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Ideal Tools for Administrators
- Thread starter deboyland
- Start date
The Windows 2003 Adminpak
MS Antispyware Beta
Ghost
Look@Lan
Some kind of inventory/request tracking software (Ilient offers a killer free version of theirs for two users).
Remote Control software
VPN Software
Documentation on everything
Antivirus
Agentransack (fast find)
Check out Sysinternals.com for some killer apps.
MS Antispyware Beta
Ghost
Look@Lan
Some kind of inventory/request tracking software (Ilient offers a killer free version of theirs for two users).
Remote Control software
VPN Software
Documentation on everything
Antivirus
Agentransack (fast find)
Check out Sysinternals.com for some killer apps.
The Ultimate Boot CD
Lot of great tools at:
Just to name a few!
X
Lot of great tools at:
Just to name a few!
X
I'd like to echo Xaqte on the Ultimate Boot CD -- best... tool... EVER...
Second to my UBCD I'd have to list my UBCD for Windows (base doff PE Builder), which you can find info on how to build here:
Between those two, that's most of the tools I need most of the time. I also always keep a Knoppix CD handy, just in case.
And I also would list Alcohol 120%. I like Nero and all, but Alcohol is, I think, one of the better ways to make backup images of your install CD's. I backup an image of every important CD we have, because the CD's take a beating and in a pinch it's quite handy to just be able to burn a CD and use it when the main one(s) fail and you can't find or have no other copies at that moment in time.
It's also very wise to keep a "Drivers CD" handy if you're adminning a specific network that uses only one brand of PC (Dell, HP, etc). I'm working on building one myself because we use all Dells here, and sometimes tracking down drivers can be a pain from their site. What I'm doing is making a folder for each series of system (GX110, GX270, Latitude D800, etc) because each system in a series that we get is goign to be identical anyways, and then group by device type (Audio, Video, Network, etc).
-- Primis.
Second to my UBCD I'd have to list my UBCD for Windows (base doff PE Builder), which you can find info on how to build here:
Between those two, that's most of the tools I need most of the time. I also always keep a Knoppix CD handy, just in case.
And I also would list Alcohol 120%. I like Nero and all, but Alcohol is, I think, one of the better ways to make backup images of your install CD's. I backup an image of every important CD we have, because the CD's take a beating and in a pinch it's quite handy to just be able to burn a CD and use it when the main one(s) fail and you can't find or have no other copies at that moment in time.
It's also very wise to keep a "Drivers CD" handy if you're adminning a specific network that uses only one brand of PC (Dell, HP, etc). I'm working on building one myself because we use all Dells here, and sometimes tracking down drivers can be a pain from their site. What I'm doing is making a folder for each series of system (GX110, GX270, Latitude D800, etc) because each system in a series that we get is goign to be identical anyways, and then group by device type (Audio, Video, Network, etc).
-- Primis.
Don't forget the tools at too.
James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!
James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!
EdwardAtSGI
Programmer
sostek makes a great recommendation with the Knoppix Linux boot disk. It can be a real time-saver when Windows chokes on itself.
I'm a big fan of SpyBot, but I've been hearing that it's registry clean tool is too dangerous to use, of late.
I prefer good old fashioned 'regclean' by M$. But I'm not sure if it still does anything when running under XP...okay, now I'm rambling.
I'm a big fan of SpyBot, but I've been hearing that it's registry clean tool is too dangerous to use, of late.
I prefer good old fashioned 'regclean' by M$. But I'm not sure if it still does anything when running under XP...okay, now I'm rambling.
For antivirus and antispyware tools, you should look to tools that offer Enterprise features: they have either a proprietary management console, or use the Micrsoft SuS, now WUS, SMS or MOM.
Antispyware that deals with non-viral, trojan or worm issues, are pre-announced by several companies, including Microsoft, Shavlik, Symantec and soon many others. Essentially this product space is on hold until Microsoft announces in detail their Antispyware plans for this product space. (And related, their plans for antivirus protection, if any, at the local and Enterprise level). Stay tuned.
Original poster deboyland needs to say more about whether in a Domain, Worgroup, stand-alone, or all three, as the support environment he faces. Some of the tools mentioned above, for example, would never be permitted in a managed, Enterprise setting. Some of the tools above, if used by a novice, could easily create more harm than good.
My own personal advice is to go through certification. While there are great test takers that are lousy administrators, the intention at least for the courses is to teach you how to do things well. If you are uncertified, or need additional certifications, ask your employer for financial assistance.
If I hired you, personally, I would pay for your MCSE. While you cannot train experience, as a starting step the industry certifications offered by many: Microst, CISCO, A+, the security groups, etc.. would help you more than a disk with Hijack This or any other tool.
If you were an outside contractor, I would not let you near any of my servers or workstations with the tools mentioned above. You can effectively do this, with experience, in a retail site for stand-alone workstations, but not in a managed setting.
Antispyware that deals with non-viral, trojan or worm issues, are pre-announced by several companies, including Microsoft, Shavlik, Symantec and soon many others. Essentially this product space is on hold until Microsoft announces in detail their Antispyware plans for this product space. (And related, their plans for antivirus protection, if any, at the local and Enterprise level). Stay tuned.
Original poster deboyland needs to say more about whether in a Domain, Worgroup, stand-alone, or all three, as the support environment he faces. Some of the tools mentioned above, for example, would never be permitted in a managed, Enterprise setting. Some of the tools above, if used by a novice, could easily create more harm than good.
My own personal advice is to go through certification. While there are great test takers that are lousy administrators, the intention at least for the courses is to teach you how to do things well. If you are uncertified, or need additional certifications, ask your employer for financial assistance.
If I hired you, personally, I would pay for your MCSE. While you cannot train experience, as a starting step the industry certifications offered by many: Microst, CISCO, A+, the security groups, etc.. would help you more than a disk with Hijack This or any other tool.
If you were an outside contractor, I would not let you near any of my servers or workstations with the tools mentioned above. You can effectively do this, with experience, in a retail site for stand-alone workstations, but not in a managed setting.
- Thread starter
- #11
ok Give you more information. I will be taking to get my MCSE this Sept. I am new at being a administrator with windows server 2003.
We are currently set up in a Domain with Exchange server as well.
I just want to be prepared if somethign goes wrong on a client machine I would have a way to recover info.
so I am asking about all this to be prepared!
Thanks again!
We are currently set up in a Domain with Exchange server as well.
I just want to be prepared if somethign goes wrong on a client machine I would have a way to recover info.
so I am asking about all this to be prepared!
Thanks again!
My bit of advice, even prior to MCSE, grab a good book and curl up with it. Where I work they don't pay for any certifications so I can't get any of my guys a leg up (or myself for that matter), but I can purchase the top of the line books to get everyone a basis for troubleshoothing and built in utilities.
- Thread starter
- #13
I don't have the AD book here, I was a bad boy and left it home. Right now I'm reading
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Resource Kit
Written by
Kay Unkroth, Elizabeth Molony, Pav Cherny, Brian Reid, Fergus Strachan, and Bill English.
It's 1300 pages long.
The AD book is pretty much the same name (if memory serves).
Microsoft Active Directory Resource Kit
I believe that one is about 1700 pages.
These are not exam books, but they are step by step guides to setup, configuration, and the complete compliment of tools available with each set of systems.
Additionally, they both come with CD's that contain E-Books and the adminpak for the AD book (I haven't cracked the CD on the Exchange book yet).
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Resource Kit
Written by
Kay Unkroth, Elizabeth Molony, Pav Cherny, Brian Reid, Fergus Strachan, and Bill English.
It's 1300 pages long.
The AD book is pretty much the same name (if memory serves).
Microsoft Active Directory Resource Kit
I believe that one is about 1700 pages.
These are not exam books, but they are step by step guides to setup, configuration, and the complete compliment of tools available with each set of systems.
Additionally, they both come with CD's that contain E-Books and the adminpak for the AD book (I haven't cracked the CD on the Exchange book yet).
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