TechRepublic

Wake a hibernating Windows XP machine based on your schedule

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:11:07 GMT

Put your computer on a schedule. Greg Shultz describes how to wake a PC in hibernation mode using the Scheduled Task Wizard feature of Microsoft Windows XP.

Troubleshoot driver problems in Vista with the Driver Verifier Manager

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:44:56 GMT

Uncertified drivers are a big source of problems in Microsoft Windows Vista. However, Vista comes with a great utility called the Driver Verifier Manager. In this edition of the Windows Vista Report, Greg Shultz shows you how to use the Driver Verifier Manager to troubleshoot driver problems in Vista.

Firewall MySQL with GreenSQL

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:30:30 GMT

Vincent Danen introduces one solution to secure against SQL injection vulnerabilities. GreenSQL is a "firewall" for MySQL databases that intercepts SQL commands being sent to MySQL, checks them, and then either halts the query or passes it on to MySQL proper. Then it returns the query results to the calling application.

10 things you can do to ensure career survival in 2009

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:01:12 GMT

Protecting your job in this economic climate is a job in itself, but the effort can pay off. John McKee offers practical strategies for getting through tough times with your career intact.

The top 10 Microsoft Office tips of 2008

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:49:34 GMT

As you head into the new year, check out this rundown of the highest rated Office tips of 2008. You can download them here as a PDF collection or follow the links to individual posts in the Microsoft Office blog.

10 New Year's resolutions for IT pros

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:03:25 GMT

With 2009 about to roll in, this is a good time to look at ways of making your IT organization better. Specific resolutions will be unique to every environment, but these goals make sense for just about any IT group.

10 reasons IT certification will be important in 2009

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:55:05 GMT

In the midst of staggering business and economic turmoil, you need all the tools at your disposal to help shore up your career prospects. See why Erik Eckel believes IT certification will become increasingly important for IT pros and the organizations that rely on them.

10 essential e-mail security measures

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:52:55 GMT

E-mail security is about a lot more than just using a good password on your POP or IMAP server. Perhaps the most important part of e-mail security is ensuring you don't shoot yourself in the foot. These best practices will help you avoid any mistakes.

Save time managing multiple systems with Parallel SSH

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:51:55 GMT

For a user caring for multiple systems, OpenSSH is extremely useful, but being able to execute OpenSSH commands in parallel is even more so. Vincent Danen introduces Parallel SSH, or pssh, which allows you to execute commands on various hosts in parallel, copy files in parallel, and more.

The 10 most influential business technology leaders in 2008

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:02:08 GMT

Technology continues to be a powerful force for transforming business -- when used wisely and correctly. TechRepublic editor in chief Jason Hiner shares his list of the 10 visionaries and executives who made the biggest impact on the business technology world in 2008.

Top Linux resources: Best of Jack Wallen

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:24:16 GMT

Linux guru Jack Wallen has been a key contributor to our 10 Things blog over the past year, focusing on real-world Linux concerns ranging from security, network administration, and applications to decision-making topics, such as migration issues and platform comparisons. Here's a dozen of his most popular articles. You can find additional entries on our Linux Special Report page.

How do I... Map my network with Nessus 3 in Windows?

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:45:18 GMT

Nessus is a powerful, cross platform network scanner that does many things. By using Nessus to scan your network you can save the results, giving you an outstanding map of your current network. It's an easy way to keep track of how many systems you have, what systems are deployed, what current IP addresses each system is assigned, and what ports are open on each system.

Build a quick training presentation using PowerPoint's Photo Album feature

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:26:06 GMT

Putting together an educational slide show doesn't have to be labor intensive. Using PowerPoint's Photo Album tool, you can quickly assemble a series of screen shots and text slides for distribution as a training resource or as part of an informational package.

Enhance Windows Vista's live Taskbar thumbnails feature

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:38:48 GMT

Microsoft Windows Vista's live Taskbar thumbnails feature can be a very handy feature when you are switching between multiple tasks. However, when you have many tasks running, the text that accompanies each task can cause confusion. In this edition of the Windows Vista Report, Greg Shultz shows you how to implement a registry tweak that will prevent the text from appearing on the taskbar. He also shows you how to really take advantage Vista's live Taskbar thumbnails feature.

10 mistakes new Windows administrators make

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:26:31 GMT

Whether you're new to network administration or to the Windows environment, a few common oversights and mistakes can trip you up. Deb Shinder explains how to avoid some of the problems new Windows admins often encounter.

10 tips for boosting your Excel 2007 productivity

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:33:42 GMT

If your users have recently made the jump to Excel 2007 -- or an upgrade is just around the corner -- you could be in for a lot of hand-holding. This collection of tips from our Office Suite newsletter will help them acclimate to the new functionality and unfamiliar interface by explaining how to perform their everyday tasks using Excel 2007's tools and techniques.

How do I... Tweak Vista indexing options for better performance?

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:38:28 GMT

Microsoft Windows Vista indexes files on your PC, which is great for searching but can lead to a decrease in system performance if not properly managed. The more files your machine has to index, or the more you change your files, the more your machine has to index. Jack Wallen shows you how to tweak the Vista indexing configuration to increase overall system performance.

10 things you should know about Microsoft's revised certification program

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:46:44 GMT

Microsoft has made some fairly big changes to its certification program. If you're in the midst of pursuing accreditation -- or you're thinking of heading down one of the new paths -- check out this rundown of new features.

10 security tips for Microsoft Windows XP

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:28:13 GMT

Installing Windows XP is only the first step to using it. Chad Perrin advises these additional measures to ensure that your XP systems are protected from proliferating security threats.

Get the facts on what geeks really want for the holidays

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:14:40 GMT

In October, in preparation for TechRepublic's 2008 Geek Gift Guide, we asked the TechRepublic community several questions regarding their shopping, gift-giving, and gift-wishing plans for the holidays. The results of our survey provide an insight into the geek gift-giving psyche in an uncertain economic period.

Monitor your server with Monitorix

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:25:28 GMT

While it's important to get a remote view of your servers with tools like Nagios, it's not always easy to get a full "local" view of things like CPU load and network service demand. Vincent Danen introduces Monitorix to fill in the gaps of your monitoring needs.

The industry's 10 best IT certifications

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:28:42 GMT

IT pros tend to have strong opinions when debating the value of professional certification -- and views become even more polarized when it comes down to a discussion of which certs are meaningful. Erik Eckel put together a list of the accreditations he believes currently hold value for IT pros.

Transform Windows Vista into Windows VXP -- the hybrid

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:42:11 GMT

In this edition of the Windows Vista Report, Greg Shultz shows those of you who hate Microsoft Windows Vista, but are stuck with it, how to convert Windows Vista into Windows XP by stripping out as many of Vista's components as possible, thereby making the OS both look and operate more like XP.

Use PowerPoint's advanced animation to imply growth or movement

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:05:49 GMT

You can make your PowerPoint presentations far more engaging with a little animation sleight of hand. Susan Harkins walks through the process and shares a sample presentation to demonstrate the results.

How do I... Install KDE applications on Windows?

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:28:03 GMT

Thanks to a group of KDE developers, it is possible to run some KDE-specific applications up and running on Microsoft Windows. Jack Wallen explains how to install KDE applications and have them run on the Windows operating system.

10 things to look for in a domain registrar

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:18:59 GMT

When you start looking for a domain registrar, you may discover some surprising differences in what they offer -- or neglect to offer. IT consultant Erik Eckel learned the hard way that it pays to shop around. Here's his list of the tools, services, and features that will make your job easier.

Using pam_mount to automount filesystems at login

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:06:17 GMT

Vincent Danen introduces the automounter, pam_mount, which can take a password entered at login and use it to mount an encrypted filesystem. It can also mount non-encrypted filesystems. This allows for mounting a filesystem at login, and having it unmount at logout.

10 ways to take the pain out of performance planning

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:04:19 GMT

Staff performance planning may not be at the top of your list of enjoyable manager tasks -- but it's one of your most important responsibilities. Calvin Sun offers some pointers that can help ease the process.

10 things Linux does better than OS X

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:10:34 GMT

OS X is heralded for its friendliness, but according to Jack Wallen, it falls short in many other respects. Find out why he says Linux is superior in everything from flexibility to portability to cost.

Top 10 Windows XP tips of 2008

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:26:50 GMT

TechRepublic has written thousands of tips, tweaks, tricks, and hacks since Windows XP first appeared on the scene -- and this year has been no exception. To wind up 2008, we put together this final collection of some of the highest rated Windows XP techniques of the year.

IPv6: What you need to know

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:43:47 GMT

Converting to IPv6 is a major undertaking -- which may be why there aren't more network administrators excited about it. But like it or not, it's headed your way. In this collection of articles, Michael Kassner addresses real-world issues like why IPv6 is needed, what improvements it offers, what security issues it presents, and how to approach the transition.

10 things to look for in a flat-panel monitor

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:29:32 GMT

Flat-panel monitors offer numerous benefits, and quality (and prices) continue to improve. But you'll need to consider several factors when you begin to weigh the choices -- everything from resolution, latency, and power consumption to display controls and warranties. Here's a rundown of the key things to keep in mind.

How do I... Tweak Windows Explorer to open in a directory of my choosing?

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:50:07 GMT

Because Microsoft Windows XP has been around for a fairly long time now, there are numerous tweaks you can make to how it works. Tweaks that make XP bend to your will. Mark Kaelin shows you one tweak he uses all the time to help him get where he is going inside Windows XP.

Stop unfairly comparing Vista to its predecessor and its successor

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:52:48 GMT

Microsoft Windows Vista is the current operating system everyone loves to hate. The argument against Vista is that Windows XP is better or that Windows 7 will be better. In this Windows Vista Report, Greg Shultz recalls hearing similar arguments in the past and wonders if history is repeating itself.

10 things you should do (and not do) at your company's holiday party

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:16:27 GMT

The holiday party is full of opportunities to shoot yourself in the foot -- but you may also get a chance to do your career some good. Calvin Sun offers a list of party do's and don'ts to help you steer the right course.

10 ways to minimize removable media headaches in Linux

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:09:18 GMT

If you've shied away from Linux because of the hassle of working with removable media, you may want to take another look. Thanks to automation -- and with the help of these tips -- you may find that removable media is downright user friendly.

Norton AntiVirus 2009 with Antispyware gets the job done

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:13:15 GMT

Windows users face an unprecedented and skyrocketing number of threats from a widening variety of sources. IT Consultant Erik Eckel reviews Norton AntiVirus 2009 With AntiSpyware as a potential solution in one all-inclusive software package.

10 mistakes new Linux administrators make

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:33:51 GMT

If you're new to Linux, a few common mistakes are likely to get you into trouble. Learn about them up front so you can avoid major problems as you become increasingly Linux-savvy.

10+ ways to work more effectively from home

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:49 GMT

There are plenty of advantages to working from home, but there are certain pitfalls as well. Calvin Sun has worked from home for many years, and he offers some pointers for making things go smoothly.This download is also available as an entry in our 10 Things blog.

The 10 most useful Linux commands

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:26:47 GMT

Maybe the command line isn't your favorite place to hang out, but to be an effective Linux admin, you need to be able to wield a few essential commands. Jack Wallen says these 10 are guaranteed to simplify your Linux admin life -- and he explains why.

How do I... Enable a 360 degree Windows desktop?

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:05:28 GMT

The standard default desktop layout that ships with Microsoft Windows Vista is not the end of the story. With 360desktop you can customize Vista with a panoramic desktop configured just the way you like it. Jack Wallen shows you how it works.

Secure your computer after a Windows install or reinstall

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:18:44 GMT

Microsoft recommends that you connect to the Internet to get the important security updates and service packs after a fresh install. But the catch-22 is that your computer is more vulnerable until the security updates are installed. Alan Norton details five ways to better secure your computer immediately following a clean install until all the important security updates can be installed.

Add a looping introduction to a PowerPoint presentation

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:46:19 GMT

You can set up your slideshows to include a little preview presentation that will help prime your audience for the main event. Susan Harkins demonstrates this simple but highly effective technique.