IT Pro Tuesday #206
Get this in your inbox each week.
Welcome back to IT Pro Tuesday!
While it was a shock to most, the end of Hyper-V Server now means many organizations will need to look at migration. MVPs Eric Siron and Andy Syrewicze discussed where users go to from here and the alternatives to Hyper-V Server. Watch / listen on The SysAdmin DOJO Podcast or on your favorite podcast player.
We're looking for cool tips and tools we can share with the community... those that help you do your job better and more easily. Please reply with your latest finds, so we can help others benefit from your experience.
As always, we’re updating the full list on our website here. Enjoy.
But on with this week's tools...! Here are the most-interesting items that have come across our desks, laptops and phones this week. Hornetsecurity has no known affiliation with any of these unless we explicitly state otherwise.
A Free Tool
paping is a cross-platform tool for TCP port testing that emulates the function of ping for cases when ICMP has been blocked. Allows you to repeatedly scan the same ports to determine if a service is responding. metalnuke calls it an "invaluable TCP port ping tool for Windows platforms."
A Tutorial
The Art of Command Line offers a concise set of helpful notes and tips for using the command-line in Linux. The guide is intended for all skill levels, covering topics that range from basic to advanced—including some rather obscure hints that are nonetheless valuable. looneybooms adds, "…as many of us are constrained to windows environments in many scenarios (dang msft shops), this is a neat read to remind yourself of things, learn a few new things, etc."
Another Free Tool
Tmuxinator allows you to more-easily manage your tmux sessions using a single command. munsking explains, "without it, tmux is pretty much the same as screen for me… pseudo example: 'tmuxinator clients' would open a tiled window with 16 windows with ssh to 16 clients and sync input after login."
Yet Another Free Tool
BatteryInfoView is a utility for displaying all the essential information about a battery's health and specs on laptops and netbook computers. Details include manufacturing info, charge status, capacity, voltage and more. Also provides a log window that can track battery status on whatever time interval you like. Our appreciation for this suggestion goes to tuxedo_jack.
Training Resource
Who Destroyed Three Mile Island? makes a compelling argument as to why organizations should focus on the systemic causes behind major failures, rather than just assigning blame. In this fascinating talk, Nickolas Means offers specific examples from the famous nuclear disaster that illustrate why the perspectives of key players must be examined if we want to make our teams stronger and avoid future problems. A valuable lesson that can help build truly strategic leadership skills for any IT manager! Our thanks for directing us to Mr. Means presentations goes to hypercube33.
P.S. Bonus Free Tools
MP4Tools is a simple set of cross-platform tools for manipulating MP4 files. Allows you to easily join and split files without losing quality. Kindly suggested by QuietThunder2014.
2FAuth is a self-hosted web app for managing 2FA and generating its security codes. Offers a clean interface to replace cloud-based alternatives for both mobile and desktop. TumsFestivalEveryDay urges, "Get your crap out of Google/Microsoft/Twilio/Duo and just roll your own. Doesn't require port forwarding or anything, it just works."
Have a fantastic week and as usual, let us know any comments.