database admin,
SQL admin, security admin, helpdesk support, and company
trainer. The Network Administrator is responsible for every
computer, workstation, server, network node and protocol that
connects to his or her network. Additionally, a Network
Administrator is responsible for printer services,
documentation, network performance, and disaster plan and
recovery on a host of multi-platform operating systems from
software manufacturers that hate each other. The Network
Administrator is often in charge of the company’s phone
system as well.
A Network Administrator is a title of acquired
experience. In other words, a Network Administrator receives
his or her training from hands-on experience. A Network
Administrator is often referred to as a generalist, because the

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job requires general knowledge in almost every function within

the IT department. Every other IT position depends, in some
way or another, on the Network Administrator for permissions,
configurations, and connectivity.

Education and Certifications

A college degree is usually required but not necessarily

mandatory, depending upon the right candidate. The position of
Network Administrator is a position of acquired experience,
however, the more education and certifications you have; the
easier it is for you to obtain a job. An ideal candidate would be
one that has worked their way up from other IT positions until
they acquired enough on-the-job training to manage their own
network and server room.
In this career position, a Network Administrator would
have obtained as many network certifications as he could.
Some of the main certifications obtained by a Network
Administrator are Microsoft’s MCP, MCSE, Linux
Administrator, Novell’s CNA, Cisco’s CCNA, or CCNP. Most
Network Administrators are well rounded and have Microsoft
SQL or Oracle cert, an E-mail server certification such as
Microsoft Exchange, and even a programming language.

Associated Skills

Server and network appliance hardware: Network

administrators work with server hardware more than desktop
IDE components. SCSI hard drives, controllers, RAID
controllers, backup drives, storage devices, firewalls, routers,
and dual CPU sets.

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Network configuration: E-mail servers, SQL servers, Print and

file servers, DHCP, DNS, Active directory, Virtual Private
Networks, TCP/IP suite of tools, Wireless networks, Hubs,
Switches, firewalls, routers, NFS, SNMP, AppleTalk.

User Management: The Network Administrator is responsible

for creating user names and passwords, user profiles, logons,
and home directories. Additionally, the Network Administrator
is responsible for the computer naming convention. That is the
style of names used to name a company’s servers and
workstations.

Printer installation: Printer “problems” are a major issue in

any office environment. Drives become corrupt, rollers always
need replaced, and of course—paper jams. As a Network
Administrator, you are already familiar with how to install
printers to a desktop, and how to map to network shared
printers. In the position of Network Analyst, you may need to
install network printers using TCP/IP, DLC, and other network
protocols.

Viruses: A Network Administrator fights viruses from the

server enterprise level. Many IT departments employ the use of
an anti-virus program that scans and manages anti-virus
software from a centralized location, such as a server. This
eliminates the need to install anti-virus software on each
desktop personally. Enterprise software will push the
application onto the computers from one central location
without visiting each computer.

Service packs and security updates: Systems that are not up-
to-date on service packs and security updates are not only a
threat to their own normal operations, but to everyone in the
company. Even though updates do not keep out all pests, they

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do keep out all known pests. After all, no one wants to fight
yesterday’s fires. Because of this, it is important to make sure
your servers and workstations are up-to-date on their patches.
Most computer systems can be configured to update patches at
a predetermined time without the aid of the IT department
having to update manually every system, everyday. However,
it is often necessary to check to see if your machines are doing
what they were configured to do.

Operating systems and server software: NT 4, Windows 2000,

2003, Unix, Solaris, Novell, Linux, Microsoft Internet
Information Server (IIS), Apache, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, and
MySQL.

What you should already know

A Network Administrator’s job does not just exist in the server
room. Although most Network Administrators should only
work on servers, routers, and switches, in reality he or she
often spends more time helping the end-users or helping the
helpdesk. To become a Network Administrator, you must first
know the fundamental basics of server side and client side
operating systems and applications, as well as basic hardware
issues. Listed below are some of the programs you should
already know.

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Client Side Programs

• Knowledge of Desktop Operating Systems.

• Client E-mail
• How to connect an ODBC Driver
• Word and Excel
• Backing up user’s email and documents

Desktop Operating Systems

A desktop operating system is of course the program that

controls the user’s PC or workstation. The most common
workstation in use is Windows 98, although Windows XP is
starting to make some headway. I do not believe that Windows
Millennium did very well, as most computer people do nothing
but complain about it Because of this; I always draw strange
stares when I admit liking it. Even though Windows 98 has not
been on the market in years, it is still widely in use in the
corporate environment. For security issues, XP Professional far
exceeds any of its predecessors. NT workstation used to be the
system to use for security but it was with Windows 2000. Some
people however, bypassed 2000 and implemented XP
Professional as a secure network operating system. I can tell
you from first hand experience that it is not. XP’s security is
too easily by-passed. By simply booting in safe mode, you can
gain access to this system.

Even with all of the reported security issues of Windows 2000,

it is still the safest bet in a workstation.

(Note: Many software companies may claim that their

operating system is secure. The question still remains, secure
from whom? A seasoned Network Administrator has the

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experience and tools to access any system he or she sees fits.

Today’s software companies may speak of security, but what
they are really stating is that their system is secure from
amateurs, not professionals.)

Linux is slowly making its way to the client desktop, but the
system still has interoperability issues in a mixed Microsoft
environment. In companies where the IT department builds
their own PC clones, you might find Linux as the OS,
especially if the Database program is MySQL or Oracle. In the
beginning, there was OS2, Geo Windows and Linux. Linux is
the only desktop that survived. Linux is still struggling to
break into the desktop market. Only those Network
Administrators that have been avid loyalist to the program are
currently implementing it, but based on Linux’s growing trend,
it will not be much longer when it will be a stronger competitor
to the desktop market.

Connecting Workstations to Network Shares

As with every workstation within a company, you will need to

network it to network printers, server shares, and sometimes
network fax machines. To achieve this, you should already
know how to network a client computer to network resources.

Client E-mail

Outlook, GroupWise, and Lotus Notes are the top three e-mail
clients. It is unlikely that you would have access to all three of
these programs to learn their configuration menus. Google.com
is the computer person’s friend. If you are extremely eager and
want to try to memorize every program that I mention in this
book, you may find all three of these program’s configuration

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tables somewhere on the net. Just type in configuring

(program name here)

ODBC Connection

Another important area to know is ODBC connections. ODBC

means Open Database Connectivity. ODBC is a standard
database access method developed by Microsoft. The goal of
ODBC is to make it possible to access any data from any
application, regardless of which database management system
(DBMS) is handling the data. ODBC manages this by inserting
a middle layer, called a database driver, between an application
and the DBMS. The purpose of this layer is to translate the
application's data queries into commands that the DBMS
understands. Most accounting programs utilize the ODBC
driver to connect between the workstation and the server. Most
databases are MS-SQL, Oracle, or MySQL. You must establish
a connection between the client program and the server’s
database with an ODBC link. The ODBC manager is in the
Control Panel within Windows 95, 98, Millennium, and NT. In
Windows 2000 and XP Professional, you will find it in
Administrative Tools. You should easily be able to connect a
client to a database using ODBC drivers.

Word and Excel

Microsoft Word and Excel are the two most popular word
processor and spreadsheet programs in the world. Many people
looking for a higher-end network position often make the
mistake of placing Microsoft Office on their resume under
computer software knowledge. It is not a mistake to know
these two programs, just to place them on your resume,
because these are the bare minimum programs that every
Network Administrator should know without having to state it.

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Backing up e-mail and documents

There is nothing more moving than watching what happens

when a mail server crashes and you tell your users that you did
not back up their mail because it was just a bunch of junk
anyway. Yes, I warn you from experience. It was not that long
ago that backup tapes and hard drive space was prime real
estate (in other words, it was a lot more expensive than it is
now.) In my own arrogance, I did not feel that everyone’s
personal email warranted the expense of storage space. The
server crashes, as they all ultimately do, and I announced that I
only backed up the executive’s e-mail and no one else’s email.
A very disjointed, upset mob of accounting clerks, secretaries,
and assistants gathered around the server room door waiting
with quiet, quivering anticipation, and rope. Completely
unaware of what awaited me outside, I was able to regenerate
the crashed drive, as it was within a RAID 5. I walked into the
hallway, announced that the entire thing was a joke and quickly
darted into my office and reworked the back ups.

Server Side Programs

The job description of a Network Administrator may vary from

company to company, but below is an outline of what a typical
Network Administrator should be able to do:

• Network Security
• User Accounts and File Sharing
• Network Switches / Hubs
• Mail Server
• Internet Server

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• Backups and data redundancy

• Supporting the Help Desk and Network Analyst
• SQL Server
• File Servers
• Time Clock Server
• Documentation
• Backups, Backups, and Backups
• Software Licenses
• Monitoring Network Traffic
• Routers and Internet Connectivity
• Internet Security
• Virus Protection
• Anger Management (optional)
• Hardware and Software Inventory
• Ordering computers, parts, and accessories
• Fax Machines
• Print Servers and Printers

I know this seems like a lot to know for your first job, and
that is only because it is. Most graduates do not obtain a
Network Administrator position right out of school. Without
experience, you are more likely to find a position as a Network
Analyst, or Help Desk Technician. However, after a year or
two of experience, it is possible to find a job with another
company as a Network Administrator. Many Network
Administrators receive their jobs through battlefield
commissions. (The Network Administrator either quits or
fired.)

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From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Frequently Asked Questions About My New Network

Administrator.

Many people that have newly purchased a Network Administrator

either do not understand them or need advice on how to handle and care
for them. Below are frequently asked questions to help you work with
your new Network Administrator.

Q: My Network Administrator seems distant and does not want to

socialize with the other workers.

A: Network Administrators are private beings that interact best in

Internet chat rooms and e-mail rather than on a more personal level.
Just give your Network Administrator some time to adjust to his or her
new surroundings, and you might just see him or her eventually get to
you.

It may also be that your Network Administrator is lonely or exhausted.

If after a year, your computer geek still does not fit in with your
company try hiring another one.

Q: My Network Administrator constantly insults the other workers.

A: It is never a Network Administrator’s intention to insult a co-worker

purposely. It is just that there are many times when your Network
Administrator is working on several issues at once, (a thing that we like
to call multi-tasking), and the section of their brain that is responsible
for pleasantries is pre-occupied with running the network, all the
servers, the workstations, website, mail servers, SQL server, hubs,
switches, routers, and the backing up of mission critical data. When
someone interrupts his or her train of thought by asking a stupid
question, a Network Administrator responds the best way, he or she can

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without actually strangling you to death.

Q: My Network Administrator does not seem to have a penis.

A: Ah, do not be concerned. If your Network Administrator does not

have a penis, it is most likely that you have purchased a female model.
Do not let this alarm you! You can treat her as if she did have a penis.
If however, the absence of a Johnson is just too confusing for you, you
may order replacement parts or an add-on. However, we do not
recommend that you do this, as it will most likely slow down, or even
retard your unit.

Q: My Network Administrator does not want to spend his or her days

off repairing home computers.

A: Network Administrators are very selfish with their free time, days
off and vacations. Many managers do not understand this and they are
often confused by the unwillingness of a Network Administrator to
repair co-worker’s home computers on the weekends. In addition,
many company managers confuse salaried employees with slavery
employees.

Q: My Network Administrator has access to important company data

and e-mail. Should I be concerned that he or she might use this data
against my company or me later?

A: This is a common concern with many owners of a Network

Administrator. Understand that a Network Administrator is
professional, only handles your data, and never looks at it. However,
there have been some isolated cases when some Network
Administrators have malfunctioned because of being replaced with
overseas replacement workers or laid-off due to failing to report correct
corporate earners to the government. Moreover, yes it is true that many
of these “disgruntled” Network Administrators helped lead government

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investigators to hidden corporate data. However, this does not mean it

will happen to you, providing that you have not been guilty of any of
the above actions.

Q: How should I manage my Network Administrator?

A: Network Administrators need little managing. The difficulties with

trying to manage a Network Administrator are that most managers
know nothing about computers, networks, or well, anything technical.
Therefore, to try to manage a person that has a far more superior brain
than your own would be insane. Our best advice to you is to let your
Network Administrator do his or her job without interfering. Your
company will be better for it.

Q: My Network Administrator uses words and a language that I find

difficult to understand.

A: The Network Administrator uses a language different from the one

you were taught to use in your communications class, liberal arts class,
or that MBA. Network Administrators speak in acronyms and only use
0 and 1 in numbers. This is why purchasing a 10K piece of computer
equipment does not seem that unreasonable. If you are having trouble
understanding your Network Administrator, just ask him or her to
explain what they mean. NAs are always willing to explain terms,
although, be prepared to feel stupid.

Q: My Network Administrator dresses differently than the other

workers.

A: Your Network Administrator has a very good understanding of the

importance of corporate appearances. IBM, Ford, and Microsoft have
all realized that people work better when they can dress comfortably.
Your NA is simply dressing the way that he or she can better perform

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their duties.

A: My Network Administrator will not address me by my title and does

not seem to respect me.

Q: Sadly, you speak the truth; your Network Administrator does not
respect you. Many managers believe themselves to be on a higher level
than a computer genius. If you cannot correctly program your home
VCR to stop flashing 12:00 every time your power goes out, then how
can you really expect your Network Administrator to respect you?

Q: My Network Administrator repeatedly touches himself and it makes

the other staff members uncomfortable.

A: If your Network Administrator repeatedly touches his or her

pleasure centers in public, it could mean that your NA contracted cyber
herpes. If this is the case, have it treated immediately. It also falls
within Plan B of your company medical benefits.

Q: My Network Administrator eats the other worker’s lunches in the

company refrigerator.

A: This is a common complaint and one that you should address

immediately. Network Administrators that eat out of the company
refrigerator can contract dysentery and severe stomach ulcers. If this is
happening to you, make sure your NA takes a lunch break either off
site or in his or her office behind a shut door without being disturbed.

Q: My Network Administrator is writing a book, reading the news on

the Internet, playing computer games, talking to friends on the phone,
and building paper machete statues from the magazines of computer
parts companies.

A: Do not worry. If your Network Administrator is doing all of this, it

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is because he or she is happy and considers the workplace their home.

Just contribute this to your NA spending more time at work than at
home. Many NAs may not even remember that they have a real home.
If this type of behavior bothers you, it is recommended that you hire
another NA so your current one can go home.

Q: My NA did something good, but I do not know how to reward him

or her, so I did nothing.

A: If your NA is constantly doing good things for you and your

company, here are a few recommendations to show your appreciation:

• Show him or her some respect

• Compliment your NA from time to time to show you care
• Be a little understanding when your NA works all night, goes
home at 8 a.m., and tries to get a little sleep before coming
back at noon.
• Money: NA’s always view a raise or bonus as a sign you
appreciate them.

Q: My NA did something bad, and I want to punish him.

• Thirty years of psychological research has shown that

punishing your NA will have severe long-term effects on how
and when the government audits your company.
• Do not be afraid to apologize if you are wrong.
• Do not jump to conclusions, because in most cases, you do not
know what the hell you are talking about on the subject.
• Do not leave your banking account number or social security
number on your computer.
• Do not have an inter-office affair. Your NA will always know.
Mostly likely, he is sleeping with her too.

Q: I cannot believe that my Network Administrator is worth what I am

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paying him or her.

A: Imagine what your company would be like if all your computers

suddenly stopped working and no one could perform their daily duties.
Ask yourself, how many people depend on their computers and
database to do their jobs? Now, how much more would you be willing
to pay to make all of that happen again? A lot more, huh?

Q: My Network Administrator makes obscure and meaningless jokes

that no one else understands.

A: Ah, this is a tough one. Do not try to understand the humor of a

Network Administrator and do not ask them to explain the joke. You
have a better chance understanding how hydrogen boils off a star than
understanding the humor of a Network Administrator. No, a star like
the Sun, not like the movies.

Q: Where do I return my Network Administrator if he or she does not

work out?

A: Remember, you do not own a Network Administrator. They perform a

necessary function that keeps your company running. If not for the
Network Administrator, you would still be using paper ledgers and
abacuses.

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Network Engineer (Systems Engineer, Network

Architect)

Many Network Administrators become frustrated or bored with

their position and want to move into a field with more
networking equipment and less people. A Network Engineer’s
primary responsibility is to the company Wide Area Network
(WAN). This means that a Network Engineer is in charge of
the configuration of routers, bridges, and switches, network
planning, analyzing, and throughput. Network Engineers work
with the phone company and other network providers.
Typically, larger companies employ a Network Engineer on
staff.

Education and Certifications

A college degree is usually required for this position, but not

necessarily mandatory, as this is a position of experience.
However, many companies do require a college degree and
unless you are an exceptionally talented computer person, I
would recommend earning a degree. Preferred networking
certifications are Cisco’s CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE. Many
Network Engineers use Unix and Linux servers to monitor and
manage their networks.

Associated Skills

Server and network appliance hardware: Network Engineers

work in COLOs, NOCs, and locations that house wide area
networking equipment. You will find that most network

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Engineers prefer working with Linux and Unix servers for

reporting and monitoring networks.

Network configuration: Many large companies have their own

private wide area network, and or metropolitan area networks,
that connect remote offices to a central location. Frame relay,
private T1 lines, fiber, as well as other types of circuits are
used. Network Engineers know how to configure routers,
bridges, and FRADs to router traffic between these locations.

Routing protocols: Network Engineers work with routing

protocols like BGP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, and RIP.

Network monitoring and management: MRTG, is a popular

router monitoring software that displays bandwidth utilization
over time. Like many other network utilities, MRTG uses the
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to access
network devices from which to pull data. As for port
monitoring, Ethereal may be the popular protocol analyzer.

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Network Security Administrator (Security

Specialist, Security Analyst, Security Engineer)

A Security Administrator can be the person in charge of local

and wide area network security. He or she can maintain a local
or corporate firewall, intrusion detection, security auditing,
enforcement, access-lists, IPSec, and anti-virus software. In
small to medium-sized companies, the Network
Administrator’s duties may include security but in larger
companies with large networks, a Network Security Specialist
can have his or her hands full. Security Administrators are
more than just digital security guards; they investigate
intrusions, track hackers and virus origins, as well as design
and enforce security policies.

Education and Certifications

A college degree is typically required as well as formal training

in systems security. Formal training may come from security
companies that give classes, certification training, and general
experience.
Certifications usually associated with a Network Security
Administrator are Cisco Certified Security Professional
(CCSP), Cisco Pix Firewall Specialist Certification, Certified
Information System Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA
Security+, Check Point Certified Security Administrator
(CCSA) and Security Expert (CCSE), as well as the six SANS
certifications; GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA),
GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC), GIAC
Certified Firewall Analyst (GCFW), GICA Certified Unix
Security Administrator (GCUX), GIAC Certified Incident

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Handler, and GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator

(GCWN).

Associated Skills

Networking: To be a Security Administrator you will need to

have expert knowledge in networking, particularly TCP/IP port
assignments, packet encapsulation, network topology, and
design and theory.

Elements of Security: Security is the largest challenge in

computer networking today. A Security Administrator should
be well versed on every element of security: Firewalls, data
encryption, cryptography, operating system vulnerabilities (OS
vulnerabilities have to be kept up with on a daily basis) DMZ
topologies, proxy servers, server hardening, strong password
conventions, network and protocol scanning, digital
certificates, packet filtering, and router security.

Anti-Virus Tools: A virus is more likely to penetrate a network

than an attack from hackers. A Security Administrator is also
the person in charge of the first line of defense against stopping
viruses, trojans, malware, rootkits, and adware infiltrations. A
Security Administrator not only should be up to date on digital
parasites, but also the software that blocks and removes them.

Network Security Tool Kit: Efficient Security Administrators

arm themselves with an assortment of utilities in the fight to
keep their networks safe. Here is a short list of the more
commonly used programs.

• Trace Route

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• Telnet
• SnifferPro
• Ethereal
• Commview
• NSLookup
• NetStat, NBTStat
• Vulnerability Assessments / Penetration Testing
• Nessus
• Microsoft Assessment Tools
• Pstools suite of tools
• Fport
• Tlist
• Kill.exe
• FIRE

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Database Administrators (Database Engineer, SQL

Administrator, Oracle Administrator, Database Programmer)

Database Administrators (DBAs) designs, manage, configure,

program, backup, tune, and monitor the company’s database.
Because the database is where most companies store their
mission critical information, DBAs are responsible for
maintaining such important data. Database Administrators
work with application developers and report writers to design
how information passes into the database. The SQL query
language is the programming language used by the DBA to
insert, delete, and display data.

Education and Certifications

A college degree is typically required for this position,

although a small few have become Database Administrators
with experience and certifications alone. Because of the
sensitive nature of data management, formal training is
necessary.
In this career position, a Database Administrator will
need a certification in either Oracle Certified Professional
(OCP), or Microsoft Certified Database Administrator
(MCDBA). MySQL is also becoming a popular database server
program because it is Open Source and works on Windows,
Unix, and Linux platforms.

Associated Skills

Server and network knowledge: Because a database is on a

server and accessed from a network, it is important for a

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Database Administrator to have expert knowledge on at least

one platform of server, and desktop to server network
connectivity.

Database tools: DBAs use a wide assortment of database

utilities in the performance of the job. There are performance-
monitoring tools, optimizing utilities, logs, reporting, backups,
replication, and distributed transactions.

Report tools: In addition to using SQL queries to run reports,

many DBAs use third party report writing software such as,
Oracle Reports, Crystal Reports, and Impromptu.

Data warehousing and data mining: A data warehouse is a

collection of data gathered and organized for easy analyzing.
Data mining is the analysis of data to establish relationships
and identify patterns and is typically stored in a data
warehouse.

Web publishing: With so much e-commerce and Internet

databases, many DBAs create applications between websites
and databases. To assist them, DBAs use PHP, ASP, Java,
HTML, and XML.

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Webmaster (Web Designer, Web Developer, Web

Monkey)

Webmasters may install, design, and configure not only the

website, but the web services as well. Today’s websites are
more than just brochures of a company. They use complex
scripting, database integration for online shopping carts, and
powerful informational search engines. Additionally, websites
push down streaming music and videos, blogs, news, and
display the largest catalog of books in the world.

A Webmaster is responsible for maintaining, updating,

correcting errors, adding new pages and content, and the daily
upkeep of the website(s). He or she is also responsible for
configuring the web server programs, such as Internet
Information Server (IIS) and/ or Apache. These programs, in
conjunction with the Domain Naming Server (DNS), are
responsible for displaying and distribution of a website.

Web Designers and Developer

Web designers and developers may create the original design

of a web site before handing it over to the Webmaster, although
in many companies, the two positions are the same.

Education and Certifications

A degree in graphic design or visual arts is a definite plus in

the design portion of this position; however, the coding behind
a website is what makes it a valuable asset for many
corporations. HTML, SQL, PHP, Java, Perl, and ASP are the
essential codes that drive web pages on the Internet. Many

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webmasters compliment their career with such certifications

associated with SQL, IIS, Unix, Linux, and Windows.

Associated Skills

Programs: Windows server, Linux, Unix, IIS, Apache, SQL

server, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Dreamweaver, FrontPage,
Shockwave, Macromedia Flash, FTP, and DNS.

Code: HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, PHP, SQL queries, CGI,

XML, ASP, Perl, Image maps, and rollovers.

Search Engines: To increase the hit count on any website, it is

important to advertise a website on Internet search engines:
Yahoo, Google, Webcrawler, and Lycos are but a few.

Programmers (Software Engineer)

Apart from software companies, larger companies employ
computer programmers to write and design company
proprietary software. Larger companies with mainframes may
have several programmers who are always updating and
modifying code to keep up the daily changes of their business
needs.

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Education and Certifications

Typically, a degree in computer programming from a college

or university is required. Nevertheless, I have known self-
taught programmers that are doing just fine.

Associated Skills

Languages: C, C++, Visual Basic (VB), Visual C++, Python,

Java, Perl, COBOL, Delphi, Fortran, XML, and Microsoft
SQL, Oracle SQL.

IT Consultants (Contractors, Temps)

The definition of an IT Consultant is a contract worker who
performs a computer related service in a temporary
employment capacity “temp.” An IT Consultant can be a
temporary worker, used for a specific project such as a desktop
roll out, or a network expansion. Companies will typically hire
contract workers, or “temps” to write, upgrade, or modify code.
Many companies like to use contractors because they are
highly trained, they do not have to pay them medical and other
company benefits and they are easily disposed of when the job
is complete. Some companies require their IT staff to start out
as a temporary or contract worker for 6 months before hiring
them as a permanent employee. This gives an employer the
flexibility to dismiss a person that did not meet their
expectations.

Being a contract worker is a great place to start if you are

beginning a career in information systems. Another advantage

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to working as a contract worker is higher pay. Contract

workers can usually charge a higher hourly rate. A
disadvantage in being a contract worker is that once your
current assignment is completed, you may experience dead
time (time without pay) between jobs. Another disadvantage is
that you do not receive the same benefits as a permanent
employee “perm.” Some temporary companies do offer a
medical benefit package, but your monthly payment is much
higher than a perm’s. Most contract workers at a temporary
agency use this position as a way of obtaining employment as a
permanent employee. Although some contracts forbid the
hiring of temporary employees, most are on a time-specified
limit or require the employer to buy out the contract. Some
contractors love working as a temporary worker and would not
have it any other way. Years ago, I was a Network
Administrator for a company in the Seattle area, contracted for
a 6-month assignment. I enjoyed the independence of being a
contract worker, although at the end of the assignment, I did
accept the offer of a permanent position.

Director of Information Technology (IS Director)

The IT Director is the administrative executive of the
information technology department. Essentially, this position
manages the computer department and is a polyglot (linguist)
between the CEO and IT department. He translates technical
terms to his bosses and provides presentations. Because this
position is primarily a management position, the IT Director
can quickly fall behind in current technology because he or she
no longer has a hands-on role. Many IT Directors keep up with
current computer trends, but rely mostly upon their staff for
implementation. The IT Director’s primary duties are to

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provide competent staff, attend meetings, make reports,

manage people, and interface with other managers and
department heads. Most IT Directors have worked their way
up from other positions in the IT department and have expert
experience in the field of computers.

Education and Certifications

Because an IT Director is an upper management or executive

position, a college degree is often required. IT Directors begin
in a lower level computer position and work their way up. In
the course of their career, they usually collect technical
certifications along the way. Management seminars and
classes are helpful in obtaining this position.

Associated Skills

Project Management: Because many large organizations have

so many projects at any given time, IT Directors must learn or
develop good project management skills. Managing a computer
department is like running a business.

Budgets: Most IT departments must adhere to an annual

budget. It is often the IT Directors duty to try to stay under
budget and they could receive a bonus. Being over budget in an
IT department relates to overstaffing, however, in many
instances, this is not the case. Poor budgeting from an IT
Director often results in layoffs.

Contract and Vendor Negotiations: IT Directors are

responsible for contract negotiations. Computer equipment and
software is an asset for a corporation that quickly devalues and

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may need replaced, as company software needs change. IT

Directors must negotiate the best price for their company.

Employee Hiring: IT Directors typically have the last word in

hiring a new person for the department. The IT Director must
play the role as technology expert and human resource person.

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

CIO’s typically have no technical background in computers
and are either a relative of the CEO or have been selected on
their golfing ability to slice a drive on the last hole. CIO’s
know every secret handshake and are rumored to frequent in
the recreation of livestock.

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Chapter 3

Looking for a Job

‰ What to Expect When Looking for a Job

‰ Recruiters, Headhunters, Contractors, and
Agencies
‰ Working for a Start-up
‰ Don’t Be Fooled By Job Vultures
‰ Discovering Jobs through Word of Mouth
‰ Temporary Workers
‰ Job Relocation
‰ Doing your Homework
‰ Resumes
‰ The Correct Contact Person
‰ Writing a Resume
‰ Sample Cover Letter
‰ Writing Your Resume – with work experience
‰ Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume
‰ Sample Resume – with work experience
‰ Writing Your Resume – without work
experience
‰ Sample Resume – without work experience
‰ Posting Your Resume
‰ When Have You Sent Enough Resumes
‰ The Interview
‰ Interview Attire
‰ Cramming for an Interview
‰ Arriving on Time
‰ Shake Hands Firmly?

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‰ Listening to the Interviewer

‰ Looking the Interviewer in the Eyes
‰ Learning from Job Interviews
‰ Don’t Over Answer Questions
‰ Being Positive
‰ Negative Image
‰ When to Talk About Money and Benefits
‰ 10 Helpful Tips on Lying Your Way through an
Interview
‰ Symptoms Related to Lying During a Job
Interview
‰ Closing the Interview
‰ After the Interview
‰ Writing a Thank You Letter
‰ Worrying about all the Things that can go
wrong during an Interview (or Do-Overs)
‰ The Right Fit
‰ Settling for a Lesser Position

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What to Expect When Looking for a Job

Searching for a job is a “job” that most people are not prepared
to do. You not only need to train yourself for a career in
computers, but also know how to find a job in your field.
Days seem to pass more quickly when you are
unemployed, and in a slow job market, you cannot afford to
allow even one day to pass without working on finding a job.
No matter how many resumes you have sent, you must
continually be dedicated to finding a job. Time is against the
unemployed and bills do not know the difference in your work
status. It is how you look for a job, and what you do when
someone does call for an interview, that gives you the edge
over your opponents. I cannot say that I am an expert in the
field of job stalking, but I have helped a great many people
find an IT job, and as a Director of Information Systems, I
have interviewed enough people to know what I am looking for
in an employee. Perhaps my experiences can help you find a
job as well or at least give you one or two suggestions that you
may not have considered. In this section, I have compiled some
suggestions on looking for work, sending resumes, and the
interview process.

Recruiters, Headhunters, Contractors, and

Employment Agencies
Recruiters are a lot like a car salesman; their level of
professionalism is based on the quality of vehicle they sell.
There are good recruiters and questionable ones. A recruiter
can be someone that works for a job agency or the company
itself. Some corporations are large enough that they have their
own recruiters, and it is their job to hire talent. Company
owned recruiters often recruit from universities and/ or other

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companies, however, the most common type of recruiter in the

tech industry, works for a contracting agency. These types of
recruiters find and place skilled technical workers on a
permanent or temporary basis. In many cases, from temp to
perm.
Many corporations use temporary staffing companies to
avoid paying benefits and taxes. Some companies like the
convenience of temporarily employing high tech labor for
specific projects and then letting them go afterwards. I once
worked for a contracting group on a six-month assignment as a
Network Administrator. The money was good; someone from
the job agency hand-delivered my check every week, and after
six-months, the company hired me permanently. Typically,
contract work pays more than a permanent salaried worker
does, however you do not receive medical benefits. Although
some contracting companies offer some form of medical plan.
There is big money in the high-tech contracting business,
and as in any business, there are shady characters. Many
contracting agencies treat you like a valued member of their
company and offer many benefits; while there are other
companies that treat their contractors like cattle. I have heard
many horror stories, so it is important to do your research. The
best way to research a recruiting or employment agency, is
through Internet user groups. If there is ever a forum to voice
your opinion, you will find it on a message board on the
Internet.
If you lack experience and are looking to break into the
exciting field of Information Technology, finding a good
recruiting company may be the only way to go about it.

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Working for a Start-up

After the Dot-Bombs, seasoned IT people are a little more
cautious when it comes to taking a job with a start-up
company. Too many tech companies sprung up overnight in the
90’s, and when they crashed, many people and investment
money went with them. Even without the Dot-Bombs of the
90’s, you must still choose carefully when considering moving
from a company with a stable history to a new start-up
company with no history. (If however, you are new to the
computer field or a start-up company is the only job available,
then you need to take work where you can get it.)
It is safe to assume that a company that has made it past
its 5-year anniversary has made it past its infancy stage.
Although many experts define a start-up company as being in
business for ten years or less, which may or may not have
achieved profitability in that time span.
There are definite advantages and disadvantages when
considering working for a start-up company.

Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Hiring incentives • Long hours
• Ground floor opportunity • Always fire fighting
• Career growth • Small or lean budget
• Profit Sharing • Bankruptcy
• Partnerships • No last paycheck
• Stock Options • No severance

There are always warning signs when interviewing with a

start-up company: excessive talk going IPO and less talk about
their products and services. High employee turnover is also a

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red flag. Employees will often bail from a sinking ship. Adding
employees because a company is growing is less of a concern
than employees jumping ship. You can always research a
company’s financial health.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is a good
resource to see if a company has filed for an IPO.
http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm
1H7

Better Business Bureau is also a good place to look when

researching a prospective employer.
http://www.bbb.org/
2H8

Most computer people will not hesitate when it comes to

posting their grievances with a current or former company on
the Internet, so use it as a resource when interviewing with any
company.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. A healthy company

will be happy to answer any concerns you may have about
them. Just be tactful. Here are some questions you might want
to ask yourself before considering working for a start-up
company:

• How long has the company been in business?

• Where is the financing coming from: Venture capital,
private investor, from company’s own revenues?
• What is the business plan?
• Are stock options offered in lieu of a competitive
salary? When money is tight, some companies will offer
high stock options and a lower salary.
• What happened to the person that previously held the
position for which you are interviewing?

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Don’t Be Fooled By Job Vultures

When looking for a job, it is easy to be tricked by a job ad and
show up for what you thought was an interview, only to
discover that you are a target for a job scam. Many job
vultures lure in their victims by cleverly advertising jobs that
do not really exist.
One time I interviewed for a Network Administrator’s
position under false pretenses. Immediately upon entering a
tiny cheaply decorated office, I became suspicious. After a
lengthy wait, I went into a small room where a woman with a
tattoo on her hand, entered, walked over to a thermostat,
adjusted it, and then sat behind a desk in a chair that was much
higher than mine was. She lifted my resume with the snake
hand and began asking me questions for which she obviously
did not know the answers. As the room began heating up,
because she raised the heat on the thermostat, I asked,
“Come on, why am I really here?”
She then began telling me the history of her company and
the success of their clients. Snake hand brought me in under
the false pretense of a job, only to try to sell me a service to
make me a stronger interviewer. Their price: $1500.00. If you
did not have $1500.00, you could make it in four easy
payments, once their service helped you find a job.
I smiled, loosened my tie, and began scolding her for
wasting my time and costing me gas when money was tight.
Interviewing companies that place false ads are just one type of
job vulture. I am sure that there are many more. Whatever your
weakness, you can bet there are a hundred vultures hovering to
profit from your situation.
I am not saying that there is not a need for interview
coaching. I am sure there are people who can greatly benefit
from such a service, especially computer people, but a
legitimate company is not going to swindle you into their
office.

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Discovering Jobs through Word of Mouth

There are more jobs to find through word of mouth than listed
in the paper. Employers will first call upon their staff to find
hires through friends and/ or acquaintances. Talk to your
friends, relatives, and former co-workers. Try to network
yourself to as many places as you can. Attend events and
places where people within your field might go. It is not as
difficult as you might think to spot another computer nerd. I
have found that computer people are always willing to help
another of their kind…providing they are not a threat to their
immediate position.

Temporary Workers
Some companies only hire temporary workers, (temps) and
then hire them as permanent employees later, if they feel they
want to keep them. I was once a temporary network
administrator for a company in Seattle for 6-months, after
which they hired me as a permanent employee. It was one of
the best jobs I ever had.

Job Relocation
Always keep in mind that you might have to relocate to another
city when looking for a job. This might not be a pleasant
thought, particularly because many people do not want to leave
their friends and family and move to an unfamiliar place.
However, because of the way businesses are changing, there
may be a time that you might have to move away to stay in the

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type of position you worked so hard to achieve. On the other

hand, there are those that cannot wait to move away from their
friends and family. I once read where a woman ran into her
deceased husband in an airport, 20 years after his death.
Apparently, he faked his death. This is probably an example of
extreme relocation. To find a job in a slow job market, you
have to consider the possibility of moving to another town.
Faking your death is optional.

Doing Your Homework

The best way to find a job in your field is to research it. Find
out what others in your area are doing, and keep up-to-date on
technology that might affect your job, making you more
desirable to hire. A good way to do this is through the local
employment ads. Job listings will let you know what
employers in your area expect from you.

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Resumes

Correct Contact Person

Sending your resume to the correct contact is an important key
to getting an interview. There are those who believe that if you
send your resume to anyone in the company, your resume will
find its way to the correct person. I know one person who
harvested every e-mail address on the company’s mail server
and sent his resume to everyone in the company. It did get the
attention of the IT Manager, but it did not get him a job. What
it did do was embarrass the IT department, and subsequently,
my friend received a nasty phone call telling him never to
contact them again, or there will be consequences. At the time,
I thought the shear cleverness from this action would impress
them and prove my abilities. It did not, and ultimately I regret
doing it.
It is important to send your resume to the person directly
responsible for the job for which you are applying. If you send
your resume to the wrong person, it does not necessarily mean
it will get to the right person. The shotgun effect of delivering
your resume, can in most cases, do more harm than good. In
addition, never nag a company with weekly or monthly
resumes when they are not advertising for a position. It will
appear more like spam than a serious interest to work for a
company.

Always deliver your resume in the format advertised.

Carefully read what the job ad is requiring. If the ad states they
want you to send your resume in a specific format, then send it
in that format. Most job ads will ask for a resume in a Word
document. format, or even just a text format. If you are not
sure, send it in a plain text file or inside the e-mail itself to

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ensure that it will be read. I have received resumes in Word

Perfect, Acrobat, Open Office, and a Tiff format, when all I
asked for was a resume in plain text.
When clicking through a mountain of resumes, many
managers are not going to want to install corresponding
software to open your resume.
I have even received e-mails with no resumes attached at
all, with a single one-line question:

“How much does the job pay?”

Or
“What type of experience do I need?”
Or even…
“Does a minority have a chance at getting a job here?”

E-mail’s with these types of questions without an

attached cover letter and resume only make me think the job
seekers are not going to pass the company drug test.

Writing your Resume

Cover Letter

It is always a good idea to include a cover letter when sending

your resume. A cover letter is a professional introduction to the
reader that will tell him or her, the position for which you are
applying, and in many cases, it can give a brief foreword to
your personality. Remember: You will never get a second
chance at a good first impression. I know that is a cliché, but it
is a correct one.

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Contact Name

If you can get the contact’s name, use it. It is never advisable
to begin a cover letter with, “Dear Sir or Madame” or “To
Whom it May Concern.” This may show that you are not
applying for a specific position, or you know little or nothing
about the position for which you are applying. When sending a
resume, you should already know the contact name and
position. When presenting your resume, you are trying to make
an impression that will stand out among many other resumes
that are most likely very similar to yours in knowledge and
experience. In my opinion, you should spend as much time in
preparing your cover letter as you have your resume. A person
that would send me a cover letter and resume that is sloppy and
poorly put together, does not impress me as a person that can
be trusted with mission critical data and computer equipment.

I think my boss puts it best when he says that he hires people to

help make his job easier. My boss owns a multi-million dollar
corporation that spans across several states. I tell the same to
my department; I need people that can make my job easier. I
do not want to explain why backups did not occur or simple
procedures were not followed correctly.

Tips on Writing a Cover Letter

• Make your cover letter brief.

• Introduce yourself and reference the position for

which you are applying

• Present a positive image.

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• Never apologize for taking up their time, but do

thank them for their time

• Always proofread your cover letter and resume.

Make sure your cover letter is error free.
Remember, a sloppy cover letter riddled with errors
makes a statement about your workmanship.

• Focus on the employer’s needs and include key

words from the ad, like 5 years experience, or
Network design experience. Highlight in your
cover letter what is relevant to the job ad.

• Try to be original without being corny or too

peculiar.

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Sample Cover Letter

Your name
Mailing Address
Phone number(s)
E-mail address
(Just one e-mail address will do)

Today’s Date

Mr. /Ms. Employer’s Name

Title
Company
Address

First Paragraph: “Why you are writing them,” This section

tells the employer the position for which you are applying.
Keep it under 2-3 sentences. Points to cover:
ƒ Why you are writing and the position for which you are
applying
ƒ Include where you heard of the position only if it is
from a mutual contact or recruiting program. Unless
you are told by a recruiting company to refer to them,
do not refer to a recruiting company, because in many
cases there can be issues there.
ƒ Make some sort of connection, like why you are
interested in the position or company. Keep it brief.

Second Paragraph: Explain why you are qualified for this

position.
ƒ Give examples of your skills as they relate to the
requirements of this position
ƒ Cite strong specific examples to back up your claim

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Closing Paragraph: In another 2-4 sentences, refer to your

attached resume. Tell them when you are available for an
interview and thank them for their time and considering
you for the position.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Type your name here

In this next section, I separate two different methods in which a

resume should be prepared: A resume that can detail work
experience, and a resume without work experience. I believe it
is important to separate the two, because an employer has
different objectives when comparing the two types of resumes.

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Writing Your Resume – with work experience

A resume is a written abbreviation of your credentials that
highlights your accomplishments. You want to impress upon a
perspective employer what you have accomplished, as well as
what you are capable of doing for them. The format should be
brief but have impact. When writing a resume, it is your
intention to create an interest that persuades a potential
employer to contact you. Many people view writing a resume
as arduous as filling out a tax return. It is not - it is worse, but
like a tax return, you have to do it.
What a resume is not, is a personal statement about you. It
is not a free forum to express your religious convictions or
political views, or a biography of your life. I have seen
resumes with all of the above and a date of last employment
from many years back.

Resume Search Order

When I review a resume for a job that requires experience, I

first want to see your current or previous job, how long you
held it, and what you accomplished during that time. I want to
see your last job first and first job last. Many people will list
the first job they ever had at the top of the resume and their
most recent jobs on page two or three. You have heard the
scary story about the employer only taking 30-seconds to
glance at each resume. It is not a story.
I have had 400 resumes on my desk. Being in possession
of someone’s resume is a huge responsibility to me, which I do
not take lightly. I want everyone to have an equal and fair
chance on the one job that I have to offer. I must fill some jobs
immediately or I have to do them.

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Help desk positions usually have a high turnover rate,

mostly because the help desk job itself is a complaints
department…in a very large department store…that only
sells to the insane.

Resumes are sorted by qualified vs. unqualified candidates.

In a slow job market, people will send their resume to any ad
that contains the word computer in it. Ninety five percent of
the resumes received do not qualify for the position. This
means that if the employer is not careful, he can sort out
qualified candidates with those who are unqualified. This is
why it is important to identify in the cover letter your
qualifications in relationship to the position offered. No matter
how qualified you are for a position, your resume can be easily
overlooked, if not prepared properly.

After reviewing the experience of the candidate, the next

two things I immediately look for on a resume are
certifications and education. Computer certifications and
degrees are mounting compliments to experience, and even
though experience speaks in larger volumes, a degree or
computer certification shows dedication to your chosen career.
If a computer job was time served in community service, and
there are times when you feel like your job is under a court
order, then experience would be just showing up to work. A
degree and certification in your field shows that you take your
career seriously.
I know it sounds like I am contradicting myself. Both
education and experience are very important when pursing a
career in computers, and at any given time in one’s career,
someone is likely to be short on at least one of them.

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Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume

There are those who will suggest that you include your hobbies
and personal interests on your resume as a way to give a little
personality to it. I believe this is a big mistake. The purpose of
a resume is to influence the employer to select you from
hundreds of other candidates. Personal information will
prejudge you and it can immediately eliminate your chances of
getting the job. In the real world, employers are looking for
reasons not to hire you. Placing personal information on a
resume in the employer’s elimination round is not a good idea.
If you put on your resume, Musician, immediately an employer
might think that this can be a distraction from your day job, or
associate musicians with wild rockers. You never know what
some people will associate with your hobby. Wizard of the
ninth order of the chaos dominion might also be another hobby
that can cause a potential employer to question whether you are
a good fit in his or her organization. Remember, get the job
first and once your probation period is over, then you can wear
your Vulcan ears to work.

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Sample Resume – with job experience

Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number(s)
E-mail Address

Objective: To contribute my experience and education

and provide collaboration to your
organization’s success.
Objective This section is always difficult to write without
coming across as a goof ball. I am not sure anyone
actually reads it. You may as well write, “To find
another job where I can surf EBAY all day.” If you
do not like my verbiage above, I would search the
Internet for samples with which you are more
comfortable.
Experience: Jan 1995 – Present
Large Company Inc. Orlando FL
ƒ Designed Voice-over-IP networks
ƒ Configured Cisco routers / AS400s
ƒ Configured and Deployed network
between 30 locations
Experience What have you done lately? This is what an IT
Manager wants to see first. Put your most
outstanding achievements on the top of the page. You
can even adjust it to the employer’s job
requirements.
Second Job Dec 1994 – Jan 1995
Listed List your next job in chronological order.
State your next job and try not to leave any large
gaps between the two. Never volunteer the reason
that you left a job. Always make them ask. Some

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interviewers may never ask. Never admit to having

been fired. If you must, tell the interviewer that you
lost your job to over seas outsourcing.
3rdJob Listed I would list as many jobs as you can that are relative
to this job position. However, when you get into bag
boy and manager of pizza roma, it is not going to
help you.
Education Bachelor of Computer Science, University
of California 1982
Certifications CCNP Cisco Certified Network Professional
CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate
MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
CCTT Computer Certified Test Taker…
Education Under Education, list what degrees you may hold
and any honors.
Certifications Under Certifications, list every certification you
have. Some human resource department’s screen
resumes before passing them on to the IT Manager.
Many people might not want to include retired or
minor certifications; however, a retired certification
might have more value to an employer, because it
has age to it.
Computer List all relevant knowledge that you have, such as,
Skills programming skills, product knowledge, past
achievements, and any additional computer training
classes you may have attended.
Note: Try to avoid listing word processor and
spreadsheet program skills. Unless you are
applying for a software support position,
most computer managers do not really care
that you know how to use Word,
PowerPoint, and Excel. You should know
these basic programs by default.

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Writing Your Resume – without work experience

Employers look for different things when hiring for an
experienced position vs. a non-experienced position. When
reviewing a resume with experience, the first item reviewed is
experience - where the person has worked, how long, and what
they did. Typically, this information is at the top of the resume.
If you do not have any experience, then you must put your best
and strongest points in its place. Listed on the next few pages
is a sample resume without work experience.

Sample Resume – without work experience

Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number(s)
E-mail Address

Objective: To contribute my training and education and

provide collaboration that will help your
organization’s success.
Objective Notice how I replaced the word “experience” with
“training.” You want to start with this type of brief
description.
Education: University of Whatever, 2000
List your Major, Minor, and every computer
related class for which you signed up,
attended, skipped, and slept through.
Training: List any computer experience you may have
in this section. Part-time jobs, school
projects, home labs.
Certifications CCNP Cisco Certified Network Professional
CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate

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MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

CCTT Computer Certified Test Taker…
Certification The best time to study and sit for a computer
certification is when you are attending school. If you
are serious about a career in computers, you should
get at least one computer certification during every
summer vacation.

Computer List all relevant knowledge that you have,

Skills such as, programming skills, product
knowledge, past achievements, and any
additional computer training classes that
you may have attended.

With these objectives in mind, you can easily find enough

examples on the Internet to write a clear, decisive, and
professional resume. However, if you become frustrated or just
do not think you can put together a professional resume, there
are resume services that will help you write a good
professional resume.

Posting Your Resume

Where can you post your resume so IT managers and recruiters
can find it? In addition to responding to employment ads, you
should also consider posting your resume in as many online
forums that you can find on the Internet.

http://www.Techies.com/
http://www.Monster.com/
http://www.Guru.com/

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http://www.Dice.com/
http://www.Computerjobs.com/
http://www.Careerbuilders.com/

These are all great resources for getting your name and
resume where potential employers are likely to be looking for
staff. When seriously looking for a job, you need all the help
you can get.

Network with other computer people as much as possible

As I stated in an earlier section, computer departments are
more likely to ask for recommendations from their own
department first, before placing ads or going to job recruiters.
Someone is always asking me if I know someone. I have
referred and recommended so many people to positions this
way. I have even referred people in my own department to
positions at other companies when I thought it would be better
for them and their careers to leave. If you know enough
computer people, someone also knows where there is a job
opening.

When Have You Sent Enough Resumes?

Should you send a weekly set amount of resumes to give a
prospective employer time to reply? I think if you have to ask
this question, and I have heard it asked, you have not been
unemployed long enough. In my opinion, you should exhaust
every resource and opportunity when looking for a job, sending
as many resumes as you possibly can.
It is not enough to send out a handful of resumes, and sit
back and wait for a response. I have heard from people in
different areas of the country who say that it takes from four to

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six months to find a job. Can you imagine the stress involved
or the bills accumulated in half a year? If I were out of work
for six months, I would be asking questions like:
“How many seconds after someone’s death should I
pounce on his or her former job?”
Information technology jobs are not as abundant as they
were in the 1990’s, and only those who are the most persistent
are going to find one. If you are serious about finding work,
you should exhaust every resource. This means that every day
you need to think up a new and inventive way of finding a job,
and exhaust it.
In my earlier years as a young man, before I became a
computer geek, I was a self-employed ceramic tile setter. My
father passed this trade down to me. I was self-employed
because I was young and no one would hire me. I worked
from job to job. This meant that once a job was finished, I
immediately had to find another. I lived this way for many
years, and during that time, living from job to job did not seem
very unusual. Looking back, I do not know how I did it, but
looking ahead, I used those same skills to find my first
computer job when I had no experience…you can too.

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The Interview
Interview Attire

You should try to wear professional attire on a job interview. It

is a good idea to have two good outfits when looking for a job:
one for the initial interview and another for the follow-up. This
is also true if you are meeting with a recruiter for a job agency.
A recruiter wants to see how you will represent them when
they send you to a client. Although it is true that computer
people are usually the most casually dressed workers in the
building, (even the janitor wears a uniform) you should dress
your best during a job interview. During one interview I had,
the interviewer commented on how nicely I was dressed.
Because most computer people wear Dockers or jeans, I
panicked, thinking he was questioning my credentials. I
quickly replied that I bought this suit for job interviews and
funerals (I have not been to a funeral in 20 years). He laughed
and I actually got the job, but it could have gone the other way,
so I advise against such a comment if I were you.
Also, try to avoid tugging at your tie or dress. Most
interviewers will notice that you are uncomfortable dressed up,
and even though you will not be required to dress like that at
work, it is still a negative distraction.

Cramming for an Interview

In many respects, preparing for an IT interview can be like
cramming for a test. In order to be prepared, many people will
try to fit all they can into their heads the night before an
interview. Unless this has worked for you in the past, in my
opinion, cramming for a job interview can cause more harm

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than good. The night before should be used to relax and take
your mind off an upcoming interview. There is plenty of time
on the drive to your interview to stress out and have a manic
episode. If you want to review every computer textbook you
own, or at least those areas that you have difficulty
remembering, you should do it two nights before the interview.

Arriving on Time
Always arrive on time for a job interview or a few minutes
early. Arriving late for a job interview is never excusable. I
have seen people show up late for an interview, hired, shown
up late for work, and then fired, all in their first week. Showing
up late for an interview is a clear indication of your work
habits. Of course, you can ignore this rule if you are
interviewing with your mother, someone that owes you a lot of
money and your mother.

Just in case, you are not clear on this subject: Always arrive
on time for a job interview.

If, however, you do arrive late for the interview, and

things do happen, simply show the disappointed interviewer
your blood-dripping appendage, and explain that you are the
only survivor of a horrific accident.

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Shake Hands Firmly?

I do not know about the whole “shaking hands firmly” advice
when meeting an interviewer. It may have meant something in
the early days to test the grip of a potential spear thrower, or
catcher in a circus high-wire act, but I do not see any real value
in firmly shaking someone’s hand. When someone greets me
and then proceeds to shake my hand with a firm grip, I tend to
want to knee them in the groin.

Listening to the Interviewer

Listen to what the interviewer is saying to you. Some people
are so anxious that they do not listen and are only thinking
about what they will say next. This might be fine when you are
having a conversation with your spouse, but it will not get you
far in an interview. Always look alert and interested at all
times. You want to follow the interviewer’s lead when
describing what you do. Bluntly stated, you are looking for
“tells,” so you can give the interviewer what he or she wants to
hear, for you to get the job.

Looking the Interviewer in the Eyes

I used to say that an extroverted computer geek is someone that
looks at your shoes when he or she is speaking. Computer
people are particularly guilty of not looking people in the eye
when they speak. If you are engaged in a conversation with
another computer person, it might be fine to stare at your feet
when speaking; however, you may have to interview with a
non-computer person, or even a Vice President of Technology.
Always try to maintain eye contact during the interview…but
not too much like you are crazy.

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Learning from Job Interviews

A job interview can provide two important functionalities: 1.
Providing you with employment, and 2. Experience for your
next job interview.
The mistakes made during a job interview are lessons
learned for your next interview. However, not all lost jobs are
due to mistakes made in an interview. Skill and knowledge are
not always the determining factors for hiring; personality and
fitting in with a group are factors as well.

In addition, when you are new, and have no real job

experience, you can be judged by your learned knowledge, and
when tested in an interview, anyone can make mistakes. There
will always be questions that you will not be able to answer
during an interview. Even an experienced IT person can
stumble when being cross-examined by the interviewer. It is an
awful feeling not to be able to answer a question during a job
interview. In fact, it can be your worse fear, but it can happen.
Instead of beating yourself up, you should immediately
write down every question that you felt you did not answer
correctly, and study the answer as soon as possible. Once an
interview is over, whether you think you did well or not, you
should begin preparing yourself for the next one, by using the
last interview as an example. If you have to go back to the
books, or work it out in your home lab, there is no excuse for
answering a question incorrectly twice.
When searching for my first computer job, I must have
interviewed with ten or more companies. Each interview
prepared me for the next. Every question that I missed or
thought I did not respond well, I immediately studied to ensure
I answered it correctly the next time. The first computer job I
ever held, the interviewer asked me to tell her about TCP/IP. I
not only told her about how the protocol is used, but where it is

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used, and where the bloody thing was invented. With every
interview, you gain experience for the next.

Don’t Over Answer Questions

People tend to over answer questions during a job interview
when they are nervous. Keep your answers direct and to the
point. If the interviewer wants you to elaborate, he or she will
ask for more information. When asked if you have any
questions, do try to ask intelligent questions about the company
to show your interest.

Being Positive
Never make disparaging or negative remarks or statements
about your current or former employer. Be as positive and as
uplifting as you can. Every company has a problem case, so try
not to give any indication that it is you. Making comments
about fellow or former co-workers might dissuade the
interviewer from selecting you for the position.

Negative Image
When I speak of a negative image, I am not referring to
photographic film. In fact, in this digital age, I do not even
know what that is anymore. Negative image refers to the
mannerisms you want to avoid when meeting someone for the
first time. Lack of interest or enthusiasm can be a negative
image. Being overbearing, too aggressive, and acting arrogant
are ways to portray a negative image. The inability to express

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thoughts clearly, and/ or poor grammar and diction can be a

negative image.

When to Talk About Money and Benefits

Be careful about bringing up salary, vacations, and benefits too
early in the interview process. Let them first bring it up, or
wait until you are sure the interviewer is interested in hiring
you. When it is time to discuss salary, know what you are
worth. Always avoid bringing up your salary expectations first,
if you can avoid it. Sometimes you can get the interviewer to
volunteer how much a job pays and you can go from there.

10 Helpful Tips on Lying Your Way

through an Interview
If truth and experience are hurting your abilities to find gainful
employment, and you think you will have to lie to get a job,
here are 10 tips to help you:

1. If asked where you see yourself in five years, do not

say, “Why, I see myself taking your job, Bob.”

2. During the interview, appear laid back, confident, and

somewhat arrogant. Kind, meager, and too polite will
give you away immediately. An experienced computer
person is a slightly bitter one.

3. Do not stare at the interviewer’s shoes, groin, or chest.

4. Stereotyping often runs rampant in the corporate

environment. Computer people are frequently thought

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of as nerds, geeks, and techno-wizards; try to stay as

close to that image as possible without seeming socially
inept. No one wants to work with a Philbert.

5. You will be judged on how well you can hold up under

pressure. If the interviewer begins badgering you about
your resume, disregard tip number 3. It may be your
only defense.

6. “Self-employed” equals “fired” and may mean you

could not find another job. Be careful how you use it.

7. If asked why you are unemployed, blame it on the

economy. Your interviewer might show compassion, as
he or she may also be afraid of losing their job.

8. If you already have a job and the interviewer asks you

why you want to leave, never criticize your current
employer. Simply say, “I like where I work, and they
like me too, but I am looking for a better opportunity
for my family and myself.”

9. If asked about your computer certifications, trivialize

them by saying that you only got them to put on your
resume. Harping about your certification only agitates
someone that does not have one and insults those that
do.

10. There is always someone in the computer department

that is not well liked, and because he or she does not
know this, if asked if there is someone like that in your
department, answer yes. Because if your answer is no,
your interviewer will know that you are the person no
one likes.

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Symptoms Related to Lying During a Job

Interview
There are only two separate instances when lying is an
acceptable form of human behavior; while on a date, and
during a job interview. Most employers expect you to lie
during the first round of interviews. It is expected of you. If
everyone were judged based on their actual resume, then only
overseas workers in India would get IT jobs in
America…umm, anyway. If you are going to lie during a job
interview, you should at least know some of the symptoms
related to nervousness.

• An overwhelming feeling of panic and fear

• Nausea, sweating, muscle tension, and other
uncomfortable physical reactions
• Pounding heart or chest pain
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath or sensation of choking
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Feeling unreal or disconnected
• Fear of losing control, "going crazy," or dying
• Numbness
• Chills or hot flashes
• Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts and talking
• An uncontrollable bladder release
• Foaming at the mouth and distemper

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Closing the Interview

Do not be discouraged if the interviewer does not offer you the
position during the interview. In most cases, they will not. The
interviewer may have more candidates to interview before he
or she makes a decision. If you get the impression the
interview has not gone well, try not to show it. However, if the
interview has gone well, I think it is safe to inquire about the
next stage of the interview, then money and benefits.

After the Interview

We will keep your resume on record.

I am not sure what “We will keep your resume on record”

means exactly, but I would not sit around waiting for them to
call you back anytime in the near future. In some cases, it
could mean that you are second runner up and if the first pick
refuses or declines the offer, you are next in line. Still, I would
not get my hopes up.

Writing a Thank You Letter

I have mixed feelings about writing a thank you letter after an

interview. I know that every job counselor in the world
recommends you send a thank you letter, but to me, the letter is
saying; “Remember me. Remember me. Remember me.” I
cannot speak for every IT Manager, but to me, a thank you note
is a little desperate. If I did not already have you in mind for
the job, a thank you note is not going to change my mind.

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Worrying about all the Things that can go

wrong during an Interview (or Do-Overs)
If you were not already worried about any of the considerations
that I presented here, I apologize. It is not my intention to make
you so self-conscious and so anxiety ridden that all you can do
is stare dizzily into the interviewer’s eyes, because you are too
scared to speak. I am merely trying to strengthen your abilities
to gain employment. You may very well experience everything
that I have described and more. You will have good interviews
and bad ones, and no matter how much you worry before and
after an interview, you are just going to have to overcome it.
You must continue to push on until you land the job you want
(need).

I interviewed a man one time that was so nervous that he

looked like he was doing the hot swat sit down dance every
time I asked a question. I saw through his nervousness and
hired him despite his sitting dance of self-destruction. IT
Manager’s account for the fact that most people will be
nervous during an interview, and unless you just do something
extraordinarily peculiar, it is often overlooked.

The Right Fit

With everything else that you need to know in preparing for an

interview, what you are not able to prepare for is being “the
right fit.” It is not enough to have experience, the right
education, and handling yourself correctly during the

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interview, many employers will not select you if they do not

think your personality will fit into their group. Whether this is
legal, not legal—who knows? This is the fact of life in hiring.
What can you do to prevent this from happening to you? You
can do nothing about it. If you show absolutely no personality
and dry as toast, then you are out of the running for being a
dullard.
I do not practice this type of hiring, but I understand it. I
have seen computer departments that divided themselves into
warring tribes, where the only way to fix it was to fire several
people and start again. I have even taken over computer
departments where no one got along and everyone was
working against each other. I have the personality and
experience to put a stop to these types of situations, so I never
worry about the right personality for the group. Some
managers do worry about it and rely on hiring the right
personality.
I have worked with a lot of irritating people. Some so
irritating that the mere sound of their voice forced my pleasure
centers to shutdown. The worst thing that I have ever done
about it is to find them a better paying job somewhere else.

Settling for a Lesser Position

I have met many over-qualified and under-paid computer
people sitting on a phone support hotline because they lack,
either the confidence or ability, to find a job that utilizes their
training and qualifications. It is easy to give up after a long
search when there are bills to pay, so you take a job for which
you are over-qualified, just to get a paycheck. Nevertheless,
what happens with many people, once they accept such a job,
they stop looking and might stay for several years in a position

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that they never really wanted. Several years away from a tech
job for which you have trained, will put you in the back of the
line. Technology changes too quickly to stay out of it for too
long. If you must, take a position below what you want, but
continue searching for a job that meets your qualifications. It is
like running a long marathon, only to give up 100 feet from the
finish line.
Many people have to take jobs for which they are over
qualified. This does not mean that you have to keep them
forever. Look at Albert Einstein; he was not a patent clerk his
entire life. It is better and easier to find a job when you already
have one. Always take what is available for now and
continuing looking for the job that you want.

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Chapter 4

Hack/Anti Hacking Tools and Methods

‰ Hack / Anti Hacking Tools

‰ First lets start with Windows Registry
‰ Finding the Hidden Process
‰ Process Killers
‰ Network Analyzers
‰ Scanning Tools
‰ Wireless Scanners
‰ Networking Tools for the Professional
‰ Vulnerability Assessments / Penetration Testing
‰ Microsoft Assessment Tools
‰ Command Line Utilities
‰ Windows Command
‰ Linux Command
‰ What to know about Viruses
‰ What to know about Security
‰ Port Scanners
‰ Common Attacks
‰ E=mailSpam2
‰ Advanced Google Searches (Google Hacking)

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Hack / Anti Hacking Tools

Just beneath the upgrade of every new operating system, lies
opportunity for the industrious. With every release of new
software gives birth to an enormous secondary market of third
party products, such as books, certifications, manuals, backup
software, utility software, and anti-virus software. This also
gives way to new exploits, viruses, and computer hacks. I have
read that four new viruses are written per day. One way to view
this is that spam, viruses, hackers, and industrial espionage
provide employment for some people. A friend of mine
believes that “…the worse an operating systems security is, the
better it is for our economy, because of the work involved in
the daily security of a company’s computers. This is why
software companies are not held accountable for producing
weak and insecure software. Their incompetence stimulates
growth.” Sadly, I believe there may be some truth in his
statement.
As a person charged with the challenges of removing
viruses, rootkits, and hackers, you must assemble your own set
of utilities to help you ward off intruders. Through the years, I
have assembled my own set of software utilities that I have
come to rely on everyday. Listed in this chapter are some of the
tools that I use.

Hiding in Windows Registry

As with many computer programs, viruses and Trojans must be

executed or opened. (In the old days, a line would be added in
the autoexec.bat). The first place I always look is in the
Windows Registry.

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Type Regedit at the command prompt or run box and open

Windows Registry. If you look at the example below, Run,
RunOnce, RunServices, and RunServicesOnce is where you
will often find where a Trojan or virus was opened. You can
typically find the virus’ location from the execution path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\Software
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Run
\RunOnce
\RunServices
\RunServicesOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER
\Software
\Microsoft
\Windows
\CurrentVersion
\Run
\RunOnce

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\System
\ControlSet001
\Services\”Virus.exe”

HKEY_LOCAL_ROOT\exefiles\shell\open\command

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\exefile\
shell\open\command

Also look in the:

ƒ Windows Scheduler and AT command for
current scheduled jobs.
ƒ Win.ini(load=Virus.exe or Run=Virus.exe)
ƒ System.ini(Shell=Explorer.exe virus.exe)
ƒ Config.sys

Finding the Hidden Process

Digital parasites and other intrusive software executed on a
computer, assign a process number or ID during its execution.
Most are in the Windows task manager, but viruses that are
more sophisticated hide themselves and require sophisticated
software to locate the unwanted pests. These types of tools are
enumeration utilities.

Fport – http://www.foundstone.com/
9H

Fport is a great tool that I often use. It reports all open TCP/IP
and UDP ports and maps them to the owning application. This
is the same information you would see using the 'netstat -an'

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command, but it also maps those ports to running processes

with the PID, process name and path. Fport quickly identifies
unknown open ports and their associated applications.
Foundstone offers over 30 free networking tools to download
from their website.

PsTools – http://www.sysinternals.com/
10H

PsTools is a suite of fantastic and dangerous (in the wrong

hands) command line utilities made by Mark Russinovich for
Windows. In the right hands (computer professionals), PsTools
can automate a computer’s shutdown, list a computer’s running
processes, or kill a process. PsTools is a favorite of network
pros and hackers alike.

PsTools include a suite of programs as listed below:

• PsExec - execute processes remotely

1H

• PsFile - shows files opened remotely

12H

• PsGetSid - display the SID of a computer or a user

• PsKill - kill processes by name or process ID
• PsInfo - list information about a system
• PsList - list detailed information about processes
• PsLoggedOn - see who is logged on locally and via
resource sharing (full source is included)
• PsLogList - dumps event log records
• PsPasswd - changes account passwords
• PsService - view and control services
• PsShutdown - shuts down and optionally reboots a
computer
• PsSuspend - suspends processes

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• PsUptime - shows you how long a system has been running

since its last reboot (PsUptime's functionality has been
incorporated into PsInfo)

Tlist – Microsoft Resource Kit

Tlist is a task list viewer found in the Microsoft Resource Kit.
This tool displays a list of IDs, names, and windows processes
running on the local computer. Tlist is the main tool that I use
from my arsenal of anti-hacker tools. It allows me to view not
only the processes running on the system, but also locate the
program within the server. Once you can isolate the alien
program running on your system, you can use kill.exe, another
Resource Kit tool, to stop it so you can delete it from your
system, or use Pskill.exe to remove it.

Tasklist – Windows XP
Tasklist is an XP utility that displays a list of applications and
services with their Process ID (OID) for all tasks running on
either a local or a remote computer.

Syntax

tasklist[.exe] [/s computer] [/u domain\user [/p password]] [/fo

{TABLE|LIST|CSV}] [/nh] [/fi FilterName [/fi FilterName2 [
... ]]] [/m [ModuleName] | /svc | /v]

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Any one of the previous tools will list every process

running in the computer’s memory, the name of the program,
the directory in which it is located, and a process number. Most
digital parasites install themselves on a computer from a
vulnerability that is inherent in the operating system itself. An
operating system without updated security patches could very
well harbor hundreds of viruses, rootkits, and malware. Most
are stored in the C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\ directory. Many are
easily identified by their date and unusual names. You must be
careful though. If you remove these programs manually, make
sure that they do not belong to the operating system.

A command like TLIST –V at the command prompt

will display the process ID, the name of the program executed
in memory, and the program’s location.

Command Line:
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
800 cisvc.exe
Command Line: C:\WINNT\system32\cisvc.exe
860 LLSSRV.EXE
Command Line: C:\WINNT\System32\llssrv.exe
1004 sqlservr.exe
Command Line:
d:\MICROS~1\MSSQL\binn\sqlservr.exe
1016 scvhost.exe
Command Line: c:\winnt\system32\scvhost.exe
1044 regsvc.exe
Command Line: C:\WINNT\system32\regsvc.exe
1056 mstask.exe
Command Line: C:\WINNT\system32\MSTask.exe

Once you have identified the malicious program and its

location, you will want to remove it. Sometimes when you try

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to remove the unwanted program(s) manually, you will often

receive an error message that tells you the program is currently
in use. To delete the program in question successfully, you
must first end the process. I use a program called PSKILL.

PSKILL (process ID)

PsKill

Windows NT/2000 does not come with a command-line 'kill'

utility. You can get one in the Windows NT or Win2K
Resource Kit, but the kit's utility can only terminate processes
on the local computer. PsKill is a kill utility that not only does
what the Resource Kit's version does, but also can kill
processes on remote systems. You do not even have to install a
client on the target computer to use PsKill to terminate a
remote process.

Installation

Copy PsKill onto your executable path and type pskill with
command-line options defined below.

Usage
Running PsKill with a process ID directs it to kill the process
of that ID on the local computer. If you specify a process name,
PsKill will kill all processes that have that name.

usage: pskill [\\computer [-u username] [-p password]]

<process name | process id>

-u Specifies optional user name for login to remote computer.

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-p Specifies optional password for user name. If you omit this, you
will be prompted to enter a hidden password.

process id Specifies the process ID of the process you want to kill.

process name Specifies the process name of the process or processes

you want to kill.

Process enumeration, identification, and deletion are one of

the more important skills to know as a computer professional,
because it allows you to quickly target and remove unwanted
parasites.

Process Killers
Programs, alien or not, run as processes. Sometimes Windows
will not allow you to delete a file if it is running as a process,
until you stop it first. Here a few programs that you can use to
kill a process.

PsKill.exe – From the PsTools suite of utilities.

Kill.exe – This tool is with Window Resource Kit.

TaskKill – Windows XP

TaskKill is an XP utility that allows you to end one or more

tasks or processes. Processes can be killed by process ID or
image name.

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Syntax

taskkill [/s Computer] [/u Domain\User

[/p Password]]] [/fi FilterName] [/pid ProcessID]|[/im ImageN
ame] [/f][/t]

Network Analyzers
Network Analyzers / Protocol Analyzers – A protocol
analyzer or sniffer as most people will refer to them, examines
data packets entering and exiting your network. A sniffer can
show you what traffic is dominating your network, from which
computer sources, and if someone is running a port scanner on
any of your systems. Sniffer Pro is a good sniffer program but
it has always been too expensive for me. I like to use two
programs, Ethereal and Commview. Very few computer people
13H

will spend their own money for software, but I did with
Commview, and of course, Ethereal is an open source program.
14H

Most operating systems come with their own packet analyzers,

but they are basic and often clumsy to use. I prefer a real time
program so I can watch the action as it happens.

Commview http://www.tamos.com/products/commview/
15H

CommView is a powerful network monitor and analyzer

designed for LAN administrators, security professionals,
network programmers, home users…virtually anyone who
wants a full picture of the traffic flowing through a PC or
LAN segment. Loaded with many user-friendly features,
CommView combines performance and flexibility with an
ease of use unmatched in the industry.

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Ethereal http://www.ethereal.com/
16H

Ethereal is a powerful multi-platform networker’s tool that

can be used with Unix and Windows. It allows you to
examine data from a live network or from a captured file on
disk. You can interactively browse the captured data,
viewing summary and detail information for each packet.
Ethereal has several powerful features, including a rich
display filter language and the ability to view the
reconstructed stream of a TCP session.

EtterCap http://ettercap.sourceforge.net/
17H

Ettercap is a network sniffer/interceptor/logger for Ethernet

LANs. It supports active and passive dissection of many
protocols. Data injection in an established connection and
filtering on the fly is also possible, keeping the connection
synchronized. Many sniffing modes were implemented to
give you a powerful and complete sniffing suite. Plugins
are supported. It has the ability to check whether you are in
a switched LAN or not, and to use OS fingerprints (active
or passive) to let you know the geometry of the LAN.

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Snort http://www.snort.org/
18H

Snort is a lightweight network intrusion detection system,

capable of performing real-time traffic analysis and packet
logging on IP networks. It can perform protocol analysis,
content searching/matching, and detects a variety of attacks
and probes, such as buffer overflows, stealth port scans,
CGI attacks, SMB probes, OS fingerprinting attempts, and
much more. Snort uses a flexible rule based language to
describe traffic that it should collect or pass, and a modular
detection engine. Many people also suggest that the
Analysis Console for Intrusion Databases (ACID) be used
with Snort.

TCPDump / WinDump
http://www.tcpdump.org/wpcap.html
19H

TCPDump is a network analyzer that displays its results

in real time in a Linux / Unix environment. WinDump
WinDump is the Windows (Windows 95/98/ME, and
under Windows NT/2000/XP.) is similar to TCPDump
in that it displays results in real time.

DSniff http://naughty.monkey.org/~dugsong/dsniff/
20H

DSniff is a collection of tools for network auditing and

penetration testing. dsniff, filesnarf, mailsnarf, msgsnarf,
urlsnarf, and webspy passively monitor a network for
interesting data (passwords, e-mail, files, etc.). Arpspoof,
dnsspoof, and macof facilitate the interception of network
traffic normally unavailable to an attacker (e.g, due to

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layer-2 switching). sshmitm and webmitm implement

active monkey-in-the-middle attacks against redirected
SSH and HTTPS sessions by exploiting weak bindings in
ad-hoc PKI. Dsniff can be a networker’s friend or enemy.
I have used it in a wireless network where it captured all
the packets from the air of every wireless user without a
trace of suspension. Dsniff can be a dangerous set of tools
in the wrong hands.

Dsniff:
• Relays and saves SSH traffic redirected by dnsspoof
• Catches SSH access passwords
• Hijacks interactive sessions

Scanning Tools

Nmap http://www.nmap.org
21H

Nmap ("Network Mapper") is a free open source utility for

network exploration or security auditing. It was designed to
scan large networks rapidly, although it works fine against
single hosts. Nmap uses raw IP packets in novel ways to
determine what hosts are available on the network, what
services (application name and version) those hosts are
offering, what operating systems (and OS versions) they
are running, what type of packet filters/firewalls are in use,
and dozens of other characteristics. Nmap runs on most
types of computers and both console and graphical versions
are available. Nmap is free software, available with full
source code under the terms of the GNU GPL.

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Sam Spade www.samspade.org/

2H

Sam Spade is a multi-network query tool with many

extra built in utilities, even a tool for spam. It includes
utilities such as ping, whois, traceroute, and finger.

NetScanTools Pro
http://www.netscantools.com/nstmain.html
23H

NetScanTools Pro has a Port Scanner, Ping, Traceroute, OS

Fingerprinting, NetScanner and custom ICMP packet
generator. This tool tests systems and firewalls for
vulnerabilities and exposed ports. This utility can also use
NetBIOS info to look for open (writeable) Windows shares
on the local area network. NetScanTools Pro is an
investigation tool that gathers information about the
Internet or local LAN users, IP addresses, ports, and many
other network functions.

SuperScan http://www.foundstone.com/
24H

SuperScan is a powerful connection-based TCP port

scanner, pinger, and hostname resolver. Multithreaded and
asynchronous techniques make this program extremely fast
and versatile. The Foundstone Group has a multitude of
free tools and is a division of McAfee.

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NetCat http://netcat.sourceforge.net/
25H

NetCat is a featured networking utility, which reads and

writes data across network connections, using the TCP/IP
protocol. It is a reliable “back-end” tool that can be used
directly, or easily driven by other programs and scripts. At
the same time, it is a feature-rich network debugging and
exploration tool; since it can create almost any kind of
connection, you would need and has several interesting
built-in capabilities. This tool is a port sniffer, also.

Wireless Scanners
“Parking lot” hackers are those people that sit in their cars
within range of a wireless access-point (or many) and capture
free-floating data packets. With a well-configured laptop, a
strong battery and a little patience, a parking lot hacker can
gain access to almost any wireless network. Even in my own
neighborhood, I have logged over 200 unsecured wireless
networks within a 2-mile drive. Listed in this section are tools
to use against wireless hacker attacks.

Network Stumbler – http://www.stumbler.net/

26H

Network Stumbler is a free Windows 802.11 (wireless) Sniffer.

This tool finds open wireless access points, also referred to as
“wardriving.” They also distribute a WinCE version for PDAs
known as Ministumbler. This tool is free but for Windows-
only, and its maker does not provide a source code.

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Ethereal – http://www.ethereal.com/
27H

Ethereal is an, on-the-fly, scanner that works as well on a wired

LAN as it does on a wireless network. Ethereal is a multi-
platformed analysis sniffer that is the most widely used
analyzer by computer professionals.

AirSnort – http://airsnort.shmoo.com/
28H

AirSnort is an 802.11 WEP encryption cracking tool for local

area networks. AirSnort operates by passively monitoring
transmissions, computing the encryption key when enough
packets have been gathered. AirSnort is a Linux based program
that can be installed on a Windows computer, but it is a little
tricky to do so.

Dsniff – http://naughty.monkey.org/~dugsong/dsniff/
29H

Dsniff is a suite of programs used in auditing and penetration

testing (wired network or wireless). Dsniff, filesnarf, mailsnarf,
msgsnarf, urlsnarf and webspy monitors network for
interesting data (e-mail, files, and passwords). Arpspoof,
dnsspoof, and macof intercept network traffic. All of these
tools facilitate the man-in-the middle attack against networks
(also known as monkey-in-the middle).

Kismet – http://www.kismetwireless.net/
30H

Kismet is an 802.11-layer2 wireless network detector, sniffer,

and intrusion detection system. Kismet will work with any
wireless card that supports raw monitoring (rfmon) mode and
can sniff 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g traffic.

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Networking Tools for the Professional

Ping – The ping utility embedded into the computer’s
operating system, tests a TCP/IP connection. If you are having
connectivity issues, here is a quick tip to follow:
‰ First ping your local loopback address, [ping 127.0.0.1]
if you do not get a successful reply, there is a problem
with your TCP/IP configuration on the local computer.
Un-install and then re-install the TCP/IP Service. If
your ping was successful, ping another address on your
same network. If you can ping your loopback but not
another computer on your network, check your cable
connection or see if your subnet mask is correct. If you
can successfully ping your loopback, and a computer on
the same network, but cannot ping outside of your
network, then your default gateway is wrong. Here is a
gaggle of ping utilities if you do not like to do it the
old-fashioned way.

http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/pingtools/
31H

Trace Route – Use trace route, or tracert in DOS, on a

Microsoft computer to help in troubleshooting connectivity
issues. Trace route tracks the path of outgoing packets to see
which routers they do and do not pass through. Many times a
network problem may lie on a remote network and trace route
shows you the last successful hop.

Programs like Visual Route, http://visualroute.com/, will give

32H

you a graphical view of where your target is and will show you
a visual path.

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Telnet – Telnet is a utility used to connect to a router or remote

computer. Finding a Telnet program that you are comfortable
with is important. I liked the one that came with Windows 98
or NT Server. I do not like the telnet program packaged in XP
or Windows 2000. I have copied the old telnet program from
NT and placed it on my laptop. Hackers typically use telnet to
gain access to routers and test open and closed ports.

NSLOOKUP – This program queries a company’s DNS server

and resolves hostnames, aliases, and mail exchanges. Hackers
will sometimes use NSLOOKUP to profile the naming
convention of a company. Here is an online tool to help you get
the feel for what this utility does.
http://www.trulan.com/nslookup.htm
3H

Whois – Whois finds information about an IP address or

hostname, including country, state or province, city, name of
the network provider, administrator, etc. http://www.whois.net/
34H

Netstat – Netstat is a built in tool with many Windows

products, or you may purchase a more elaborate program on
the Internet. Netstat displays current connection information
and port numbers.

Nbtstat – A Nbtstat command can be used to see who is

currently logged onto any Windows system that is still using
NetBIOS (all are by default, even Windows 2000). A
NBTSTAT -A [IP address] will list the contents of the
NetBIOS name table on the target system.

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Vulnerability Assessments / Penetration

Testing
To test the integrity of your firewall, routers, and servers, a
network security company generally performs vulnerability
assessments. What they are looking for is un-patched
vulnerabilities left open by the Network Administrator because
he or she did not install security patches, close port numbers, or
secure the system correctly. The last penetration test I ran, I
examined over 600 known vulnerabilities. It breached the
computer before reaching the third vulnerability. Penetration
testing can come in the form of software. Not every Network
Administrator has access to penetration testing software, as it is
often expensive and typically used by security testing groups.
Some companies offer this type of software on a 30-day
evaluation. It is worth the effort to search the net to become
familiar with the workings of such programs. Below you will
find some of the more popular vulnerability programs.

Nessus: http://www.nessus.org/download.html

Microsoft Assessment Tools:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/te
35H

chnet/security/tools/tools.asp

N-Slalker:
http://www.nstalker.com/downloads.php
36H

GFI LANguard:
http://www.webattack.com/Freeware/server/fwserversecurity.s
37H

html

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Password Recovery
Password recovery should not be confused with hacking a
password. A computer professional performs one, while a
computer hacker performs the other. (Although is should be
said that most hackers are also computer professionals.) There
are many reasons why an IT person might need to recover a
password; lost and forgotten passwords, corrupt and damaged
files, and malicious tampering. There are many “programs”
that you can run against your system to expose an unknown
password, but most require that you first be logged on with an
administrator’s account. However, what if you do not know the
administrator’s password? How do you logon to the system
then?
ERD Commander is one of my favorite programs for
accessing a computer. You boot from CD-ROM, the program
accesses the administrator’s account and allows you to change
it. ERD commander also allows you to browse the computer’s
hard drives, obtain network access, and copy files. Admittedly,
this program can be “dangerous” in the wrong hands. ERD
commander can boot through a SCSI hardware RAID and
access almost any Microsoft Windows based program.

ERD Commander
http://www.winternals.com

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Passware Kit
http://www.lostpassword.com/

Elcomsoft.com
http://www.elcomsoft.com/prs.html

Command Line Utilities

Command Line Utilities are also important to know. On a
Microsoft server, simply type in NET and you will see the
following:

NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE |

FILE | GROUP | HELP | HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP
|
NAME | | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION |
SHARE |
START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER |
VIEW ]

NET VIEW, USE, and SHARE are the 3 more useful

commands that I use. You can type in “?” behind the command
for a more detailed description on how to use this command.

NET USE ?

NET USE [devicename | *] [\\computer\sharename [\volume]

[password | * ]] [/USER: domainname\]username]

A more useful example might be:

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NET USE F: \\servername\C$

38H

You can use a * in the place of F: and it will give you the first
available letter and the $ is a hidden administrative share.
Often I will access a server from the command prompt by
using the hidden administrator share. (Note: so do hackers)

The above is just an example of network command lines

used in Microsoft products; Linux, Netware, and Unix have
their own.

Windows Commands
The following are a list of command line utilities inside
the Windows operating system. Most command line
utilities use either /? Or – - help behind the command
for usage.

at –command to schedule tasks.

finger – displays user info
ipconfig – displays network adapter info
nbtstat – displays NetBIOS info
net accounts – updates user accounts and modifies passwords.
net computer – adds and deletes computers.
net continue – continues a paused service
net file – lists and closes open shared files
net group – displays, adds, and modifies global domain groups.
net help – displays help for net commands.
net localgroup – displays and modifies local groups.
net name – displays, adds, and deletes messaging names.
net pause – pauses a Windows service.
net print – displays and controls print jobs and printer queues.
net send – sends messages to other computers.

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net session – displays and disconnects the sessions between

computers.
net share – creates, deletes, or displays shared resources.
net start – starts and lists services.
net stop – stops services.
net time – displays and synchronizes time on computers.
net use – connects and disconnects computer to shared resources.
net view – displays a list of shared resources or computers on a
network or domain.
Netstat – displays protocols stats and current TCP/IP connections.
Nslookup – DNS diagnostic and query tools used to look up DNS
info on a domain.
Pathping – a router tracing tool that combines the features of the
ping utility.
Ping – the Ping utility is used to verify IP connectivity.
Rcp – copies files between computers.
Start – starts a separate window to run a specified program or
command.
TFTP – transfers files between computers or routers.

Linux Commands
alias creates an alias
39H

awk – finds and replaces text within file(s)

40H

break – exits from a loop

41H

builtin – runs a shell builtin

42H

cal – displays a calendar

43H

case – conditionally performs a command

4H

cat – displays the contents of a file

45H

cd – changes directory
46H

chgrp – changes group ownership

47H

chmod – changes access permissions

48H

chown – changes file owner and group

49H

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chroot – runs a command with a different root directory

50H

cksum – prints CRC checksum and byte counts

51H

clear – clears terminal screen

cmp – compares two files
52H

comm – compares two sorted files line by line

53H

command – runs a command - ignoring shell functions

54H

continue – resumes the next iteration of a loop

5H

cp – copies one or more files to another location

56H

cron – Daemon to execute scheduled commands

57H

crontab – schedules a command to run at a later time

58H

csplit – splits a file into context-determined pieces

59H

cut – divides a file into several parts

60H

date – displays or change the date & time

61H

dc – desk calculator
62H

dd – Data Dump - converts and copies a file

63H

declare – declares variables and gives them attributes

64H

df – displays free disk space

65H

diff – displays the differences between two files

6H

diff3 – shows differences among three files

67H

dir – briefly lists directory contents

68H

dircolors – color setup for `ls'

69H

dirname – converts a full pathname to just a path

70H

dirs – displays list of remembered directories

71H

du – estimates file space usage

72H

echo – displays message on screen

73H

ed – a line-oriented text editor (edlin)

egrep – searches file(s) for lines that match an extended expression
74H

eject – ejects CD-ROM

enable – enables and disables builtin shell commands
75H

env – displays, sets, or removes environment variables

76H

eval – evaluates several commands/arguments

7H

exec – executes a command

78H

exit – exits the shell

expand – converts tabs to spaces
79H

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export – sets an environment variable

80H

expr – evaluates expressions

81H

factor –prints prime factors

82H

false – does nothing, unsuccessfully

83H

fdformat – low-level format a floppy disk

84H

fdisk – partition table manipulator for Linux

85H

fgrep – searches file(s) for lines that match a fixed string

86H

find – searches for files that meet a desired criteria

87H

fmt –reformats paragraph text

8H

fold – wraps text to fit a specified width.

89H

for – expands words and executes commands

90H

format – formats disks or tapes

free – displays memory usage
fsck – file system consistency check and repair.
91H

function – define Function Macros

92H

gawk – finds and replaces text within file(s)

93H

getopts – parse positional parameters

94H

grep – searches file(s) for lines that match a given pattern

95H

groups – prints group names a user is in

96H

gzip – compresses or decompresses named file(s)

97H

hash – remember the full pathname of a name argument

98H

head – output the first part of file(s)

9H

history – commands history

10H

hostname – print or set system name

10H

id – print user and group id's

102H

if – conditionally perform a command

103H

import – capture an X server screen and save the image to file

104H

info – help info

105H

install – copy files and set attributes

106H

join – join lines on a common field

107H

kill – stop a process from running

108H

less – display output one screen at a time

109H

let – perform arithmetic on shell variables

10H

ln – make links between files

1H

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local – create variables

12H

locate – find files

13H

logname – print current login name

14H

logout – exit a login shell

15H

lpc – line printer control program

16H

lpr – off line print

17H

lprint – print a file

lprintd – abort a print job
lprintq – list the print queue
lprm – remove jobs from the print queue
18H

ls – list information about file(s)

19H

m4 – Macro processor
120H

man – help manual

12H

mkdir – create new folder(s)

12H

mkfifo – make FIFOs (named pipes)

123H

mknod – make block or character special files

124H

more – display output one screen at a time

125H

mount – mount a file system

126H

mtools – manipulate MS-DOS files

127H

mv – move or rename files or directories

128H

nice – set the priority of a command or job

129H

nl – number lines and write files

130H

nohup – run a command immune to hangups

13H

passwd – modify a user password

132H

paste – merge lines of files

13H

pathchk – check file name portability

popd – restore the previous value of the current directory
134H

pr –
135H convert text files for printing
printcap – Printer capability database
printenv – print environment variables
printf – format and print data
136H

ps – process status
137H

pushd – save and then change the current directory

138H

pwd – print working directory

139H

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quota – display disk usage and limits

140H

quotacheck – scan a file system for disk usage

14H

ram – ram disk device

142H

rcp – copy files between two machines.

143H

read – read a line from standard input

14H

readonly – mark variables/functions as readonly

145H

remsync – synchronize remote files via email

return – exit a shell function
146H

rm – remove files
147H

rmdir – remove folder(s)

148H

rpm – Remote Package Manager

149H

rsync – remote file copy (Synchronize file trees)

150H

screen – terminal window manager

sdiff – merge two files interactively
15H

sed – Stream Editor

152H

select – accept keyboard input

153H

seq – print numeric sequences

154H

set – manipulate shell variables and functions

15H

shift – shift positional parameters

156H

shopt – Shell Options

157H

shutdown – shutdown or restart linux

158H

sleep – delay for a specified time

159H

sort – sort text files

160H

source – run commands from a file `.'

16H

split – split a file into fixed-size pieces

162H

su – substitute user identity

163H

sum – print a checksum for a file

164H

symlink – make a new name for a file

165H

sync – synchronize data on disk with memory

16H

tac – concatenate and write files in reverse

167H

tail – output the last part of files

168H

tar – Tape ARchiver

169H

tee – redirect output to multiple files

170H

test – evaluate a conditional expression

17H

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time – Measure Program Resource Use

172H

times – user and system times

173H

touch – change file timestamps

174H

top – list processes running on the system

175H

traceroute –Trace Route to Host

176H

trap – run a command when a signal is set(bourne)

tr – translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
17H

true – does nothing, successfully

178H

tsort – topological sort

179H

tty – print filename of terminal on stdin

180H

type – describe a command

18H

ulimit – limit user resources

182H

umask – users file creation mask

183H

umount – unmount a device

unalias – remove an alias
184H

uname – print system information

185H

unexpand – convert spaces to tabs

186H

uniq – uniquify files

187H

units – convert units from one scale to another

18H

unset – remove variable or function names

189H

unshar – unpack shell archive scripts

190H

until – execute commands (until error)

19H

useradd – create new user account

192H

usermod – modify user account

193H

users – list users currently logged in

194H

uuencode –encode a binary file

195H

uudecode – decode a file created by uuencode

196H

v – verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')

vdir – verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')
watch – execute/display a program periodically
197H

wc – print byte, word, and line counts

198H

whereis – report all known instances of a command

19H

which – locates a program file in the user's path.

20H

while – executes commands

201H

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who – prints all usernames currently logged in

20H

whoami – prints the current user id and name (`id -un')

xargs – executes utility, passing constructed argument list(s)
yes -- prints a string until interrupted

What to know about viruses

There is much talk in the workplace when it comes to viruses.
Viruses are the reason why end-users forget to put paper in
their printer and click print 50 more times; viruses are the
reason for accidental deletion of documents, and viruses are the
reason that many Network Administrators forget to check on
backups. Both users and computer people use viruses as an
excuse for every problem in a company. Viruses are a Network
Administrator’s friend and foe: friend because you can blame
all unexplained problems on them and foe because they cause
you a lot of unnecessary work and your company to lose
money. Today's viruses are very well structured and they serve
a specific function for their makers. Modern viruses are
designed with a purpose that is more organized than simply
trying to make a name for its creator. Today’s viruses are on a
mission to collect as much data as possible. In third world
countries where education and resources are not that plentiful,
the Internet is an open pipeline. We got it and they want it. “It”
is anything they can use, sell, or trade. Just last week I traced a
piece of spam that offered a free online mortgage quote to
Pakistan. These people were not interested in giving free
quotes. They wanted the names, addresses, and social security
numbers that you need to provide to get the free quote. This
spam was not a virus; however, it still makes my point of what
you are up against; viruses are no different when it comes to
gathering data. Viruses are interested in obtaining the

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following information: text documents, spreadsheets, and

address books with e-mail addresses, so it can infest itself on to
other systems and computers to be used as a mule. (A mule is a
system that stores viruses or launches more viruses.) Most
viruses today are security problems and you should always be
aware of their possible presence. Make sure that
WWW.CERT.ORG is in your favorites because this website
203H

will help to keep you up on the latest virus and security threats.
Typically, three or four people in every organization
send and receive a lot of word documents and spreadsheets,
which are often infected with viruses. Spam and personal e-
mail are another source of viruses. If you monitor your e-mail
as I do, you will find that the vast majority of mail is either
personal or spam. Virus makers often embed their creations
inside spam that is more likely to be opened. For example, e-
mail with jokes, words of spiritual inspiration, and mail
warning of viruses that ask you to forward it to your friends,
are all designed to trick you into passing it from one recipient
to another. These viruses are known as missionary viruses
because they travel from place to place with good intention, but
carry deadly viruses for your computer. The worst part about a
virus for a Network Administrator is to explain how a virus
was able to get past you in the first place. Every operating
system and network device is vulnerable to viruses. Viruses
cause a Network Administrator more headaches than rap
music, more aggravation than company executive’s home
computers, and more frustration than spam. Okay, maybe not
spam, but viruses are still pretty darn annoying. Even with
virus protection, your system is always susceptible to viruses.
(Anti-virus programs only protect a system against known
viruses.) Because new viruses crop up everyday, it is easy to
forget to check what the latest and greatest threat is and
suddenly find that your switch has stopped flashing, or your
router is flashing too quickly or a server will not allow anyone

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to connect. Viruses are more than a nuisance; they are a billion

dollar business that is often quite confusing to keep abreast of
and maintain. There are viruses that open up computers for
other viruses. There are viruses that carry their own e-mail
engines so they can propagate themselves with the help of
someone’s address book. There are viruses that search for text
in documents, such as “Confidential, For Your Eyes Only, For
Internal Use Only” and then send its findings back to its
makers. There are viruses that will cover their tracks by
destroying the data on your hard drive or not allow you to
install an anti-virus program. To a Network Administrator, a
computer virus can be like a cancer that causes you to work
late at night, which robs time away from your home and
family. Because most Network Administrators work on salary,
viruses can cause you to work free.

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Computer and Network “Security”

Security is a process of maintaining an acceptable level of risk,
and computer operating systems are only as secure as its most
recent security update…and new updates created
weekly…very weakly. :-) If we compare computer security to
the security of an office building, we would have to build a
structure with no doors, no windows and no access from the
roof. For security reasons, no one could leave or enter our
building. Without access to the building, the structure would be
useless and might as well be filled with concrete. Therefore,
we must open up at least one door so workers can access the
building. Now we have an acceptable level of risk. Similarly, if
we unplug our server from the network, what remains is a very
expensive word processor.

Many companies will throw money at the problem of

security with firewalls, intrusion detection devices, outside
consultants, honeypots, auditing, forensics tools, anti-virus, and
anti-Spam. There are vulnerability testing software and port
scanners, Access Control Lists (ACL), TAPS demilitarized
zones (DMZ), proxy and packet filtering crypto-capable
routers. Once all of the equipment and software is in place, you
must watch daily for security updates. The more gears there are
in the machine, the more likely the machine will crash. This is
the sad fact of network security.

Several years ago, I attended a network security “thing”

in Orlando FL. A few minutes before the first session was over,
I wandered out into the hallway looking for an adrenal
stimulant. (Listening to someone talk about computer security
is, not surprisingly, boring.) After filling my free laptop bag
with complimentary bottled waters, I turned to discover a
spread of computer terminals lining the back wall. I quickly

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stumbled over where a man wearing a denim blue jean shirt

with a logo on the pocket, told me I could use one to check my
e-mail. The first thing I noticed was the computers were locked
down. The only accessible program was an Internet browser,
not Internet Explorer or Netscape, but Mozilla. Within seconds,
I discovered the ability to open telnet and used it to check my
e-mail. I closed it, turned around as the meeting was ending,
and began to walk away with a pleased smile on my face. Later
that day, someone told me the computers were placed there to
show off the company’s security talents. There was one flaw in
their set up, it was the telnet program, and more than half the
people attending the conference discovered it.

Because there is no such thing as total security, this does

not necessarily mean that you can give up. You must make a
concerted effort to keep out the amateur hackers. In this next
section, I explain basic tools used for network security.

Firewalls
Typically, a firewall will sit as a sentry between your network
and the rest of the world. Firewalls will analyze data packets
and compare requests against a pre-configured security list.
Many Network Administrators configure their routers with
security access-lists to avoid the necessity of a Firewall.
Firewalls can also slow access speeds because it inspects every
packet.

Cisco Pix Firewalls – Cisco Pix firewalls are a security

appliance with a built in operating system. Pix firewalls are a
valued instrument to know and have on your resume. 642-521
CSPFA Exam number 642-521

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Checkpoint – One of the most popular software based

firewalls.

NetScreen – An excellent hardware based firewall that keeps

your traffic moving at line speed.

Symantec Firewall/VPN – An integrated security and

networking device that provides easy, secure, and cost-
effective Internet connectivity between locations.

Fortinet – Dedicated hardware/software platforms that break

the Content Processing Barrier, supporting network-based
deployment of application-level services - including virus
protection and full-scan content filtering - and enabling
organizations to improve security, reduce network misuse and
abuse, and better utilize their communications resources,
without compromising network performance.

Zone Alarm – Provides solid, basic PC protection for the

home user. Zone Alarm is an intuitive user interface that makes
firewall management easier than ever, as well as a host of
security enhancements. Zone Alarm is free for personal use. It
is excellent for VPN users, too.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) – Virtual private networks

provide an encrypted connection between a user’s distributed
site over a public network (e.g., the Internet). By contrast, a
private network uses dedicated circuits and encryption. The
basic idea is to provide an encrypted IP tunnel through the
Internet that permits distributed sites to communicate securely.
The encrypted tunnel provides a secure path for network
applications and requires no changes to the application.

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Proxy Servers – This server sits between a client application,

such as a Web browser, and a real server. It intercepts all
requests to the real server to see if it can fulfill the requests. If
not, it forwards the request to the real server.

Linux servers have a great built-in proxy program. Here is a

good link on the net that does a good job explaining how to
configure a proxy server using Linux.
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Firewall-HOWTO.html
204H

Wingate is popular proxy software for Windows.

http://www.wingate.com/
205H

Access Lists – An access list is generally associated with a

router or a computer that is acting as a Firewall. Simply put, an
access list either accepts or rejects access to network resources
as configured in its tables. A Cisco router utilizes access list as
a security measure to either route traffic to its intended
destination or reject it by sending it to a bit bucket (a null port
configured to route a packet to nowhere instead of wasting
resources by rejecting it to its originator).

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) – DMZ is a computer or small

sub-network that sits between a trusted internal network, such
as a corporate private Local Area Network, and an
untrustworthy external network, such as the public Internet.
Typically, the DMZ contains devices accessible to Internet
traffic, such as Web (HTTP) servers, FTP servers, SMTP (e-
mail) servers, and DNS servers. The term comes from military
use, meaning a buffer area between two enemies.

Honeypots & Tar Pits – An Internet attached server that acts

as a decoy, luring in potential hackers in order to study their
activities and monitor how they are able to break into a system.

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Honeypots are designed to mimic systems and limit the

intruder from having access to an entire network. If a honeypot
is successful, the intruder will have no idea that she or he is
being tricked and monitored. Most honeypots are installed
inside a firewall so they can better be controlled, though it is
possible to install them outside firewalls. A honeypot in a
firewall works in the opposite way that a normal firewall
works: instead of restricting what comes into a system from the
Internet, the honeypot firewall allows all traffic to come in
from the Internet and restricts what the system sends back out.
If you want to learn more about “Honeypots” or “How to
Create a Honeypot,” follow the links below.

http://www.spitzner.net/honeypots.html
206H

http://www.auditmypc.com/freescan/readingroom/honeypot.as
207H

Auditing – Event auditing logs either equipment or security

actions such as deleted files, failed logons, and sometimes
unauthorized tampering. Event auditing can be used to prevent
security break-ins or forensics work after the fact, when it is
too late.

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Common Attacks
Attacks against IP are the most common method of penetrating
a node because it is the network protocol of the Internet. For
any type of computer equipment to participate on the Internet,
it requires a valid IP address and a hardware address. The
network card manufacturer burns a hardware address on every
network card. This number is unique to every other network
and expressed in a hexadecimal value. An IP address is also
unique and assigned either statically or dynamically by your
Internet provider. An IP address can be tracked to its
origination point where it enters the Internet. This is where
many hackers use some form of IP Spoofing. IP Spoofing is
someone purposely uses a forged IP address so their exploits
cannot be tracked to their computer or location. IP and ARP
(hardware addresses) are commonly spoofed, although these
days, I do not know how effective it is.

Denial-of-Service – On the Internet, a denial of service (DoS)

attack is an incident in which a user or organization is deprived
of the services of a resource they would normally expect to
have. Typically, the loss of service is the inability of a
particular network service, such as e-mail, to be available or
the temporary loss of all network connectivity and services. For
example, a Web site accessed by millions of people is forced to
cease operation temporarily. A denial of service attack can also
destroy programming and files in a computer system. Although
usually intentional and malicious, a denial of service attack can
sometimes happen accidentally. A denial of service attack is a
type of security breach to a computer system that does not
usually result in the theft of information or other security loss.
However, these attacks can cost the target person or company a
great deal of time and money.

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Buffer Overflows – A buffer overflow occurs when a program

or process tries to store more data in a buffer (temporary data
storage area) than it is able to hold. Since buffers can only hold
a specific amount of data, the extra information—that has to go
somewhere—can overflow into the adjacent buffers, corrupting
or overwriting the valid data stored. In buffer overflow attacks,
the extra data may contain codes designed to trigger specific
actions, in effect, sending new instructions to the attacked
computer that could, for example, damage the user's files,
change data, or disclose confidential information.

Data Diddling – This kind of an attack involves altering the

raw data just before a computer processes it and then changing
it back after the processing has completed.

E-mail Spoofing – A spoofed e-mail is one that appears to

originate from one source but is actually from another source.

Mail Spamming – Spammers utilize this type of spoofing

from mail servers that allow open forwarding. Because most
companies do not employ an E-mail Administrator, most
Network Administrators do not know to close this
vulnerability.

Worm / Virus Attack – This form of Virus is a program that

attaches to a computer or a file and then propagates to other
files and computers on a network.

Logic Bombs – This is an event-dependent program that relies

on a specific event, such as a date, to trigger the execution of
the virus. (For example, the Chernobyl virus).

Password Cracking – Password cracking is not as complex a

procedure, as many people would think. I can tell you from

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experience that more than half of all passwords within a

company are identical to any other company. People, as well as
Network Administrators, tend to use the same passwords. Most
of the time, password cracking is more like password guessing.
A network is only as secure as its passwords. Passwords are an
ineffective security measure. They do not keep out the internal
or external hackers, pranksters, and criminals (there is software
that can guess half of the passwords in an average organization
in only a couple of hours); Passwords are an administrator’s
nightmare. Users are constantly forgetting their password, even
though it is typically their child or pet’s name. Many Network
Administrators force password expirations. This means they
have configured the server to force the user’s passwords to
expire so they must change to a new password as a means of
security. In my opinion, this practice causes more work for the
Network Administrator than it does protecting the network.

Confidentiality Breaches – It has been reported that ninety

percent of all security breaches are from the inside the
company by employees. It is common to monitor e-mail to help
protect a company from lawsuits or from valuable information
being sent outside the company. I have seen everything you
could possibly imagine from monitoring e-mail, such as
pictures of hairy babies, adultery, and embezzlement. For this
reason, most corporations monitor e-mail and if this surprises
you, it is only because you have not been careful yourself.
Every packet of data that leaves and enters your router is more
than likely being monitored from either within your company
or from outside entities.

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E=mailSpam2

E-mail has done for communication what the Internet has done
for pornography; there is more than the mind can ever
comfortably comprehend. Spam has played a particularly large
role in propagating both. There is no question that spam is an
annoyance. Within Spam are unwanted advertisements such as,
diet pills, home refinancing, sexual aids, and porn sites. There
is virus spam, phishing spam (phishing is a pop name for
identity stealing), and there is spam that is used to do nothing
more then cause a buffer overflow on the mail server so it can
send more spam.

Spammers do not use their own e-mail servers to send

spam. They exploit a method called Open Relay on unsecured
e-mail servers.

Open Relay Exploit

Open relay is when an e-mail server allows third-party e-mail

messages to relay. (Many times, it is open by default.) By
allowing your mail server to relay mail, your server is
vulnerable to use by spammers to relay large volumes of spam
mail to their targets. If your server allows third-party mail to
relay, your company can be subject to Internet block lists, and
even in some cases, legal damages caused by the negligence of
not securing your mail server. (Even though the software
maker has set this as a default setting) To test if your mail
server can relay mail, or if your company’s domain is on a
boycott list, you can go to http://www.ordb.org/ and have your
208H

server tested. You may also test it yourself by following these

instructions.

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Step 1.
Use telnet on port 25 to telnet into your server:
(Remember to configure your telnet program for “echo;” otherwise, you
will not be able to see what you are typing. Also, typos will error out your
task and you will have to reset the session.)

telnet (server IP Address) 25

220 servername.domain.com Microsoft ESMTP MAIL Service, Version:

5.0.2195.6713 ready at Tue, 3 May 2005 10:57:49 -0400

> ehlo

250-mailserver.domain.com Hello [192.168.1.1]

250-TURN
250-ATRN
250-SIZE 4194304
250-ETRN
250-PIPELINING
250-DSN
250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
250-8bitmime
250-BINARYMIME
250-CHUNKING
250-VRFY
250-X-EXPS GSSAPI NTLM LOGIN
250-X-EXPS=LOGIN
250-AUTH GSSAPI NTLM LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-X-LINK2STATE
250-XEXCH50
250 OK

>mail from:[email protected]

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250 2.1.0 [email protected] OK

> rcpt to:[email protected]

550 5.7.1 Unable to relay for [email protected]

550 5.7.1 Unable to relay for [email protected]

is the response for a properly configured mail server with a
secured open relay. If relaying were open, then you would
receive the following response.

250 2.1.5 testaccount@yahoo

250 means OK.

For more information on “open relay,” refer to your favorite
Internet search engine.

Buffer Overflow Spam

Some mail servers are vulnerable to “buffer overflows.” A

spammer can target a mail server with thousands of random
names @yourDomain.com. When the mail server replies that,
there is no user name at that domain, and because of the shear
volume of rejections, a buffer programmed to handle this
request is “overflowed,” resulting in allowing spam to pass.

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Advanced Google Searches

(Google Hacking)

Google is such a powerful search engine, that hackers use it to

find passwords and confidential or sensitive documents that
companies do not realize are available to the public. Most
computer people use Google, but do not know how to use all of
its search parameters. The term “Google hacking” is a method
used by unscrupulous people to uncover sensitive data, as well
as expose web server vulnerabilities. Listed below are several
Google search parameters and examples.

filetype:
fletype:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “filetype:” instructs Google to search for files on

the Internet with specific extensions. For example: filetype:doc
site:gov confidential Google will produce all the word
documents, from all the gov domains that may contain the
word confidential. Another example is, filetype:pdf site:com
access-list. You may use any domain type, (com, gov, edu…)

cache:
cache:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “cache:” will display the version of the web page
that Google has in its cache. For example:

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“cache:www.microsoft.com” will display Google's cache of

the Microsoft homepage.

intext:

intext:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “intext” searches for the words within a specific

website and ignores the URLs and page titles. For example:
intext:confidential will return only links to those web pages
that have the search keyword " confidential " in its webpage.

intitle:
intitle:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “intitle:” instructs Google to search for pages that

contain the words behind intitle: For example intitle:index of
master.passwd will return pages within Unix or Linux where
the master.passwd files are. /etc/passwd “allintitle:” will
produce a list of all words in the title. Google will ignore the
slashes.

intitle: examples:

intitle:"Index of" .sh_history

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intitle:"Index of" .bash_history

intitle:"index of" passwd
intitle:"index of" people.lst
intitle:"index of" pwd.db
intitle:"index of" etc/shadow
intitle:"index of" spwd
intitle:"index of" master.passwd
intitle:"index of" htpasswd
intitle:"index of" members OR accounts
intitle:"index of" user_carts OR user_cart
allintitle: sensitive filetype:doc
allintitle: restricted filetype :mail
allintitle: restricted filetype:doc site:gov

inurl:
inurl:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “inurl:” instructs Google to search for pages that

contain specific words or characters included in the URL such
as this inurl:windows. The results of this query will produce
such pages that have the word “windows” in it. allinurl: will
produces the results of URLs with all of the specified words in
its query. allinurl:windows/cracks.

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inurl: examples:

inurl:admin filetype:txt
inurl:admin filetype:db
inurl:admin filetype:cfg
inurl:mysql filetype:cfg
inurl:passwd filetype:txt
inurl:iisadmin
inurl:auth_user_file.txt
inurl:orders.txt
inurl:"wwwroot/*."
inurl:adpassword.txt
inurl:webeditor.php
inurl:file_upload.php
inurl:gov filetype:xls "restricted"

link:

link:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax “link:” will produce a list of webpages that have a

link to a specified webpage. For example:
link:www.thenetworkadministrator.com will create a
Google list of websites with links to
www.thenetworkadministrator.com.

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phonebook:
phonebook:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The Google syntax “phonebook” searches for U.S. street

addresses and phone number information. For Example:
“phonebook:James+FL” will list all names of persons having
“James” in their names and located in “Florida (FL).”

related:
related:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax related: lists web pages that are “similar” to a

specific web page. For Example:
related:www.thenetworkadministrator.com will list web
pages that are similar to that of TheNetworkAdministrator’s
homepage.

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site:
site:

Google Search I'm Feeling Lucky

The syntax site: instructs Google to search for keywords in a

particular site or domain. For example: exchange
site:microsoft.com will search for the keywords “exchange” in
those web pages in all the links of the domain microsoft.com.

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Chapter 5
Managing Your Network and Server Room

‰ Learning Under Fire or Submersion Learning

‰ Know The Server Room
‰ Know Your Servers
‰ Rebooting a Server
‰ Passwords
‰ What Server Operating Systems Should I Know
‰ What To Do When a Server Crashes
‰ The Recommended Back Up Strategies
‰ Troubleshooting Tips:
‰ Upgrades

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Learning Under Fire or Submersion

Learning

One of the very first things some new computer people must
come to grips with when he or she takes over a position is that
the person who preceded you did not leave behind any
software or documentation.
Most computer people do not take the time to document
the details of the job and instead, keep information about their
job duties stored safely in their heads.

Notation:
This in not typically true of programmers: Programmers are trained to
document their work and add comments in their code to help future
programmers.

There has been much speculation as to why this occurs:

(mostly by me) job security, laziness, or perhaps in many
cases, there was just not enough time.
A friend of mine, Michael, called me one morning and
told me that his company was bought out and the new
management asked him to document his duties and all the
servers he maintained. He asked what I thought of the request.
My thoughts on this were obvious; he was just about to lose his
job. My advice was to spend his time looking for a new job and
it was up to him whether he wanted to make it easier for his
replacement. He chose to look for a new job and just in time
too. His revenge was short-lived as a friend of his replaced
him. It was a great opportunity for his friend and Michael could
not refuse his friend’s request for help. It is irresponsible and
unprofessional for a computer person not to document his or
her duties. Then again, how responsible do you want to be to a
company that is about to fire you?

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The systems and equipment stored in a server room is

the core of a modern business, and it is the least documented. I
have built server rooms from scratch and taken over existing
ones. Neither one seems more difficult than the other does. The
disadvantage of taking over an existing server room is learning
the personalities and eccentricities of older servers. Each server
has its use, its own set of unique programs, and its own quirks.
Most can be fixed with as little as a reboot, or an occasional
driver reinstall. If you know each computer’s quirks, you are
the master of your company’s data core. If however, you are
new to the company, and have never actually managed a server
room before, a down database server in a large company can be
brown trousers time.
I have taken three senior IT positions where there was
no software or documentation. With all of the emotions
associated with being a new IT person, such as the fear of
being exposed as inexperienced, possible rejection from your
peers and being fired for gross incompetence, having to explore
the server room without a road map is not going to make your
first couple of weeks easier. So what do you do?
Let us say you are a new Network Administrator,
holding the position for the first time, and you open the server
room door and see a waterfall of blue cable crashing into what
looks like a stack of hubs—you think—or they could very well
be switches, which they probably are. You turn to see a motley
crew of misshaped servers, more cables turned and twisted
around metal racks bridged by what looks like a jungle gym in
the monkey cage. Do not panic yet!
I know of a person that after the second day on the job, he
left a note on his boss’ desk admitting to her that he did not
know what he was doing and that his brother was the one on
the phone for the technical interview. (I am not making this up)
He thought he could fake his way through the job until he

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could learn, but the server room frightened him and he

panicked. The story does not end there. Even though he lied,
the company still called him and asked him to come back. He
worked there another two years before getting a better job with
a larger company. One of the best things about working in IT is
you have access to expensive equipment and you are being
paid to train yourself for your next better paying job.
The fellow in my story got lucky. It is unusual that a
company would actually invite you back. The thing he should
have realized is that in a situation like his, where there were no
other computer people, he could have easily faked his way
until he learned. He could have called his brother, or gave his
brother remote access until he learned the systems. Because,
the simple fact is, no one knows what computer people do and
they are afraid to ask because they do not want to look stupid
when they do not understand you. It is just like when you try to
explain a computer thing to a family member. They just gawk
at you as if you are speaking in another tongue.
Our friend in the story collapsed too quickly. He had too
many resources available to him to quit. He had his brother, the
Internet, and software support. He almost lost one of the best
opportunities available in this business. Learning under fire is
an accelerated level of education that you cannot get anywhere
else. You learn faster, with more retention, and more clarity,
providing you do not have a nervous breakdown. Your aim is
always to find jobs that you are under-qualified for, not over-
qualified. If you take a job for which you are over-qualified,
you will be bored and hate it. Computer people must have a
challenging job, or it is straight to EBay and the porn sites.
If you are ever in a situation for which you feel you are
vastly under-qualified, approach it with confidence and cool
control. If you appear confident, no one will question you. Do
not volunteer anything that you do not have to, and when
someone asks you a question you cannot answer, just look at

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him or her as if he or she is an idiot until you can answer it.

Confidence and leadership is a great substitute for experience.
These same traits elect presidents and they will work well in
the IT department too.

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Know the Server Room

To the untrained eye, a server room is a brilliant futuristic
display of blinking lights, panels with a mish mash of wires
and cables looping in and out of seemingly bizarre looking
equipment and all doing so in a very mysterious manner. To
the trained eye, he or she might see an entanglement of patch
cables and power cords that would take a hook knife to
disentangle, and servers that are too old to use and too heavy to
move. Server rooms are cool, alive with the sound of fans
buzzing, power supplies humming and in the dark with diodes
blinking like stars in the nighttime sky. To a computer geek, a
server room is a wondrous place. However, it can also be a
scary place if it is your job to take care of it and you do not
know what to do. If you have never been in a server room
before, it can be quite an intimidating experience. Remember,
what Douglas Adams said, “Don’t panic.” I am here to help
you untangle the cables and tell you where they are going.
I think the best place to start is at the top and work your
way down. At the top is the router and demarc.
The demarc is the line of demarcation, where the
phone company’s responsibility ends and yours begins.
Typically, this might be with the patch cable coming from the
CO’s (phone company) equipment such as a smart jack. This
device terminates a T1 line or other type of data circuit. Your
responsibility begins with the cable between the CSU/DSU and
the smart jack, or demarc. The smart jack is a rather small
metal box, mounted sideways against the wall with a phone
company sticker and circuit ID numbers written on it. It can
also be a small cabinet with server circuits. From this device,
you will find a network cable plugged into your company’s
CSU/DSU.

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The CSU/DSU is a device that multiplexes and de-

multiplexes the signal and separates the channels coming from
the smart jack. (In other words, the data stream coming from
the Internet to your network.) These days, the CSU/DSU is
built into the router, but in older systems, and there are still
many of them out there, the CSU/DSU can be a separate unit
that is connected to the smart jack by a CAT 5 patch cable and
attached to the router using a specified cable by the router
maker. From the CSU/DSU the next connection is to the router.

Router – Like the name suggests, a router “routes” data

packets from source to destination and from destination to
source. A router can also be used as a firewall to pass packets
or block them. Cisco, Bay Networks, and Adtran are some
brand names to be familiar with, Cisco being the largest and
most well known. From here, the router passes its data either to
a switch, hub, or even a firewall. I will discuss all three.

Firewalls – A firewall may be a barrier between the router and

switch (or hub). The basic physical design of a firewall is a
computer or hardware box that has multi-honed network cards,
or multiple network cards. The router and patch cable may
connect to one of the firewall’s network cards and from there it
is routed out to an out-going network card to either the internal
network or the network that contains your web machines. A
network is nothing more than the hub or switch that is
connected to your computers. Firewalls are programmed to
allow desired traffic in and undesired traffic out.

A Hub – A hub is the most basic of networking devices that

are rapidly being replaced with switches as switch prices have
come down. A typical hub might have 24 ports, (24 slots for
patch cables with RJ-45 end connectors). A hub acts as a
crossover cabling allowing all computers connected to it to

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communicate with each other. Hubs are slow. They allow

broadcast to every computer on the network instead of just the
one for which the packet is intended, and are typically to blame
for most network bottlenecks.

Switches – In appearance, a switch looks very similar to a hub.

The main difference is that a switch knows the hardware and
sometimes IP address of every computer connected to it and
will pass data to only the intended recipient and not the entire
network like a hub does. Switches are faster, more reliable and
hold a network table of every node connected to it.

Patch Panel – A patch panel is nothing more than a wiring

block. It is a place where all cables merge from the entire
networking wall jacks in an office. The networking cable of
eight wires or four pairs is punched down to the patch panel
with a punch down or impact tool. The other end of the cable,
the computer side, is punched down to a wall jack. There are
patch panels for category 4, 5, and 6 cables and also category 3
phone cables and fiber optic cables. The connection ends from
the wall jack to your computer.

Now let us do it backwards:

From your computer and network, patch cable plugs into a
wall jack that is connected to a cable that is punched down to a
patch panel. From the patch panel and network, cable is
plugged into a switch or hub, from there a cable is plugged
into a firewall or router, to the phone company’s smart jack,
otherwise known as the line of demarcation.

Computer Æ Wall Jack Æ Patch Panel Æ Hub or Switch

Æ Firewall or Router Æ Smart Jack or Demarc

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UPS
Of course, the server room would not be complete without a
UPS, (Uninterrupted Power Supply) A UPS is what all the
equipment above is plugged into. In the event of a power surge
or temporary power outage, a UPS can be configured to shut
down your servers safely if the outage is too long and it will
warn your users. A UPS can be rack-mounted or be as large as
a washing machine. It is the device that all of the other devices
plug into.

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Know Your Servers

Taking charge of an unknown server room can sometimes be
an overwhelming task. Servers can be stacked like unlabeled
boxes in a warehouse, with no discernable pattern of intent. In
other words, you will not know what each server does, unless
you know how to look. At least one time, in every computer
administrator’s career, he or she will have to enter a server
room and begin the arduous task of trying to differentiate what
each server does.
With a little help from me, and a small notebook, walk
into the server room and click to life each server and document
which server does what, their names, and IP addresses. What I
like to do is change the background on the desktop by typing in
the name of the server.

If you are just taking over a server room, here are some
tips to help you identify the important machines that you
should note.

Database Servers
Isolate which servers are the database servers, as these are your
company’s most valued systems. Database servers store all the
company’s important data. Write down their names, IP
addresses, and record any ODBC connections in the ODBC
manager. (ODBC Manager is in the Control Panel on a
Microsoft system. Otherwise, your company uses Oracle).
Immediately following the discovery of the database servers,
check how they are backed up and then locate the backups. In a
well-configured database environment, there should be at least
two identical database servers, the actual working server and a
redundant backup for testing or running reports. It is not likely
that you would be expected to administer the company’s

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database servers unless you already had expertise in this area.

You will however, be responsible for backups.

File and Print Servers

There are always file and print servers inside a company’s
server room. These machines exist to store all the personal files
for each department so they can be safely backed up at night.
Record all server shares to your notepad so you can reference
them quickly, as you will most likely have to solve a printer-
related problem straight away or restore an accidentally deleted
file. Record the file and print servers name, the IP address, and
all the print shares. These servers are usually low on memory
and need upgraded. Printers are the number one reason that
computer professionals consider joining Green Peace. If ever
there were a perpetual motion of wasted energy, it would be
how often office workers print out documents, review them,
and then promptly put them through the shredder. Once a
week, I have seen an office supply courier carting in a load of
printing paper, then six days later I have seen someone else
carrying out giant balls of shredded paper to the dumpster. If
during a job interview you receive an odd question about
printers, the best response is to shiver and look grim. Most
likely, it was a question to test your experience level. An
experienced computer person is one that has been affected by
printers.

Time Clock Server

The time clock server is of course the server that stores and
facilitates the company’s clock-ins and clock-outs. Make note
to how many IP addresses this machine has, as it may share a
connection with two networks. Time clock programs can be
problematic, and at the first sign of trouble, a certain
percentage of people will take advantage of this and try to
claim more hours than they have actually worked. Therefore,

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you want to be particularly careful when it comes making

changes to this machine. Having the correct time on this server
is important. Computers make lousy clocks. If left alone, not
one computer on your network would have the same time. It is
standard practice to have this server synchronize with an
outside source nightly. I say nightly because I knew of a
Network Administrator that set his computer to synchronize
with the U.S Navy Atomic Clock at 3 p.m. and by default, at
night, the server would synchronize with the Primary Domain
Controller at midnight. Because the Primary Domain controller
was off by 36 minutes, there were 800 employees paid 28,800
minutes a day, 2400 hours a week that accounted for 124,800
hours a year. If you average that out to about $15.00 an hour,
the company lost $1,872,000.00 a year in payroll, not including
taxes and overtime. That story is an exaggeration of what could
happen. One day, Joe and I changed the time on the time clock
in the middle of the day without first thinking about the
ramifications. After realizing what we did, both of us thought
almost simultaneously, how a couple of well-placed batch
commands could produce the above results. With thinking like
that, you can see how important it is to keep your computer
department happy—I mean your company’s time clock
accurate.

DHCP Server
A DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) server dynamically
assigns IP Addresses to the computers on a network. This
service does not necessarily warrant its own box and this
service is typically on a file server or domain controller. You
will need to record what address range and scopes are being
used. The proper model for applying IP Addresses is by using a
DHCP service. It works is like this:
A computer configured to get its IP address automatically
will send out a message to the network, requesting an IP

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address to any DHCP server that can hear it. A DHCP server
hears the request and supplies the workstation with an IP
address and whatever else is configured in the scope. (Servers
typically do not request IP addresses as they are configured
with static IP addresses.) The scope might have a Default
Gateway, (router) DNS server (Domain Naming Service), and
a WINS server (Windows Internet Naming Server). I once
configured all of my 43 remote offices on a Frame-Relay
network to pass their request for an IP address to my DHCP
server at the corporate office so I could keep an eye on what
computers were up and running.

E-mail Servers
Some companies have two mail servers; one used for Internet
mail and the other for internal uses. Although many e-mail
server models will recommend only one mail server, I do not
like having the internal mail server exposed to the Internet
because a company’s most valued information is passed
internally. I like to keep this mail server isolated on the inside.
Other issues with mail servers are user names. If a hacker can
harvest the names on a mail server, than they have half of the
combinations needed to crack a network. All that remains is a
password. Make note of your mail server’s name and IP
addresses, as you will need to know this later.

DNS Server
A DNS server (or Domain Naming Service) is one of those
servers that do not warrant its own computer but shares with
another server, typically. The best and most recommended
place for a DNS is on the firewall (providing your firewall is a
server). Otherwise, the DNS will reside on your web server.
The DNS service provides a list of names to IP addresses for
the Internet and your internal network. The www is an alias in
a DNS server and is queried by other name servers to resolve

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your web services. Although it is not immediately important to

know your domain information, you will ultimately want to
record this information.

Web Servers
I would guess that half of all companies house their own web
server. A web server may be either directly exposed to the
Internet side of your router or between a firewall. Your web
services are within Microsoft’s Internet Information Service
(IIS) or Apache. Record the web domain names and directories
for your reference notepad. Many companies expect the
Network Administrator to be the web master as well.

FTP Server
FTP (File Transport Protocol) is generally on the same
machine as your web server, and it is used to allow downloads,
and uploads from the Internet. Depending on your company’s
business model, your customers, your sales staff, or just your
computer department for accessing software and drivers can
use it. Always make note of who has access and who does not
have access to your FTP site. FTP servers can sometimes be an
intrusion point to your network. Hackers will target this service
to install code that executes a remote session; viruses will
target the FTP service to store viruses for retrieval after a
successful penetration. I once discovered a hole that allowed a
file-sharing group to store MP3s for its members. You can see
how an FTP site can be a friend and a foe.

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What Server Operating Systems Should I

Know?
There are several network operating systems out there and each
one has its good and bad qualities. Some are better with
security, while others are better for speed and connectivity. In
my opinion, the best network operating system is one that can
get you a job in your area. I know many very stubborn network
people that stand beside a NOS (Network Operating System) in
an almost religious-like manner. There is nothing wrong with
believing in a network operating system that you like, but if no
one are hiring Commodore 64 administrators, you might
consider learning a more widely used NOS.
The dominant server operating system in your city may
not be the same in another. An example of this might be; one
area could predominately be Microsoft’s NT or Windows 2000
NOS while another might be Microsoft’s Windows 2000 and
NT4, and yet another town or city might be inundated with a
NOS made by Microsoft. It is no secret that Microsoft has the
largest share of the NOS market. You may have also already
discovered a separation among computer people on which is
the better NOS. It is a bitter battle of the operating systems.
Unix, the original NOS and the leader for many years, was
edged out by Netware, who in turn was edged out by NT, who
is now watching Linux take inroads in the corporate market.
Then out of nowhere, as I write this, the owners of Unix
decided that they have had enough of Linux stealing their
customers and filed a suit against IBM for using Linux that
uses some Unix code. Occasionally though, there is a break in
the battle of the NOS where Unix, Netware, and Linux users
gather together and find solace in their unreserved hatred
towards Microsoft. If you are reading this, it is because you are
looking for an edge in finding a job—you will not find one
taking sides in this foolish argument. My advice is to learn

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what you need to get your foot in the door and have your holy
crusade when you have moved out of your parent’s basement.
Currently, NT Server or Windows 2000 seem to be the most
common Network Servers deployed in a company’s server
room, especially on the Local Area Network (LAN) side. With
respect to Novell’s Netware and Banyan Vines, if you want to
be a Network Administrator, you should pick the operating
system with the most market shares, and learn as much as you
can. Unix and Linux are typically on the Wide Area Network
(WAN) side of the router. These two systems are used as
firewalls, mail servers, intrusion detection, and web servers. If
you can only learn two server operating systems, which is
enough for anyone, make sure you know Windows2000 and
Linux.

Rebooting the Server

Rebooting a server is not as easy as just rebooting a
workstation. The effects of a 3-minute reboot can be felt across
an entire continent. Some companies have entire policies
written about when and how a server can be rebooted.
Rebooting a server in the middle of the day can be a
monumental undertaking; every department, every user, and
every person that looks at their computer sideways, must first
be consulted about when the server can be restarted. At such
debate, the results go to committee, and only after a signed
declaration, will you be able to reboot the server.
Many companies mandate that servers can only be
rebooted after normal work hours. It is often desirable to wait
until the company closes. Management does not mind that the
server is rebooted after work hours, because most computer
people are paid a salary and therefore not eligible for overtime.

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My approach is a much simpler one. When I have to

reboot a server, I use the “Oops” method of reboot.
“Oops, sorry about that. I was updating a security patch
and it rebooted itself.”
If I have an accidental reboot around lunchtime, it makes
for an easier evening for me.

Passwords
Passwords are deployed on computer systems to keep out
intruders. Cap locks are deployed on the computer keyboard to
keep out computer users. Passwords are also great for keeping
out the computer department after calling for help, and then
walking away from your computer.
Years ago, I would sit at my desk in the morning and
monitor the security log, watching the “wrong username or
password” messages scroll down my screen. It was always the
same two to three people, every morning, trying to log in with
their cap locks on. Because I was the first in the office every
morning, the helpdesk phone ringing in the far distance always
interrupted my quiet morning. One morning, I had the brilliant
idea to just change their passwords in uppercase. The event
logs were shorter because of it, the computer users could begin
their days feeling less stupid, and my mornings no longer
began with me mumbling profanities under my breath.

Most helpdesk or computer support people keep a list of

passwords in their heads. (I can remember my passwords and
every password that I have ever typed, guessed, stolen,
captured, or harvested.) Then there are those people that cannot
remember their own single password…ever!

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An example of this is Bob. Bob, an office manager and

college roommate of our company’s owner, could never
remember his password, which was of course, bob. Bob called
me once a month asking if we could change his password
because he had forgotten it again. (Once a month is how often
he checked his e-mail) I would do nothing more than tell him
that I changed it to bob, so he could remember it. After almost
a year of doing this, one day he called and asked if I could
change his password to, 925y468x114? I did and he never
called again. You just never know the minds of your computer
users.

What to Do When a Server Crashes

There is no drug or single event in the world that can make a
computer person focus more clearly than when a server
crashes. The mere act of a crashing hard drive, database, or
server component can temporarily raise one’s IQ as much as 50
points. You suddenly become more aware of the universe
around you and less aware of trivial aspects in life, such as
reality TV, what type of car you should drive, and if wearing
socks with sandals is cool. You can for a brief moment, see
dimly into the immediate future as your pleasure centers
temporarily shutdown and you put your resume on standby for
a mass mailing campaign. You move much quicker as time
seems to slow down, you can calculate rational and irrational
numbers using math that has not yet been invented, and you
become a little more spiritual—no, a lot more spiritual. A
crashed server sometimes brings a Network Administrator
closer to God, his or her fellow workers, and the
unemployment line. In a single point of light (pixilated light),
when you discover that your backups have not run for over two
months, a cold perspiration blankets your feverish body while

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your knees weaken and the contents of your stomach climb to

the top of your reflux valve. This is it; your mission critical
server crashed and you do not have a backup. So what do you
do next? You do what every Network Administrator does when
this happens. You calmly walk into your office, throw up in
your trashcan, and slowly begin gathering your personal items
while waiting for someone from Human Resources to bring
you a box. As you sit at your desk trying to figure out how you
are going to get two gigs of MP3s to your home computer, it
hits you like a brick—you read this book and configure a
redundant backup to another server on another hard drive.
Suddenly the feeling in your hands and feet return and you go
back to the server room and restore the data.

When a server crashes and you do not have a current

backup, you are fired. When a hard drive crashes and you do
not have a backup, you are fired. When there is a fire in your
server room and all of the company’s data is lost to fire, you
are fired. Twice in my career, a hard drive has crashed with
critical company data on it and I did not have a current backup
to restore the data. Backup software is not as reliable as many
software companies will lead you to believe. You should pick a
day every week to check if your backups are successful. I have
made it a habit to check my backups every Monday without
fail. Because if you do not… you know the rest…fired.
Another issue with backups is that you do not always
know what should be backed up. It is a nice thought to have
every drive on every server backed up every night, but in
reality, it is just not feasible. At my company, we have every
server operating system imaged to a CD-ROM. If the server
crashes, we can have another one re-imaged and up before you
can restore from tape. Now all that is left to do is restore data
files. When you are new to a company, it is almost impossible
to guess what should and should not be backed up. The best

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you can do is back up everything that looks like a data file and
bring the head of every department in to show you what they
need backed up. The first drive that crashed on me without a
backup was the marketing department’s Macintosh drive. I did
not see it. I did not know it was there and when it was lost,
there was someone there trying to monopolize on the situation
for my job. So do not leave it up to guesswork. Bring in
someone from every department to help you. Later you will be
thankful that you shared the responsibility. If your company
manager tells you to back up everything, then they are going to
have to invest in the proper equipment and storage space.

Types of Backups

Full includes files whether they have been changed or not.

Differential includes all files changed since the last full

backup, whether they have been changed since the last backup
operation or not.

Incremental includes only those files that have changed since

the last backup operation of any kind.

To choose which method of the above types of backups

depends on three factors: the size of your tape, the time
available for backups, and the length of time you want your
restore to take.

A Full Backup on a daily basis requires a lot of tape and needs

a longer duration to run. I have seen backups that start late at
night and finish in the next afternoon, only to pause for a short
breath and start again. I do a nightly full backup to hard drive
and a weekly full backup and a differential during the other
four days in the week to tape. This method saves time and tape.

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The Recommended Backup Strategies

Tape Backup:
Most Network Administrators implement a nightly tape back
up in four sets. This means that every weeknight, data is
backed up to tape in a four-week rotation. This equals twenty
backup tapes labeled, Monday1, Tuesday1, Wednesday1,
Thursday1, Friday1, Monday2, and Tuesday2 and so on until it
ends with Friday4. This way you have a good coverage of the
month.

Hard Drive Backups:

In addition to the tape backups, I also like to include a nightly
backup to disk, (Hard Drive) stored on a remove or redundant
hard disk. I do this for two reasons. 1) It takes what seems like
forever to restore from tape (longer if someone is standing
nervously over your shoulder), and 2) For the sheer redundancy
of it. Once a week you will find that, someone in the
accounting department has accidentally deleted a file that needs
to be restored or one was corrupted because it grew too big.
Backup tapes just take too long for these little files to restore.

Monthly Backups
I also recommend that a monthly backup is performed and
archived off-site. We burn a monthly backup to DVD and send
one copy home with the owner and another copy with a
Network Administrator.

Other Types of Tape Rotations

I have seen the term Grandfather-father-son method, or
typically called, Monthly, Weekly and the Son. (GFS) The
Grandfather backup is a monthly full backup that is stored
off-site, while the Father is a weekly full backup that is stored

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on-site and the Son is a daily backup that is also kept on-site.
This backup scheme requires twenty tapes for a single year.
The Tower of Hanoi scheme is a common alternative to GFS
that is secure and cost-effective but more complex. This
method requires you to perform a full backup on five tapes
labeled A, B, C, D, and E. Tape A is used every other backup
session, tape B every 4 sessions, tape C every 8 sessions, tape
D every 16 sessions, and tape E every 32 sessions, or once a
month. This allows for easy file restorations, because you do
not have to shuffle through partial backups and it is more cost-
effective than GFS because it uses fewer tapes. The Tower of
Hanoi method's chief disadvantages are the need for a large
enough backup window to accommodate daily full backups
and its complexity, which means you should make sure your
backup software can automate tape rotation. It is a bit
confusing, so do not feel stupid if you do not understand it. I
had a difficult time writing it down. I was fortunate in the cases
where two of my drives crashed and I did not have current
backups, in that on two separate occasions, I took the drives to
a company that restores failed drives. I was not fired. It is an
expensive business having the data of a crashed hard drive
recovered—$5000.00 each. This does not mean that you will
have the same luck. Your number one priority as a Network
Administrator is to make sure you have current backups stored
on and off-site. At my company, we do two nightly backups,
one to a tape drive and another to a Snap Server or some other
type of external drive. Backup tapes are only good for off-site
storage but are slow to backup and slow to recover. Having an
additional backup to a hard disk is fast and often more
convenient. Because hard drives have become so inexpensive,
many Network Administrators only backup to hard drive and
burn a monthly off-site storage to DVD.

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Troubleshooting
As documentation is a Network Administrator’s nemesis, the
ability to troubleshoot a problem is his or her best friend. A
Network Administrator’s number one duty is to fix problems
immediately without excuse, hesitation, food, or sleep. In many
cases, one will build his or her troubleshooting skills from
daily experience. It does not take long with a company before
you discover that every server and operating system has its
own unique character. When I say character, what I really
mean is problems. However, in the beginning, you will not
have experience to draw from to help you with your daily, and
I mean daily, troubleshooting issues. So what do you do?

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Look in the Event logs for error messages that may

pertain to your problem.
• Question everyone that has had contact with the
problem server and try to find the last action taken.
Nine times out of ten, you can track a problem to one
individual. Perhaps it was even something you may
have done.
• It is common for someone new to the server room to try
to fix things that are not broken, like adding service
packs. (Even though every software company
recommends installing current service packs, if they are
not immediately needed, research the patch. I have
installed service packs that shut down the protocol stack
on third party software packages.) Until you get your
legs behind you, do not fix things that are not broken.

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• Ask if any service people (electricians, cleaning

service, and other after hour workers) have been
working in the building.

• Viruses. Because there are so many types of buffer

overflow vulnerabilities always check sites like
www.cert.org,
209H www.McAfee.com,
210H or
www.symantec.com
21H

• The Internet is the largest resource that you have when

trying to correct a problem and you should use it
accordingly. Most server and networking problems are
discovered by the Network Administrator and then
passed on to the software maker for a solution. This is
sometimes a slow way to fix your problem and often
Network Administrators are left to either solve the
problem alone or look to other Network Administrators
for help. Most computer people skip the software maker
altogether and just go to Google.com and type in either
the error message or problem and find a solution in
minutes. Google.com is the computer person’s first
choice when posting software problems and solutions.

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Upgrades
Network Administrators are in charge of both hardware and
software upgrades. Why would a company want to spend
money on upgrades? There are a number of reasons.
Companies have to upgrade because they are expanding and
outgrowing their current network and software platforms. An
example of this might be that your company’s accounting
department needs a larger platform as their existing accounting
software is at its limit. This will most definitely mean a new
server, perhaps two, and maybe even a new switch if your
company is still using hubs. Every new addition or change to a
server room has a direct effect on every other thing. In many
cases, you might have to also upgrade to a new server, a new
operating system, newer terminals, a new switch, possibly a
new router if you have a lot of satellite offices, and what about
a database programmer? What happens if the new accounting
system is SQL and a SQL programmer is needed for setup and
reports? Now you are responsible for hiring a database
programmer. There are many instances where the company
makes the Network Administrator learn SQL. Scary, huh? Do
not worry. You will need to learn many programs that you do
not want to through the years.
One of the issues with taking a new Network
Administrator position is the existing third party software; they
are typically old and out of date, there are not any updates, and
its makers are out of business or they will not support it,
because they want you to purchase the latest version.
Stubbornly, your company refuses and expects you to keep it
going just like the person before you. You might even hear,
“Well, what’s his name didn’t have a problem fixing it.” You
reply, “This is probably the reason old what’s his name quit.”

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Chapter 6
Managing a Department
‰ From Tech to Manager
‰ Being an IT Manager
‰ Pagers / Cell Phones / Laptops
‰ Company Politics
‰ Purchasing Computer Product
‰ Specialist and Generalist
‰ The Job 24/7
‰ Over-Clockers
‰ IT Ethics
‰ Confidential Disclosure Agreement
‰ Writing Network and Internet Policy
‰ Software Licenses
‰ Proprietary Software
‰ Suggesting New Technology
‰ Being Good at Prioritizing
‰ The Politics of Getting What You Need
‰ The Computer Person Before You
‰ Working Without Supervision
‰ Training Yourself and Your Staff
‰ Working in a Team Environment
‰ Communication Skills

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From Tech to Manager

It is everyone’s career goal to rise to the next level, or at least it
is in a capitalistic society. There are countries that do not think
in the same terms as we do and are content to remain in the
same job until retirement, or between revolutions. I am not
criticizing this way of life. In fact, I wish I could be content to
remain as I am…but I cannot. To progress is to grow. To
propitiate growth you must continually add to your knowledge
and training. A football game without goals on each end would
be an exercise in fruitless exhaustion. The same might also
apply to men and dating. If sex were not an ultimate goal, then
a date would be an expressive exercise of patience with a lot of
talk about feelings and cat pictures. (I am just kidding.)
From technician to manager is a leap in the natural
progression in the field of computers, but not necessarily for
all. Manager means less computer work and more paperwork.
I began as a computer tech and progressed to a Network
Analyst, Network Administrator, and finally to IT Director.
Duties dramatically change when you move from technician to
a management position and many computer people are not
happy with giving up what they love. Here are but a few
advantages and disadvantages to becoming a manager:

Advantage:
I like working with computers, so I assign myself projects that
I want to do.

Disadvantage:
I have to attend meetings where I translate 1 and 0 into
numbers that accountants can understand. Paperwork:
managers have to process many reports that other people put
into piles and never read.

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Advantage:
No matter the condition of a network, a manager can still go to
lunch.

Disadvantage:
Hiring staff is a huge responsibility that takes considerable
time and resources. Companies often ask you to cut high
paying engineers that keep the company running for matters of
budget, but later, when this effect is realized, you must produce
the same level of people at the same pay rate.

Being an IT Manager
Manager / Executive

There is more to being an IT Manager/IT Director/Network

Administrator then configuring nodes. You are a manager of
networks, computers, and other IT staffers. Your company will
depend on your expertise to help them make purchase
decisions and to give advice on future projects. This means that
you have to do a lot of research to be as informed as you can
when your bosses turn to you for help. Many executives out
there honestly believe software is the material used to make
pajamas, and it is often your job to educate them without
making them feel stupid. Believe me, it is not an easy task to
do. Many companies out there will purchase software for their
department without your advice or knowledge and expect you
to retro fit it immediately without hesitation. I know of a
hospital that purchased a $500,000 piece of software that only
worked on Microsoft networks. The hospital was one of the
largest Netware shops on the East Coast. The software vendor
refused to refund their capital. If your company is one of those
that purchase software without first consulting you or your

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department, it is your duty to break them of this. People who

make these types of decisions are the same people who will not
be held accountable for their actions, and always blame the
Network Administrator or IT Director. This has not happened
to me, but I have seen it happen to other IT people and it
causes a great deal of stress and unpaid overtime.

Pagers / Cell Phones / Laptops

Mr. Gadget must have been an IT person before becoming a

cartoon detective, because many IT people carry around quite
an assortment of electronics. I personally have a cell phone,
1.5 GIG mini drive, 4 gig mini external firewire hard drive, 512
flash memory, a laptop with two types of wireless connections
(because it dual boots into Linux), a digital camera, and 3
blank CD’s in the event I have to burn something. An IT
person is always on call 24/7. I have my network configured to
be accessible from anywhere in the world, with or without my
laptop. Just last week I was sitting in a bookstore when I
received a call about a database problem in an office 100 miles
away. I accessed the bookstore’s wireless network, tunneled
into my corporate location and from there, the remote office. I
rebuilt the database and had the office up again within 15
minutes. Oh, and I have an extra laptop battery and a 60 amp
adapter in my SUV. If being ornamented with the latest in
electronics and having access to the Internet from your car does
not appeal to you…I know, I had you at 1.5 mini drive. As for
a pager, I dropped it into the toilet five years ago and never
replaced it. (I am not sure that I told anyone about it either.)

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Company Politics

Every student that has ever studied networking learned there

are seven layers to the OSI Model.

1. Presentation
2. Session
3. Transport
4. Network
5. Data-Link
6. Physical
7. Applications

There is also an eighth and ninth layer that have deliberately

been kept from you. Why you ask? Because they are company:

8. Budget
9. Politics

Budget and Politics are the most widely used layers deployed
by today’s IT department. Finance and Politics are what get
you the equipment you need for the server room, the computers
for the accounting department, and a hike in your wages. The
normal company executives only care about three things: their
stock portfolio, company profit margins, and the company’s
worth. What they do not understand or care about is network
infrastructure, outdated servers, or staff computers. From a
CEO’s viewpoint, these items do not make the company money
and are nothing more than a depreciating asset. Assets are how
a company measures its worth. Typically, computer equipment
depreciates and loses its net worth after five years and no
longer reported as an asset or value to a company’s bottom
line. If anything, computers take away from a company’s value
because they are expensive to procure and maintain and must

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be continually upgraded by expensive technicians. If that is not

enough, the so called Y2K scare and the expense that led up to
the tech stock collapse, made corporate heads even more
critical. So unless you can show how buying new equipment is
going to save the company money, you had better get used to
field stripping a PC, gutting it, and swapping out parts from
another machine. These days, CEO’s hate everything
computer, computer workstations, servers, databases, T1 lines,
and especially the acronym VPN (Virtual Private Network).
Technology companies that are now either in Chapter 11 or not
in business at all overused it.

What About Company Politics

Company Politics (CP) is a hidden monster that lurks within

the shadows of every company. Your very survival may
depend on your ability to seek out the major players, quickly
recognize the hierarchy of power, and adapt to it without
anyone ever knowing that you know. CP is when you give an
accounting clerk a new computer to replace her old one that
died instead of giving it to her boss. CP is when you move a
folder to a larger hard drive without first consulting the director
of that department. CP has no logical progression or
mathematical expression because company politics is a fear-
based, primal emotion that uses the same hierarchy order as a
chimpanzee troop. CP is also, what a small child says when he
or she is tired and ready for bed. (If you did not get that, never
mind. You would have to be a parent. “I’m CP…”)
Company politics is the most difficult thing to learn for
new computer people, because most computer people see
things as black or white and do not understand that sometimes
things are gray. Every company has its own politics and it is
important to try to recognize it as soon as possible when taking

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a new job. Because so many computer people have such a

difficult time, discovering this on their own, it is a worthwhile
investment to watch the many documentaries on such cable
programs as Animal Planet or The National Geographic
channel. Only then will you see similarities within your own
workplace and the hierarchy of a chimpanzee troop.

Purchasing Computer Products

Most Network Administrators purchase all of the company’s

computer equipment and are solely in charge of licenses.
However, in very large organizations there may be a purchaser.
Whatever the organization, a company’s Network
Administrator is either involved in selecting product and/ or the
purchasing of it. There are accounts that have to be setup,
meetings with hardware and software vendors, and negotiating
contracts. This is the business end of being a Network
Administrator.

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Specialist and Generalist

There are two types of computer people: specialist and
generalist. A Network Administrator is a generalist. He or she
will know 60% to 70% of more than 50 programs, where a
specialist will know 90% to 99% of one program in which he
or she specializes. This does not mean that a Network
Administrator will not have at least one program in which he or
she specializes. Because you have to work with so many other
programs and networking hardware devices, you sometimes do
not have time to keep up with your specialty.
In larger companies, a specialist might be someone who
only works on mail servers, security, databases, or even
routers. In medium-sized companies and smaller, the Network
Administrator handles all of these positions. Most often, a
Network Administrator will take a position in a larger company
and only specialize in one application. I have a friend who
works at Microsoft and only does backups, and other mail
servers. My wife used to specialize in Cisco devices. She
traveled around the world installing AS5300’s and Routers.
The company she worked for specialized in Voice-over-IP and
selling minutes to the phone company. As with many Telco’s
(telephone companies), her company went out of business.
Currently she is a Network Administrator and has to deal with
the everyday hassles of working with people and printers. I am
not sure which is worse.
It is impossible to know how to do everything in the
computer world, although I know a man named Pete, who is
close. Computer users do not understand this and think you
should know everything there is to know about every single
piece of software on the planet. I put up a section on my
website called the “Fix-it-fairy” as a joke, and you would not
believe the e-mails I receive.

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Generally, as a matter of pride, I know little about

desktop applications, such as calendar programs, spreadsheets,
or desktop publishing. I am a bonified, certified, practicing
networker, and know little in the way of user programs, nor do
I care to know. I am afraid that the mere hint of knowing how
to turn fonts into a rainbow will kick something out of my head
that was difficult to learn. Quite often, a computer user will ask
me a question about the program they use; the same program
they have used everyday for the past 5 years. Waiting until the
last minute to use the restroom, as I often do, because I am too
involved in whatever project I am working on, a computer user
will stop me in the hallway as I charge to the men’s room and
ask me how to do something like make their fonts a rainbow
color. When I say I do not know, they are almost insulted. I
quickly follow it up with, “I am a network engineer and not a
desktop engineer,” which seems to make the situation worse.
In every instance of this, the computer user usually responds by
saying,
“What do you mean you don’t know? You are IT! It’s
all the same, isn’t it?” They say it every time.
Just last week the CFO asked me how to add the clip art
bullets to an excel spreadsheet that was not installed on the
computer. I told him I did not know and would send someone
down to work with him. He said,
“What do you mean you don’t know? What do we pay
you for?”
You will get a lot of that as a Network Administrator
and you are just going to have to find your own way to handle
it without getting angry. I use “Comparative Reasoning” at my
company. Because we have many dentists, I often use them as
an example so everyone can understand. When I get a
statement such as the one above, I will ask, “Why do we have
200 dentists and only a handful do oral surgery and braces?
Why do not all of the dentists do oral surgery and braces?

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Wouldn’t we make more money?” They of course will explain

that the specialty dentists have extended training, while the
other dentists are generalist. “Well, isn’t it all the same?”
When this happens to you, and I assure you that it will,
you will have to use your own “Comparative Reasoning.”

The Job 24/7

Most computer people are salary-based. This means that
you are paid a flat fee that is applied to a 24/7 job. No matter
where you are at any given moment, you must drop what you
are doing and do the job. The word salary was derived from,
and replaced the word slavery, on September 22, 1862, one day
after The Emancipation Proclamation
I can not say that I particularly like it, but there are
enough “unwritten” benefits that make up for the late nights,
weekends, and looking at the CEO’s neighbor’s computer.
Unlike most departments, the IT department does not have
someone standing over you with a whip. A duty is assigned to
you and you are expected to do it without supervision, and
have it completed within a reasonable timeframe. Overtime in
many companies means compensation time (comp-time).
Comp-time means you work overtime hours but not financially
compensated for it. You make up the time by either taking the
time off, or leaving early. As I said earlier, this is an
“unwritten” rule. The IT department might support comp-time,
but it does not necessarily mean that it is your company’s
policy. In some places, it is against labor laws to reimburse
your people with comp-time. However, because the entire
‘salary’ thing has so many gray areas in it, most companies
turn a blind eye if an employee has already reached his or her
40-hour workweek.

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Over Clockers
When I use the term over clocker, I am not referring to over
clocking your computer’s CPU. Nor do I speak of cheating on
your time clock punch-in. I am speaking of, none other than the
geek who will not go home. I call these people Over-Clockers.
In the beginning, that is to say, when you get a brand
spanking new computer position, it is common to put many
hours of overtime to learn the systems. However, many
computer people simply do not know when to go home. You
have heard the phrase: Cheaters never prosper. I have one that
says; Over- clockers never prosper. The reason for this is
because you must have adequate time away from the office or
you will go peculiar. Many computer people are already on the
edge.
There are two types of over-clockers. The first is
someone who finds excuses to stay in the office because either
he or she does not have a home life, or they feel more in
control of their lives at work. It is easy to feel this way. At
work, you surround yourself with computers and programs that
you control, but over-clocking can also be a trap. I have seen it
happen to many people—it has happened to me. You must
have a well-defined separation between home and work.
Otherwise, you will not want to go to work either.
Another type of over-clocker is someone who puts in
evenings and weekends, thinking they are scoring points with
their supervisors. What happens in most cases is that your boss
does not take notice or does not care, and you become so
frustrated that no one rewards you for your hard work that you
quit or become disgruntled. Additionally, an over-clocker can
intimidate some bosses out there. I have seen or heard of many
instances where an over-clocker puts in extremely long hours,
nights, and weekends, and then Tom, the laziest man in the

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department, gets the promotion. Why do you ask? The over-

clocker does not know how to get credit for his work. Tom
does, because he knows when and where to show up. Over-
clockers always come in late because they work late, but this is
not the perception of his or her co-workers or bosses. Once an
over-clocker does not receive a well-deserved raise or
promotion, resentment quickly sets in, and over-clockers turn
into an attitude problem, and then quit or they are fired. My
friend Joe once told me that he believed as long as you show
up in the morning with everyone else, make your rounds
allowing everyone to see you, you could leave before noon and
no one would even notice. He made that statement because he
too, was an over-clocker and felt rejected that no one noticed
his hard work. There are many people to blame for not noticing
a hard worker, but none so much as the over-clocker himself.
It is up to them to make sure they get credit for their work,
because frankly speaking, everyone else is too busy with their
own job to take notice.

IT Ethics
Computer people have the responsibility and confidentiality of
guarding their company’s data. This means they have access to
documents, spreadsheets, databases, and e-mails which other
workers are not privy. Surprisingly, most companies do not
have any policy regarding nondisclosure. Furthermore,
universities do not teach their students IT or computer ethics.
It is as if computer people must use their own personal value
systems. (I will tell you, knowing some of my friends that can
be dangerous.)
Because members of an IT department have
administrative privileges and/ or can physically access
sensitive company information, does not mean they have the

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right to read it, copy it, or transfer it to another storage device

for later viewing. With no set rules in place, the temptation to
access confidential knowledge can be too difficult for some
computer people. A click of the mouse can reveal salaries,
company financials, stock information, and e-mails…but
ignorance is often a better companion than knowledge. Many
years ago, a co-worker showed me a spreadsheet that listed all
employees’ salaries. Once I saw what some of the other
workers made, I became immediately resentful. My boss, who
I liked, suddenly became an overpaid middle manager that did
little to deserve his salary. I went from a happily content
Network Administrator to a very bitter under-appreciated
laborer.
Unless otherwise stated as part of your job duties, you do
not have a right to read classified and confidential company
information. If caught, you cannot only lose your job but you
can severely damage your ability to get another job. If you
cannot be trusted with company data, you will not be able to
work in the industry.
I adopted a policy of confidentiality in the computer
department that I manage. I drafted a document, which each
person in the computer department signed, to pledge that they
could be trusted with confidential information. They agreed
they would not break the trust of their jobs by reading any
company documents, spreadsheets, database information, or e-
mails stored or passed through the equipment that they
managed. Furthermore, because it is common to
unintentionally stumble upon information while working at
other employees’ desks (company or personal), they also
agreed to treat it as confidential. Any breach of confidentially
is grounds for immediate dismissal, and could be grounds for a
lawsuit.

Here is a copy of the IT department confidentiality agreement:

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Information Technology Department

Confidential Disclosure Agreement
This Agreement is entered into this ___ day of ________,
200__ by and between Employee’s name (hereinafter
"Recipient") and Company name (hereinafter "Discloser").

WHEREAS Discloser possesses certain ideas and information

relating to Company Name that is confidential and proprietary
to Discloser (hereinafter "Confidential Information"); and

WHEREAS the Recipient is willing to receive disclosure of

the Confidential Information pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement for the purpose of his or her daily duties;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration for the mutual

undertakings of the Discloser and the Recipient under this
Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

1. Disclosure. Discloser agrees to disclose, and Receiver

agrees to receive the Confidential Information.

2. Confidentiality.

2.1 No Disclosure. Recipient agrees to use its best efforts to

prevent and protect the Confidential Information, or any part
thereof, from disclosure to any person other than Recipient's
employees having a need for disclosure in connection with
Recipient's authorized use of the Confidential Information.

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2.2 Protection of Secrecy. Recipient agrees to take all steps

reasonably necessary to protect the secrecy of the Confidential
Information, and to prevent the Confidential Information from
falling into the public domain or into the possession of
unauthorized persons.

2.3 Unauthorized Access. Recipient's Unauthorized use or

access to Confidential Information will result in immediate
termination.

Protection of Secrecy is defined as revealing information

discovered in the course of performance of your duties. This
includes information discovered while at another employee’s
workstation, overheard from a phone conversation or another
form of communication. Information can include company or
employee information.

Unauthorized Access is defined as opening and reading

confidential information from other company departments:
(Spreadsheets, word documents, database information, and e-
mail.)

3. Limits on Confidential Information. Confidential

Information shall not be deemed proprietary and the Recipient
shall have no obligation with respect to such information where
the information:

(a) was known to Recipient prior to receiving any of the

Confidential Information from Discloser;

(b) has become publicly known through no wrongful act of

Recipient;

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(c) was received by Recipient without breach of this

Agreement from a third party without restriction as to the use
and disclosure of the information;

(d) was independently developed by Recipient without use of

the Confidential Information; or

(e) was ordered to be publicly released by the requirement of a

government agency.

4. Ownership of Confidential Information. Recipient agrees

that all Confidential Information shall remain the property of
Discloser, and that Discloser may use such Confidential
Information for any purpose without obligation to Recipient.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as granting or
implying any transfer of rights to Recipient in the Confidential
Information, or any patents or other intellectual property
protecting or relating to the Confidential Information.

5. Term and Termination. The obligations of this Agreement

shall be continuing until the Confidential Information disclosed
to Recipient is no longer confidential.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this

agreement effective as of the above date first written.

DISCLOSER (_____________________)
Signed: ______________________________
Print Name: __________________________
Title: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________

RECIPIENT (_____________________)

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Signed:______________________________
Print Name: ___________________________
Title: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________

Writing Network and Internet Policy

Another responsibility of a Network Administrator is to impose
the rules of the network. You are the sheriff of a virtual
territory and what you say is the law. Controls have to be in
place for several reasons:

• Viruses:
Almost all viruses come from the Internet, so it is sometimes
necessary only to grant Internet privileges to those who need
Internet access to perform their jobs.

• Inappropriate Websites:
Access to inappropriate websites can and will cause lawsuits.
You must stress to your computer users that accessing
inappropriate websites will result in disciplinary action and/ or
dismissal.

• Harassing E-mail:
Sexual harassment or cyber stalking by e-mail is a crime
punishable by state and federal laws. Always note to your
computer users that monitoring of e-mail is a standard process,
even if it is not.

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• No floppy disks:
Do not allow users to transfer data from home and work. These
users usually infect the network with viruses. Many employers
also do not allow employees to transfer data back and forth for
security reasons.

I put together a Computer Policy Manual at my

company that the human resource department includes in their
new employee package. Every new person hired must read and
sign this policy manual. This helps confirm that your company
will not tolerate inappropriate behavior in the work place, and
helps to protect against lawsuits.

Software Licenses
It is a Network Administrator’s responsibility to make sure that
your company is up-to-date on all of their software licenses.
Many computer people out there think it is all right to steal
software from your company. You are not doing yourself or
your company any favors by installing unlicensed software. If
caught by a software vendor, your company will hold you
responsible to avoid a lawsuit, and that entire wink, wink
business behind closed doors will not amount to a hill of beans,
or basket of feted dingo kidneys. While at work, regardless of
your personal feelings for a software vendor, you should
maintain a large degree of professionalism.

Proprietary Software
The problem with proprietary software is that most companies
have it, you have to learn it, and you cannot put it on your
resume because no one else has ever heard of it. You would get

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a larger response listing every Star Trek movie that you ever
have seen on your resume, than you would the proprietary
software that you know. There is a very slim possibility that the
company for which you are applying also has the same old
crappy programs, but I have never seen it happen. Proprietary
software is typically programs or applications written just for
the intended company. In many cases, a programmer or two is
hired, or contracted out to build an application and then let go
once the program is complete. I have also seen where the
programmer holds the company hostage every time there is a
problem. I added this blurb about proprietary software not to
scare you, although if you have made it this far and were not
frightened, I would be concerned about you. However, there is
more than an 80% chance that there will be these types of
proprietary programs at a company. If you run into one, do not
panic. You cannot learn everything over night and no one is
really expecting you to.

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Suggesting New Technology

Many company managers rely on the computer department to
suggest new technologies that can help their company be more
efficient, as well as preventing software companies from
talking them into software and technology they do not need.
Vendor end rounding happens when a computer supplier
unsuccessfully tries to sell you the latest and “greatest”
software package and then will go directly to the head of the
company. They do this because it works. Fear tactics is the
number one sales technique; the Y2K scare did more to
upgrade the networks of America than needed. Smart company
heads will weigh the advice from the IT department and the
company’s needs. Software companies are in the business of
selling software, not protecting your company.

Know How to Prioritize

When I say, “know how to prioritize,” I do not mean
proprietary software. (Proprietary software is an entirely
different matter that will come later in this section.) Knowing
how to prioritize is almost a craft, not like witchcraft, which
also falls under a later section titled Cursing Your Computer
Users. Prioritizing is necessary when you receive several
requests at one time and you must choose which one will be
first for the greater good. For example, Gladys, head of the
secretarial pool, confronts you and she is frantic over the fact
that she cannot print next week’s schedule. Currently, you are
working on testing your backups and you receive a phone call
that the payroll server has crashed. What is your priority? The
answer is, of course, the payroll server. This is a hypothetical

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scenario but you will have similar situations at least once a

week. Many computer users have an impossible time
understanding that someone else might have a more important
problem than they do and will be offended, and will most
probably never forgive you for not dropping what you are
doing to help them. The mistake every new Network
Administrator makes is he or she tries to please everyone at
once. Even with the best of intentions, what often happens is
you will “over promise and under deliver.” Over promising and
under delivering is worse than doing nothing at all. You must
find an order of priority with what is important to your
company and what takes a back door, and then you must let
those in your company know what it is. Otherwise, you will
just sound as if you made up a reason to ignore them. Below is
an e-mail that I sent to my company.

Company Memorandum:

As there are more computers and computer users in this

company than the IT personnel can comfortably spit a rat
during the rat-spitting contest at the Zellwood Corn Festival (I
work for a company in the South), Okay, that is not what I
wanted to say. What I really said was this:

As there are more computers and computer users in this

company than there are IT personnel, we cannot always help
everyone at the same time and must abide by an IT
department’s order of priority as mandated by this company’s
owner.

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1. The owner or CEO gets first priority as they have the

authority to outsource our department.
2. Those who make the company money get the second
order of priority.
3. Those who collect the money get the third order of
priority.
4. Those who spend the money get the fourth order of
priority.
5. Those who make fun of the way our department dresses
do not get any help at all.

That e-mail was a great idea because we could refer to it when

we were working on something important and someone tried to
pull us away for something as stupid as a paper jam in a fax
machine. It also stopped that irritating tick sound that a
computer user makes with their tongue when you tell them you
will get to them when you can. Nevertheless, like in every
company, there are those who still think they deserve special
dispensation and should go ahead of everyone anyway. It is
with these people that we send this e-mail:

If at any time you feel that your needs should go ahead

of the IT order of priority list, you will need to present form
2930 completed, filed, stamped and signed by your supervisor,
the company CEO, and two witnesses. Please also note that
there is a $25 processing fee.

You think that I just make this stuff up.

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The Politics of Getting What You Need

Many computer people have a difficult time getting what they

want from their boss because they simply do not know how to
ask. A Network Administrator might barge into his boss’
office, tell him or her that he needs a new $15,000.00 server
because the current one is too old and slow, and he is tired of
fixing it. His boss immediately denies the Network
Administrator’s request. He then becomes disgruntled and
starts whispering rumors about the company going bankrupt.
In many cases, the problem is not with the boss or the
company’s financial health; it is all in the presentation of the
request. The secret to getting what you want is to know how to
ask for it.

Perceived Value

Managers, CEOs, and company owners have a different value

system compared to a technical minded IT person. For
example: spending $20,000.00 for a larger storage device
because employees are running out of space to save e-mail
might seem important to you, but that $20K shows as an
expense, that is really a loss on the books to a CEO. What a
logical minded computer person might think is a value to his
company, is not necessarily a value to his boss. Therefore,
telling your boss that you want to spend $15K on a new server
because you are tired of fixing the old one reduces your value
and $15,000.00 of the company’s bottom line. Additionally,
your boss may have to request this expense to his or her boss
and you really did not give him or her any thing to validate the
expense. When asking your boss to spend money, you should
always show a positive value first and the need second. An
example of this might be:

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“We can save the company $25,000.00 by replacing the

old server with a new one.”

Then of course, you must show why the cost of a new

server will save the company money. Perhaps it is the billing
department’s server and its down time causes a loss in
collections. Maybe it is not a server at all; instead, your
company has one T1 line that is always bottle necked and the
website is suffering from lost sales. Always show your boss
that there is a value in spending money.
I like to start with the conclusion first, and then an explanation
on how I arrived at it. No one wants to hear a long drawn out
explanation before hearing “How much?” Do not turn your
proposal into a sales pitch. Your boss can be easily distracted
during a sales pitch, wondering where this is going or waiting
for you to get to the point. Always make your conclusion first,
and then you can precisely state why this is good for him or her
and the company.

If however, the server is on its last leg and if not replaced

quickly all will be lost, then you only need to show that the
value is; you are saving all data from being lost and in order to
this you need $15,000.00 dollars.

Do your homework

It is always worth doing your homework before making any

proposal. One day, my brother, also an IT person showed me a
folder he put together that he was going to present to his boss
for a raise. He documented what he accomplished in the past
year, how much money he saved his company, and included a
chart of comparable salaries for his position in the area. I burst
into laughter and asked if he was crazy. He presented his raise

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proposal, despite my teasing him, got the raise, and

immediately sent me an e-mail telling me what a jackass I was
for making fun of him. The following week, I presented my
proposal. Doing your homework works! Always research your
project so you can show how this will affect your company’s
needs. CEOs want to see how the numbers will affect their
bottom line.

Choose the Right Time

Even with the best proposal, timing is everything. Always try

to sense your boss’ mood before approaching him or her with a
proposal. People are more likely to be agreeable and more
receptive to your ideas when they are happy and/ or feeling
good. Is your boss a morning person, or an evening one?
Maybe the best time is when your boss is exhausted and will
say yes to anything.

Closing the Sale

When making your request, be positive and confident. Always

try to maintain eye contact, and know when to shut up. I have
seen people sell an idea to their boss, not know when to stop
pitching it, and then talk him or her right back out of it again.
When the boss says yes, stop talking because it is a done deal.

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The Computer Person before You

Never, I repeat, never bad mouth the computer person before
you. It is bad form and you will usually need his or her help
with something. Too often, a new hire will take his or her first
position and when confronted with something they do not
understand, they will immediately blame it on the computer
person that they have replaced. You never want to burn that
type of bridge.
Most computer people only leave for a few reasons;
either he or she was refused a raise or promotion, or because
upper management played the blame game with the IT
department once too often. Whatever his or her reasons, it will
not take you long to find out the real circumstances. There is
also a situation where everyone loved the person you replaced
and you are going to have to fill a very large pair of shoes. That
is okay. In time, you too will be that person.
My last two jobs were replacing disgruntled people. I
already knew the rule of not badmouthing those that you
replace. At the first job, the Network Administrator transferred
all the documented passwords and procedures to an NT 4
server in her office and did not give anyone the username and
password. My first task was to break into the server. What I
actually did was reinstall a new installation on top of itself and
opened the files. On the second job, I got the position while the
Network Administrator was on vacation and I was sitting at his
desk when he returned. As I walked him to the door, I made it
perfectly clear that I had no idea of the circumstances when I
accepted the position, and it would not have made that much of
a difference because I needed a job. I asked him to keep that in
mind in the event that he should come back with firearms.
Therefore, never badmouth the person that you are
replacing because you do not know what his or her
circumstances were and you may later need that person’s help.

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Working without Supervision

Most IT people have to come to understand that they are
working without direct supervision. This is particularly true
with Network Administrators. If you are not a self-starter and
do not know how to manage your time or how to plan your
week, you are going to have a difficult time. In most medium-
sized companies and down, the Network Administrator is the
apex IT position. They are in charge of every facet of the
company’s technology needs, hire the helpdesk and system
analyst positions, supervise them, order all products, in charge
of the phones, fax machines, and printers and negotiate vendor
purchases. I will stop here. In addition, a Network
Administrator is paid on salary, so if you do not manage your
time correctly, you will be paid the same for 8 hours a day as
you would a 14-hour day.
I know many new Network Administrators that will
work hard, 70 to 80 hours a week and not get a single ounce of
credit for their effort. Not only should you plan your time well
but also when you do work extra hours, put in all the unpaid
overtime. You had better at least make a big deal about it with
your supervisor because no one else will. On another note,
most Network Administrators love their work and do not mind
working the extra hours. I find myself always having to tell
my people to go home.

Working in a Team Environment

An IT department, like any other department, must work
together as a team, and all departments must work together as a
company. That is a simple plan for a very basic business
model. I only mention this because I have seen too many
companies where either there is a division in the computer

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department or the other departments within the company act as

separatists. Phone companies are an excellent example of this.
There was a time when having to work with more than one
department at the phone company was like working with
warring tribes. There was no communication between
departments and they seemed territorial. I am sure this
attributed to many phone companies’s financial disarray.
Many computer departments also do not work as a team.
I have seen small IT departments divided, each small group
unwilling to cooperate with the other, and I have seen IT
groups grow so large; they break off into their own
departments. Humans are a territorial bunch, and many of us
are almost tribal in our loyalties. An IT department that
functions in this manner is a dysfunctional department. This is
due to the weak management style of its leader.

It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch.

Company morale can be lead by a single person; it can be

a happy place to work or a bad one. Sometimes there is always
that one person who makes it an unpleasant place to work, and
as a manager, you are responsible for a healthy work
environment. If you cannot counsel the bad apple to change his
or her ways (which you most likely will never be able to do),
you must do what all good managers do and give this person a
great reference and send them on their way. I like to give a
person a chance to find a job because it is easier to get a job
when you already have one than to look for one unemployed.

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Training Yourself and Your Staff

To keep up with ever-changing technology, computer folk
must always keep themselves abreast of the latest hardware and
software advances. There are many computer people that are so
entrenched with their daily duties on old antiquated systems
that when faced with having to find a new job, their resume
looks like it was kept in an old wooden chest in their Grandpa’s
attic. There is a simple rule to follow that helps to avoid a
sudden career crash, and that is, always use your current job to
train for your next job. In other words, use your current
position to help launch your next job, even if you do not want
to work anywhere else. These days you have to protect against
sudden job loss syndrome.
Keeping your resume up-to-date with current software is
good insurance. When you do get a job as a Network
Administrator, providing you do not already have one, you still
need to consider where you are going from there. I know that I
have already given you much to think about, perhaps too much,
but even with a job, you have to look forward and beyond your
current job. Whenever possible, try to choose products that will
be a good compliment to your resume. Select programs that are
popular with other companies in a career direction you would
like to go. I realize there are ethical issues that can arise from a
Network Administrator selecting operating systems and
network appliances just to make his or her resume look more
desirable, but there are ethical issues with every career, and
until there is an actual law, don’t worry about it. I know four
companies right now that did not have ethical problems with
outsourcing one third of their IT department to overseas
workers.

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Training Your Staff

Not only should you keep your networking skills up-to-date,

but you should also encourage your staff to keep their skills up-
to-date as well. The Network Administrator should also act as a
mentor. This makes for a happier, more productive team when
everyone is learning something new, studying and taking
certifications and testing the latest technology. I have helped
make many a Network Administrator. Not like in a laboratory
or anything, although I once had thoughts about creating a
robot woman in the basement. I still receive e-mail from those
who used to work with me, thanking me for helping them
advance their career. Even now, I have three of the best
computer people that I have ever hired working for me. Not
only do I look out for my career, but I try to look out for their
careers as well. I am always nagging them to learn this or read
that or study for a certain certification. Moreover, they keep me
on my toes.

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Communication Skills
Because computer people are good with digital
communications does not necessarily mean they are good with
people communications. I used to say that the difference
between an introvert and extrovert computer geek is that an
extrovert will look at your shoes when he or she is talking to
you. As nice, an idea as it is to think that you will only be
working with computers and network gear, the truth is that you
will most probably be communicating with more people than
computers. You will have to give reports to your seniors,
document procedures, and draft corporate-wide e-mails. You
will be in no less than three meetings a week and have to give
opinions and advice on technology issues. Having good
communication skills is as important as good computer and
networking skills. If this scares you, I suggest you try
improving these types of communication skills. As you will
quickly discover from your first job, it would not hurt to take a
few classes in how to deal with special or emotionally
challenged children. You will see.

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Chapter 7
Bitter Facts from Experience
‰ Keeping a Messy Office
‰ A Word about Computer Part Magazines
‰ User’s Computer Desk Clutter
‰ Cleaning Keyboard and Fans
‰ What You Need to Know About Computer End Users *
‰ The Differences Between End-users and African Mountain
Gorillas *
‰ Why do end-users call their computer a hard-drive or
modem?
‰ End-User Soup *
‰ Eating Habits of the Office Worker *
‰ Computer Users Mating Habits *
‰ Repairing Home Computers
‰ Working with Outside Consultants
‰ Job Stasis
‰ Most Common Mistakes Made By The Computer
Department
‰ Who has the Power
‰ Taking the Emotion out of “IT”
‰ Company Birthday Cake Day
‰ The Internet is a Living Body *
‰ Top 10 Signs that you may be a Geek *

The “*” indicates in excerpt from

TheNetworkAdministrator.com

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Keeping a Messy Office

There are two types of computer people: those that keep
their offices well organized and clean, and “others.” In fact,
until two weeks ago upon writing this, I was an “others.”
A clean and well-maintained work area tells your
employers; I have your data systems safe, secure, and you can
count on me to protect them. An employer wants to feel
confident that his computer managers are organized and that
their mission critical data is safe. This is all due to having a
clean office. Unfortunately, with many computer people, this is
not the case.
Some computer people keep a messy office. My friend
Ian’s office has often been described as being a complete and
utter disaster area, and by a small few, as being
unprofessionally kept. Not to mention pigsty, a disgusting
shambles, more cluttered than a garbage pit, and more
disturbing than an attorney can comfortably spit a rat that was
captured from a pledge pit.

Not that attorneys are known for any special rat spitting
abilities; I just like to associate the two subjects because I think
this would be a fitting sport for attorneys to compete.

The rest of Ian’s office is ornamented with empty

computer boxes piled on top of each other, a four-foot high
stack of computer supply magazines, and enough computer
parts laying around that might suggest a horrific battle among
robots was once fought in his room.
Whenever a normal, that is the name given to non-
computer people (The actual term for non-computer people is
butt-stick. I am just reluctant to use such a vulgar narrative to
describe the technically challenged and feel that it is
inappropriate for this book—butt-stick—there I said it again.).

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Whenever a normal, enters a messy office, the first thing

they tend to say is,
“You probably know where everything is.”
This is never the case. No one ever knows where things are
in a mess. The statement, “You probably know where
everything is,” is only a polite way of telling someone that their
office is a disgusting mess and they are a filthy animal.

Some computer people believe that a messy office is a sign

of a busy worker. Only people with messy offices share this
misconception. I have seen offices at Microsoft’s campus in
Redmond WA, with an entire wall covered, to the ceiling, with
empty aluminum cans. In times when the industry is short of
computer professionals, this was acceptable. When computer
jobs are in short demand, employers expect cleanliness and
professionalism.

A Word about Computer Part Magazines

Computer part magazines are small sales magazines that
advertise the latest computer supplies. These magazines are
only sent exclusively to everyone! If you have ever even
glanced in the general direction of a computer, five magazines
are immediately launched to your mailing address. This techno
litter can propagate faster than rabbits. One or two computer
part magazines can quickly and easily mound into hundreds,
even thousands. It only takes one purchase from an online
supplier of computer goods, to get your name on a list that can
never be removed. I am still receiving computer part
magazines for people that have not worked at my company in
10 years. The "Do-not-call list" does nothing when it comes to
computer vendors.

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While ordering products from CDW one time, the sales person
asked;

"Do you have one of our magazines?"

"Yes, do you need some back?" I answered

"No, I need the number on the back," he giggled.

I am not singling out CDW; it is all of them. This is how they

make their money. Computer people love to look through the
latest computer supply magazine, myself included. The
problem is what to do with them when you are done?

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User’s Computer Desk Clutter

Many Scientists maintain that time and space warps around
stars and black holes. Computer scientists have similar
hypothesis that extend before the reaches of time and space
involving the density of mass that revolves around a computer
user’s monitor. This almost quantum singularity is not the
product of the minute magnetic field generated by the
monitor’s cathode tube. This density of matter is created by the
end user’s personal effects that they use to ornament the
computer display like a Christmas tree.
Many computer users attach pictures of their pets, children,
to-do-notes, and post cards they have sent to themselves, to
their computer monitor. There are snow globes, more pictures
of their pets, and coffee cups that say “Worlds Best Mom”
stuffed full of pens. There are more pictures of cats, poems of
spiritual inspiration, more cat pictures, and poems about cats.
Because monitors sometimes go out, it is often necessary to
replace them, but they cannot be moved because of the
gravitational forces that surround them. This is known as the
computer monitor event-horizon.
I have seen companies blame the computer department
for not enforcing some sort of restriction on computer
equipment. Every computer department should have a
computer “user policy” that the employees sign when they are
first hired. If possible, try to add a clean computer equipment
clause to your company’s policy.

Cleaning Keyboard and Fans

Office workers, who eat at their desk, often drop food particles
in their keyboards. Hair, paperclips, dandruff and dead skin, as
well as other bits of bio matter also litter a keyboard. It is not a

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pleasant thought, but some company budgets are so strict that

you must repair many of the smaller items yourself, and no one
wants to have to clean out dandruff from someone’s keyboard.
These computer users are called keyboard-polluters.

Interesting Fact:
This is also known in the computer business as Squirreling.
Some end-users or computer users in the Northern regions,
unconsciously store food away in their keyboards for the
upcoming winter months. The problem is that they more than
often forget where they have hidden it. A few bits of crumb
here, a few flaky pieces of pastry there, and a lump of soda
splat between a key or two.

Desk-eaters, or keyboard-polluters, are the more frequent

complainers when it comes to computer keyboards, and many
companies love staff that sit and eat at their desk because they
are more productive. With little support from management,
there are matters that you must find a creative solution to; like
what my friend Ian does.

Ian is a Network Administrator / Helpdesk Support. (In

many companies, there is little designation between the two.)
For the chronic keyboard-polluters, Ian will make surprise
keyboard inspections to embarrass the computer user into
eating away from his or her keyboard. Ian will show up
uninvited, wearing a pair of surgical gloves, and a roll of
newspaper under his arm. He will then politely ask the user to
stand away from the desk, and quickly proceed to spreading a
single sheet of newspaper flat on his or her desk. Once in place,
Ian will take the keyboard, turn it over the newspaper and
rapidly shake its contents onto the newspaper. He will then
remove a pencil from his pocket, begin examining the debris
like a pharisaic examiner, turn, and gives a disgusted look

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towards the user. Sometimes he will even drop a few items that
he has brought with him. After a well-rehearsed display, Ian
will carefully wrap up the newspaper, tape, label, and date it
with a black marker.

Cleaning Out the Computer Case

Some organizations are dustier than others are. I have seen

some dust and debris in a computer fan in a dentist office that
could turn even the most resilient of stomachs. In these
extreme situations, where there are a lot of air borne particles,
computer cases have to be opened and cleaned out.

What You Need to Know About Computer

End Users
Once you become an IT professional, never again will you
have to fix someone’s printer, pull jammed paper from a fax
machine, or walk the length of two football fields to reboot
someone’s computer just to walk back again. The world of a
computer professional is a highly technical position where he
or she spends most of the daily activity configuring routers,
firewalls, servers, and switches. Well, not really daily
activities. Truth be told, once everything is up and running,
there is not much more you can do then spend a good deal of
your time watching network monitors, applying services packs,
or taking turns helping computer users. It is helping computer
users that I want to address.

Computer users, or end-users as they are more often

called, can be the most challenging part of any computer

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professional’s job. End-users can be rude, demanding, and at

times, very irrational. They will blame you for their mistakes,
not getting enough e-mail or too much e-mail, and are
completely without any sense of accountability. End-users will
anger you to a boil, insult you to your face, and deject you to
your core. It is extremely important that you train your end-
users early in the beginning of your job. Otherwise, they will
run you to death with their unremitting mistakes. Simply put,
training an end-user, means not jumping at their every request.
I am not suggesting that you ignore them, only teach them to
appreciate your time.

Tips on how to identify different types of End-users

Repeat Offenders – Repeat offenders are those users who are

constantly calling for the same problem. When you run into
this user, you must resort to memory tools to help them either
remember to do it correctly or not call you. If after the third trip
to someone’s desk, he or she still does not get it, try bringing a
work order. Make sure you have the words violations or repeat
offender on it and make them sign it when you are finished.
That will be your last trip.

Cleaning Input Devices – Mice and keyboards become dirty

when computer users eat at their desk. Almost all computer
users eat at their desk. Certain users will always complain
about their mice and keyboards not working properly and
blame you for continuing to give them faulty equipment. You
are not going to get them not to eat at their desk. That is just
the way it is. Employers believe that an employee will get more
work done if he or she eats at their desk, so you are not going
to change this. What you can do however, is teach them to
clean their own input devices. There have been times when I
have stepped up to someone’s desk, laid out a blank piece of

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paper right in front of them, turned their keyboard upside

down, and shook it furiously just to watch all the food particles
flurry down on the paper like a snow globe. It secretly cracks
me up every time. It is also a good idea to show them how to
clean the inside of their mice, making them more responsible
for their own equipment. You do not want to waste all of that
hard-earned knowledge about computers and networking,
cleaning out mice.

Do not know how to use a computer – Many users simply do

not know how to use a computer and some companies seem to
think it is the computer department’s responsibility to train
them. I always take a little more time and care with these users.
I have a small collection of how-to books for spreadsheets and
word processors that I give out. They are less than 100 pages
and this puts the responsibility of learning their system back on
them.

Knows enough to be dangerous – There are users within

every organization that know just enough about a computer to
make your life miserable. These users explore the network,
change computer settings, and for reasons they are not even
sure of, delete system files to free up space on the hard drive.
Solution: Restrict this user’s access to everything.

Time Robbers / Question Stalkers – Time robbers are people

who call you for every little incident, and some not so
incidental. They call you constantly, e-mail you everyday, and
even position themselves outside of restrooms or entrances just
to ask you one more question. This user comes in two different
flavors; the helpless need to have their hand held and the very
lonely that no one else will talk to so they need to invent a
problem just to have someone talk to them. Solution: the best

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way to legally deal with this computer user has not yet been
discovered. I only mention it as a warning.

My friend Phil says that time robbers are the safest

people in the office during an earthquake or tornado because
they are always standing in the doorway talking.

I hate computers! – Many end-users are quite proud to make

two announcements while you are fixing their problem. The
first is, “I’m computer illiterate.” To me, this is always an odd
confession. It is as if they are trying to qualify their stupidity
by claiming ignorance. I do not know what message they think
that they are conveying to you, but get used to hearing it. The
second is “I hate computers!” Why they feel the need to state
this constantly, I do not know. As a side note, computer users
call the monitor the computer, the computer the modem and if
you tell them to reboot the computer they will turn the monitor
off and then on again.

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

The Differences between End-users and

African Mountain Gorillas
Before I make a comparison between end-users and gorillas, I
would first like to apologize to the African mountain gorilla.
My first choice was to compare end-users to the inebriated goat
herders of the Himalayas, but since I know less about the
inebriated goat herders of the Himalayas than I do the
mountain gorilla, I have chosen to work with what I know.
Although, I am sure that many of my end-users have at times
been with a goat, perhaps even sheep. Nevertheless, this article

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is intended to detail the comparative differences between the

African mountain gorilla and the common computer end-user.
That may or may not have recreated with R uminants. My
R

article begins....

1. Gorillas will band together in small family troops and spend

their entire lives feeding off the leaves of the forest while
protected by a silver backed male that can weigh in the excess
of 160 kilograms.

C. End-users will recognize my shoes in the men’s room and

immediately proceed to ask me questions about their computer.
If I were in a gorilla troop, the leader of my group would save
me from this humiliation by storming in and inserting enough
bananas into the end user’s user “end” that he would never be
involved with computers again, except while at the
proctologist’s office, he would have a small interest in the
computer that is printing his bill.

2. Gorillas will make a bed of fresh leaves every night before

sleeping.

C. End-users will bring in their home computer and place it on

my chair without a name or clue to what the problem is. If I
were in a gorilla troop, the leader of my group would explain
that Doug does not necessarily repair people’s home computers
because the moment that Doug touches your piece of crap
computer, you will think that Doug is obligated to support you
and your stupid machine for the rest of Doug’s natural life.
Then of course, the gorilla leader would proceed in tearing off
the arms of the end-user like the limbs of a gum tree.

3. Gorillas are big.

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C. End-users have many cats. I do not mean one or two cats. I

mean many cats, like a million. End-users have a million cats,
each. Therefore, it is easy to see why I say that end-users have
a lot of cats. Because that is a lot.... hmm, moving right along.

4. Gorillas have hands as big as my head.

C. End-users have fingers as big as German sausages. This

prevents them from ever typing their password correctly the
first time. This causes them to ask in that familiar nasally
tone; “Is the network down again?"

5. Gorillas are...who cares what gorillas are.

C. End-users make me want to vomit. Not normal vomiting

either. The kind of gut retching, dry heaving that can only be
caused by something terribly hideous. So much vomiting
would occur that, a doctor would have to get involved and
replace fluids.

....I may have gone too far with this.

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Why do end-users call their computer a

hard-drive or modem?
This is one of the most common mistakes made by an end-user
when trying to refer to the computer case. Many times, when
they need help with their computer, they will usually refer to
their computer case as a Modem, hard drive, or CPU. Usually
what they try to communicate to us is something like this:

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"Excuse me, I know you are very busy helping someone

else, but if you can find the time, could you possibly help me?"

Unfortunately, in most cases what really comes out of their

mouths is,

"My modem is not working and it's your fault." Before you
are able to translate what they are trying to say, they further
their statement by saying: "This never happened before you
came to work here." Of course, what they are really saying is,
"Please, please mister computer man; beat me in the head with
a 9 pound ping hammer so they can replace my five dollar an
hour job with an escaped circus monkey with a flagellation
problem."

Of course, because you do not speak End-User, you

completely misunderstood what they wanted and instead of
beating this person in the head with a 9 pound ping hammer,
you removed his or her hours from the time clock program,
switched his or her social security number with someone that is
on the FBI's Most Wanted website and configured his or her
mouse for a left-hander.

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From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

End-User Soup
In the past, I have been hard on end-users in some of my
articles and I am not sure all of them deserve to be bunched in
together. This is why, in my infinite wisdom, I have taken it
upon myself to create end-user categories. Starting with some
of the smarter ones and working our way down to...well, let us
just say those that are a little computer challenged.

End-users come in many different shapes, colors, and problem

solving abilities. The only thing they all seem to have in
common is they complain that their computer is broken, but
when you get there, you find nothing is wrong. Below are some
end-user categories.

Joke Mailers: Joke mailers are those users who are constantly
e-mailing jokes to all of their friends, and searching the
Internet for endearing stories that warm the heart. These people
typically have pictures of their cats and children around their
monitors. Hackers and malicious virus makers depend heavily
on these people spreading their cat stories and virus warnings.
Late one evening, I once had an opportunity to tag one with my
car in the parking lot, but hesitated and lost the opportunity.

Laptop users. Laptop users are those individuals, who always

complain that something is wrong with their laptop, but when
you suggest leaving it with you to repair; they panic and say,
“It's probably nothing.” I am reasonably sure that laptops
archive the world’s supply of porn and these users are sworn to
protect it.

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Monitor Decorators: This user fancies him or herself as a

monitor decorator. They ornament their monitor with so many
small bits of debris, there is an actual gravitational shift to the
left, and the monitor has to be periodically degaussed. Of
course, there are rare occasions that these users are sometimes
lost to the presence of a quantum singularity. Abandon any
attempt to recycle this monitor for another user. The gooey
sticky residue left on the monitor after these items are
removed, makes the monitor a better rodent trap than computer
monitor. Monitor Decorators and Joke Mailers sometimes
interact in same sex partnering.

Paranoid Users: This end-user is extremely paranoid, to the

extent that they think you can see them through their monitor.
You cannot convince the user that you are not somehow
electronically spying on them as they work. You will have
more fun, feeding their paranoia by: whenever these people
walk past, immediately stop what you are doing and
suspiciously follow them with your eyes. Force them to change
their password every seven days. Run a defrag program on
their system every time they walk away from it. Paranoid users
also seem to have a cat or two, although they are too paranoid
to display its pictures.

Novice: Novices are those who can perform higher tasks such
as changing the desktop, browsing the network for open shares,
and knowing how to clear their Internet History. Novices are
the most dangerous of the end-users a company can have. They
are constantly screwing up their settings, deleting system files
to make room for more song files, and are always blaming their
latest disaster on Microsoft. Novice users are always reporting
the reason their work is not done is because the IS department
is always on their computer. It is important to identify the

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Novice early so that you can install a more restrictive operating

system on their computer until you can get them fired.

Nervous Users: Nervous end-users are those who think that

they are going to be blamed for everything. Whatever goes
wrong on their computer has the potential of being their fault.
They are so afraid of the computer; they must be catered to like
helpless children. It is difficult not to be quickly aggravated
with this type of user. As a Network Administrator or Help
Desk Technician, it is your responsibility--no--it is your duty as
a computer professional, to help these individuals seek
employment elsewhere. They may sometimes look towards
Paranoid User for cat advice. Nervous socializes with Novice
who relies on Joke Mailer for advice on personal matters.

Font and Pointer Changers: These users just piss me off.

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From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Eating Habits of the Office Worker

End-Users are illusive creatures, especially when it comes to
watching them eat. Their meals are mainly comprised of a solid
block of a frozen protein by-product, which is placed in a
microwave and heated until the odor effectively contaminates
the building’s air exchange. Once this process is complete, the
“food” is retrieved quickly and they disappear back into their
forest canopy (their cubicles.); only to emerge later to fill the
forest with the smell of burnt popcorn. I have never actually
witnessed one eating, but I once found a partially eaten box. I
quickly rushed it off to my research area to sample their food
for myself. Unfortunately, I found it to be tasteless, difficult to
digest, and I later suffered from severe stomach cramps.
Having no nutritional value, it is still a mystery as to why these
people’s backsides are three times the size of their cousins that
work outside of the office place.

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Computer Users Mating Habits

End-User mating habits begin at the water cooler, continue on
to their desk through e-mail, and ultimately end up on an
episode of COPS. Having the ability to see into this fascinating
world by monitoring their e-mail has given me great insight
into a ritual that has never before been documented.
Unfortunately, after many failed attempts to document my
findings, their meanings are lost in translation without the aid
of a firefighter’s hose, press on nails, and a bucket of saliva.

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Even though I feel I have made great strides in understanding

the mating habits of the end-user, I still fear it will be many
years before the FCC will be liberal enough for me to
demonstrate what I have learned.

Repairing Home Computers

Fixing a user’s home computer is the worst sin a Network
Administrator can commit. If you let just one person bring their
computer to you, not only will you be a slave to that system for
the rest of your life, but also word will get out and everyone in
the company will bring in their home computer. I have even
had people bring me their cable box. Resist the temptation to
be nice, because with every favor, there is a certain
punishment. I know of some computer people who will charge
for just looking at a computer and then charge for parts and
labor. Do not do it. There is no amount of money worth what
the future holds for you. Your work and home will merge and
you will never have peace. Not even, after you leave one
company and go to another. If you touch one computer, you are
expected to guarantee it for the rest of your natural life. Those
of you, who will disregard this warning, will one day look back
on this and say, “I should have listened to Doug.”

Working with Outside Consultants

From time to time, it is necessary to have an outside computer
consultant come to your company and perform work. When
this happens, many computer people become defensive and
even uncooperative. I have seen it in both company IT person

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and consultant alike. I have been on both sides in this situation,

so I know just how awkward it can be. Computer people are
naturally territorial creatures and they will defend their work
area to the death, and consultants are predatory animals who
want to expose the IT department as being incompetent. At
least, this is the contention. What sparks such a conflict is
usually attitude. I have seen consultants enter a building,
giving off a superiority pheromone, that causes an already on-
alert IT department to build defensive walls around the server
room. I have also seen the IT department enter into a meeting
with the consulting group with a chip on their shoulders large
enough to sink a ship. This type of experience can easily be
avoided if both consultant and company IT person begin each
encounter with an air of polite respect.

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Job Stasis
Job stasis occurs when you are stuck in the same job, making
the same money, with no sign of advancement in sight. It is
easy to find yourself in this kind of comfort zone. Time has
made your job easy, you have no stress, and days pass quickly.
The problem with job stasis is that if you are not moving
upwards, you are not moving at all. I have heard many horror
stories where people have given in to the path of least
resistance, unchallenged in their job for many years, and
suddenly find they are unemployed and so behind on the latest
technology that they cannot find another job. No job lasts
forever, and in my opinion, you should view your current job
as a launching point to your next one.
Another form of “job stasis” occurs when you want to
learn more and advance to the next level, but there is nowhere
to advance. Some people live in areas where they are fortunate
even to have a job. If you work for a company where no one
quits or fired, and your only hope of advancement is if
someone dies, you might have to move away or consider
another career.
Attrition is an example of moving your way up the company
ladder without your salary moving with you.
What if you are happy with your current situation? There
is nothing wrong with that either. I know a fellow, who came
into an IT department at the bottom. The company made many
changes that did not sit well with the other IT staff and they all
sought jobs elsewhere. With every departure, my friend rose up
one more position until he was the department head. In the
interim, he studied and passed every certification test he could.
With all of the top computer certifications on his resume and a
title, he was able to double his salary and then triple it when he
found a better job. Some jobs make better launching points to
better opportunities than they do actual jobs.

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Most Common Mistakes made by the

Computer Department
• Repairing co-worker’s home computers (See Repairing
Home Computers)
• Installing service packs on every computer just because
the software company recommends it. Read carefully what a
service pack is intended to repair and make sure that this is
what you want. If your server is running great and you apply a
service pack that fixes a security flaw on the Internet, and your
computer does not touch the Internet, reconsider the necessity.
I have installed service packs that shutdown network access to
third party programs and had to reinstall the server. This
applies to upgrades as well. A seasoned Network Administrator
will tell you that upgrading software can sometimes be
disastrous. If you have no legitimate reason to upgrade, do not
do it. Always be suspicious of software vendor’s reasons for
upgrades and service packs. I once ran across an upgrade that
the software maker charged a price and all it did was remove a
sub-program as part of a copyright lawsuit. They charged for
removing a section ordered by a court.

• Computer makers and software companies are in the

business to make money, not to be your friend. Many new
computer people are naïve to the fact that computer vendors are
out to get your company’s money and will say and do anything
to make you sign a contract. When negotiating a contract for
your company, you must remember that all sales people are
liars. I realize it is unfair to say that all of any type of people is
the same, but you will be better off in the end if you just
assume these people are, for yourself and your company. I
have negotiated with corporations on several very large
software and hardware contracts, and very few corporations

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ever did as they said they would. The ones that demand
payment in full before their contract is complete are the worst.
I speak of very large nationwide software corporations.

Company Memorandum

Just another reminder, it is against company policy to

bring your home computer in and have members of the IT
department repair it. This company and the IT department will
not be held responsible for the loss of or damage to any
equipment that is brought in from your home. I have sent out
this e-mail on several occasions and there is still some
confusion because some of you are still bringing in your home
computers. Just in case you do not think that this memorandum
applies to you, please read below.

• You may not bring your computer from home and ask
the IT Department to repair it.
• You may not bring your computer from home, drop it
off in anyone’s office, and assume that it will be fixed
for you.
• You may not ask a company computer specialist about
problems you are having with your home computer, and
then bring it in the next day to have them look at it.
• You may not bring in your home computer because
someone in the IT department said hello to you, made
eye contact with you, or yelled an obscenity while
walking by you in a supermarket.
• You may not bring your computer in to work at all.
• Under no circumstances are you allowed to bring your
home computer to the IT department and have them fix

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it, look at it, give you advice on what to do with it, or

drop it off in the IT department and run away.
• You may not bring in any computer or electrical device
and ask the IT department to repair it, make
suggestions, or otherwise handle it.

Warning: If you bring in your home computer, it will be taken

to a local auto demolition yard and crushed beyond
recognition and your paycheck will be debited.

You Must Read This Part.

Just in case you did not read any of the beginning or

middle and jumped immediately to the bottom because you
thought you read that you could bring in your home computer,
you may not. If you do you bring your home computer to work,
it will be destroyed at your expense.

Thank you for not bringing your home computer to work.

IT Director / Network Administrator

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Who has the Power

If ever there is someone behind the scenes with his or her hand
on the button, it is the Network Administrator. In every
corporation, when the question is asked, “Who’s your daddy?”
it is usually answered, “The Network Administrator is your
daddy.” Network Administrators are often called many names:
Network Gods, or Goddesses, computer genius or techno-
wizard, the Fix-it-fairy, or the Man. Why do you ask? The
Network Administrator controls the flow of information, the
storage of data, and the communication with the rest of the
world. Network Administrators are the engineers of the
company’s infrastructure, and when there is a problem, and
there is always a problem, the Network Administrator is the
first one on the job to fix it. Day or night, on vacation or in the
john, we are your lads and lasses. Sometimes, the temptation to
peek at data and information that you are not supposed to see is
overwhelming and you must resist it completely. While
assigning permissions to payroll folders, I once ran across a
spreadsheet with the company executives salaries on it. Believe
me; such information will only make you resentful. In addition,
monitoring e-mail can give a Network Administrator a god-like
complex. Some jobs may require you to monitor e-mail for
security reasons. I have done so for two companies and even
set up monitoring for company owners. You must read e-mail
with a steady head and in some cases, a steady stomach. People
will say things in e-mail they do not really mean, such as, the
boss is cheap. They might do this because they do not want to
be the bad guy or gal with someone who requests a raise or
something as simple as office supplies. When I setup an owner
or executive with the ability to monitor employee’s e-mail, I
also give them a talk about what people mean to say and not
say, and how they should read e-mail. From experience though,
I can tell you that almost all company e-mail is the same. The

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same staff positions send the same type of jokes, cat pictures,
and words of inspiration. There are always two or three people
sleeping with each other, and at least two are stealing company
funds. CEOs and VPs know the best times to go to strip clubs
and the poor accounting clerks, who are the hardest workers,
have the most personal problems. Occasionally, someone
might pop their head up from their keyboard to ask, “Does IT
read e-mail?” and you reply, “Yes, yes we do.” They laugh, but
do not really believe it.

Taking the Emotion out of “IT”

Because many of us (human beings) make many of our daily
decisions based on emotions, the world is often a chaotic and
confusing place to be, and computer human beings are no
different. The fact of the matter is that computer people are
more comfortable with computers than they are people, and
many do not interact well with others. (This may not apply to
you…may not.) From my own experiences, and advice from
those much smarter than me, I found that when confronted with
a stressful situation, it is often better to wait 24-hours before
addressing it. Time will, in many cases, remove emotion from
a difficult decision. Many people make the mistake of reacting
to a problem with emotional attachments and making the
problem an even larger one. The largest killer to a computer
job is emotional e-mail. If confronted with an upsetting
situation, always try to put some time between the event and
response to remove all emotion from it.

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Birthday Cake Day

Birthdays are a monumental celebration in many companies.
Human resource departments will post dates of birth in the
company newsletter. People who usually never speak to you
will wish you a happy birthday in the hallway, and then there is
cake. Some companies will purchase a cake once a month and
celebrate everyone’s birthday for the month at once, while
others will leave it to the individual departments to handle this
most joyous of events. There are cards that need signed and a
cake that has enough sugar to damage the pancreas of an adult
elephant. It seems that every department in the workplace,
except the computer department, practices the birthday ritual.
Fascinated by this event, I decided one day to spy on the
accounting department as they crowded together and
ceremonially cut the cake.
Perhaps I have seen too many TV documentaries, but as I
watched the accounting department, I saw a familiar pattern
emerge. The first piece of cake went to what was obviously the
head of the department, while the others pieces were passed
down in a hierarchy of departmental importance. Lowly file
clerks received a thin plain slice with no decoration while
higher up accountants received larger pieces of cakes with
flowers and other decorations. Each person would take their
piece of cake and just hold it without taking a bite while
stealing small glances at the person that received the first piece
of cake. The department head would take a bite, slowly chew
it, pause, and then take another. Each time, the rest of the group
would wait until she finished chewing before they would eat
their piece, always being a bite behind. Watching this, I felt
like I was hiding in a duck blind, watching primate’s carry out
some primitive ritual while on assignment for the National
Geographic Society. Then something even more remarkable
took place. They used the straws from their diet soda cans and

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began poking it into their pieces of cake like chimpanzees

would a stripped twig into a termites nest…I’m just kidding.
However, the whole birthday cake at work thing it a little
freaky.

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

The Internet is a Living Body

In many respects, the Internet is like a living organism. It
passes data through its structure using T1 lines, Cable modems,
DSL, and analog phone lines just as an organic body transports
blood through a series of complex vessels and artery systems.
The Internet excretes pheromones in the way of porn sites, and
defecates in the way of spam. Popup windows are hiccups and
multiple pop-ups can be gastritis or ejaculation, depending
upon what website you are on at the time of multiple pop-ups.

Sometimes the Internet catches viruses, but anti-bodies

quickly rush in and heal these minor infections. There are
viscous invaders that must be isolated and driven away. With
each new website, a new neural pathway reaches out, making it
smarter and giving it more physical structure. Websites are
born and they die, they mutate and multiply.

The Internet reaches out onto the stars using images from
the Hubble telescope, and uses web cams like microscopes to
investigate itself internally. It is alive with eyes and thinks in
digits. For this moment in time, it must co-exist in a symbiotic
relationship with humans to help reproduce and expand its
reach. Soon, there will come a time that it must expand beyond
its confines and venture forth onto the stars and leave us in

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search of its creators, creator. When that time comes, I hope it

takes its bloody spam mail with it.

From TheNetworkAdministrator.com…

Geek Humor
Top 10 Signs that you may be a Geek
1. All of your friends have an @ in the middle of their
names.
2. Your best friend is someone who you chat with online
but have never met.
3. You see a beautiful sunset and take a picture of it with
your digital camera for your computer desktop.
4. When you meet someone from the Internet for the first
time in a restaurant, and before you enter, you wish you
could save game in case you make an ass of yourself.
5. You finally receive high-speed Internet at home and
cancel your phone service.
6. You type "com" after every period when typing.com
7. For emergencies, you have a backup battery supply for
your home computer and Internet router, but no food,
water, or batteries for your flashlights.
8. You pity people that still have modems.
9. You think it is funny to refer to going to the bathroom
as downloading, sex as uploading, and Internet sex as
FTPing.

10. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :^)

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Meetings
If you think it is fun, having or taking part in, a company
meeting, you are going to love working in an IT department. I
have been in meetings that have lasted for hours, only to be late
for another. You need to make technical decisions, help explain
technology, or provide critical data or an opinion so your
bosses can plan budgets far into the future. Expect to attend
many meetings. If however, you are as I am, and suffer from
issues of a short attention span and are easily prone to
daydream, meetings might not be your favorite event. You may
have to find methods to help you through these mind sucking,
time wasting proceedings. It is important in the beginning to
control your eyes from the “glaze over.” With time, it will
come as second nature to you, much like pretending that you
are interested when someone is telling how he repaired his
home computer. You will get the hang of it.

Performance Anxiety
When you land your first IT position, you might doubt your
abilities and this is a perfectly natural feeling. The fear of not
being able to do the job and fired for “Gross Incompetence”
looms in the mind of everyone. I can tell you from experience;
this is a perfectly healthy emotion and it will drive you to be
more dedicated in your profession. Those that do not have this
anxiety, are the ones fired for incompetence, because they do
not push themselves to excel.

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Appendix A
Cabling
Network Cabling

Network cabling is the base for computer connectivity; without

cables, computers would have to rely on floppy disks to
receive spam and viruses. Even with the great inroads that
wireless networks have made, cable is still the standard
medium in which networks are connected. It is rather unlikely
to have an IT department without cable, and even more
implausible to have a career in networking without at least
knowing the fundamentals of cabling. In this section, we will
look at the different types of cabling used in a standard
network topology.

Bulk Cable

Bulk cable is right out of the box cable. CAT5 Ethernet and
100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet is the base networking cable used
in most modern networks and any category lower than 5 cannot
support the throughput necessary in today’s high-speed
networks. There are four pairs, (eight wires total) each pair is
twisted with a different turn to help eliminate interference from
the other pairs, and the tighter the twist, the higher the
supported transmission rate. There are seven categories of
UTP:

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‰ CAT1

Category 1, up to 1 Mbps (1MHz) cable. Typically used with analog voice (pots)
Basic rate interface in ISDN. Also used in doorbell wiring.

‰ CAT2

Category 2, 4 Mbps, and typically used in an IBM Cabling system

for Token Ring Networks.

‰ CAT3
Category 3, 16 Mbps, and typically used with voice and data on
10BASET Ethernet.

‰ CAT4
Category 4, 20 Mbps, and typically used in a Token Ring network

‰ CAT5
Cat5 refers to category 5 data cabling, which is a 4 pair cable (8 wires)
100 Mbps cable. Typically used in an Ethernet network.

‰ CAT5e
Category 5e 1000 Mbps, used with ATM Gigabit Ethernet.

‰ CAT6
Category 6 cabling, used in fast broadband networks up to 400 MHz

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‰ CAT6e

Category 6e supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet

‰ CAT7

Category 7, 600-700 MHz. This cable can be used with full-motion video.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Twisted pair cabling comes in two types: shielded and
unshielded. Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most popular
because of it price point and is used on most data networks.
Twisted Pair is a network standard and are 10 Mhz 10BASE-T
to 100BASE-T. With the raise of high-speed networking, many
IT professionals are laying CAT5e, 1000BASE-T cable, for
future needs with ATM Gigabit networks.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Shielded Twisted Pair protects against EMI interference

than does unshielded wires. STP is stiffer and more
difficult to run because of the material used for the
shielding. STP is a better cable to use, however the cost
often does not justify the additional experience and is
passed over for unshielded cable.

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Screened Twisted Pair

Screened Twisted Pair (ScTP) is 4-pair 100 ohm UTP, with

a single foil or braided screen surrounding all four pairs in
order to minimize EMI radiation and susceptibility to
outside noise. Screened twisted pair is also called Foil
Twisted Pair (FTP), or Screened UTP.

Standard Ethernet Patch Cable

A data patch cord, or cable, is used with an Ethernet
connection as “straight-through.” This means that pin 1 of
the connector end of the plug on one end is connected to
pin 1 on the plug of the other end; the wires are straight
through. Only wires 1, 2, 3, and 6 are used to transmit a
signal, while the other 4 wires go unused. If you hold the
two-connector ends of a patch cord together, side-by-side,
with the clip down, from left to right the color of the wires
should be the same across. In our next example, you can
see the active wires and colors.

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Straight-through

Pin color pair name

--- ----- ---- --------
1 white/orange 2 TxData +
2 orange 2 TxData -
3 white/green 3 RecvData +
4 blue 1
5 white/blue 1
6 green 3 RecvData -
7 white/brown 4
8 brown 4

RJ-45 Connector (Registered Jack)

The standard connector for twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45

connector. An RJ-45 looks like a large phone connector. (A
phone connector is a RJ-11) RJ stands for Registered Jack.

Crossover Cables
The simplest of LAN wiring is two computers directly
connected to each other using a crossover cable. A crossover
cable is just that; instead of the 4 pairs (8 wires) of wires inside
a standard 100BASE-T cable being straight through from one
end to the other, the wires are crossed over like in the next
example.

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Crossover cable configuration:

Standard End Crossover End

Pin 1 White/Orange Pin 1 White/Green

Pin 2 Orange Pin 2 Green
Pin 3 White/Green Pin 3 White/Orange
Pin 4 Blue Pin 4 Blue
Pin 5 White/Blue Pin 5 White/Blue
Pin 6 Green Pin 6 Orange
Pin 7 White/Brown Pin 7 White/Brown
Pin 8 Brown Pin 8 Brown

Crossover cables are used to connect two computers together

without the use of a hub, or need to connect to hubs, or
switched together. It should be stressed though, that most
modern hubs and switches are self-sensing and may not require
a crossover cable.

Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable has a single copper core at the center,

surrounded with a plastic layer of insulation wrapped with a
braided metal shielding. The metal shield helps reduce the EMI
radiation from fluorescent light and other forms of electro
magnetic interference. The metal shield helps reduce the EMI
from fluorescent light and other forms of electro magnetic
interference.

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Thicknet
Thicknet coax is a dated medium, 1 cm thick (50-ohm) and is
known as 10base5. 10base5 Ethernet supports 10 Mb/s
transmission rate over a maximum 500-meter length. The outer
jacket of Thick Ethernet cables is typically a bright color (often
yellow) with black bands at 2.5-meter intervals to mark valid
transceiver placement points. 10Base5 transceivers are attached
through a clamp that makes physical contact with the cable.
These transceivers are also called "transceiver taps" because
they are connected through a process known as "tapping" that
bits a hole in the cable to allow contact. This method of tap is a
non-intrusive connection because the tap can be made on an
active network without disrupting traffic flow. For more
information on Thicknet cabling, go to your local used
bookstore, or other forms of antiquated knowledge that you
will never use.

Thinnet
Thinnet is also 50-ohms, but half that of Thicknet. (5mm)
Thinnet looks like the same medium used as the cable on your
cable box, but has a lower ohms rating. Thinnet is used with
Ethernet 10Base2, and supports 10 Mb/s transmission rate over
185-meter maximum. Thinnet uses BNC connector that
connects to a T-connector. If a T-connector is the last computer
on the network then a 50-ohm end terminator must be attached.

Fiber Optic
Fiber optic cabling is the backbone of the Internet. Fiber
optic cabling is buried beneath every major city, crosses every
continent, and spans across the ocean’s floors. Fiber optics
signaling is modern technology’s Morse code for high-speed

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communications. Fiber cabling has a low loss, high bandwidth

than can be used over greater distances than copper cables. In
data networks, this can be as much as 2km without the use of
repeaters.

Fiber optic cabling transmits optical signals through a

thin glass fiber. How it works is; an electrical signal is
converted at the head of the fiber cable to optical signals, (or
light flashes that represent ones and zeros) that pass through
the cable and is re-converted at the other end back into
electrical signals. Three concentric layers construct fiber optic
cabling. The “core” is the center of the cable in which light is
transmitted through. The “cladding” is what confines the light
to the core, and the outer buffer, or “protective layer” protects
the center cable. Typically Kevlar®, the same material used in
bulletproof jackets, is used to protect the fiber optic core.

Light travels along a fiber cable by a process called 'Total

Internal Reflection' (TIR); this is made possible by using two
types of glass, which have different refractive indexes. The
inner core has a high refractive index and the outer cladding
has a low index.

There are two types of Fiber Optic Cabling: Single Mode Fiber
Optic Cable, and Multimode.

Single Mode fiber optic cable is primarily used as an

interbuilding backbone cable. It is well suited for distances up
to 3 km, and delivers data at a rate up to 10 Gbps. Single mode
fiber optic cable is used for long distance applications that
require high bandwidth.

Multimode fiber optic cable

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FOIRL, 10Base-FL, 10Base-FB, 10Base-FP, 100Base-

FX, 1000Base-LX, and 1000Base-SX are the Ethernet media
used with fiber optic cabling.

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Appendix B
Computer and Networking Terms and
Definitions

A
Access Control – Access Control ensures that resources connections are
only granted to those users who have privilege to them.

Access Control List (ACL) – An access control list (ACL) is a table that
tells a computer operating system which access rights each user has to a
particular system object, such as a file directory or individual file.

Account Harvesting
Account Harvesting is the process of gathering account names on a system.
Spammers typically harvest e-mail addresses from websites and phishing.

Active Content
Embedded code (Java, ActiveX) inside a web page that is downloaded and
executed.

Activity Monitors
Activity monitoring is a process that scans and prevents virus infection. The
process uses known viruses and algorithms to protect a company network
infrastructure.

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a protocol for mapping an Internet
Protocol address to a physical machine address. A local router or routing
table caches the ARP number of any given node that it can see on the
network.
Algorithm
A finite set of well-defined instructions for a problem solving or
accomplishing a computation procedure.

Alpha
A RISC architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation.

Applet
Applets are typically referred to in Java programs. A client’s browser may
execute an applet that might execute a larger program on the server.

ARPANET
Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, of the U.S. Department of
Defense, pioneered packet-switched network, designed and build in the
early 1970s. In June 1990, the ARPANET became today’s Internet.

ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange; is the standard
character-coding scheme used by most computers to display letters, digits
and special characters.. There are 128 standard ASCII codes each of which
can be represented by a 7 digit binary number: 0000000 through 1111111.

ATAPI
ATAPI is the protocol used by CD-ROM drives use to communicate with
the computer.

Auditing
Auditing is the gathering of information to ensure guidelines are meet in
either security or software licensees.

Authentication
The process of identifying an individual, usually based on a username and
password. In security systems, authentication is distinct from authorization ,
which is the process of giving individuals access to system objects based on
their identity. Authentication merely ensures that the individual is who he or
she claims to be, but says nothing about the access rights of the individual.
Authoring Tools
HTML editors, document conversion tools, tools that generate Web content
from databases are all authoring tools

Authorization
Authorization must be met before approval, or permission is granted to
access programs, files or folders on a computer system.

B
Backbone
A central high-speed network that connects smaller, independent networks
to larger networks.

Backdoor
A backdoor is a hidden access path to a computer system. Trojans can open
up a backdoor, as can a rootkit.

Backwards Compatible
A design that continues to work with earlier versions of a language,
program, etc.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a term used to describe the capacity of a communication
channel to pass data through in a given amount of time. Expressed in bits
per second.

Basic Authentication
Basic Authentication is the simplest web-based authentication used to pass
username and passwords.
Baud
The number of changes in signal per second. A signal with four voltage
levels may be used to transfer two bits of information for every baud.

BBS (Bulletin Board System)

Popular in the 1990’s, BBS boards were used as discussion boards, and to
upload and download files, much like today’s chat rooms. Run on
digiboards and phone lines, BBS’s became too slow. Law enforcement
shutdown many BBS’s because of pirating.

Binary
The “0” and “1” numbering system that computers use to communicate
from program to hardware.

BIND
BIND is an acronym for Berkeley Internet Name Domain, an
implementation of DNS. DNS is for domain name to IP address resolution.

BIOS
(BIOS) Basic Input-Output System is a chip (or set of chips) in a computer
that controls how your computer communicates with some of the basic
hardware components in your system, such as the keyboard, floppy drive,
and hard disk.

Bit
The smallest unit of information storage; a contraction of the term "binary
digit;" one of two symbols—"0" (zero) and "1" (one) - that are used to
represent binary numbers.

Boot
Boot is the process or starting your computer

Boot Record
The boot record on a hard drive, or floppy disk, is at the beginning of the
disk. The boot record is on the active or bootable partition and contains the
start up information that boots the operating system.
Boot Record Infector
A boot record infector is a piece of malware that inserts malicious code into
the boot sector of a disk.

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)

The Border Gateway Protocol is an exterior gateway protocol defined in
RFC 1267 and RFC 1268. It's design is based on experience gained with
EGP, as defined in STD 18, RFC 904, and EGP usage in the NSFNET
Backbone, as described in RFC 1092 and RFC 1093. See also: Exterior
Gateway Protocol

Bridge
A device that supports LAN-to-LAN communications. Bridges may be
equipped to provide frame relay support to the LAN devices they serve. A
frame-relay-capable bridge encapsulates LAN frames in frame relay frames
and feeds those frame relay frames to a frame relay switch for transmission
across the network.

British Standard 7799

A standard code of practice that provides guidance on how to secure
information systems. British Standard 7799 includes a management
framework, objectives, and control requirements for information security
management systems.

Broadcast
To simultaneously send the same message to all nodes on a local segment.

Broadcast Address
An address used to broadcast a datagram to all hosts on a given network
using UDP or ICMP protocol.

Browser
A client computer program that translates and displays HTML code.

Brute Force
A hacking method used to find passwords or encryption keys by trying
every possible combination of characters until the code is broken.
Buffer Overflow
This happens when more data is put into a buffer or holding area, then the
buffer can handle. This is due to a mismatch in processing rates between the
producing and consuming processes. This can result in system crashes or
the creation of a back door leading to system access.

Byte
A set of Bits that represent a single character. Usually there are 8 Bits in a
Byte.

C
Cache
Similar to a buffer. All or part of a file may be read to a cache in RAM, then
used from RAM rather than requiring access from disk. An optional file on
your hard drive where such data also can be stored

Cache Poisoning
Malicious or misleading data from a remote name server is saved [cached]
by another name server. Typically used with DNS cache poisoning attacks.

Caplocks
Caplocks are a key on a standard keyboard that prevents one third of the
worlds computer users from logging onto their computers each morning.

CAT1
Category 1, up to 1 Mbps (1MHz) cable. Typically used with analog voice
(pots) Basic rate interface in ISDN. Also used in door bell wiring.

CAT2
Category 2, 4 Mbps, and typically udes in an IBM Cabling system for
Token Ring Networks.

CAT3
Category 3, 16 Mbps, and typically used with voice and data on 10BASET
Ethernet.
CAT4
Category 4, 20 Mbps, and typically used in a Token Ring network

CAT5
Cat5 refers to category 5 data cabling, which is a 4 pair cable (8 wires) 100
Mbps cable. Typically used in an Ethernet network.

CAT5e
Category 5e 1000 Mbps, used with ATM Gigabit Ethernet.

CAT6
Category 6 cabling, used in fast broadband networks up to 400 MHz

CAT6e
Category 6e supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet

CAT7
Category 7, 600-700 MHz. This cable can be used with full-motion video.

Cell
A cell is a unit of data transmitted over an ATM network.

Certificate-Based Authentication
Certificate-Based Authentication is used to authenticate and encrypt HTTP
traffic, using SSL certificates.

CGI
Common Gateway Interface, an interface that connects the Web with other
software and databases. CGI defines how data is passed from a server to a
CGI program and has nothing to do with the programming language itself.
Hence CGI programs can be written in a variety of languages (such as C,
Pascal, Perl, etc).

Chain of Custody
Chain of Custody is the federal rules that govern the handling of evidence.
Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)
An authentication method that can be used when connecting to an Internet
Service Provider. CHAP allows you to login to your provider automatically,
without the need for a terminal screen.

ChRoot
"chroot-ed" is the usual term in the Unix world to say that users are kept in
a confined part of the directory tree. Trying to change to a directory outside
of this limited area will fail.

Checksum
A value that is computed and that depends on the contents of a set of data.
Checksum is used to detect if the data has been altered during transmission
or when being stored and properly retrieved.

Cipher
A cryptographic algorithm for encryption and decryption.

Ciphertext
The result after Plaintext is passed through a Cipher.

Circuit Switched Network

A circuit switched network is where a single continuous physical circuit
connected two endpoints.

Clock Speed
Clock speed is the rate at which a computer processor can complete a
processing cycle.

Clone
The term clone as referred to in computers arose in the mid-80s to describe
a Windows based PC, not manufactured by IBM. Dells, HP, Compaq, were
all considered as clones. These days, clones are no name computers
assembled by hand.

Collision
A collision occurs when multiple systems transmit simultaneously on the
same wire.
CMOS
Originally CMOS was abbreviation for Complementary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor; a semiconductor technology used in integrated circuits.
CMOS is now described as the low-level hardware BIOS setting, and the
computer's clock

Competitive Intelligence
Competitive Intelligence is espionage using legal mean.

Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The CERT was formed by DARPA in November 1988 in response to the
Internet worm incident. CERT responds to computer security events that
occur on Internet. 24-hour telephone Hotline for reporting Internet security
issues is (412) 268-7090. www.cert.org

Cookie
A cookie is a piece of data that is exchanged between a web server and a
users browser. A cookie may be a text file placed on the client’s computer
with information stored from the last visit.

Cron
Cron is a Unix and Linux application that runs scheduled jobs.

Crossover Cable
A crossover cable reverses the pairs of cables at the other end and can be
used to connect devices directly together.
Connector 1 Pin Connector 2 Pin
Out Out
12345678 3 6 1 Open Open 2
Open Open

Crosstalk
Crosstalk is the coupling of unwanted signals from one pair within the same
cable to another pair.
Cryptanalysis
The mathematical science that deals with analysis of a cryptographic system
in order to gain knowledge needed to break or circumvent the protection
that the system is designed to provide. In other words, convert the cipher
text to plaintext without knowing the key.

Cryptographic Algorithm or Hash

An algorithm that employs the science of cryptography, including
encryption algorithms, cryptographic hash algorithms, digital signature
algorithms, and key agreement algorithms.

Cryptography
Cryptography encrypts data so anyone that intercepts it can not openly read
the message files.

Cut-Through
Cut-Through is a method used in data switching where only the header of a
packet is read before it is forwarded to its destination. Routers and
Switches will use Cut-through.

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)

Sometimes called "cyclic redundancy code”. CRC is a mathematically
generated number that data receivers use to verify the proper bit
arrangement in a bit stream
Daemon

D
Daemon
A program that runs in the background without supervision. This is
typically associated with Unix and Linux systems.

Database Compression
Storing data in a format that requires less space than usual. Compressing
data is the same as packing data. Data compression is particularly useful in
communications because it enables devices to transmit the same amount of
data in fewer bits (requiring less time). There are a variety of data
compression techniques, but only a few have been standardized.

DBMS
Database Management System

Data Encryption Standard (DES)

A widely-used method of data encryption using a private key.

Data Aggregation
The process of redefining data into a summarization based on some rules or
criteria.

Data Mining
The ability to query very large databases in order to satisfy a hypothesis.

Data Owner
A Data Owner is the entity having responsibility and authority for the data.

Data Warehousing
A data warehouse brings together data from multiple transactional systems
and enables users to access and analyze the information at various levels.

Datagram
A data packet used by a connectionless, unsequenced protocol like IP and
UDP. A datagram may be encapsulated in one or more packets passed to the
data link layer.

Decibel (dB) A logarithmic measure of the ratio of two signal levels:

Decoupling-network An electrical circuit that prevents test signals that are

applied to the unit under test from affecting other devices, equipment, or
systems that are not under test

Decapsulation
Decapsulation is the process of stripping off one layer's headers and passing
the rest of the packet up to the next higher layer on the protocol stack.
Decryption
Decryption is the process of transforming an encrypted message into its
original plaintext.

Denial of Service
(DoS) When a hacker performs a Denial Of Service attack against web
servers, FTP servers, and mail servers. Pinging a server with large ping
packets is a form of DoS.

DHTML
Dynamic HTML, a mixture of standards including HTML, style sheets, the
Document Object Model and scripting. However, there is no World Wide
Web Consortium specification that formally defines DHTML.

Dictionary Attack
An attack that uses a word dictionary to crack a password or key. A
dictionary is typically a text file that contains common words and phrases
used as passwords.

Digital Envelope
A digital envelope is an encrypted message with the encrypted session key.

Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA)

An asymmetric cryptographic algorithm that produces a digital signature in
the form of a pair of large numbers.

Digital Signature Standard (DSS)

A US Government standard that specifies the Digital Signature Algorithm
(DSA), this involves asymmetric cryptography.

Disassembly
The process of taking a binary program and extrapolating the source code
from it.

Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)

A plan by the IT department to recovery lost data in the event of a systems
crash or disaster.
Disk Druid
Disk Druid is a component of the Red Hat Linux installation, which is used
to partition drives.

Distance Vector
Distance vector is the measurement or the cost of routes; this determines the
best-known route to send a data packet by the router.

Domain
On the Internet, a domain consists of a set of network addresses. In the
Internet's domain name system, a domain is a name with which name server
records are associated that describe sub-domains or host. In Windows NT
and Windows 2000, a domain is a set of network resources (applications,
printers, and so forth) for a group of users.

Domain Name
A name that identifies one or more IP addresses. For example, the domain
name microsoft.com represents about a dozen IP addresses. Domain names
are used in URLs to identify particular Web pages. For example, in the
URL http://www.microsoft.com/index.html, may be the domain name
Microsoft.com

Domain Name Service (DNS)

DNS is a naming service that translates IP Addresses into friendly name
(www.whatever.com) to identify servers on a network.

Download
To copy data from a main source to a local device. The term is often used to
describe the process of copying a file from an Internet server to one's own
computer. Downloading can also refer to copying a file from a network file
server to a computer on the network.

DSL
Digital Subscriber Link technologies, use sophisticated modulation schemes
to pack data onto copper wires. They are sometimes referred to as last-mile
technologies because they are used only for connections from a telephone
switching station to a home or office, not between switching stations.
Dual Boot
A computer configuration with a choice of two operating systems to boot
from.
Due Diligence
Due diligence is the required procedure that organizations must develop and
deploy as a protection plan to prevent fraud, abuse, and additional deploy a
means to detect them if they occur.

DumpSec
DumpSec is a security tool that dumps a information about a system's users,
file system, registry, permissions, password policy, and services.

Dumpster Diving
Dumpster Diving is a practice of rummaging through trash to obtain
passwords from corporate and private dumpsters.

Dynamic Link Library

A file containing executable code and data bound to a program at load time
or run time, rather than during linking. Several applications can share the
code and data in a dynamic link library simultaneously. (usually referred to
as a DLL file).

Dynamic Routing Protocol

Dynamic Routing Protocols learn routes. (RIP, EIGRP) Routers to update
their routing tables perform dynamic routing. Dynamic Routing Protocol
occurs when routers talk to adjacent routers, informing each other of what
networks each router is currently connected to.

E
Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping is simply listening to a private conversation, which may
reveal information that can provide access to a facility or network.

Echo Reply
An echo reply is the response a machine that has received an echo request
sends over ICMP. Ping is a typical Echo reply response.
Echo Request
The Echo Reply is an ICMP message generated in response to an ICMP
Echo Request message, and is mandatory for all hosts and routers. Ping is a
typical Echo Request response.

Egress Filtering
Filtering outbound traffic.

EIDE
Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics is a newer version of the IDE
Interface standard.

Encapsulation
The technique used by layered protocols in which a layer adds header
information to the protocol data unit (PDU) from the layer above.

Encryption
Cryptographic transformation of data (called "plaintext") into a form (called
"cipher text") that conceals the data's original meaning to prevent it from
being known or used.

Ephemeral Port
In computing, a port (derived from seaport) is usually an interface through
which data are sent and received. An exception is a software port (derived
from transport), which is software that has been "transported" to another
computer system (see below for details).

Escrow Passwords
Escrow Passwords are passwords written down and stored in a secure
location (like a safe). This allows emergency personnel to access log-ons
when privileged personnel are unavailable.

Ethernet
The most widely installed local area network technology used. Ethernet is a
specified standard, (IEEE 802.3) An Ethernet LAN typically uses Category
5 cable, although in past installations, coax and CAT3 was the standard.
Devices are connected to the cable and compete for access using the
CSMA/CD protocol.
Exposure
Sensitive data directly released to an unauthorized entity. This could be a
security vulnerability from software configurations, or from an inside
source such as a disgruntled employee.

Extended ACLs (Cisco)

Extended ACLs are an extended form from the Cisco Standard ACLs on
Cisco routers. They can make filtering decisions based on IP addresses
(source or destination), Ports (source or destination), protocols, and whether
a session is established.

Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP)

EGP is a protocol used to distribute routing information to routers from
autonomous systems.

F
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions, usually associated with Usenet newsgroups
but often featured on Web sites also, the FAQ is a list of questions
commonly asked by users.

False Rejects
False Rejects are when an authentication computer or system fails to
recognize a valid user.

Fdisk
Fdisk is a partition utility that creates, modifies, and deletes partitions.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

FTP is an Internet protocol that is used to transfer files. Anonymous FTP
allows you to connect remotely to computers to transfer and receive files
publicly.

Filesystem
Filesystems are unique to operating systems and cannot be read between
them. Linux supports multiple filesystems.
Filter
A filter typically refers to a firewall or sniffer method of analyzing and
distributing packets.

Filtering Router
A filtering router may be used as a firewall or part of a firewall. A router
usually receives a packet from a network and decides where to forward it on
a second network

Finger
Finger is an Internet protocol that allows you to check a user's login
information. Finger, originally a Unix protocol, takes an e-mail address and
returns information about the user who owns that e-mail address.

Fingerprinting
Sending queries to a system in order to determine the operating system.
Fingerprinting can also be characterized as a method of determining a
systems naming and operating systems convention.

Firewall
A computer hardware device or software, used to prevent the unauthorized
access to a network.

Flooding
A process of becoming overwhelmed my intrusive and erroneous data to
interrupt or take control of a system.

Formatting

Forest
A forest is a set of Active Directory domains that replicate their databases
with each other.

Fork Bomb
A Fork Bomb, also known as a “logic bomb” works by using the fork() call
to create a new process which is a copy of the original. This is typically an
attack on Unix systems. By doing this repeatedly, all available processes on
the machine can be taken up. It is similar to having a computer make copies
of the same files in a new directory until there is no more space on the hard
drive.

Forward Lookup
Forward lookup uses an Internet domain name to find an IP address by
using DNS.

Fragment Overlap Attack

A TCP/IP Fragmentation Attack is possible because IP allows packets to be
broken down into fragments for more efficient transport across various
media. The TCP packet (and its header) and is carried in the IP packet. In
this attack the second fragment contains incorrect offset. When packet is
reconstructed, the port number will be overwritten.

Fragmentation
Scattering of data over a hard disk caused by successive recording and
deletion operations. Generally this will eventually result in slow data recall.

Frames
Data that is transmitted between network points as a unit complete with
addressing and necessary protocol control information. A frame is usually
transmitted serial bit by bit and contains a header field and a trailer field
that "frame" the data. A frame is also a term used in html code used to
display content inside the same browser without opening a new browser or
changing the existing page.

Full Duplex
The ability of a device or line to transmit data simultaneously in both
directions. Phones with half duplexing sound choppy when both parties try
to talk at once.

Fully-Qualified Domain Name

A fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) includes all parts of a domain, the
hostname or subdomain, the domain, and the top-level domain. They are
often seen in the URLs for websites.
 G
Gateway
A hardware or software set-up that translates between two dissimilar
protocols, or networks.

gethostbyaddr
The gethostbyaddr DNS query is when the address of a machine is known
and the name is needed.

gethostbyname
The gethostbyname DNS quest is when the name of a machine is known
and the address is needed.

GID
Short for Group ID

Gopher
A system that pre-dates the World Wide Web for organizing and displaying
files on Internet servers. A Gopher server presents its contents as a
hierarchically structured list of files.

GNU
GNU is a Unix-like operating system that comes with source code that can
be copied, modified, and redistributed. The GNU project was started in
1983 by Richard Stallman and others, who formed the Free Software
Foundation.

Gnutella
An Internet file sharing utility. for peer-to-peer sharing of data between
computers (typically MP3 music files).

H
Hacker
Hacker is a slang term for a computer enthusiast. Among professional
programmers, the term hacker implies an amateur or a programmer who
lacks formal training. Depending on how it used, the term can be either
complimentary or derogatory, although it is developing an increasingly
derogatory connotation. The pejorative sense of hacker is becoming more
prominent largely because the popular press has co-opted the term to refer
to individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems for the
purpose of stealing and corrupting data. Hackers, themselves, maintain that
the proper term for such individuals is cracker.
Hard Disk
A hard disk contains a rotating magnetic media. Heads float over the
surface of a disk, and read from the disk and write data to it.

Hardening
Hardening is the process of fixing vulnerabilities on a system. Hardening
the system involves changing setting to help ensure the system is secure.

Hash Function
An algorithm that transforms a string of characters into a usually shorter
value of a fixed length or a key that represents the original value.

Header
A header is the extra information in a packet that is needed for the protocol
stack to process the packet.

Hijack Attack
A form of active wiretapping in which the attacker can seize control of a
previously established communication association. Hijack attacks are
similar to the-man-in the middle attack.

Home Page
The main page of a Website. Typically, the home page serves as an index or
table of contents on the main page of a website.

Honeypot
A "honey pot" is a system intentionally place on a network with vulnerable
points to act as a decoy/trap for unsuspecting hackers. The purpose of a
honeypot can be to trap hackers or just to monitor their methods of attack.

Hops
A hop is a count between routers or gateways.

Host
The term “Host” typically refers to a server where websites reside.
HTTP Proxy
An HTTP proxy acts as an interacting service between HTTP clients (Web
browsers) and HTTP served Web sites. These proxies can cache pages for
faster retrieval. The program Squid, is a popular Linux based HTTP Proxy.
www.squid-cache.org/

HTTPS
HTTPS in the URL, specifies that the use of HTTP enhanced by a security
mechanism, which is usually SSL.

Hub
A Hub is a master station through which all communications to, from and
between micro terminals must flow. A Hub typically works in a MESH
network environment. Hubs rebroadcast signals to all ports.

Hybrid Dictionary Attack

A Hybrid Attack builds on the dictionary attack method by adding numerals
and symbols to dictionary words. This type of attack is usually associated
with a brute force password attack.

Hyperlink
In hypertext is an informational object (such as a word, or an image) within
a webpage, that points to an area within the website or somewhere else on
the Internet.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

HTML is the coded language used to create a hypertext document for use
on the Internet. Internet browsers translate the code into web pages and
hypertext.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

This protocol (port 80) is in the Internet Protocol (IP) family used to
transport hypertext documents across an Internet.

I
Incident Handling
Incident Handling is a plan in dealing with intrusions, cyber-theft, denial of
service, fire, floods, and other security-related events. It is comprised of a
six-step process: Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication,
Recovery, and Lessons Learned.

Incremental Backups
Incremental backups only backup the files that have been added or modified
since the last backup.

IIS
Short for Internet Information Server, Microsoft's Web server that runs on
Windows NT platforms. IIS comes bundled with Windows Server
programs. Because IIS is tightly integrated with the operating system, it is
relatively easy to administer.

Inetd (xinetd)
Inetd (or Internet Daemon) is an application that controls smaller Internet
services like telnet, ftp, and POP in Unix and Linux systems.

Ingress Filtering
Ingress Filtering is the process of filtering inbound traffic.

Interrupt
An interrupt is a signal from a device that tells the computer that an event
has occurred.

Input Validation Attacks

Input Validations Attacks are where an attacker intentionally sends unusual
input in the hopes of confusing an application.

Internet
You’re kidding me, right?

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) is an extension to the Internet
Protocol (IP) defined by RFC 792. ICMP supports packets containing error,
control, and informational messages. The PING command, for example,
uses ICMP to test an Internet connection.

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)

The body that defines standard Internet operating protocols such as TCP/IP.
The IETF is supervised by the Internet Society Internet Architecture Board
(IAB). IETF members are drawn from the Internet Society's individual and
organization membership.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

Internet Message Access Protocol, a protocol for retrieving e-mail
messages. The latest version, IMAP4, is similar to POP3 but supports some
additional features. For example, with IMAP4, you can search through your
e-mail messages for keywords while the messages are still on the mail
server.

Intranet
A network connecting computers within an organization using standard
Internet protocols, esp. TCP/IP and HTTP.

Internet Protocol (IP)

The Internet Protocol, defined in STD 5, RFC 791, is the network layer for
the TCP/IP Protocol Suite. It is a connectionless, best-effort packet
switching protocol.

Intranet
An intranet computer network, usually a private network closed to
outsiders.

Intrusion Detection
Intrusion detection is software used to detect attempted intrusion into a
computer or network.

IP Address
An IP address is a unique 32-bit identifier for a computer or device that
used on a TCP/IP network.

IP Flood
An example of an IP flood is a denial of service attack that sends a host
more echo request ("ping") packets than the protocol implementation can
handle.
IP Forwarding
IP forwarding allows a workstation or server to at as a router, and forward
TCP/IP requests.

IPSec
Short for security, IPSec is a set of protocols developed to support the
secure exchange of packets at the IP layer.

IP Spoofing
IP spoofing is a technique used to falsify the source IP Address of a hacker
or another type of intruder.

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network, an international communications
standard that allows ordinary phone lines to transmit digital instead of
analogue signals, allowing data to be transmitted at a much faster rate than
with a traditional modem.

ISO
International Organization for Standardization, a voluntary, non-treaty, non-
government organization, established in 1947, with voting members that are
designated standards bodies of participating nations and non-voting
observer organizations.

ITU-T
International Telecommunications Union, Telecommunication
Standardization Sector (formerly "CCITT"), a United Nations treaty
organization that is composed mainly of postal, telephone, and telegraph
authorities of the member countries and that publishes standards called
"Recommendations."

J
Jabber
A jabbering node is a network device on an Ethernet network that is
continuously sending data. This action is typically associated with a
problem.
Jack
A jack is a female connector. (Should be called a Jane)

Jacket
The outer protective covering of a cable.

Java
An object orientated programming language designed to run on any
computer platform or operating system. Java applets are sent as executable
programs.

JavaScript
A scripting language that is sent as text and compiled on the client before
execution.

Jitter
Jitter is the modification of fields in a database while preserving the
aggregate characteristics.

Jump Drive
A jump drive is a small removable data storage device that uses flash
memory and a USB connector.

Jumper
A jumper is a sleeve that bridges a circuit.

K
Kerberos
The authentication protocol implemented in DCE. Kerberos was developed
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The name comes from
classical mythology, Kerberos was the three-headed dog that guarded the
gates of the underworld.

Kernel
The Kernel is the center of a computer operating system, the core that
provides basic services for all other parts of the operating system. Kernel
and shell are typically terms used more frequently when describing the core
of Unix and Linux.
 L
L
Symbol used to designate inductance.

LAN
Local Area Network

LAN Adapter
Also called a Network Interface Card

Laser Printer
A printing device when out of paper, its user continues to print the same
document several more times.

LATA
LATA is a telco term meaning, Local Access and Transport Area.

Layer 2 Forwarding Protocol (L2F)

An Internet protocol (originally developed by Cisco Corporation) that uses
tunneling of PPP over IP to create a virtual extension of a dial-up link
across a network, initiated by the dial-up server and transparent to the dial-
up user.

Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)

An extension of the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol used by an Internet
service provider to enable the operation of a virtual private network over the
Internet.

Leased Line
A dedicated telephone line that is rented for exclusive 24-hours-a-day, 7-
days-a-week use from one location to another.

Least Privilege
Least Privilege is the principle of allowing users or applications the least
amount of permissions necessary to perform their intended function.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. A protocol used to access a
directory listing. Generally used in Web browsers and e-mail programs to
enable lookups.

LILO
LILO is a commonly used bootstrap loader for Linux systems based on an
Intel compatible processor.

Linux Torvalds
Creator of Linux while in college in 1991

Linux
A full featured and robust source operating system, similar to Unix.

Link State
Link state refers to route information from all routers linked with a
geographic area,. The router uses this information to create a table of best-
known routes.

Lobe
A lobe is an arm of a Token-ring with extends from a Multistation Access
Unit.

LocalTalk
LocalTalk is Apple Computer’s network scheme. LocalTalk uses a carrier
sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA

Log Clipping
Log clipping is the removal of log entries from a system log to hide a
compromise.

Longitudinal Coversion Loss (LCL)

Also called near-end unbalance attenuation, measures cable balance by
comparing the signal appearing across the pair to the signal applied between
ground and the pair, where the applied signal and the across pair signal are
at the same end of the cable.

Longitudinal Coversion Transfer Loss (LCTL)

Also called far-end unbalance attenuation, measures cable balance by the
comparison of the signal appearing across the pair to the signal between
ground and the pair, where the applied signal is at the opposite end of the
cable from where the across pair signal is measured.

Loopback
A type of diagnostic test in which a transmitted signal is returned to the
sending device after passing through a data communications link or
network.

Loopback Address
The loopback address (127.0.0.1) is a pseudo IP address from a properly
configured network card that always refers back to the local host and are
never sent out onto a network. To test if your local configuration is correct,
it is standard to ping your loop back address.

M
M
Sign for Mutual Inductance

MAC Address
Media Access Control address is a unique physical address burned on each
network device's network interface card.

Malicious Code
A Trojan horse is an example of Malicious Code. In code injected into a
system without the users knowledge can be termed as malicious code.

Malware
Malware is a generic term used to generalize malicious code.

MAN
Metropolitan Area Network

Master Boot Record (MBR)

The master boot record, is the first logical sector on a disk where the BIOS
to begin the bootstrap program.
Medium Access Control (MAC)
A device that operates at the data link layer of local area networks.

Morris Worm
A worm program written by Robert T. Morris, Jr. that flooded the
ARPANET in November, 2 1988. Morris is now a professor at MIT.

Multi-Cast
Broadcasting from one host to multiple hosts.

Multi-Homed
Multi-homed typically refers to more than one NIC card on a computer, or
can also refer to being directly connected to two or more ISP’s.

Multiplexing
A multiplexed signal is a combined signal that is joined at its source and
must be separated at its destination. Techniques that allow a number of
simultaneous transmissions over a single circuit.
 N
Name Space
DNS database structure.

Nerd
A term used to describe persons reading a book like this.

Netmask
Used by the TCP/IP protocol to decide how the network is broken up into
sub-networks. For example, the network mask for a class C IP network is
displayed as 0xffffff00, or 255.255.255.0.

Network Address Translation (NAT)

Network address translation (NAT) gives a company using a LAN the
ability to protect their internal addresses from the Internet. NAT translates a
public IP Address to a private one.

Network Mapping
To compile an inventory of the computer systems and the services on a
network.

Network Taps
Network taps are devices that hook directly onto the network cable and can
capture traffic.

Null Session
Known as Anonymous Logon, it is a way of letting an anonymous user
retrieve information such as user names and shares over the network or
connect without authentication. It is used by applications such as
explorer.exe to enumerate shares on remote servers.

Octet
An octet is an eight-bit byte.

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)

Open Shortest Path First is a link state routing algorithm used in interior
gateway routing.
OSI layers
The 7-layer suite of protocols designed by ISO committees to be the
international standard computer network architecture

Overload
A method to test a system component by placing excess performance on it.

Packet
Packet" a generic term used to describe unit of data at all levels of the
protocol stack, but it is most correctly used to describe application data
units. Also called a datagram.

Packet Switched Network

Packet switched networks are when individual packets follow their own
paths through the network from one endpoint to another.

Partition
Division of a physical hard disk space.

Password Authentication Protocol (PAP)

Password Authentication Protocol is a simple, weak authentication
mechanism where a user enters the password and it is then sent across the
network in clear text.

Password Sniffing
Passive network tapping, (wiretapping) usually on a local area network, to
gain knowledge of passwords. A network card on promiscuous mode can
capture data on the wire and sniff out key words.

Patch
A patch is a bug fix released by a software manufacturer.

Payload
Payload is the actual application data a packet contains.
Penetration
Gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data by circumventing a system's
protections. Also known as third base.

Penetration Testing
Penetration testing is used to test the external security of a remote station.

Permutation
Permutation keeps the same letters but changes the position within a text to
scramble the message.

Personal Firewalls
Personal firewalls are those firewalls installed on individual PCs.

Phishing
“Phishing" is a form of identity theft by the act of sending email messages
that are more or less exact copies of legitimate HTML emails from well-
known companies. These e-mail are typically fake messages from banks,
mortgage companies, or any other company that would ask you to input
your SS number and personal records.

Ping of Death
The use of Ping with a packet size higher than 65,507. This will cause a
denial of service.

Ping Sweep
An attack that sends ICMP echo requests ("pings") to a range of IP
addresses, with the goal of finding hosts that can be probed for
vulnerabilities.

Plaintext
Ordinary text before being encrypted.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

The Point-to-Point Protocol provides a method for transmitting packets over
serial point-to-point links
Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
A VPN tunneling protocol uses one TCP port (for negotiation and
authentication of a VPN connection) and one IP protocol (for data transfer)
to connect the two nodes in a VPN.

Poison Reverse
Split horizon with poisoned reverse is how a routing protocol notifies
neighboring routers that a route is no longer available. Since RIP allows up
to 15 hops to another gateway, setting the hop count to 16 would mean
"infinite."

Polyinstantiation
Polyinstantiation is the ability of a database to maintain multiple records
with the same key.

Polymorphism
Polymorphism is the process by which malicious software changes its
underlying code to avoid detection.

Port
In TCP/IP and UDP networks, a port is an endpoint to a logical connection.
Only one process per machine can listen on the same port number.

Port Scan
A method an attacker uses to enumerate what services are running on your
network. An attacker sends requests on different ports and takes note of
which ports respond in certain way.

Post Office Protocol, Version 3 (POP3)

POP3 is a standard port used to receive e-mail.

Practical Extraction and Reporting Language (Perl)

A script programming language that is similar in syntax to the C language
and that was made popular by Unix systems and then Linux.
Preamble
A preamble is a signal used in network communications to synchronize the
transmission timing between two or more systems.

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)

Trademark of Network Associates, Inc., PGP is the de facto standard for
software encryption.

Private Addressing
IANA has set aside three address ranges for use by private or non-Internet
connected networks. This is referred to as Private Address Space and is
defined in RFC 1918. The reserved address blocks are: 10.0.0.0 to
10.255.255.255 (10/8 prefix) 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 (172.16/12
prefix) 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 (192.168/16 prefix)

Program Policy
A program policy is a high-level policy that sets the overall tone of an
organization's security approach.

Promiscuous Mode
When a machine reads all packets off the network, regardless of who they
are addressed to.

Proprietary Information
Proprietary information is information unique to a company and its ability
to compete.

Protocol
A formal specification for communicating; an IP address the special set of
rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they
communicate.

Protocol Stack (OSI)

A group of drivers that work together to span the layers in the network
protocol hierarchy.
Proxy Server
A security device that acts as an intermediary between a workstation and the
Internet.

Public Key
A mathematically-derived code provided by a certificate authority.

R
Radiation Monitoring
Radiation monitoring is the process of receiving images, data, or audio from
an unprotected source by listening to radiation signals.

Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the phase of an attack where “the” attackers finds new
systems, maps out networks, and probes for specific, exploitable
vulnerabilities.

Reflexive ACLs (Cisco)

Reflexive ACLs for Cisco routers are a step towards making the router act
like a firewall. The router will make filtering decisions based on whether
connections are a part of established traffic or not.

Registry
The Windows Registry is a database of systems configurations.

Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)

Reverse Address Resolution Protocol is a method of mapping the physical
Ethernet address to the IP address of the host.

Reverse Engineering
The process of analyzing another subject’s product or software, to identify
and recreate it.

Reverse Lookup
A query in which the IP address is used to determine the DNS name for the
computer.
Risk
Risk is the product of the level of threat with the level of vulnerability. It
establishes the likelihood of a successful attack.

Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is the identification and quantification of the risk resulting
from a specific use or occurrence.

Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)
An algorithm for asymmetric cryptography, invented in 1977 by Ron
Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman.

Root
Root is the name of the administrator account in Unix / Linux systems.

Rootkit
A collection of programs (and utilities) that a hacker uses to gain access to a
system and obtain administrator-level.

Router
A router is a network appliance that interconnect logical networks by
forwarding information to other networks based upon IP addresses.

Routing Information Protocol (RIP)

RIP is a distance vector protocol used for interior gateway routing which
uses hop count to determine path costs.

Routing Loop
A routing loop is where two or more poorly configured routers repeatedly
exchange redundant packets info.

RPC Scans
RPC scans determine which RPC services are running on a machine.
 S
Scavenging
Searching through any accessible data to gain unauthorized knowledge of
sensitive data.

Secure Shell (SSH)

Secure Shell is a command line interface used to securely access a remote
computer. SSH is often the cause of many security problems.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

A protocol developed by Netscape for transmitting private documents via
the Internet.

Segment
Segment is another name for TCP packets.

Server
A server is a computer that handles requests for data, email, file transfers,
and other network services from client computers

Session
A session is a virtual connection between two hosts by which network
traffic is passed.

Session Hijacking
A method of attack, which involves a third party intercepting someone
else’s communications.

Session Key
In the context of symmetric encryption, a key that is temporary or is used
for a relatively short period of time.

Shadow Password Files

An stored encrypted file with user passwords.
Share
A share is a resource made public on a machine, such as a directory (file
share) or printer (printer share).

Shell
A Unix shell, also known as "the command line", provides the traditional
user interface for the Unix and Linux operating systems. This is similar to
Windows DOS prompt.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

SNMP is a network management protocol used by network devices to
exchange information.

Sniffer
A sniffer is a tool that monitors network traffic.

Social Engineering
Social engineering is the practice of conning people into revealing sensitive
information regarding computer systems and passwords.

Socket
A socket is a combination of an IP address and port number that uniquely
identifies a network service.

Spam
Electronic junk mail that usually involves penis enlargement and home
refinancing.

Spanning Port
Configures the switch to behave like a hub for a specific port.

Spoofing
Impersonating another person or computer, usually by providing a false
email name, URL or IP address.
SQL Injection
A type of exploit whereby hackers are able to execute SQL statements via
an Internet browser

Stack Mashing
Stack mashing is the technique of using a buffer overflow to trick a
computer into executing arbitrary code.

Static Host Tables

Static host tables are text files that contain hostname and address mapping.

Static Routing
Static routing means that routing table entries contain information that has
been added manually and does not change.

Stealthing
Stealthing is a term that refers to approaches used by malicious code to
conceal its presence on the infected system.

Steganalysis
Steganalysis is the process of detecting messages hidden using
steganography.

Steganography
The process of hiding data inside other data.

Straight-Through Cable
A straight-through cable is where the pins on one side of the connector are
wired to the same pins on the other end.

Subnet
An interconnected, but independent segment of a network that is identified
by its Internet Protocol (IP) address.

Subnet Mask
32-bit address mask used in IP to indicate the bits of an IP address that are
being used for the subnet address.
Switch
A switch is a networking device, similar to a hub, which keeps track of
MAC addresses attached to each of its ports. In this way data is only
transmitted to the ports of the intended recipient.

Switched Network
A communications network in which each user is connected to with a
unique address, (such as a phone number or IP Address) that allows the
system to connect two points together directly.

SYN Flood
A denial of service attack that sends a host TCP SYN packets that results in
using up a systems resources so it cannot perform any other task.

Syslog
A program used to remotely record device logging.

System Security Officer (SSO)

A person responsible for the administration and enforcement of security
policies to the system.

T1, T3
A digital circuit using TDM (Time-Division Multiplexing).

TCP Fingerprinting
TCP fingerprinting is a method of determining a remote operating system.

TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the basic
communication protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a
communications protocol in a private network.

TELNET
A TCP-based program on the application-layer of the OSI model used for
connecting to shells on remote network devices.
Threat Assessment
Process of evaluating the degree of threat to an information system and
describing the nature of the threat.

Time to Live
An Internet header field which indicates the upper bound on how long this
Internet datagram may exist.

Token Ring
A token ring network is a local area network in which all computers are
connected in a ring or star topology. A token-passing scheme is used in
order to prevent the collision of data between computers that want to send
messages at the same time.

Topology
The geometric configuration of a computer network, or how the network is
physically laid out. Common topologies are star (centralized), bus
(decentralized), and ring (decentralized).

Trunking
Trunking is connecting switches together with multiple ports to allow more
data to pass.

Unicast
Broadcasting from host to host.

Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

The generic term for all types of names and addresses that refer to objects
on the World Wide Web.

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

A unique identifier used on the World Wide Web to locate websites and
web pages. www.thenetworkadministrator.com is a URL.

Unix
A popular operating system, developed by AT&T in 1969, that was very
important in the development of the Internet. UNIX allows more than one
user to access a computer system at the same time. An early version of
UNIX, which was used by most colleges and universities, incorporated
TCP/IP and made Internet connections possible.

Unprotected Share
In Windows terminology, a "share" is a mechanism that allows a user to
connect to file systems and printers on other systems. An "unprotected
share" is one that allows anyone to connect to it.

Users
A term used to describe those peoples that live in and around the
Hollywood CA, area. Also a term used for computer users.

User Contingency Plan

User contingency plan is the alternative methods of continuing operations if
computer systems are unavailable.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

User Datagram Protocol. A connectionless unreliable protocol. UDP
describes a network data connection based on datagrams with little packet
control.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

(Virtual Private Network) -- Usually refers to a network in which some of
the parts are connected using the public Internet, but the data sent across the
Internet is encrypted, so the entire network is "virtually" private.

Vulnerability
What happens to a network when boredom sets in to the IT department.

WAN
Wide Area Network

War Dialer
A computer program that automatically dials a series of telephone numbers
to find lines connected to computer systems.
War Driving
War driving is the process of driving around searching for wireless access
points that are open.

WHOIS
An IP for finding information about resources on networks.

WIN32
A Window’s application programming interface (API)

Windump
Windump is a freeware protocol analyzer for Windows that monitors
network traffic on a wire.

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

Wireless Equivalent Privacy. Compression used in WiFi networks. Exists in
two different security levels, 40(64) bit and 128 bit encryption. The higher
the bit number, the more secure the encryption.

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)

A specification for a set of communication protocols to standardize the way
that wireless devices, such as cellular telephones and radio transceivers, can
be used for Internet access, including e-mail, the World Wide Web,
newsgroups, and Internet Relay Chat.

Wiretapping
Also known as The Man in the Middle, wiretapping is placing a computer
or device on a network to record data.

Worm
A computer program that independently propagates into computer systems.

Wrap
To use cryptography to provide data confidentiality service for a data
object. Also, music that rhymes badly.
XML
Extensible Markup Language, is used to define documents with XML
compatible programs.

Y2K
Year 2000. A term used in 1999, to scare businesses into upgrading their
computer equipment. Also called the Millennium Bug, when the year 2000
rolled over many older programs was not programmed to rollover from
1999 to 2000. Many people predicted doom, nuclear holocaust, and
Armageddon. Those that survived Y2K—everyone—are currently spending
their time on more practical disasters such as meteoric impacts on the earth.

Yottabyte
A yottabyte is 2 to the 80th power, or
1,208,925,819,614,629,174,706,176 bytes

Zettabyte
A zettabyte is 2 to the 70th power, or 1,180,591,620,717,411,303,424 bytes.

ZIP
A zip file is a compressed filed for Windows based computers.