Spotify

Today I decided to upgrade to the Spotify premium account and can say I’m really impressed and see the future as streaming content. If only we had something similar to Netflix here in the UK for streaming video content, I would more than happy pay for such streaming services. LOVEFiLM doesn’t count as the streaming is just poor, though to be fair the broadband infrastructure here in the UK is no where compared to that of the US.

Now deciding how best to my Spotify permium account with my HTPC. Do I use an Android remote and control or look into either Squeezebox Touch or Sonus… decisions! Shall  see how the free option of using an Android remote works for the time being! Do like the look of the Squeezebox Touch though. ;)

Finished a gym session today with the help of Spotify on my Android devices (songs made available offline) full of win! loving Spotify at the moment!

 

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Satellite server repository check

Today I noticed that some of our devices were not updating to version 10.3.0. Upon further investigation I noticed the clients were not downloading the update correctly from the satellite server. I came to this conclusion by checking the overall size of the cache folder and forcing a refresh through Zen. What I noticed was the cache would increase to a certain size and then stop. When checking the files/folders within the cache folder (C:\Program Files\Novell\ZENworks\cache) I noticed the Zen 10.3 updates files were much smaller in size and not representing the correct file size.

The only thing I could think of was that the satellite repository must have inconsistency. I decided to log-on to a satellite and see what commands are available to try and resolve this issue. I came across the following:

  • cdp-checksum, cchk Validates satellite content by computing the checksum
    on each file.
  • cdp-verify-content, cvc Compares the list of content IDs and their sync states on this CDP with what the Primary servers thinks it should have. Logging to the file specified by log-path.

I decided to run the “zac cvc” command first to ensure the content was correct followed by a “zac cchk” to double check the checksum of the files were also correct. The time for these commands may vary depending on content size. These took around 3 minutes each to complete.

This fixed the problem I was having whereby the content was downloading incorrectly. It then occurred to me that this would be good to have on a bundle that ran at least one a month to ensure all content is consistent on the satellites. Seeing as I have 100 satellites, trying to do this manually would be a pain!

This has since fixed the issue with updating and also some other issues relating to bundles.

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Gallery

Really can’t be bothered to write a 2 month catch up…

I have added a Gallery (again! after i removed Coppermine – which was a mistake really). Can be found here:

http://www.chrisstark.co.uk/gallery2/main.php

Starky

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Weekend

What a weekend!

Alex’s 21st and my god did i drink like a fish! was proper hammered… first properly drunk and how i was standing at the end i don’t know… sure i blanked out a few times!

Went to a Clio Sport meet in Ashford Sunday night… bit nippy but worth it – check out the pictures on my bebo Here

That’s about it for now! need to get a proper photo album up as Bebo is for teh lose!!

Starky

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Technet!

Yellow,

Ordered Microsoft Technet Subscription earlier today, getting prepared for some serious study towards my MCSA, MCSE, Vista and Windows 2008 Certifications. Really looking forward to firing up some Virtual Machines and playing about… ;)

One thing i want to get into is RIS installations and then migrating users from 2003 server to 2008 (using 64bit Exchange etc).

On another note – Got my contact lenses on Monday! damn i love them, getting them in is a pain but I’m sure this will get easier with time. Had a lenses fall out today because wasn’t in properly (doh!) – No more steaming up glasses! ;)

Starky

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Paintballing!

Went Paintballing today in Maidstone, Hermitage Lane and what a laugh it was!

My favourite round was the one with the yellow flag in the middle and you had to run to the enemy base to capture. Managed to grab the flag, run like a girl, jumping like an idiot (at the attempt to dodge paint balls!) and luckily managed to capture the flag after finally finding their base! got lost – goggles started steaming up!

Went through 1000 paint balls, loved every minute of it and want to do it again, not my first time – So lost my Paintball virginity ages ago. :)

Also went to Southend last night – ended up in a dodgy strip joint – Only one semi fit girl… but the one that stripped for us… oh my god i think im scared for life! Nothing compared to the ones in Tenerife with lovely boobies and slim (fit) bodies! anyways we all legged it out after that!

Raced a BMW 3 Series on the way back at some traffic lights (didn’t break the speed limit i may add!) – pulled away from him – Driver and the passenger wasn’t happy! My car is a Renault Clio 172 Cup and does 0-60 in 6.7 sec… not the quikest but no one expects it from a clio!

Thats this weekend round up! cracking weekend yet again.

Starky

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Boo!

Weeeeeeeeeeeee, September since i last posted! I’m doing well!

Enjoying life at the moment, recently been Go-Karting at Buckmore Park which i may say was the most awesome experience ever! now want to take my 172 CUP on a track day at Brands Hatch after that lol.  Also done ice skating ~(i suck but didn’t fall over!) and Amadeus in Rochester.

No longer working BCS (yay). Now working for the NHS on a rolling contract. Migrating users/emails from NT4 over to 2003 Server – also involves me traveling all over Kent resolving snagging calls. The experience and the amount of training i have received has been awesome!

Still studying for my certification’s (MCSA/MCSE) but have been slacking badly. Just applied for Open University which i start in May towards my BSc (Honours) Computing with Business, which should be good. :)

I’ll try and keep this more up-to-date but we know what happens…. ;)

Starky

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6 months?

How time flybys… 6 months since i last posted here omg!

I’m seriously not going to write a life story about what has happened in the last 6 months as it would be too much!

So onwards from here!

Studying for my Microsoft Small Business Specialist Exam which is booked for Wednesday (2nd time). At present I’m finishing of my studies by playing about with SBS in VMware. Which involves me doing the following:

  • Setting up and configuring users
  • Messing about with user templates
  • Playing around with group policy
  • Setting up and configuring WSUS
  • Application installs
  • Joining a computer to a domain using a script (Intranet)
  • Registering and configuring a domain email on Exchange 2003 (MX record etc)

Then it’s onto practice exam questions to get me nerves for the exam… ;)

More will be posted in the next few days.

Chris

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New Year New Start

I know the title is rather late!

But this year i intend on posting a lot more on this site.

So for this year I’ve passed my second MCDST exam (70-272) and now qualify as a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician. I’m slowly but surely progressing towards my MCSA. However for the time being College studies come first as i finish in June.

Everything else is good.

My plans are to try and update this on a regular basic and maybe post more on my learning expeirinces with Opearting Systems and Certifications. Shall see how it goes.

I shall also try and remember to remove the snow flakes! however since it is snowing here in the UK at the moment I’ll leave them on. :)

// Starky

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Microsoft exam 70-271 passed!

Been a while since i’ve posted… still alive!

Passed my Microsoft exam (70-271) yesterday which now means I’m known as Mr MCP! (Microsoft Certified Professional) Got loads more to go but its a start! I used the Microsoft Press Books & Transcender!
It’s coming up to Christmas and i usually put snow on my sites.. and I’m running a bit late with it this year so soon as I’ve finished this I’m going to whack up some snow flakes (if i remember how!!)

Still at College doing my HNC and got my final project this year which is going to be something slightly different then usual… I’m going to be writing a program in the VB.NET language using a MySQL database as the back end!

Anyways, best get the snow up and running and i wish everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year (in case i don’t post again for a month or so!)

Chris

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