May 11, 2012
2:20 pm
by: dboth

Linux Administrator Jobs Available

I have a recruiter looking for Linux administrators, especially ones who have taken my class. There are currently 18 (eighteen) openings.

Please contact me if you are interested and I can put you in contact with the recruiter.

Posted in Announcements, Jobs, Linux

May 7, 2012
10:45 am
by: dboth

Advanced Class—Progress Report

For those of you waiting for the Linux Servers and Advanced Administration class, here is an update on my progress. I know I told some of you that this class would be ready by early Summer, but that is not going to happen for several reasons.

The primary reason that my schedule for creation of this class has changed is that, as I have progressed through creating the first sessions and their respective Lab Projects, my vision for the class has evolved. There will probably be two or three fewer topics but the remaining topics will be covered in much more detail.

The labs will drive the course and will be in a sequence that runs from initial installation, through a completely functioning network with static network configuration, an IPTables based firewall, servers for DNS, DHCP, SSH, a working web site using Apache and WordPress, Email using sendmail with SpamAssassin and MimeDefang for anti-spam as well as DNS based filtering for known spammers, open relays and regional (country) black hole lists. It will also cover Tunneling X Window applications via SSH from a remote X client, using SAMBA, CUPS printing services, SELinux, some form of virtualization and using VNC for remote desktop access.

I currently have about 40% of the class completed, based on a 4.5 – 5 day class. I am currently estimating the class will be ready for late Summer or early Autumn. I will send an email notification to all previous class attendees as soon as it is ready.

My intention is to have the best advanced class possible. Therefore I will be taking the time to create the class to the highest standards and will be taking no shortcuts.

Please contact me if you have some specific suggestions for course content based on your own needs.

Thanks for your understanding.

Posted in News, Training

March 9, 2012
1:19 pm
by: dboth

Server For Sale (Updated)

I have one remaining tower server for sale. See the For Sale page for details.

Posted in Announcements, Information, Updated Post

March 3, 2012
10:04 am
by: dboth

Next “Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” Class Starts March 12

The next Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration class starts on March 12. This high-intensity class runs for 5 days, through March 17.

This highly reviewed class is based on my more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry and 14 years working with Linux. It covers the mundane to arcane tasks that system administrators are called upon to perform in the real world.

And don’t forget that salaries and demand for Linux skills are up.

Posted in Announcements, News, Training

February 13, 2012
10:14 am
by: dboth

Salaries Up For Linux Skills

According to this article in the Wall Street Journal, Linux developers and System Administrators are in very high demand. Many companies are offering higher than normal starting salaries, signing bonuses, work schedule flexibility and other enticements to lure prospective employees with Linux skills.

The article indicates that this demand for Linux skills is partly due to the fact that many companies, especially startups are using Linux for its lower costs. When starting a new company, Microsoft licensing costs can eat up a great deal of money. Linux has no licensing costs and support can be obtained for reasonable fees, if desired. Hiring really skilled Linux developers and administrators can significantly reduce the need to pay for support.

I have even seen billboards advertising for people with Linux skills. One that I saw between Greensboro, and Raleigh, NC, says, “Know Linux?—We are hiring,” with a phone number. I have heard that the same sign can be found along I-95 somewhere around Baltimore and Washington DC.

If you are looking for a Linux position, Millennium Technology Consulting LLC can provide the Linux training you need to land one of these well-paying jobs. Millennium Technology Consulting LLC also has contacts in the industry and can help you locate a position.

If you are a company looking to improve the Linux skills of your employees, Millennium Technology Consulting LLC can provide that training at a very reasonable cost.

Check out our Training page for details.

Posted in Articles, Linux, Training

February 10, 2012
12:33 pm
by: dboth

Raleigh, NC, City Council Encourages Use of Open Source

On February 7, the Raleigh, NC, City Council passed an Open Source Government Resolution that promotes the use of open source software and open data.

By placing Free Open Source Software (FOSS) on the same footing as commercial, proprietary software in the purchasing process, the City Council has taken a step forward to ensure that the best software for any purpose is available. Whether Open Source or Proprietary software is used, the citizens of Raleigh will know that their interests are best served.

With only a few exceptions, there is Open Source Software available to meet nearly any need of city government. From straightforward desktop applications to medical applications and emergency services, there is FOSS available—in many cases, free for the download.

What is FOSS?

I love this analogy and stole it from the article, How to get your city to pass an open government policy  at OpenSource.com.

FOSS, Free Open Source Software, is like chocolate chip cookies. Would you rather have a cookie, or the recipe so you can bake more yourself? Of course you would rather have the recipe. At least I would. But then I can bake cookies.

With the recipe I can bake them exactly like my mother did without changing the recipe. If I want, however, I can add nuts, or use whole wheat flour, or add oatmeal, or make any one of a number of other changes.

The same is true of Free Open Source Software. By using FOSS I can download applications I want and make as many copies as I want. If I don’t like how some aspect of the program I have downloaded works, or just think I can make it better, I can download the source code (recipe) and add or change a few lines of code (change the recipe) and recompile (bake) it. Now the code will be more suited to my own needs (taste better).

The only thing left to do is to share the new recipe with the rest of the world, which is one of the great things about Open Source. Everyone can benefit from the changes I have made.

You don’t need to be a baker to enjoy great chocolate chip cookies. Neither do you need to be a programmer to be able to use great Open Source Software. But if you are a baker or programmer, you can make changes as you desire and your skills allow. I could not create a chocolate chip cookie recipe from scratch, but I can take someone else’s recipe and make a few minor changes to it. So that is what I do—with chocolate chip cookies and with some software.

Posted in FOSS - Free Open Source Software, News

January 29, 2012
2:58 pm
by: dboth

Next “Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” Class Starts Feb. 13

The next session of my class, “Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” will be run February 13 through 17, 1012.

Taken from my own experiences accumulated during more than 14 years of using Linux, and developed using my knowledge and experience as a course developer and trainer for both IBM and Red Hat, this class covers the practical aspects of Linux System Administration. It builds upon the foundation of the “Philosophy of Linux” in a way that helps the student understand how and why things are done as they are.

Our courses are always highly rated and well reviewed. Here are some comments from previous students taken directly from the course evaluation forms.

Seats Available

There are still seats available for my Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration class which starts on Monday, January 23 and runs for five days.

Course Description

The student will learn about the history of Linux and the philosophy of Linux and how it applies to the everyday tasks that she will be expected to perform. The student will install a current Fedora Linux system on common Intel hardware, using various installation options to customize the final result. The students will learn to use the command line interface (CLI) and many basic Linux commands along with the vi editor. More advanced commands such as sed and awk will be covered and combining all of these commands into short command line programs will be discussed and the student will have opportunity to use them in lab projects.

This course covers the Linux boot sequence and the traditional SystemV init scripts as well as an introduction to the new systemd daemon for startup and daemon management. The student will learn to manage users and software packages. Networking, security, processes, filesystems and Logical Volume Management will be covered in detail.

Schedule

Please check the Training page for complete class schedules and seat availability. Please contact us to sign up for classes as soon as possible. Our classroom facilities are very limited so class sizes are very small.

Posted in Announcements, Training

January 17, 2012
9:38 am
by: dboth

SOPA Protest

This website will be off-line tomorrow, January 18, 2012, in protest of the SOPA law. That law would restrict the Internet freedoms of everyone for the somewhat questionable  financial benefit of a few media companies. In order to restrict alleged piracy, they would restrict the entire Internet. Web sites could be closed without any warning or even proof that they were in violation of any law—except the laws of greed.

Read about SOPA and the protest.

This bill will break the Internet as we know it.

Posted in Freedom, Information, News, Opinion

January 15, 2012
6:14 pm
by: dboth

THINK About It

LightSlateThink03.png

Having worked at IBM for 21 years, I always liked the motto created by Thomas J. Watson, Sr.

Mr. Watson was a strong proponent of giving people a task and letting them go do it. He knew that they would make a few mistakes, but he always said that he would never punish anyone for having made a thoughtful mistake. That is, one where the individual had genuinely thought about his or her actions and performed them with the best interest of the company, the customer and one’s own self in mind.

The result of this—and the rest of his philosophy—was that The IBM I started with in 1974 made it through the Great Depression not just without sliding backwards, but with significant growth while maintaining full employment of all departments in The IBM. He even hired salespeople during the height of the Great Depression.

To Watson, every employee was a caretaker of the company and managers—he hated that term—were there only to support the employees who were actually doing the work.

For many years The IBM used to have the motto “THINK” displayed in every office. It was our watchword.

I still believe in this motto. I try to THINK about everything I do. I am not always successful but, more often than not, I am. I believe that as a business person and as a human being. It applies to every aspect of our lives.

So I have made THINK the motto of Millennium Technology Consulting. And, for now at least, it will be the banner on all of our web pages.

Posted in Company News, Thoughts

January 11, 2012
12:17 pm
by: dboth

“Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” Class Starts Jan. 23

 

Taken from my own experiences accumulated during more than 14 years of using Linux, and developed using my knowledge and experience as a course developer and trainer for both IBM and Red Hat, this class covers the practical aspects of Linux System Administration. It builds upon the foundation of the “Philosophy of Linux” in a way that helps the student understand how and why things are done as they are.

Our courses are always highly rated and well reviewed. Here are some comments from previous students taken directly from the course evaluation forms.

Seats Available

There are still seats available for my Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration class which starts on Monday, January 23 and runs for five days.

Course Description

The student will learn about the history of Linux and the philosophy of Linux and how it applies to the everyday tasks that she will be expected to perform. The student will install a current Fedora Linux system on common Intel hardware, using various installation options to customize the final result. The students will learn to use the command line interface (CLI) and many basic Linux commands along with the vi editor. More advanced commands such as sed and awk will be covered and combining all of these commands into short command line programs will be discussed and the student will have opportunity to use them in lab projects.

This course covers the Linux boot sequence and the traditional SystemV init scripts as well as an introduction to the new systemd daemon for startup and daemon management. The student will learn to manage users and software packages. Networking, security, processes, filesystems and Logical Volume Management will be covered in detail.

Schedule

Please check the Training page for complete class schedules and seat availability. Please contact us to sign up for classes as soon as possible. Our classroom facilities are very limited so class sizes are very small.

Posted in Linux, News, Training

January 10, 2012
12:15 pm
by: dboth

New Look for Web Site

Yes, the Millennium Technology Consulting LLC website has a new look. I have had the previous look for a few years now. That was a really bright blue and white theme and I thought it was time for a change to something more interesting visually.

I really like WordPress, which is the Free Open Source Software (FOSS)  I use for all of my web sites, because I can change the look and feel—the theme—with a couple clicks of a mouse.

I just like these gray colors, the subtle lines and the feel of this theme. I am not sure how long I will keep this theme as it is, so don’t be surprised if you see some other changes; that is just me experimenting.

Posted in Linux, News

December 16, 2011
10:12 am
by: dboth

Linux Training Classes for Q1, 2012 Scheduled

Millennium Technology Consulting LLC has set its Linux training schedule for the First Quarter of 2012. We will be presenting one session of our highly acclaimed “Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” class each month.

Classes are set for the following dates:

  • January 23-27, 2012
  • February 13-17, 2012
  • March 12-16, 2012

Please refer to the Millennium Technology Consulting LLC Training Page for complete schedules and prices.

Posted in Announcements, Linux, Training

October 20, 2011
10:01 am
by: dboth

Additional “Theory and Practice of Linux System Administration” Class Scheduled

I have scheduled an additional session for the highly reviewed class, “Theory and Practice of Linux system Administration.” This class will be held December 5 through 9.

Please see the Training page for schedule and pricing information.

Posted in Announcements, Training

October 14, 2011
7:58 am
by: dboth

Dennis Ritchie Dies

Dennis Ritchie died this week. His death over the weekend was announced on Wednesday, October 12.

Less well known than Steve Jobs, who died last week, Ritchie’s contribution to computing was far more fundamental and underlies nearly every bit of computing software on the planet.

Dennis Ritchie wrote Unix and the C programming language. Both Linux and Apple’s OSX are flavors of Unix. Many other programming languages owe much of their syntax and structure to C.

Read this article on Wired.com for more: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/10/thedennisritchieeffect/

Posted in Articles, News

October 6, 2011
9:39 am
by: dboth

We Will Miss You Steve

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Thank you Steve, for all you did to bring computers to everyone. Not to mention all the other fun stuff.

Posted in News