Attend courses

I decided, yesterday, to register for the management program which my boss suggested for me to take it up. This course leads to a certification, so should be pretty interesting.

I am also interested in that system admin course that I originally signed up, which also leads to a certification, also interesting. Maybe I should talk to my boss next week, because it going to start in one week's time, and the next course schedule will be next year.

Alright, the VPN thing works!

After working with the customer, finally, managed to get VPN thing to work. In order to get it to work, we will need a CIP program, one that reads the certificate or key "saved" in the Smart card's chip, and the Cisco VPN client (v4.8.0.1.0300) program to make the VPN connection possible.

The problem that we encountered was that the subnet we were assigned to, based on our connecting ID, was not correct, so we could not access some of the Lotus Notes databases located within the customer's network. The network guys resolved that and now it's working fine.

Cleared everything

Finally, managed to clear all the equipment from the customer site with the movers. Can close the case which has been dragging on for more than one year.

There were some stuffs which I think can still be use, such as the DLT tape drives, desktop servers or PCs, monitor screens. There were also plenty of cables, RJ-45, FC and 3-pin plugs, all very useful, don't throw, can still be re-used.

Oh right, tomorrow is Friday, cheers......

"Bull strength"

Together with one of my colleagues, we were at the customer site to do some cleaning up their Data Centre. Some old racks, servers, network equipment and documents were to be packed up in boxes and ready to be shipped out tomorrow by the movers.

It was really hard work using our "bull strength" removing the cablings, arranging the stuffs and pack them together. Sweat, man, real sweat, somemore it was so dusty. I got a headache when I got home, and I'm still having it now! So, I better go and get some rest, I mean sleep.

Fly away

I just want to show you this photo of the plane that I flew from Melbourne to Sydney, I think.

Yes, no frills, JetStar flight. This was the first time I was on a budget flight. It was a cool and windy day, you could actually see a few planes taking off in the distance. There ain't many people, mostly travellers from all over the world, there were some locals.

For yesterday again...

Sorry, huh, yesterday I was busy, so I didn't write.

Yesterday was the time my boss called me up to talk, usually, he is too busy to meet his people, or my other fellow colleagues who work for him. No surprise, however, because I knew why he wanted to talk to me.

Just last week, I registered an external system security course, he wanted to know whether do I really need to attend the course, as he felt that with my capability, I should be able to learn it on my own. He also felt that I should pick up things that I don't have much experience in, for example, the AIX system admin and the ITSM (IT Service Management) or the ITIL programs. Actually, what I wanted was to go for a certification after the security course, more market value. He wanted me to consider, I will think about it...

Yesterday...

This is for yesterday...

Yesterday, I had been working to get the VPN thing to work. The funny thing was, I managed to install the software onto my colleague's Notebook running the same Operating System as mine, Windows XP Professional, it just wouldn't work on my Notebook, strange!

Although the software installation was successfully, I couldn't test the connection via our corporate network. The alternative was to test it via dial-up, yes, 56Kbps speed! The VPN connection was fine, but it was so slow, opening up an email (<1kbytes) via Lotus Notes took more that 5 minutes! This ain't going to work, got to source for another broadband connection and test....

Back at work today

I came back to work today, not because I have nothing to do at home, but to try and setup the VPN access thing on the company's PCs, this is a task that I have to complete by the end of this month. Also, I wanted to do a backup of my own Notebook's data to a portable drive, the last time I did that was, well, in July'06? It's always a good idea to do that periodically for 'safety' reason.

Here's a good quote on IT Investments:
"IT implementations involve both upfront and on-going investments for outcomes that no one ca precisely predict." - Book on IT Governance.

True enough, the returns in IT investments are usually difficult to predict because of the ever changing requirements and demands in IT needs.

VPN access

I have been trying to get this smart card thing to work with the remote VPN remote access. The card has a token which contains a security certificate, the idea is to allow a more secure user authentication for VPN through the Internet to the corporate network.

There are a couple of software to be installed, other the smart card driver, hmmm...should be plug and play, the CIP software, which reads the cert in the token card and also the Cisco VPN software. Actually, I was just following the guides, and I'm not supposed to fail the login more than 10x, else the card has to be reset, and this cost money, only the vendor who sold us the card can do it.

I brought all the software CDs, smart card reader and smart card home to install and test, it finally works! Funny, it didn't work on my office's notebook.

Working with others

It can be pretty tough working with people who has an attitude. Sometimes, they can simply refuse to cooperate or compromise.

I was in a meeting yesterday, with my Project Manager and the customer. We were arguing over who should be paying for renewing the remote access token cards for our Operations staff. The customer kept telling us that we should pay first, they reimburse later, the reason why we are not comfortable with this is that, because, from past experience, they can drag on for months for this type of payment matters. In the end, we compromised, we will go ahead with the renewal and pay first.

Finally, I got to taste the new Indian Muslim food today, not bad actually, but a little bit dry because of the fried dishes, got to drink more water.

Weather ok?

Well, today is a cool, not that I'm cool, but the weather, it rained for at least half of the day. Although it was raining, not drizzle, our guys still insisted to go out of the company building for lunch, and not in our in-house cafeteria. Yup, definitely must carry umbrellas. Yes, we are mad about food, but not to the extend of getting wet all over under this weather condition without cover.

One of the play stocks I bought last week did rose in price, I tried to sell it, but not successful. It seems like not that easy to play, huh? If I had sold it, I should be able to make two to three hundred play dollars. Too bad, try again tomorrow, hope it go up high high....

IT People

People who wants to get into IT must be passionate in the things or work they intend to embark on, willingness to learn and pick up new skills is also important. They should also have good technical skills, communication skills, analytical skills and 'never say die' spirit.

IT is all about the survival of the fittest, never stop learning attitude and making sacrifices, e.g. leisure time. There are two paths you may take, either towards the Management or Consultancy. A strong foundation in hands-on implementations is essential and necessary if you want to take the Consultancy path. As for the Management path, you must be able to speak well and understand the implications of each project or implementation from the business perspective.

My good Friend called...during lunch

My good Friend called me today when I was having lunch with my colleagues.

Usually, I will call her or she will call me during the weekend's late at night. This time she said she may not be able to call me this Saturday as she has been invited to a friend's gathering. I guessed she is really enjoying life there.

Recently, I took part in a stocks challenge game, it's pretty fun. How it works is that, once you sign up, you will be given $80,000 virtual dollars to buy and sell shares. You don't really buy or sell shares in the real stock market, you are just simulated it, that means what you do will not influence the actual market condition. I manage to buy and then sell one stock, made a 'profit' of few hundred bucks, but overall, I'm still in the red, as I still have other stocks going south currently. Let's see whether I have better luck next week.

Share a statement

My friends, if you are seeing this....

Just want to share a statement by Andrew Matthews, as quoted from his book "Follow your heart: Finding purpose in your life and work."

"Love is allowing people to be in your life out of choice."

How true....what do you think???

This is my 50th posts so far. I think I got to slow down a bit, else, people will think that I don't have a life other than blogging. hmmm....

Diarrhea!

I don't know what I ate this morning, perhaps, it was the small chocolate bar I had for breakfast. It was terrible. Diarrhea! Diarrhea! I hated having this, it was like somebody squeezing and twisting your stomach, the pain was there.

I had to visit the toilet for a couple of times. Luckly enough, the diarrhea symptom didn't last very long, by noon time, I managed to keep it under 'control'.

I didn't want to take a risk, usually, I would have spicy food for lunch, but, this time round, I had noodle with soup, something light and non-spicy, mild for the stomach. I also drank plenty of fluid, especially water, good for the stomach, as it may still be weak during the recovery stage.

Give your best!

"You give your best not because your need to impress people. You give your best because that's the only way to enjoy your work." - Andrew Matthews in his book, Follow your Heart: Finding purpose in your life and work.

I think what Andrew said is true, whatever work you do, don't just do it for the sake of doing it, but being passionate in it and always strive to put in your best effort and enjoy it!

There's also a saying: If your don't like your current job, either change your attitude or change your job!

Meeting in session

I don't really like meetings. A meeting could take up two to three hours, time simply pass without you knowing and you are anxiously waiting for it to end so that you can do other more important tasks.

The team always have a meeting at least once a month, provided everyone got the time. We met up today in the afternoon. The last time we had was four months back, so there were a lot of stuffs to update everyone. I was the chairman for the meeting, meaning other than the Project Manager, I do the most talking. Usually, in a meeting like this, you try not to talk too much, the more you say, the more things you have to do and your name will appear everywhere in the minutes of meeting. Follow-ups, follow-ups...

The meeting lasted two hours, just the right time to go home.

See you, my Friend!

Today is Monday, first day of the work week.

My good Friend flew off earlier tonight, I could not send her off because I had to attend a seminar. She called me at the airport just before entering the departure gate.

It is going to be another three months plus before I will get to see her again.

Movie: The Host, Part 2

One night, while at the hospital, Pak, the guy's surname, received a call from his daughter, and she told him she was in a dark and dirty sewer. Pak and his family (father, sister and brother) decided to run away from the hospital and were successful. His sister was a national archer, by the way. While fighting with the Host, their father was killed by it. Pak was again caught by the military, while his siblings escaped.

Then, while escaping, he met a friend, who helped him to access a computer to retrieve the location where his daughter had called him with her handphone, but he found that his friend was actually trying to betray him for the money rewards. While escaping from the police, he SMS his brother, in turn, messaged the sister.

Pak managed to reach the sewer but his was too late, the Host had already swallowed his daughter and a little boy. At this time, the government had already decided to use the "Yellow Agent", a chemical warfare smoke to destroy the Host. Pak was devastated when he pulled his daughter and the boy out from the monster's mouth. With the help of his siblings, they burned the monster and he stabbed the monster in the mouth, it died.

The little boy was found to be still alive, Pak took him in and treated him like his own son....The End.

This story is good, better than Predator and Alien, I would give it a five out of five for good storyline and unconventional ending.

Movie: The Host, Part 1

I watched this Korean movie in the cinema with DR this afternoon.

This story happened in South Korea, it started with a laboratory researcher (of a US Army camp) who was told to pour bottles of toxic and bio-hazardous chemical solution into the drainage system via the washing basin. The toxic solution eventually went to the Han River, the main river dividing Seoul.

Then, one day, people who were holidaying along the Han River noticed something hanging on one of the bridges. This 'thing' dropped into the river and started swimming towards the crowd. Stamping and swallowing human along its way.

There was this guy who was helping his dad run a stall there, tried running away from the 'thing' with his teenage daughter, but unfortunately, she was 'caught' by it and dragged away to the other side of the river. He thought that he had lost her daughter. As usual, the police and military were called in to cordon off the place. The guy, his father and the people at the scene were taken to the hospital for check-up....