Mike's Ark: Staying Afloat

One of the hardest parts of working in IT (or any job for that matter) is juggling many different things at once.  Some folks look at me with surprise when I tell them I have it just like they do.  With different names for things, they all balance out in the end.  There are procedures for everything, and if there isn't, you get to write them right?  That's what I thought.

So in this case, to stay afloat you have to manage your time very well...especially in IT.  Some folks utitlize their Outlook calendar to great lengthns, blocking out time for appointments and tasks.  Others prefer archaic dayplanners and schedule books...but for those of us in the 21st century there are our phones and apps! :D  With apps like RescueTime, Things2, or Lift, you can get your life on track...not only your personal life but your professional one as well.   In reality, I"ve found personally that just writing out 3-4 things to accomplish works best.  Work on each one until done.  For example from today's list:

1. Work on Managed Services deals

2. Work on credit issues for clients

3. Place orders with efficiency.

4. Write blog entry.

Now as you can see those are not hard to do...but just generic enough that I can work on them without being distracted.  I have to still work at them, and they are specific enough to work on them until they are done.   Simple, right? :)

Oh yes...IT stuff. :D

 

Have a great Monday & Tuesday! :)

 

Innovations in mouse technology...

Normally we really focus on what will affect your lives in IT.  It could be new software or server tech...down to how to better manage your networking time (coughMERAKIcough).  This time around, I was jumping around on Kickstarter this past week looking for new game projects to help fund, and I found this amazing thing:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DpcQlkbZUM&w=560&h=315]

Tell me that doesn't look amazing.  I think the jury is out on if it will help us carpal tunnel sufferers, but the ability to not have to move back and forth from the keyboard to the mouse so much just SCREAMS productivity.

Right now you can help Kickstart the project, for $79 and receive one of the units after the kickstarter goes through and they get them made.  Worth it.  I think this one is coming out of my bonus money. :)

Leads me to ask...what kind of innovations are you all interested in seeing?

 

Cyber Monday Strikes Back

At times, in the SMB consulting business, we are approached by friends and family at this time of year about deals and bargains.  I've seen many a salesperson shy away like Luke crawling away from Vader in Cloud City.  Like this would be a bad thing?  I help someone, they refer me.  You never know who you're going to find right? :)

Those of you who know me know that I'm not a "doorbuster" kind of person.  In reality, if you have to trick people to buy your products, you're only hurting them and yourself in the long run.  Are my prices higher than my competitor?  In some cases yes, and some cases no.  So today was some folks asking about what amazing deals were available, and most often I would say, "When do I not give you a good deal?" :)

So, for those of you who missed last week...make sure and go and read about how gigantic Cisco bought little Meraki for $1.26 billion dollars, and is giving them the red carpet treatment.  Also for those who are experimenting with Windows 8, first, good for you for not being afraid of it (or teaching co workers not to be afraid...), second...did you know that they are embedding license codes in the BIOS?   Chant with me, no more stickers, no more stickers, no more stickers!

It's truly been an interesting day.  :)

 

Peace!

Meraki's newest products and Software Update!

As many of you know, I spent a couple days up at Meraki's offices during the first week of October, being technically trained on their MX Routers, MS Switches, MR wireless units, and their Systems Manager program.  It was an intense 2 days, and really forced me (who's not actually worked on a switch since 2006) to dig in and remember what I had to do.  I trained alongside some great smaller local VARS, as well as a couple of folks from Italy & Japan who flew in for the training.  I was the only large VAR present...and it felt VERY weird.  I was the slow kid with the switch and router, but the second day with the Wireless and System Manager, I was far ahead of everyone else.  It was a great experience to learn directly from them, and now that I'm certified, I can teach and assist my coworkers and their clients when it comes to Meraki.

I also learned that driving to San Francisco from Los Angeles on a time schedule is more stressful than it's worth.  But it was fun to fly along the 5 Freeway at 2am doing 110mph. ;)  Ok on to new stuff!

Announced this past week, Meraki has a couple new products and whole host of features added in their latest software update.  Let's discuss what they have...

First up is the new MX60W.  This combo unit of their MR12 wireless & MX60 router creates a complete access & security solution for a branch office, or a home office.  It'll provide the enterprise quality for wired and wireless connectivity, a firewall, site to site vpn, content filtering and the new Intrusion Detection System (see below).  MSRP: $845

The next new piece of hardware is designed for the Cloud-managed teleworker.  Have some of your staff working from home a couple days a week?  How about one of these little guys to help make sure that any resources they are pulling are not compromised?  The Z1 is a small form factor unit with 4 ports for printers, phones and other devices (a 1GbE WAN port and 4 GbE LAN ports) and a dual-concurrant 802.11n wireless radio.  Looks great doesn't it?  While it's not a full access point, it'll definitely be a much cheaper unit to purchase for your teleworkers than a full access point.  MSRP $199  (PC Mall price $172.99)

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) - Before you'll remember that I mentioned Intrusion Detection System.  Meraki is now including IDS in their routers/switches, and it should have been pushed down recently to your system.  Built on Sourcefire's Snort, it features signature, protocol, and anomaly based inspection.  It'll deliver some iron-clad security, while allowing it to be monitored from your Meraki Dashboard.

Bounjour Gateway - Yup, they've finally added this, and I can hear network admins cheering.  (One of my friends just said that sounds a lot like zombies saying, "brains...brains..." but you can't please everyone.)  With all of the Apple TV units, iPods, printers and AirPlay mirroring out there, this will allow you to throttle the Bonjour traffic, much like how you manage your Layer 7 Traffic Shaper.  Hooray there!

Traffic Shaper Enhancements - Whammo!  This now has a better classification engine, so it'll have better application insight, and report web browsing activity.

I've got a special training with my friends at Meraki next week, in which we're going to go over these enhancements as well as a few more things for their Systems Manager program.

What???  You're not using Systems Manager?  It's free, an asset manager, software manager, Mobile Device Manager, can give you deep insight into your desktops/laptops/tablets...and it is FREE.  Go here right now and check it out.  Download it and test it.  If you want, contact me and I will walk you through it on my personal dashboard.

If you'd like a free trial of their products, go here and let's talk about that...I can help. Or text MERAKI to our google voice number. (pull the number from that link)   :)

Other than that, have a WONDERFUL Friday & weekend!