Did Fiber Optics Just Get a Little Closer to Home?

Article here.

Files! Files! Files!

I’ve done a bad job this quarter of sharing with you Powerpoint slides that go along with our lessons. If you’re unfamiliar with this practice, I usually print out these slides and let you do whatever you wish with them (study them, burn them, birdcage filler), but this quarter for some reason, I’ve just let them fall by the wayside.

Because of this, I’m in the process of uploading all of the files from my three classes where this is appropriate. Since there are so many files, I’ve sorted them into folders. Scroll down a bit, and they’re located on the right.

Enjoy!

If you’re in one of my Exchange classes, you’ll notice that Chapters 5, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are missing. These files are larger than 10MB, and are too big to be uploaded to my box.net account. Sorry!

MS Exchange – 11/27/2007

Tonight we covered Chapters 7 and 8, which dealt with IMAP, POP3 and SMTP servers and requiring their secure use via SSL. Next week, we’ll take the final, and

that

is

it.

Homework:

• Study!

A+ Hardware/Software – 11/27/2007

Today we covered the last chapter in the book — Chapter 13, which covers security and preventive maintenance. We learned about users and groups, about file encryption, viruses and spyware and that you’re supposed to open your computer to blow out all the dust once a month. OK, maybe that’s a little much, but still, blow it out every now and then, good grief people. Just make sure that you’re away from other computers when you do it, since pounds of dust can leave one computer and land comfortably in another.

After all that hee-haw, we sat down to take Checkpoint Exam #2. There was only an 18 point curve (compared to 20-30 points in the past), which means you guys did an exceptional job. This is evidenced by the fact that I don’t have to see anyone next week for a final!! Woo! Sleep in on Tuesday! (A first for A+ classes!)

Homework:

• Continue studying for your A+ certification. Just because you’re finished with my class doesn’t mean you’re finished, ya know.
• Have a happy holiday! I’ll see all of you on January 14.

Server+ – 11/26/2007

Tonight was Checkpoint#2, covering Chapters 6 – 9. Grades were given, and I’ll see a few of you next week for the final. Make sure you study hard!

Homework:

• Study!!!

MS Exchange – 11/26/2007

Chapter Seven, covering Virtual Servers, was covered. Virtual Servers work hand in hand with clustered server nodes, allowing us to switch an important service (such as POP3 or IMAP4) from a node that might be down to another, better suited one easily and simply.

Provided replication works.

Homework:

• Study for the final, if you have to take it!

Strategies for Success – 11/26/2007

We celebrated the last day of class today by presenting our collages of where we see our lives in 5 years. Great job!

Now, that we’ve gotten the basic tenants of our own positive self-think down pat, let’s not minimize them in our lives. We (Draughons) have you take this course so that you might apply its strategies to school and be a more successful (get the name?) student. Don’t simply apply this to your educational career, but apply it to your entire life. I think you’ll be surprised just how beneficial such thinking can be towards your goals and your successes.

Since no one is electing to go the computer-dork route, this is probably where we will part ways. Don’t be a stranger! Pop in and say hi sometime!

A+ Hardware/Software – 11/20/2007

Chapter 12 was the topic of the day, and we covered several Windows 2000 and XP features today. Included in the list was CHKDSK, Disk Defragmenter, Computer Management, Device Manager, Driver Rollback, Last Known Good Configuration, Recovery Console, Emergency Repair Disk, Remote Desktop, Remote Assistance, and upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (FAST Wizard) was also covered.

Homework:

• No homework per se, but we’re having a checkpoint exam next week. Make sure you study!!!

Server+ – 11/19/2007

Tonight we did double duty by covering two (count ‘em, two!) chapters: chapter 8 and 9. There is no specific homework, but since we’re winding down the class, make sure you STUDY HARD for the upcoming Checkpoint exam over chapters 6 – 9.

Homework

• Study for the Checkpoint Exam!

MS Exchange – 11/19/2007

Today we covered Chapter Six – Public Folders. Public folders are Exchange’s implementation of “newsgroups”, which run on the NNTP protocol. Exchange calls these groups “folders” and you can “post” various types of items in them for others to use. Think of them like virtual bulletin boards.

Homework:

• Chapter 6: 1-9, odd.