Tips for Technical Mastery

The evolution of technology is ever increasing. It is important for IT professional to adapt quickly to these changes. Unfortunately, learning is something than takes time and focus. Learning requires repetition. These topics are too complex or broad to absorb by sitting through a class or watching an online training session. I recommend first narrowing… Read More »

45 travel tips from a frequent flyer…

I mentioned in my pervious article that traveling will test your patience and tolerance for stress on a regular basis. Here is my running list of tips to make business travel more enjoyable: Get a passport with Global Entry (better to be ready) Get qualified for TSA Precheck (skip the lines, keep your shoes, avoid… Read More »

Does “75% travel” on a job posting turn you off?

After nearly three years at Microsoft as a field engineer, I have traveled over 160,000 miles which is around 250 hours in the air. That doesn’t include the time spent in airports, trains, cars, and taxis. I also spend around 125 night per year in hotels. These past few years are an extreme example but… Read More »

SCOM Object Discovery Troubleshooting

Here is the last ported post from my old bog site. The vast archive of SCOM knowledge (3 full posts) have now been migrated to the new blog! I’ve worked with a variety of management packs over the years. One headache that I have often encountered when implementing a new MP has been the inconsistency… Read More »

SCOM Agent Deployment Troubleshooting

Here is another article ported from my old blog dating back to 2012. I recently revised a few key points. Once again, these observations haven’t changed significantly over time. Deploying SCOM Agents using the Discovery Wizard appears to have at least four distinct phases: setup, discovery, installation, and initialization. Each of these stages has unique… Read More »

SCOM Tuning Tips

Here are some SCOM tuning tips that I published back in 2012 that are just as relevant today as they were back then. This was taken from a SCOM support guide that I created for a large insurance company. Reasons why we create new MP rules and monitors: To generate new monitoring that was not… Read More »

How do I stand out in a group of more experienced candidates?

I am part of a student mentoring program that involves a significant amount of interview prep discussions. Those entering the class have varying levels of experience and education. One common question is how to compete for positions upon graduation with candidates who have more education or experience? This is a tough situation. For those with… Read More »