My Research and Study Notes
Since the majority of time I spend involves researching, studying, or labbing a technology, I've put up a new section. I'll be listing topics, my notes, and links to resources, books, articles, etc...
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The International Organization for Standardization "(ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 164 national standards bodies...
Migrating the website to Ghost
Pardon the missing links, etc, as I cut things over.
Study Notes: HTML details Tag A Thing I Learned Today
The details tag encapsulates a summary and paragraph tag, that when the summary item is clicked, it reveals the paragraph text.
Microsoft RD Client iOS App for Remote Desktop RDP
Remote Desktop ProtocolWorking in a mostly Microsoft environment, it's no surprise, most of my lab is Windows based as well. Remote administration has gotten easier with things like PowerShell, and WMI, but at
Create VMware ESXi USB Install Media
Download the ESXi ISO from the VMware Download Website. This ISO needs to be written to the USB, and be made bootable. There are many applications which can do this for you, in this example, we'll be using UNetbootin.
Intel NUC Lab Hosts Hardware Setup
As I've mentioned in prior posts, you don't need a bunch of expensive hardware to learn, and have a working lab. It's just easier to configure, and allows you to run more virtual machines at one time.
Installing Microsoft SQL 2016 and Management Studio
I'm installing MS SQL 2016 in this lab. Things like WSUS, will be moved here after their default installs, to see how those migration processes work. Later, these databases will be moved to a clustered environment, to explore that migration path, as well.
Installing the First Two Domain Controllers in the VMware ESXi 6.7 Lab Environment
Keys to the KingdomTime to install the Active Directory Domain Controllers, centralized user management, Group Policy, Single Sign On (SSO), deploy applications, among other fun. Active Directory is the foundation of any enterprise
Deploy VMware vCenter Appliance (VCSA) in the VMware Lab
Stage 0Download the VMware vCenter Appliance ISO from VMware Downloads, and Mount it on the VM you will be deploying vCenter from. Navigate to the installer.exe for your Operating System. Stage 1Click
Macchanger Utility, and Usage Exploring the Command Syntax
Exploring MacchangerUsed it before, but nothing beyond changing the MAC, and moving on? In this lab, the macchanger command syntax is walked through. The purpose for these exploration labs, is to get familiar
Install OpenSSH on Ubuntu 18.04
SSH, I mean Shhhh, They're ListeningYou're going to need it, you're going to use it. SSH is one of the first applications I install and configure, when setting up a new Linux host.
Install Chromium on Ubuntu 18.04
Saying Hello to an Old Friend, or at Least it's Weird CousinI've been a Google Chrome fanboy for sometime. So, when I started using Ubuntu, I looked for my normal Google Chrome experience.
Install a Kali Linux VM in a VMware ESXi 6.7 Environment
Beginning of the Security LabThere are a few options, when it comes to Kali, and running it as a VM. Available for download are, prebuilt VM images, as well as different prebuilt ISO's,
Install xRDP on Ubuntu 18.04
Because, Sometimes you need a Remote GUI.I like RDP, it's familiar. I've used it forever. It has it's strengths, like ease of setup, and familiarity. It also has some weaknesses if not
Install Ubuntu 18.04 Virtual Machine in a VMware ESXi 6.7 Environment
Base CampNeeding a desktop to work from while building the new infrastructure, one of the first virtual machine's I'm building is a Ubuntu 18.04 with a desktop environment. I'll also be updating
Install VMware Workstation 14 on Ubuntu 18.04
The InstallThis lab I'm installing VMware Workstation 14 on Ubuntu 18.04 with a desktop environment. The install is not difficult, though I had only done it once before. I followed the steps
Laboratorium Rattus The Animal Within
RebuildI finally had the opportunity to purchase some long awaited lab equipment. So of course, I'm going all Lab Rat, and doing a total rebuild. Making it presentable was a requirement from my
Who is Veeam? And Why I Use Them
Backing IT upProbably best known for it's backup and recovery products, Veeam has positioned itself in the last twelve years, as a market leader in the availability space. Servicing 300K customers, large and
RSAC OnDemand Videos My Picks
OnDemand Videos I just wanted to bring to your attention that, the OnDemand Videos of the RSA Conference are available online.
Create a Windows 10 Sandbox VM On VMware Workstation 14
What Is A Sandbox?A sandbox, in the physical world, is an environment that you have control over. For example, the sandbox may have a raised border to keep the sand separate from
RSA Conference 2018 Day One
Ready, Set, Go!The last two days, were spent preparing for RSAC. Making sure all the devices and external battery were charged. That all the cables, dongles, medicines, and snacks, were packed for
Installing VMware Workstation 14 On Windows 10
WhyThe reason I am doing this post, is for anyone new to IT that wants to experiment, and play with other Operation Systems, Create vulnerable systems to attack those in a safe environment
VMware vExpert 2018 Announcement Great News
Why I'm ExcitedI'm estatic to announce that, I was once again selected as a VMware vExpert. This is my second year, and if you know me you know I'm happy to evangelize about
RSA Conference 2018 Are You Going?
Right Around The Corner, But What Is It?The RSA Conference is a very large, annual security conference held in San Francisco. It's a great opportunity to see all the latest security products/
VeeamON 2018 Conference Alright, Who's Going?
What?VeeamON is the annual conference for Veeam Customers and Partners. Two and a half days of General Sessions, Keynotes, over 60 breakout sessions, talking to Veeam Experts, getting certified, and exploring the
VeeamON Exclusive Blogger Excited and Honored
Veeam ExclusivesI'm excited and honored to announce that, I've been selected to be one of this years VeeamON Exclusive Bloggers! I plan on doing a lead up to the conference, as well, the
Finally Live with Only Two Days to Spare
Tick TockNothing like waiting until the last moment, with only two days remaining on my Wordpress.com plan. I've been working on the blog migrations since summer, so I was neither surprised, nor
Python Learning Resources Quick List
PythonA friend on Twitter mentioned he was making a resolution to learn Python, and DM'd me privately to see if I knew of any links. I did a quick search of my timeline
DFIR Community Slack Workspace A Sip from the infoFireHose
A free and open community of DFIR professionalsToday's Sip from the infoFireHose is a Slack Workspace focused on digital forensics and incident response. It's hosted by Demisto, though no vendor products are advertised
Taking longer for the website migrations but I’m learning
Finally Up!When I embarked on the journey of breaking up my blog, scott-bollinger.com, into separate blogs by topic, Security, Virtualization, Network, DFIR, and General IT, I gave myself a month. Now
Road to VMware VMWorld 2017 All 22 miles
Lucky Las VegasI live in Las Vegas, which is great, a lot of conferences are held here. I'm also fortunate, as my employer, believes in conferences and training. Saving on the travel costs
Using Mute to Streamline your Twitter Timeline Twitter Tip Mute
Muting in TwitterFirst off, I don't mute anyone I follow, however, I do use mute to keep my timeline focused and less cluttered. So how do I do that, and not mute anyone
Do you love IT? Live IT!
Are you in tune?Ever take up an musical instrument? Perhaps, took a class at the community college or a private instructor? Maybe you finished the class, joined the school band, or had
My First VMware vExpert 2017 Awards
Thank you I'm honored and excited being a first time vExpert. (1) Thank you to Corey Romero, and the VMware Social Media & Community Team.
46, Little Look Back Long Look Forward
46.1As the morning of March 17th closes, so too does the sunset on my 46th year. Good grief, in four years I'll be fifty years old, and have been in IT professionally
ITIL Resource A Sip from the infoFireHose
Free TrainingI came across a free training resource for ITIL and wanted to pass on. I'll also be adding it to my InfoFireHose page. Check out all the great resources! ITIL Lite but
RSA Conference CCSP Crash Course A Review
CCSP - Certified Cloud Security ProfessionalAs discussed in an earlier post, I elected for ISC2 training prior to the start of the RSA Conference. The CCSP crash course two-day was all day Sunday
Setting up an Internal vSwitch NATing in Microsoft Hyper-V
Powershell FTWBeing used to VMware Workstation, where NATing is a few GUI clicks away, I couldn't find a GUI way of configuring it in Hyper-V. inside local outside hokey pokey; Turn yourself aroundI
Windows Error 2 Occured While Loading Java VM During Citrix Command Center Installation
Windows error 2I got the below error while installing Citrix Command Center 5.2. A quick search of the error, "Windows error 2 occured while loading the Java VM", showed a few solutions,
Error 3278 Failed To Change State Of The VM How I Blew Up My Microsoft Hyper-V Lab
Falling SkiesWhen powering on virtual machines in my Hyper-V lab, all of them gave Error 3278 failed to change state of the VM. They were working yesterday. All my drives working? What did
CCSP Reading List Pre RSA Conference Training
PreconI posted about the RSA Conference early bird special pricing in late October and signed up for the conference at that time, but later I got approval and signed up for the ISC2
NetScaler 301 Class Review Citrix Training CNS301
Journey and a New FriendThe next leg of my NetScaler journey began the first week of January. I attended in NetScaler Advanced Implementation in class training at the Unitek training facility in Fremont,
VMDK to VHDX Disk Conversion VMware to Microsoft Hyper-V
Cross PlatformWhy? Why not just use VMware Workstation or ESXi? In this use case it was 50% laziness, as I had just reinstalled the laptop and would need to install VMware Workstation and
RSA Conference Savings Early Bird
SavingsRegister for a Full Conference pass by November 4 and save $1,000 Last February, I attended the RSA Conference and BSides San Francisco and it was quite a first time experience for
VMware vMotion vSphere 6 Product Features
This post is about the vSphere 6 product feature vMotion. [1] The first time I saw a vMotion between two hosts it was amazing. Not only doing it without down time, but while
vSphere Editions Demystified VMware vSphere Editions
Let's get vSphere!But where to start? You want to deploy VMware vSphere as your virtualization platform but... What edition?What's an Addon?Do I need a kit?What do all these features
VMware License Entitlement vSphere 6 Product Features
Licensing[2] The first vSphere 6 product feature I'm posting about is License Entitlement. Meaning what do you get for each license. VMware vSphere is licensed per physical processor on the host. [1]
VMware Knowledge Base Explained KB's What And Where To Find Them
Foundation TopicMy next VMware foundation topic is the VMware Knowledge Base[1]. It's a great online self help resource for finding solutions to your problems. If you're having a problem or getting an
Remove Unnecessary Hardware Devices From Your Virtual Machines
Foundation TopicHere's a foundation topic, whose rationale fits in the virtual world just as it did in the physical world. Unnecessary or accessible hardware devices can be used against you by attackers to
What are the VMware Tools? Help, I can't Control My VM
Foundation TopicI've been going through the foundation topics and these are my notes on virtual machine tools - VMware Tools. What they are, why you need them, and where to get them. As
VMworld 2016 Session Videos A Sip from the infoFireHose
I am ecstatic. Thank you VMware!VMware has decided to open up the VMworld Session videos to everyone. Previously, only attendees or those that purchased subscriptions were able to view the current years
Top vBlogs 2016 Virtualization Blogs
vSphere-land.comVisit Eric Siebert's blog vSphere-land.com today! Great posts as well as a wealth of information and resources. Did I mention resources? Ton's of them. Annually, they do a Top vBlogs list,
CiscoLive 2016 Session Videos A Sip from the infoFireHose
Cisco Live Live..and On Demand!Never been to Cisco Live, but want to see some of the awesome presentations? Not just the 2016 shows but the last five years. With four Cisco
Change Management Change Your Evil Ways!
Wait, you're supposed to manage changes?Change management, change tracking, change control, simple words that mean so many different things to people. Most companies have some process to manage changes to their environment.
2016...50% done loading A Blur
WhirlwindMay and June were blurs and on the first of July, 50% of 2016 was complete. It has been a whirlwind the last couple of months for both my work and irl. I've
Sparks of Inspiration Be Inspired
What is Inspiration?A quick Google search on inspiration yields two simple definitions. To be "mentally stimulated to do or feel" and the act of "drawing in of breath; inhalation". A breathe of
Where to Even Start Assembly Adventures 01
This Sounded Better at 3amThis sounded a whole lot better the other night. Learn Assembly? What was I thinking? Where to start? What is Assembly? That question is probably a great place to
How To Get The Last Boot Time In Windows Checking when last booted
Boot Time done four waysThere's usually more than one way to do things in IT and getting the last boot time in Windows is no different. Depending on OS Version, version of Powershell
E1000/VMXnet3 Tales from the Trench
A silent killerWas it a disaster situation? A 0-day? or a data center fire? Nope, not a flashy problem or even a spectacular firestorm. It was a simple changeAn inadvertent change of a
Forensic Lunch with David Cowen A Sip from the infoFireHose
Forensic Resource - PodcastIn this Sip from the infoFireHose I’m spotlighting Forensic Lunch Learn, Forensics with David Cowen and friends. Previously a weekly video podcast, it's now every two weeks. The podcast
Brakeing Down Security Podcast A Sip from the infoFireHose
Brakeing it DownThis spotlight is on the Brakeing Down Security Podcast by Bryan Brake and Brian Boettcher. A weekly podcast which averages an hour and hosts many interesting leading security professionals. Topics include
VCA6-DCV Certification And Free Training VMware Certified Associate 6-Data Center Virtualization
News!I have a great news for you. If you've looked into VMware certifications previously, then you know there has always been a training course requirement. The ~5k is a huge sum for
What is Virtualization? Virtualizing the Physical World
VirtualizationVirtualization is the abstracting of physical hardware and the ability to assign those resources via software. Prior to virtualization, a single operating system was installed on each server. Servers were assigned specific tasks
A Sip from the infoFireHose A Series
OverwhelmingThis is the first in a series posts titled Sipping from the Info Fire Hose. Plainly put, attempting to stay abreast in technology today is like attempting to drink from a firehose. You
T568A and B Cable Termination EIA/TIA 568 Standard
The TerminatorI needed a network cable today for a printer. One longer than I had on hand. Go buy one? Nah, It wasn't a mission critical server in my data center. It was
Happy New Year and a New Home
Hello 20162015 is backed up and archived. Well not all of it. You may have noticed, the blog design and location has changed yet again. The virtual machine that I did all my
What is WSUS? Windows Server Update Services
WSUSWikipedia defines WSUS as: "Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), previously known as Software Update Services (SUS), is a computer program developed by Microsoft Corporation that enables administrators to manage the distribution of updates
Local User Groups and Meetups a Sip from the infoFireHose
Vegas!Since moving to Las Vegas, I have taken advantage of the number of active user groups and meetings in the area. I'm not a go outside in the real world type of
What is a Network? So, What is a Network?
It’s easier to think of why we need, and how we use networks.You need to share a document with a coworker in another location.You need to video conference with your
My Pluralsight Review a Geek Candy Store
Carpe OpportunitatemFor a little over a month, I've had the excellent opportunity to review the entire Pluralsight catalog. First, I would like to say that I wasn't given the account to do a
AWS WorkSpaces VDI Minus the Infrastructure
WorkSpaces. What is it?VDI minus the I? Not quite, but could almost be.Depending our your desktop workload, AWS WorkSpaces could be a viable virtual desktop environment. Amazon WorkSpaces is a "managed
What is AWS? Amazon Web Services
AWSAWS is Amazon Web Services. They offer a set of products and services that include (1) "compute, storage, database, analytic's, application, and deployment services that help organizations move faster, lower IT costs, and
AWS EC2 Snapshots in a Snap with PowerShell
SnapshotsI needed a process that would give me basic protection in AWS and take snapshots of my EC2 instances as a DR/BR backup process. The EC2 snapshots are kept in S3 which
Learning New Things and Enjoying IT
BusyThis year has been fun and extremely busy. Quite the whirlwind. I had Alien Vault training in AZ, Citrix Synergy in Orlando, and recently learning Amazon Web Services. All this and 5 blog
Define the Purpose of Network Analysis WCNA Exam WCNA102.1 Objective 1.1
The Purpose of Network AnalysisNetwork analysis often called sniffing or protocol analysis, is the act of listening to communications traversing the network and breaking down the traffic into its basic components to be
List Troubleshooting Tasks for the Network Analyst WCNA Exam WCNA102.1 Objective 1.2
Troubleshooting Tasks for the Network AnalystSome of the major troubleshooting tasks a network analyst may perform including following: Identify software or network device misconfigurationsGraph queuing delaysMeasure high delays along a pathIdentify location of
Packets Don't Lie Wireshark, and Sniffer Days of Old
What more could anyone want?I have been using protocol analyzers since the days of Network General and have always loved the analytic view of the network. Not the smoke and mirrors we
Wireshark Certified Network Analyst WCNA Class on Udemy Review
WCNAA few weeks ago I saw the Wireshark Certified Network Analyst WCNA class on sell at Udemy and that is what got me looking at the WCNA certification. It is created my the
Laura Chappell Wireshark Videos Free Wireshark Core Training Videos
Free Wireshark Core TrainingFree Wireshark Core Training WCT01 Network Analysis Overview and WCT02 Introduction to Wireshark. These videos are taught by Laura Chappell. Both courses total a little of 4 hours of lectures,
What is Latency? Network Latency
Latency, in regards to networking, is the time from when a source sends a packet and the destination receives it.
What Blogging is for Me and What All This is
BloggingBlogging today comes in many forms. Personal blogs, business blogs, micro blogging platforms like Twitter and Tumblr, Some have advertisements, others not. It's up to each person or business to decide what content
Making the Computer Speak with PowerShell
Times have changed in technology but the fun of having my computer speak still puts a smile on my face. And a stern look and chuckle from my wife...
What is NTP? Network Time Protocol
Time to Read ThisNetwork Time Protocol (NTP) is a timing protocol that allows time synchronization across devices on a network to the Coordinated Universal Time UTC time. NTP operates on UDP port 123.
Happy New Year 2015
Happy New Year! As my holiday draws to a close, I bathe in the light of my laptop. Staring at the white blank page that is this blog, glowing bright and I wonder what I will write this year.
Is PowerShell Installed? How to Tell
You've heard of PowerShell and now want to see if you have it installed and available on your Windows OS.
What is PowerShell? Microsoft PowerShell
PowerShell is a scripting language written on the .Net framework by Microsoft. Some would say, the new and improved Microsoft Command shell. A version of PowerShell has been available for Microsoft Operating Systems since Windows XP.
Citrix NetScaler CCP-N Exam 1Y0-350 Study Resources
ResourcesLab, question, lab, research, lab, repeat I’m a firm believer of hands on labs and exercises. Especially when learning a new topic and when studying exam objectives. Please do not spend 100’
NetScaler CCP-N Exam Resources Citrix CCP-N 1Y0-350
ResourcesThe below are Citrix resources I’m basing my studying off of for the NetScaler Exam 1Y0-350. Thanks, Scott Bollinger / @kfalconspb Start HereThe first stop for me was the Citrix Education certification page
Change NetScaler Root Password and Add Users Citrix NetScaler CCP-N Exam 1Y0-350 Objectives 1.04
Configuring Users And GroupsYou can add users with the web GUI configuration utility or at the NetScaler command prompt From the Web GUI configuration utilityIn the web GUI navigate to System > User
NetScaler VPX in VMware Workstation 10 Citrix NetScaler VPX Lab Part 2
Create Citrix accountTo create a Citrix account for downloading the NetScaler VPX trial software and allocate a license file, click on the My Account link located on the Citrix.com page. Click on
Set initial Hostname, NetScaler IP, Subnet and Gateway Citrix NetScaler CCP-N Exam 1Y0-350 Objective 1.01
Objective 1.01 Set initial Hostname, NetScaler IP, subnet and gateway There are four ways to set the initial Hostname, NetScaler IP, subnet, and gateway of a NetScaler.
Citrix Synergy 2014 Anaheim!
I'm attending Citrix Synergy again this year. I'm sure the next few days will be filled with sessions, vendor meetings, and trying to figure out, this years, product name changes.
Identifing, Unmounting CDs, and Rescanning the HBAs with VMware PowerCLI
VMotion Failing?These VMware PowerCLI commands, came in handy a month or so ago. I'd thought I'd share. Credit is given in the links below. What do you do when, you see a
Setting up My Blog Version 1
Hello All!I'm going finally to start blogging. I've lurked far too long, though I've learned much from our online IT community. Now it's time to create a little content, as well as,