May 2010:
May was very interesting and a lot of things happend. Some of the accomplishments were running online and MCCQ exam successfully. I also had to work with Xerox to figureout the driver issue we encountered with Terminal Server 2008/RemoteApp. After face-to-face meeting with our UHNBC users, I am now allowing Audio option from the Terminal Server. This will help end users to bypass NHA computer restrictions. Things went sideways at the end of the month when we found out our boss resigned. That took us by surprise but thats the way its supposed to be I guess.
April 2010:
Well April was another busy month for IT side of the things. Some of the accomplishments included mapping out Northern Medical Program’s group policy objects (GPO), some documentation including server ownership, and purchasing process. We have also planned migration to Windows Server 2008 at the end of July. We have MCCQ exam coming up next week and hoping it will go well. Terminal server needs to be upgraded too and the talks are in place. I am also working on some Survey tools for one of the reserach projects. One of the most “feel good” accomplishment of the month was meeting with end users face to face at the UHNBC.
March 2010:
Rest of the February and March is going well. I seem to procrastinate when it comes down to writing this journal. However, its because balancing between work, education and personal life is becoming very challenging. I am very close to get my degree and hoping to get it by Next year April. I was trying to finish it by December this year but unfortunately UNBC is not offering any of the course I need to graduate this year. So that really disappoints me. I also am volunteering as the soccer coach for 8 year old kids this year again. I am also volunteering as a member of International Linkage Committee for the City of Prince George. I am very excited for both of the volunteer opportunities.
On the work front, I am revamping the group policy objects we had over 60 GPO’s and may were redundant. I have removed quarter of it already and trying to reduce the number even further. Terminal server 2008 is going very well except the printer issue in Terrace. I have expanded my horizon in seeking advice on this from UBC. Technology Advisory Group meetings are also on track. We have MCCQ exam lurking above us and will be doing the dry run next week. We are also trying to implement another server as the backup server for the existing terminal server. Things are moving along very nicely.
February 2010: February is going very well. Had a successful meeting of the Technology Advisory Group. Right now trying to remote access some computers on different network. We need this for capacity building project.
January 2010: New year, of course, started with a bang. New students, new faculty, new resolutions. Some of the challenges I had to overcome are:
- Re-imaging the computer lab
- configuring ProxyPal in an Active Directory environment so our students could access UBC library
- Fix the Terminal Server solution with IDEAL server for online exam pilot project in Terrace and Fort St. John
- Purchase bunch of desktop and laptops
- Some how I got invovled with RHYME (Remote, Hands-on “Youtube” Mentoring via eHealth) project with UBC technical team
- I have initiated the Technology Advisory Team and our first meeting will be over the audio conferencce with UVic and UBC. Main goal is to increase the efficiency of our technology at an intersite level.
July 01, 2009: Happy Canada Day everyone.
June 30, 2009: I have passed the Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003 exam (70-290). It was a long over due. I am now looking forward to the next exam that I want to write around Christmas.
June 01 – 29 2009: So I have configured and deployed the new terminal server in test environment. It has Windows Server 2008 as the operating system. I then configured Remote Desktop and also RemoteApp. RemoteApp is an instant hit with all my users. If everything goes well we should be able to turn off the old terminal server at the end of August or early September.
May 28, 2009: Last few days/weeks are going very busy. Hard to find time between work, classes, coaching a soccer team of 14 boys is pretty hard. Anyways, I finally have set up the new Terminal Server. I have installed windows server 2008. Activated “Remote Desktop” and “RemoteApp” options. Seems to be working very well. I am waiting to hear back from Northern Health to open a port on the firewall for the new system so that I can train our users at the NHA to start using this. I am also looking into some new “Multi Touch” screen technology. Should be interesting.
May 08, 2009: This week was busy again. LMCC setup on Tuesday. Final LMCC on Wednesday and Thursday, then today I am off. I also had to take care of imaging of all the computers. All the machines has new image now. Working great. I am off to TechEd on Sunday for the week.
May 02, 2009: The week went by pretty fast. Finished setting up new terminal server but still long ways to go to make it operational. LMCC exam next week that will keep me busy most of next week. I also have finished setting up and testing of the new image. One of the user’s machine died waiting for new power supply.
April 28, 2009: Work was super busy today. Some of our machines including Microsoft Terminal Server. I have to work late tonight to see what is happening on that. Also had to help a users with office compatibility pack, had to make calls to software vendors to find out licensing option for Adobe standard version for terminal server, had to help users with email archive and h drive quota. Just another day!
Monday, April 27, 2009: Worked over the weekend to finish building the image. Have to work on it more to test it. One user reported problems with printing, had to address that.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009: I was going to work on the Microsoft Terminal Server but ended up addressing livetime issue, email issue, installing software, setting up VPN clients for wireless type stuff. Tomorrow will be a write off too because of online exams. I have to setup the lab around 7:00 am.
Monday, April 20, 2009: I finished 2 of my final exams still one more to go on Wednesday. That is my explanation for not being regular on this. However, today I finally finished putting in the new Microsoft Terminal Server. I will try to install Windows 2008 tomorrow or later in the week. I also had to setup the computer lab for online exams on Wednesday. Everything went well. Installed EndNote on a user machine. Had to send out some emails about mailing list usage. I also had troubles with WebReq but ITS was able to pin point the issue and resolve it. All in all it was a busy eventful day.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009: It was a long weekend last week. LMCC exam setup went well. Just realized there is another exam testing on April 20th and then final is on 22nd. It will be busy couple of days. I am off for rest of the week as well to take some vacation time off.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009: I got another email last night indicating one of the machines is generating Trojan related traffic on the network. Found out it is one of the research lab machines. I have sent the note to help desk to take care of it. Also have to help a instructor installing office 2008 for Mac. Still need to install Windows Server 2008 on the new terminal server.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009: First thing in the morning I get an email asking if it would be a good day to work on. Ended up working half of the day on that computer. Then had to address wireless issue. Found out, one of the users put in a wireless router for his lab that is causing the problem. We may also have to go with putting in additional access point for the building.
Monday, April 06, 2009: Nothing goes according to plan. I am having challenges with Wireless access to some areas in the MED building. Users are having issues connecting to LiveTime for facilities. I also had to setup some guest accounts for some doctors and had to give him hands on training on using computers in the lab. I also have received the new Power Edge 2950 server. I have to work on that and get the OS installed by next week.
Sunday, April 05, 2009: Everything seems to be going well from yesterday’s roll out. I will keep my fingers crossed for Monday.
Saturday, April 04, 2009: Finally, I have rolled out the primary domain controller with help from ITS. Some useful links: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323383 and http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324801
Friday, April 03, 2009: I have setup the DC again.
Thursday, April 02, 2009: I ran into some Adobe Acrobat Reader issue at the MPL. After speaking to Adobe, they are aware of the problem since July of 2008. Could not believe they didn’t send out any updates for that. After working for few hours I think I got the work around to the issue. Roaming profile was causing the acrobat to crash. I redirected application data to the local machine using GPO. Attended Apple computer’s tech expo at UNBC. It was some cool stuff. Just around 4, I got a call from ITS indicating the CD they gave me for Windows Server 2003 R2 is not the right one. So … I have to redo the domain controller.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009: Finally finished updating and configuring the backup domain controller. We are set to put it into production tomorrow night.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009: We had a team-building workshop for the entire program.
Monday, March 30, 2009: My plan was to work on the main domain controller but ended up troubleshooting some Adobe Reader problems all day for student lab.
Saturday, March 28, 2009: The week went by pretty fast. We were short staffed which was topped with laptop keyboard not working, setting up network printers for a Mac user and installing Windows XP using bootcamp on the Mac, discussion about in house SharePoint and student portal type for our graduates. I also had to address to a hardware failure of a user computer. Had to contact DELL for replacement parts. Next week my priority will be getting the Main Domain Controller up and running.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009: So online exam testing went well. GPO on the Active Directory worked like a charm. We are all set for Friday’s final exam. I am also going to Microsoft TechEd 2009 conference in Los Angeles. Still have to organize in imaging rest of the machines in the Computer Lab, but the problem is lab is always busy with students. Its final time and students are busy so I do not want to shut down the lab. I also had to communicate with users at the Prince George Regional Hospital about some of their DVD and Software issue our users are experiencing there. Turned out software issue was user related and DVD issue is probably related to the PowerDVD software. Still waiting to hear back from my contact at PGRH to let me know about the DVD issue. We were also able to setup Jabber program from one of my Exam Coordinator in Terrace. That was a challenge coordinating with Northern Health IT department but good thing is it is resolved now. Exam Coordinator will be participating on Friday’s exam session to see how it all works.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009: Today is going to be a busy and short day. I have a doctors appointment. I started 7 am. There are classes in the computer lab which means no work in the lab today. I have to cover for Audio Visual guys today because they are short staffed. I also have tested Symantec End Point antivirus yesterday on two machines. Seems like a great tool. Have to plan a roll out in the labs and all computers on the domain. I also have received the word from LMCC and we are going to do a dry run test on April 17th. They have changed a lot of information from last year. I have to test it out and then make the lab ready for this.
Monday, March 23, 2009: I got the Group Policy Object working on the Active Directory. There will be a dry run of the test on Wednesday and then final exam is on Friday. I think I also have addressed the Symantec Ghost Server issue. I will be trying out new version of Symantec Antivirus Software which is called Symantec End Point. Currently Imaging few machines. I will try finishing all the machines in the Lab (at least) by tomorrow. If that doesn’t work I have to do it after the exam. By the end of the day I was able to deploy new image on to half of the computers in the computer lab. Working like a charm.
Saturday, March 21, 2009: It was very challenging week last week. Lots of unexpected issues needed to be addressed. I need to setup a Group Policy Object on Active Directory for online exam which is happening next Friday. I will try to do it today and get it running. My schedule next week already is hectic as is.
Friday, March 20, 2009: It’s Friday – yay! Anyways so after struggling with Central IT yesterday we finally found that they gave me the wrong information for the main domain controller. They will resend me the IP and all other info to reconfigure it. I also reconfigured the Symantec Ghost server yesterday with all the new information. However, one of my machines go hit with a *nasty* virus. One of those annoying pop ups that says download this spyware removal otherwise your machine will blow! That type. I am working on that. Also I have found a tool that recoveres files from formatted drives including flash drives. Should be interesting to see what happens with that. I was able to recover files from a flash drive even though it was formatted. I will try extensively today if I have the time.
Thursday, March 19, 2009: I got the main domain controller all set up. Central IT gave me static IP, Subnet and DNS information that i have to apply to this server. After that we will probably promoting the domain controller to main domain controller. I am still waiting for Symantec Ghost server reconfiguration information.
I have applied the Static IP and all other information but didn’t work for some reason. Waiting to hear from Central IT. I also ran into troubles with MAC. I was trying to install Leopard on a different mac machine and didn’t realized hard drive was fried on that. As a result CD got stuck in the CD ROM. I tried everything there is on GOOGLE to troubleshoot this with no luck. After 3 hours of struggling I tried with an older keyboard and like a magic as soon as I pressed F12 while rebooting it ejected the CD. Whats up with that? It didn’t work for me on then new keyboard that came with that mac but it worked with an older keyboard.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009: Talk about getting distracted. Symantec Ghost Server reconfiguration is not done yet. Then found out PDF file is not working on some of the machines in the lab. Fixed that. Then had to install Mac OSX Leopard (Version 10.5) on a machine. That was a challenge. The user had blue tooth mouse and keyboard. First mouse was not being recognized. Then Keyboard was not being recognized. Had to use wired keyboard and mouse to get it going. Then had to install Adobe 8 on this, Office 2008 for Mac, iLife, iWork, EndNote – whole package deal! Setup printers. But good thing is, I probably won’t be hearing from him for a while about this. One of those good users. Have to start on main domain controller soon. Work took an unexpectedly busy turn today for some reasons! The irony of it all is when Mac Keyboard and Mouse was not working, I had to use a DELL keyboard and a Microsfot PC mouse to get it going! Don’t say that to the Apple.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009: Working on Main domain controller and also waiting on the network guys to give me the green light with Ghost Server reconfiguration.
Monday, March 16, 2009: We promoted Backup Domain controller role. Added DNS service as well. We will keep it running for a while before demoting the old backup controller and retiring the old machine. I ran into issue with the Symantec Ghost Server. I can not see some of the clients from the Ghost Console. After discussing with our network guys, we came to a decision of moving the ghost server from the regular subnet to server subnet and then configure it from there. We will probably do it tomorrow.
Friday, March 13, 2009: We moved backup domain controller from it’s temporary location at NMP server room to UNBC’s Data center room. We hooked it up and it is running. Still have to promote to backup domain controller role.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009: Created Wireless Guest Account creatinon document and sent it out to all faculty and staff members.
Tuesday-Thursday, March 10-12, 2009: Finally finished the Back up domain controller. We have to remove it to University Data Center tomorrow and make it operational.
Monday, March 09, 2009: New Terminal Server arrived. It’s a DELL PowerEdge 2950. I have to get the Domain Controllers operational before starting this project of replacing existing terminal server.
Thursday, March 05, 2009: Bomgar box is operational and working very well. There were some hickups but all good to go now at: http://nmpremotepc.unbc.ca
Wednesday, March 04, 2009: We successfully ran the new online exam environment. Group Policy didn’t work at first but at the end it all worked out for the best.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009: Bomgar B200 box arrived. I am trying to set it up. It is a bit confusing. We are setting it up in the Server Room’s rack.
Monday, February 23, 2009: Online final exam went well but we ran into some issues where the students were unable to see the pop-ups. We had to use ALT+TAB to bring out the right screen.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009: Successfully tested online exam environment using Group Policy Object. All 3 universities participated in the dry run test.
Monday, February 16, 2009: Put in a WebReq for Bomgar Remote Support Server to be purchased. We are getting B200 server, but only one license. We are intending to purchase more license if it is it all works out and if budget permits later on.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009: IT Capital Renewal Project was wrapped up. We replaced 40 computers at our Multipurpose Computer Laboratory, Problem Based Learning Rooms, and Student Lounge area. All the machines are DELL Optiplex 755 and All the Monitors are SAMSUNG SyncMaster 2243 BW.
November 2008: Setup new Ghost Server to replace the old one. There were some issues setting up the DOS template on Symantec Ghost Server console. I had to get the driver from Intel website and it worked afterwards. However theconfiguration template is not working, which is not critical right now.