Jason Powell - Church IT and Other Musings

Church IT Stuff To Note

- Oct 8-10: National Fall Church IT Roundtable at Seacoast Church
- Sept 17: GCC IT Roundtable (registration open)
- April 3/4: MinstryTECH '08 Oklahoma City
- April 5: Spring '08 Roundtable Oklahoma City
- Fall '07 Roundtable recap
- Fall '07 Roundtable at GCC recap
- Other Roundtable news
- Take the Church IT Survey
- Listen to the Church IT Podcast
- Join the Church IT IRC channel

International Conference on Computing and Mission June 6-10

I'm bummed my schedule isn't going to allow me to attend ICCM this year.  I learned about it via my old pal and floormate TR Knight who was the only other Physics major graduating Taylor University in '93.  TR is now the head IT honcho at TU and hosts the ICCM each year.

What's the ICCM? 
The International Conference on Computing and Mission (ICCM) is an
annual informal (NO ties allowed) gathering of women and men who have
a common interest in computers and mission. We share a vision cooperation
for effective use of technology bringing the Gospel to every nation.

June 6 - June 10, 2008 ... with Registration Closing May 23rd!
Taylor University
Keynote for 2008 is Ron Fleming, Global Chief Information Officer for the International Bible Society .

News|Schedule|Registration

Watch Where You Buy Microsoft Office for Mac From

So some of our Mac users have been asking about upgrading to the new 08 version of Mac Office.  They were telling me the upgrade price was $228 and standalone was $380 ... and that was even off the discounted Willow Creek Association site.

I couldn't believe it could be that high considering Microsoft's great charity pricing so I went to look for myself.  Sure enough $228 and $380!!!  We even have our own GCC Apple webstore so I checked their too ... same pricing ... what the?

I fired off a quote request to my Dell rep.  He came back with an initial quote of $52!  So I shoot an email to our Apple enterprise rep, BTW he's a great dude, asking what's up.  After a while he sent back this reply ...

"Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer the [MS] charity licenses. I hate to say this, trust me, but go to Dell!"

So the moral of the story?  ALWAYS make sure you are getting charity pricing for your Microsoft software ... even the mac stuff!!

This is not to slam the WCA site ... they get their pricing from Apple and thus are helpless.  Nor is this a slam on Apple ... though it's disappointing they aren't offering charity pricing.

For MS charity pricing you might try: CDW, Zones, Insight, CCB ... but honestly in my experience Dell consistently beats everyone else on software pricing.

My buddy David has a lengthy post about charity pricing well worth the read if you're new to purchasing charity licenses.

Church IT Podcast canceled today Thursday May 15th

I was hoping this wouldn't have to happen, but regrettably it does ... podcast for today canceled.  Counselors will be standing by for those too grief stricken to go on.

Office 2008 for Mac now available via MS Home Use Program

I just noticed Office 08 for Mac is now available via HUP ... our Mac users will be happy ... $20 for Office 08 is sweet! :-)

What is the Home Use Program?  The Home Use Program is a benefit of Software Assurance, one of Microsoft® ’s volume licensing programs. It provides a simple way for employers to enable employees to work at home with the same Microsoft® products they use at work.

IT Opening At GCC: IT Specialist

Here's the follow up to my prior job opening post (make sure you're read it before sending emails)

IT Specialist

Position: Full Time Support Staff Reports to: Information Technology Director

Summary:

This person’s primary role will be to live and die for the helpdesk. Ridiculous customer service and attention to detail are a must for this position. A Secondary role will be to provide assistance to the Network Administrator for server and network related tasks. We only hire sled dogs--someone who will pull with all their worth to further the mission, vision, values of GCC and the IT Department.

Primary role:

Support users by resolving 1^st-3^rd tier desktop support requests for help with desktop/laptop computers, Windows, Office and other desktop applications, Fellowship One church management software, network issues, and telephony issues

Secondary role:

Manage servers, server applications, networks, security, and phone systems

Qualifications:

· Current A+, Network+, MCSE certifications or actively pursuing certifications a plus.

· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field or actively pursuing degree completion.

· In-depth technical problem solving skills with the ability to support a wide range of technologies and escalate to vendors when necessary to resolve issues.

· Ability to support and train users on Windows XP/Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 applications; familiarity with Fellowship One church management software a plus.

· Ability to troubleshoot PC/Server hardware problems and perform repairs.

· Apple and Linux networking, hardware, software troubleshooting experience a plus.

· Ability to manage information security including permissions, passwords, firewall, anti-malware, anti-spam, and content filtration systems.

· Ability to manage business phone systems, voice mail, desktop phones, and the associated wiring infrastructure.

· At least two years current experience managing Windows 2003 server, Active Directory, Exchange server, and Windows networking.

· At least two years current experience installing, configuring, and supporting managed network switches, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, and the associated wiring infrastructure.

· Strong ability to take initiative, manage workload independently, multi-task, prioritize, document, and follow through with great attention to detail.

· Excellent personal communication skills including ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical end users.

· Ability to work under pressure, to work in a fast paced environment--going above and beyond when needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

· Actively monitor all incoming support requests, prioritize, and respond as appropriate providing weekly helpdesk reports/trends

· Maintain a high volume of completed requests with accuracy and efficiency, and provide follow up with end users to ensure satisfactory response and resolution.

· Diagnose and resolve computer software and hardware problems, escalating issues when necessary.

· Complete adds, drops, moves, and upgrades for computer, network, phone, and voicemail.

· Install and support approved desktop application software.

· Provide on-the-spot user training in software and procedures as needed.

· Develop, follow, and/or implement guidelines, strategies, standards, and procedures in conjunction with IT Staff.

· Manage Windows 2003 servers, Active Directory, Windows networking and printers, Exchange server, and other server-based applications.

· Manage information security systems including firewall, anti-malware, anti-spam, and content filtration.

· Install, configure, and support managed network switches, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, and the associated wiring infrastructure.

· Manage phone and voicemail systems and the associated wiring infrastructure.

· Maintain up to date hardware and software inventory including software licensing.

· Other duties as assigned by the IT Director.

IT Power Consumption con't: Intel Servers

Finally got around to measuring the power usage of one of our main Intel servers ... ~326W combined across both power supplies.  Frankly, I expected this to be less considering our EqualLogic arrays pull 300W and they are spinning 14 disks and big blowers.  Oh well, it's more data for the power project.

Dell EqualLogic Auto-Replication and VMware Site Recovery Manager

Oooo, more new stuff for EqualLogic customers!  Now if only GCC were using VI3...

Dell EqualLogic Auto-Replication and VMware Site Recovery Manager

Simple, Affordable, Automated Disaster Recovery

New Solutions for Automated Site Recovery from Dell and VMware: The virtual infrastructure enabled by Dell EqualLogic and VMware VI3 technologies now automate disaster recovery planning and execution by natively integrating the PS Series Auto-Replication feature directly into VMware’s Site Recovery Manager software.
VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) is a new product that is tightly integrated with Dell EqualLogic PS Series to offer centralized disaster recovery management, automation, and testing for the entire virtualized datacenter. Using the PS Series’ native Auto-Replication feature integrated directly into Site Recovery Manager using specialized storage adapter software storage adapter software.  MORE

Church IT/Tech's Biggest Loser #2 Starting May 22nd!

A number of people have been nudging me to get the next loser contest underway ... so I think we've landed on next Thursday, May 22nd as the start date.

We're also going to broaden the contest to both church IT and Technical Arts staff and volunteers ... so tell your tech arts buddies.

So if you missed the first contest here's your chance to get slim ... and if you were in the first contest here's your chance to get even slimmer :-)

Official rules and paypal link to follow next week sometime.  Get yourself ready to be a loser!!

Tire Rack One Lap Of America Finale

Saturday morning I took the boys over to The Tire Rack to watch the end of the One Lap Of America event ... for those old enough, this event is what's become of the infamous Cannonball Dash popularized by the movies Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run.

It's a chance to see up close some sweet cars and this year was no exception.  The finale is also fun because many competitors will go out onto the track and do long smokey burnouts to the cheers of the crowd :-)

Newly debuted Mongoose GTP ... you won't see many of these driving around town!

Another rare sight - the Ultima GTR - "fastest supercar in the world"

  Winner of the 2008 One Lap event

 

  

  My M3's younger stronger sibling ... with aftermarket huge supercharger ... drool!

This was THE FIRST new Dodge Challenger SRT-8's to roll off the production line ... it ate a tire barrier early in the competition but kept on tickin'

The result of doing a ridiculously long burnout :-)

Is it wrong to lust after another man's trailer?

Not your typical Honda Odyssey ... this one has rollcage, uber stiff suspension, turbo charger ... makes haulin' kids to practice very enjoyable

One of THE FIRST 2009 Nissan GT-R's to hit American soil    Nothing like a good tire carvin'

IT Power Consumption: EqualLogic Arrays

I'm slowly gathering data for my IT power consumption/cost project ... and here's my first 'victim', our EqualLogic Arrays.

I assumed these dudes would pull some juice considering each array has 14 drives spinning 24/7/365, but I was surprised by the results.

I attached a Kill-A-Watt meter to each Power Supply feed (yes, I did this on a live production array) and here are the results...

Left PS => 145W, Right PS => 152W for a total 297W... and if only one PS is connected the live side reads 285W

I was expecting close to 500W not  under 300W!  I'd say that's pretty green for a bad mama jama storage array ... same consumption as 3 100W light bulbs!  Impressive.

Since we have 2 EqualLogic arrays our total SAN storage eats up a mere 600W ... and that's 28 drives, 4 power supplies, and 4 big blower fans plus the onboard controllers and whatnot.

I don't know what it takes to be labeled "green", but I'd say these arrays are pretty green in my book.

IT Opening at GCC

If you've been following my twitter or the #CITRT IRC channel you knew this blog post was coming ... yup, we officially have an opening in the IT department at GCC.

I have the bar set very high for this position ... seriously!  What we do (or don't do) in IT has a huge impact on the ministries operating at GCC ... and we do not take this lightly.  "Above and beyond" is a mantra in our department ... it's part of our DNA.  We don't look at this as a "job" ... this is a ministry. 

Now, we work hard, but we also play hard.  A great sense of humor is a must in our department and you should probably enjoy listening to tasty rock/metal tunes, eating hot wings, watching LOST & BSG, and the obvious enjoyment of all things geek related.  The environment at GCC is simply amazing.  This is truly an inspiring place to work.  Everyone is focused on the same mission, vision, and values ... and the leadership here ... world class.

Due note the except for rare cases, we hire from within ... so, with all that said ... if you're interested in this incredible opportunity shoot Michelle Leugoud an email requesting an application (mleugoud at gccwired dot com)

I'll get the full job description posted here in the next day or 2.  For now here's a snippet:

Working Title: IT Specialist

Position: Full Time Support Staff
Reports to: Information Technology Director

Quick Summary:

This person’s primary role will be to live and die for the helpdesk by resolving 1^st-3^rd tier support requests for help with desktop/laptop computers, Windows, Office and other desktop applications, Fellowship One church management software, network issues, and telephony issues.  Secondary role will be to provide assistance to the Network Administrator for server and LAN/WAN network related tasks and projects.  Ridiculous customer service mind set and attention to detail are a must for this position. We anticipate the role to be 50% helpdesk and 50% network admin.

Picture Dump

This is just a bunch of pictures that have been collecting on my camera phone I keep meaning to blog about ... so I'm just dumping them all together for your viewing pleasure with a simple blurb rather than separate blog posts.

That's how much I paid for gas Wednesday right here in Granger, IN ... $4.059!!  My first over $4/gal pump.  Sigh.

Ashlee's already starting to practice for the Indy 500

I was complaining about the lack of a nice graphical network monitoring tool the other day ... so while I was out of the office Ed hooked me up with this sweet-o graphical display.  Amazing it looks just like a piece of paper taped to my monitor ;-)

Jeff Hook giving his MinstryTECH presentation ... golly, what a sharp lookin' fella

My first drive with my Biggest Loser GPS ... on the way to the airport to head to MinstryTECH/Roundtable

This was a fun purchasing experience :-)

Our new wiring color codes

Our new IDF and wall/patch panel naming scheme

John D. and son from a recent Saturday IT Volunteer op ... doing some machine rebuilds

Honey, there's a SAN in our dinning room!?

Thanks to Alan Hunt and VR6 Systems, this is the view tonight from my dinning room.  Shouldn't every home have an EqualLogic SAN? :-)

Wife says this is not an acceptable location, but I just had to fire it up tonight to "play" ... it'll travel back and forth between several locations while we run various tests.

More details and who/what/why/how to follow ...

Use ChatZilla IRC Client WithOUT Firefox?!

For me ChatZilla is by FAR the best IRC client out there.  Why?  The way it cleanly displays message threads  so you can quickly scan them can't be beat.  I keep trying different clients and looking for something better and so far nada.

The big drawback with Chatzilla is that it's tied to the Firefox browser.  So if you need to restart Ffox for any reason there goes your IRC client and any unread messages :(

I mentioned my dilemma to Justin today and he went out and actually found me the ultimate solution ... ChatZilla on XULRunner!  Basically XULRunner allows you to run the ChatZilla client free from Ffox!  Per the website:

"Standalone Mozilla IRC Client, no browsers attached.

ChatZilla is normally used as part of SeaMonkey, or an extension to other browsers. However, this has caused problems with custom themes and other extensions, and means you can't restart the browser without leaving IRC.

XULRunner allows you to use ChatZilla standalone, free of whatever happens to your browser. "

It's a very simple download and install and oh man I'm loving it.  All the greatness of ChatZilla with no ties to my Ffox browser sessions ... brilliant!!!

Mibbit is still by far the easiest way to get on the CITRT IRC channel, but for those wanting a standalone IRC client ChatZilla on XULRunner is the cat's meow.

reminder: Church IT Podcast May 1st 2pm Eastern

Just a friendly reminder ... today, Thursday May 1st, 2pm Eastern ... live interactive podcast ... be there!

Get deets on how to participate at http://www.churchITpodcast.com

No formal topics on the table ... Got questions to ask?  Got a topic to discuss?  Bring 'em!

Out of the Loop!

Here's my Google Reader stats for the past 30 days.  Can you tell I've not been reading blogs?  Life has just been busy of late, but over the weekend I blocked out some time and plowed through almost 1200 posts ... there's still a boat load I've not read, but I at least knocked out my top feeds.  At least now I feel a little more back 'in da loop'

2009 Corvette ZR1 hits 205mph

The bar keeps getting raised by auto manufactures.  It wasn't that long ago that 200mph was uber exotic supercar territory ... and now you'll soon be able to walk into a Chevy dealer and get an American made 2009 Chevy Corvette ZR1 off the showroom floor and push it OVER 200mph! [assuming you can find a stretch of asphalt long enough to do so legally]

638 HP and 604 ft-lb Torque ... OH MY sweetness!

Here the GM video clip of the 205mph run ... watch the digital speedo climb effortlessly from 100mph ... drool!

 

EqualLogic App-aware Snaps for Exchange

Tasty features coming for EqualLogic users!  I've been under NDA on this, but it's now free to air news :-)

Round Rock, Texas, April 28, 2008

• In a move that further enhances the Dell EqualLogic^TM  PS5000 Series as the midrange SAN of choice for Microsoft^®  Exchange Server, Dell is announcing Auto-Snapshot Manager Smart Copy for Exchange as the latest in a series of “application-aware” snapshot, cloning and data replication capabilities. This application awareness can simplify how IT application specialists can work with PS Series SANs to help improve data protection, disaster recovery and testing-and-development procedures. Smart Copy enhances the PS Series’ host integration capabilities to help reduce the amount of time IT administrators spend managing and protecting Windows^® -based business applications. In the case of Exchange, Smart Copy allows administrators to easily automate data validation checks and quickly recover from data loss or corruption. The first Smart Copy feature was announced for Microsoft SQL Server^®  in July 2007 (press release), furthering the Dell EqualLogic product line’s integration with Microsoft environments and helping to improve the speed and reliability of database and file recovery operations.
• “The Smart Copy feature set is yet another way the PS Series is simplifying storage and enhancing Dell’s overall vision of simplifying IT,” said Kevin Wittmer, senior manager, product marketing, for Dell EqualLogic storage solutions. “Evolving Smart Copy to include Exchange data protection and recovery is part of our initiative to make PS Series storage more application aware. This can empower application administrators by putting sophisticated data management and protection features at their fingertips – at no additional cost – in a safe and easy to-use package.”
• Smart Copy for Exchange will be available in May at no extra cost with all new purchases of Dell EqualLogic PS5000 Series iSCSI SAN storage arrays and for all existing PS Series customers under warranty or with a current support agreement.

Others related links:

EqualLogic and Exchange

EqualLogic and SQL

Want more info on EqualLogic Storage?  Contact VR6 Systems 

IT Power Consumption and Costs

I'm starting a new project that I've been wanting to pursue for a few years ... an overall IT power consumption and cost analysis.  Yes, I'm a sick puppy.  Why start it now?  Well, the main reason is we're heading into budget cuts and I'm wondering what kind of cost savings we'd see by powering down PC's overnight.  Yes, this causes patch management headaches, but perhaps the pain is worth the gain?  I can't truly say either way without supporting data.

Of course the end user PC's are just one part of the power consumption equation.  I want to measure everything ... switches, servers, APs, SANs, etc ... if it belongs to IT I want to measure it and in the end have a pretty comprehensive report on what it costs to power IT at GCC.  A side benefit from this will be having some data to estimate how much we've saved by virtualizing servers and storage in the past 2 years.  Bonus!

I did a little googling tonight and this Kill-A-Watt monitor looks like a cost effective tool to get most of the data I'll need.  About the only devices at GCC they won't work on are our UPS units as the Kill-A-Watt maxes out at 15A.

I did a similar study 6-7 years ago at my prior employer with the school's PC's.  I don't recall the $ amounts, but in the end we did shut down the computers during the weekends.  Anyone else done an IT Power analysis for your organization?  What did you discover?

Church IT's Biggest Loser Before/After

The winner from our biggest loser contest has finally blogged a little about his weight loss routine ... check out Matthew's before and after shots ... he looks like a different dude! :-)  Since starting the contest he's down almost 60lbs! Wow!