Rethink security zones
As IT professionals balance many responsibilities, they may omit certain fundamentals that are made easier in the current tech landscape through multiple layers of abstraction, virtualization and management. Rick Vanover suggests a rethink.
Ease doc management tasks with FCI and SharePoint
Derek Schauland discusses the new File Classification Infrastructure feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and how it can ease document management when used in conjunction with SharePoint document libraries.
Tags: Content management, File servers, Microsoft Windows
Wipe data from Cisco routers and switches before retiring them
As your organization's network continues to grow, you may need to deploy new ones. But what do you do with the old devices?
Tags: Routing/switching, Network administration/implementation, Switch
Keep user data recoverable with folder redirection
Find out the benefits of using folder redirection instead of roaming profiles in Windows, to give users fast and reliable access to their data no matter where they are.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Data Management
Improve authentication process for remote sites
Derek Schauland walks users through a couple of ways to improve authentication for remote locations via WAN links.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Authentication and encryption
Understand the pros and cons of Cisco ASA Multiple Contexts
Lori Hyde explains the circumstances in which you would and wouldn't want to use multiple security contexts, or Multiple Context Mode, in the Cisco ASA.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Firewalls, VPNs
Export DNS zones to a text file
Managing DNS zones is easy enough until something goes wrong. In this article, learn a way to make DNS zone data more accessible in lieu of a restore.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Server platforms, Web servers
Customize the SSL portal for remote users
Lori Hyde explains how to customize the SSL portal for remote users with customizations configured via the Adaptive Security Device Manager interface in the Cisco ASA.
Tags: Remote management, Network administration/implementation
Use sequence numbers for easy ACL modifications
Access Control Lists--love them or hate them, but we all use them. In fact, the use of ACLs is growing as their capabilities expand. So how can we easily manage them?
Tags: Network administration/implementation
Monitor your outbound DNS connections
Consider monitoring or filtering outbound DNS connections to better protect your network against certain phishing attacks and a new breed of Trojans that masquerades as DHCP servers.
Tags: Network security, Security Management, Network administration/implementation
Easy packet captures straight from the Cisco ASA firewall
Lori Hyde tells you how to capture packets directly from the Cisco ASA without using a separate packet-sniffing utility.
Tags: Firewalls, LANs and WANs
Windows-based network quality of service primer
Managing network QoS can be difficult for networks where limited IT staff and equipment is available. Here's one approach to QoS through Group Policy.
Tags: Microsoft Windows, Infrastructure/architecture management
Use access policies for non-employees
Providing access for non-employees is a challenge in many regards. Rick Vanover brings up some issues associated with this practice.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Network security, Infrastructure/architecture management
A must have tickle script for your network engineering toolbox
Quickly perform a variety of duties on your Cisco router with the use of TCL, or "tickle" scripts. Lori Hyde provides you with one that you need to keep in your net admin toolbox.
Tags: Routing/switching, Infrastructure/architecture management
Set up clientless SSL VPN for Cisco ASA
Lori Hyde explains the initial setup and configuration of Clientless SSL VPN for remote users who need access to resources in a very controlled environment.
Tags: Network security, Authentication and encryption
Improve security and performance with RODC
Learn more about Read Only Domain Controllers, which is an enhancement over previous versions of Active Directory in Windows Server 2008.
Tags: Microsoft Windows, Server platforms, Infrastructure/architecture management
Configuring Wireless settings via Group Policy
Wireless networks can be convenient because they eliminate reliance on Ethernet cabling. Using Active Directory and Group Policy to configure and support wireless in the enterprise, can simplify the process even further.
Tags: Mobile/Wireless, LANs and WANs, Networking technology
Use branch caching to ease network traffic woes between offices
Administering and managing access for remote offices gets a bit easier in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Branch caching can ease the bandwidth used by remote offices to access files while still allowing local authentication to the domain.
Tags: Network administration/implementation, Bandwidth, Remote management
Virtual IP addressing: How far can we go?
Virtual IP addresses are a win-win for both network and server admins. But, is there a stopping point to how much we use them?
Tags: Network administration/implementation, TCP/IP, Infrastructure/architecture management
A look at the ATEN Virtual VNC Console
The ATEN Virtual VNC Console functions as a hardware console to access remote servers via VNC, and also works as a VNC server to receive screen updates to display on an attached monitor or projector.
Tags: Hardware
10 dumb things you can do to your Cisco router and how to fix them
David Davis lists down silly mistakes network admins make when it comes to Cisco routers.
Tags: Routing/switching, Diagnostics and monitoring, Network administration/implementation
