Also, just for due diligence, I recommend checking the power profile on the server and ensure it is set to max performance. Turn off processor C-states as well to ensure you get all the firepower that host can give you. There's a host power power management policy setting in ESXi for each host that you can set to high performance as well.

@scottalanmiller said:

Maybe it knows that it had better show them when it is me

Can we call you The Community Whisperer?

Water Closet, Favourite, .... I feel like this is a British community. Where's @huw3481 when you need him?

I guess follow me wasn't good enough for roaming?

I agree a deal to some is not so much a deal to others. The beauty with SIP providers is that you can increase / decrease the number of "lines" (or concurrent calls) when needed to save money and only use what you need. Some bundle LD while others do not. Some providers like Intelepeer have plans where you pay per minute whether local or LD, and you get unlimited lines / concurrent calls. Definitely shop around to find a provider that works for you.

Remember you will want 87-100Kbps of upload bandwidth per concurrent call. I can definitely understand having a tough time swallowing ISP pricing, but if it is going to ensure phone clarity,management will pay it.

I think a general talk on risk mitigation, how it translates to the bottom line, and how to get projects approved by management by justifying the cost might be good. You could throw in helpful hints about how to align projects with business need and not departmental wishes.

I was thinking @john-nicholson was conducting a funeral for XP. He mentioned that when we were in Austin at Tech Talks Live in December.

That's awesome! I can't wait to try it. Ok, I guess I have to wait....

@ajstringham
Digital phones do not have an ip address on the network and are going to require rj11 cables to them wherever they are located. It's an additional cabling need that is introduced that is not as nice as having everything ride your existing network cabling. They often have fewer features as well. For example, we used to have Avaya 5410 phones with our IP Offcie 406. The phones were easy to use and setup with the IP Office, but if we needed to put a new user somewhere that had no cabling for phones to it (though it likely had network cabling already), we'd have to pay for it. It's not as easy as throwing a switch in like with ethernet.

I'd actually like to hear a session about growing your department, coaching and development of the people who work for you, letting them grow without stunting your growth, justifying that the team needs to grow, etc.

Are you sure this isn't just a spinoff of the popular app Wordly?

@NetworkNerdWifey said:

Don't show this to @NetworkNerd . He'll pull out his soapbox.

I'm already standing on it.

We use CloudFlare for DNS, and it works wonderfully. We are gearing up for an ISP switch this weekend, and someone above me advised we make our DNS changes on Friday evening to ensure all was well by Monday.

I actually created a new A-record in CloudFlare yesterday afternoon for something, and by the time I could get to the command prompt to try and ping it, it was online already. That's pretty impressive if you ask me. And I specifically remember switching to CloudFlare from another provider in the middle of the night on a weekend and things being fine by Monday.

So, the real question here is...am I rolling the dice by waiting until Saturday afternoon / evening to make those DNS changes?

What is the longest it has ever taken your DNS records to propagate?

I'm in the market for a Help Desk Technician in the Fort Worth area to service our family of companies in the Manufacturing field. If you are interested in what you see below, let's chat.

Position Summary:
The Help Desk Technician will act as the first line of defense in researching and resolving technical problems related to desktop and laptop computers (hardware or software), smart phones / tablets, and printers. This member of the team will aid the department in better supporting the company’s growing user base. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, organized, and have an excellent mind for problem solving.

Job Responsibilities
• Track and resolve tickets using the Spiceworks ticketing system – this may include in-person support, remote support (via phone or remote management tools) or e-mail communication to end users.
• Deploy new workstations and other devices (such as tablets) for office and plant users.
• Configure and maintain user access rights, company e-mail accounts, phone extensions, and workstation software licenses.
• Identify and procure the hardware and software needed to satisfy user requirements.
• Install / troubleshoot hardware and peripherals such as memory, monitors, keyboards, printers, scanners, and disk drives.
• Assist in the customization and adaptation of existing software applications to meet users’ requirements as well as deploy new software packages.
• Assist in maintaining company intranet site pages.
• Assist other department members with projects as needed.

Job Requirements
• Excellence in verbal, oral, and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of computer hardware components
• Familiarity with tablets and smartphones (Android and iOS)
• Knowledge of Windows operating systems XP/7/8 as well as MS Office
• Web development / programming experience
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs. and to occasionally climb, kneel, crouch, crawl, and reach.
• Must be able to work full time (M-F 8-5) as well as some nights and weekends when needed to meet job requirements and IT department deadlines.
• Travel will be required from time to time as we have multiple offices in the DFW metroplex.
• Knowledge of Spiceworks or other ticketing systems is a plus

I'm pretty sure this is the best post I have seen today. I love it!

For any that watched or heard about the online event, what did you think of their big announcements? Let's make this thread the discussion thread for everything related to it.

@scottalanmiller said:

It is on www.scottalanmiller.com/linux

Don't have the exact link where I am at the moment.

There's a TON of good content in there.

I actually work for a HR services company that does recruiting for other companies. Send me a chat with your friend's e-mail address, and I can try and get his resume in the right hands just in case there are openings with some of our clients.

I seem to remember a talk Scott gave at Spiceworld a few years ago (maybe 2010) about storage that I watched one night randomly.

It was good, but I do like the series idea.

Elastix 4 beta has been released - http://www.elastix.com/en/first-beta-elastix-4/.