GlobalConfig.net

iPad App Review: Mental Case

Brandon Carroll — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:00:58 +0000

If you’re studying for Cisco Certifications then this may be a great solution for you. Mental Case is a flash card application on steroids. Here is the run down on the app:

You can build a case, or import a case that’s already made and play it. Here is a look at my Library. In includes a number of cases that pertain to Cisco, as well as some that dont. Recently Jeremy Stretch said on twitter that he was learning spanish. I found a case that contains flashcards to study the days of the week in Spanish.

When you have a case selected you can view it. Viewing it makes it a flash card that you can swipe to reveal the answer.

There is also an Exchange that will let you search for pre-made cases that you can download for free. It’s pretty extensive. The only caution I would have is that these are created by anyone so you should probably double check their work.

I give this app a thumbs up! Nice interface, great functionality and relevant to what I do. The app will cost you $7.99 USD, and you can find it in the iTunes Sore. There is also a classroom edition for free, however I have not checked that one out so I cant speak to it.

If you found this article useful why not re-tweet it.

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Borderless Networks. What’s that all about?

Brandon Carroll — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:41:45 +0000

While I was at Cisco Live I spoke with a few Cisco people about what Cisco’s Borderless Network is all about. It’s one of those things that have always struck me as a Marketing term that didn’t mean much to me. That is until I found out the the ASA falls under the term- “Borderless Networks.” So I did a little reading, and this is where I stand with it.

Here is what I have come up with:

There is a shift occurring toward ubiquitous wired and wireless access, but many companies are still treating wired and wireless networks as separate entities.
Another shift is in how and where users access information. I recall when I worked at GTE, prior to the merger with Bell Atlantic, that all the data and applications were housed on premises, and users, us, were also generally on premises. There wasn’t much of an option to work from home. Back in those days I had a NetZero account for internet access. Remember NetZero? Anyhow, these days, organizations want to tap into talent pools all around the world rather than those limited to one location.

So, Borderless Networks addresses these issues. Here is what it’s designed to do:

Decouple hardware from software.
Unify computing, storage, and the network.
Provide policy throughout the unified system

So what is it that provides the answer to these areas? Well you most likely already now the answer:

Cisco Routing
Cisco Switching
Cisco Unified Wireless Networks
Cisco Security
Cisco Application Optimization
Cisco Network Management Solutions

So I suppose on the outside it’s still a marketing term, however it does make sense. It’s still may sound strange to you that an ASA (remember this is a security device) falls under the umbrella of “Borderless Networks.” If so, why not read some of the PDF’s I’ve provided links to below. They discuss the idea of Borderless Networks in further detail as well as the TrustSec concept.

Eliminating Borders to Enable Any Place, Any Time, Any Device Access White Paper

Cisco TrustSec At-A-Glance

Happy Studies!

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Learning about VMware vSphere: Mindless Rant

Brandon Carroll — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:43:48 +0000

I decided to learn a little about VMware vSphere since i’ve been seeing post after post on CCIETalk.com. Here is what I know so far:

VMware says vSphere is the industries first cloud “operating system.”
They say that it makes the Infrastructure very simple- but you still have complete control.
50% reduction in capital cost and 60% reduction in operational costs is what the claim.
You can be a 100% virtualized infrastructure
There are application services with SLA capabilities.

So, after learning all that, and watching their almost 4 minute video I still feel like I know nothing about it. Oh well, not that I have to learn about it. But it would have been nice to spend my 4 minutes seeing something that is worthwhile. Why is this even posted on CCIETalk.com? I’m not sure what this has to do with anything unless you’re in sales and want to learn how to confuse the masses.

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Good Intentions

Brandon Carroll — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:52:05 +0000

I had good intentions last week of posting to the blog each day. As you well know, that didn’t happen. Why? Because I was busy. There was so much going on at Cisco Live that it was hard to even find time to breathe. Sunday was pretty light. I registered and trolled around with @danedevalcourt. Monday I presented a 4 hour session on Cisco ASA’s. That was a lot of fun, but after presenting a 2 hour session last year I learned quickly that it was very difficult to cover everything I needed/wanted to cover in the time I had. Add to the fact that people had very specific ideas of what they wanted to hear about and you have a very difficult session. Still, it was a ton of fun. I got to hang out with Ascolta student Teren and his wife for some great Scotch and went to a Data Center party at the Mix on the 64th floor at Mandalay Bay with Co-Worker, Geoff Tompson.

Tuesday evening I went to the Cisco Press Party and CCIE party. Both were very good. I had a great time mingling with Jeremy Cioara and Wendel Odom. I also spent some time with Narbik Kocharians and of course, “The Gang” (Jeff, James, Dane, Chris, Bryan). I also spent some time with the IPexpert gang, Marvin Greenlee from INE, and Scott Morris.

Unfortunately I missed the CAE and headed back to Sunny Seattle to help my wife out. I’ve been packing my house in preparation for my move to Irvine, Ca. Tomorrow we load the trunk and Thursday we start the drive.

On a high note, I had the pleasure of joining Greg Ferro and his World Class team of guys on Packet Pushers for their 10th episode. Really loving the show and had a blast. Would be honored to be on another in the future.

Well for now that’s about it. I’ll be back with more news and an update on my R&S studies in about a week once the move is over. Ill also post a little more on my new life back at Ascolta.

Until then…Happy Labbing.

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links for 2010-06-27

Brandon Carroll — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:03:32 +0000

My YouMail Home

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Day 1 in Las Vegas

Brandon Carroll — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:19:11 +0000

Day one has been pretty relaxing. I had lunch with @danedevalcourt, spent some time at the pool, and checked-in for Cisco Live.

Tomorrow I have no sessions but have to set up the Ascolta booth.

I’ll do a post a day with my highlights but if you want the play-by-play then follow along with twitter.

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My Cisco Live Schedule

Brandon Carroll — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:14:17 +0000

Well It’s Friday and I’m getting ready to head to Vegas. Here is my schedule over the next few days:

If you’re around send me a message on Twitter and let’s meet up.

I’ll also be at Ascolta’s booth (#665) so stop by and see me there as well!

See you there!

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Beginning to like Cisco AnyConnect for Full Tunnel

Brandon Carroll — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:53:04 +0000

I’ve sorta been an opposer of the Cisco Anyconnect, and SSL VPN for that matter for some time. Mostly because I have this image in my head of how crappy the WebVPN used to be. I remember it back on the VPN 3000′s and the IOS. This week however I’ve been in San Jose spending time with Anyconnect and Clientless SSL VPN for the ASA. I am really impressed with its capabilities. Another thing I’m liking about it is that you can actually get an essentials license for just about nothing that gives you the equivalent to the IPSec client capabilities plus the support for 64-bit OS’s and multiple OS Vendors.

Anyhow, I think I’ve changed my tune. I’m not going to have to post some cool configs for SSL VPN in the near future.

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Are Laker Fans the New Raider Fans?

Brandon Carroll — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:09:57 +0000

I can’t help but say this. In the past I used to have an issue with Raider Fans because even when the team won there seemed to be some kind of riot. Now, I see the Lakers win and I hear about riots, and on the news I see them tipping over cars and stuff. I have to wonder if the people that I despised for so long were not Raider fans, but rather the residents of Los Angeles. I mean, c’mon people! Why would you trash your own town? Aren’t you better than that?

Oh well, I guess I’ll get over it and just watch soccer like the rest of the world!

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Mobility Matters- Study Time isn’t always when your home.

Brandon Carroll — Sun, 30 May 2010 23:45:09 +0000

So I had to geek out on this for a moment. I haven’t said much about my iPad since I bought it. I do know that it will not replace my laptop any time soon. I can say, however, that the more you use the keyboard the better you get at it.

One tool I am learning to appreciate is the iSSH app. It does telnet and RDP as well. It’s about ten dollars in the app store but let’s you have multiple connections open at once and depending on the orientation of the iPad it kinda gets out of the way. Here are a few screen shots while messing around with a router.

Please add your thoughts or apps you are using to study to the comments section.

Happy labbing!

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