Brian Nelson
Brian Nelson (MCSE, CNA) is a professional freelance writer and small business owner with the freelance writing business ArcticLlama, LLC. Brian’s experience includes network and systems administration, financial planning and advising, and he even has a degree in Biochemistry. Brian specializes in several areas of highly technical writing for ArcticLlama including technology, science and medical. He is also a freelance financial writer specialist. He lives in Colorado with his wife and daughter. Brian contributes articles on Windows Server 2008 and other related topics.
- Website: http://www.arcticllama.com/
Brian Nelson has written 100 posts for TrainSignal Training
Get Efficient with WAIK – Windows Automated Installation Kit
By Brian Nelson ⋅ October 2, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
The Windows Automated Installation Kit or WAIK or Windows AIK, is a series of tools and resources designed to help with automating the often time consuming process of installing Windows and its related software as well as additional programs. The purpose of this set compendium is to help systems administrators deploy and upgrade systems in [...]
Windows Deployment Services and the Real World
By Brian Nelson ⋅ September 18, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
What happens when four IT professionals, from different companies, are picked to upgrade a boat-load of systems, as part of the corporate rollout of a new operating system, and management wants it fast and cheap, when people stop being polite, and start being real? Find out on Microsoft’s The Real World, Deployment City*. This season, [...]
Server 2008: Windows System Image Manager and WDS
By Brian Nelson ⋅ September 12, 2008 ⋅ One comment
Windows System Image Manager, or SIM, is a tool that comes in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK). The AIK is not part of Windows Server 2008, but is a free download to any licensed user. The one catch is that the AIK comes in the form of a DVD image which means to use [...]
WDS Supporting Players at Server 2008 Install Summer Camp
By Brian Nelson ⋅ September 3, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
As you know, at Windows Server 2008 Install Summer Camp, we strive to make the world a better place by deploying large numbers of systems in the shortest amount of time and with the least user interaction possible. With all of us as the camp counselors for Hut 11, I have no doubt that this [...]
Arthur Uses the Images Stored on the WDS Servers
By Brian Nelson ⋅ August 18, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
After Arthur’s triumphant completion of the WDS infrastructure, he returned to Network full of energy and determination. With the elements of Windows Deployment Services in place he could begin the process of installing system after system without enduring a quest to travel to every location and sacrificing hours of his time to the Computer Gods [...]
Arthur Installs and Configures Windows Deployment Services
By Brian Nelson ⋅ August 12, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
As brave Arthur discovered in our previous installment, Windows Deployment Services can be used to assist in the rollout of new systems across an enterprise. WDS is primarily positioned for migrating the organization to a new operating systems like, oh I don’t know, let’s just say, Vista? However, the new WDS features in Windows Server [...]
Arthur and an Introduction to Windows Deployment Services
By Brian Nelson ⋅ August 6, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
Once upon a time, there was a young computer operator named Arthur. Now, Arthur was a good lad, and dedicated to the betterment of the Kingdom of Network. However, each season, when the new systems came in, Arthur had to leave behind his studies and prepare the new systems for the fields of Network. This [...]
GlobalNames Zones and the Long Overdue Demise of WINS
By Brian Nelson ⋅ July 22, 2008 ⋅ One comment
When any administrator worth their salt heard that Windows Server 2008 finally provided a mechanism to eliminate the need for WINS servers on the network, they pumped their fist in the air and said, "Yes!" Left over from the days when Microsoft networks were mainly broadcast based, NetBIOS name resolution has long been a thorn [...]
Migrating to IPv6 with Windows Server 2008
By Brian Nelson ⋅ July 14, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments
As we discussed before (Windows Server 2008 IPv6 — the Future of Internet Protocol) the new IPv6 protocol is coming and there is no stopping it. However, no one expects this to be a quick transition. IPv4 support will likely be necessary for years or decades to come. Luckily, Windows Server 2008 comes equipped with [...]
Windows Server 2008 IPv6 — The Future of Internet Protocol
By Brian Nelson ⋅ July 7, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
The Future Is … Well, Yesterday … But Now We’re Ready! A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, there was the Internet. The Internet was a network that allowed information to be shared between computers regardless of their location. It was pretty cool. Of course, you had to know Unix in [...]
What You Need to Know About the Works with Tool for Server 2008
By Brian Nelson ⋅ June 23, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments
You’re Ready, Are Your Applications? Rolling out new software is never an easy task. Today’s software can be complex and dependent upon functions that may or may not work the same in newer versions. That is why, in most production environments, new software rollouts are carefully planned to include the ability to back out the [...]
Fine-Grained Gotchas and Passwords Aged in Smooth Oak Barrels
By Brian Nelson ⋅ June 12, 2008 ⋅ 7 comments
Setting password policy at the domain level is like drinking moonshine from the barrel. It gets the job done, but every once in a while, it would be nice to get a little more refinement. With the new Server 2008 version, password policy has apparently aged enough for the boys in Redmond to smooth out [...]
How to Crush a Weasel with Server 2008 Fine-Grained Passwords
By Brian Nelson ⋅ June 5, 2008 ⋅ 2 comments
Being a Windows Systems Administrator is a lot like being an Army Ranger. They’re highly skilled and highly trained. You’re highly skilled and highly trained. They have to maintain tight security. You have to maintain tight security. They do more before 9:00 am than most people do all day. You read more email before 9:00 [...]
Server Core Install vs. Full Install – Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
By Brian Nelson ⋅ May 21, 2008 ⋅ 9 comments
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the main event! This bout, sanctioned by the WWAF (World Windows Administrators Federation), will be 6 rounds or until knock-out and referred by Brian Nelson of ArcticLlama. In the Blue Trunks weighing in at total installation weight, including all used and unused binaries, is Fuuuuuuuullllll Installllaaaaation! And in the Red [...]
Install Read-Only Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008
By Brian Nelson ⋅ May 13, 2008 ⋅ 4 comments
Installing a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) isn’t much different than installing a regular domain controller. However, there is one important factor to keep in mind. A RODC can only be installed into an existing Active Directory Domain with at least one full (non-read-only) Windows 2008 Server Domain Controller. The reason is that the RODC is [...]
To RODC or Not To RODC, That Is the Question
By Brian Nelson ⋅ May 5, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
The newly implemented Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) in Windows Server 2008 provides a way to increase the security of servers whose physical security cannot be assured. In addition, it can provide a way for local administrator privileges to be assigned to a user that you need to be an administrator at the local level, but [...]
Don’t Worry He Can’t Write: The Story of the RODC
By Brian Nelson ⋅ April 17, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments
Once upon a time, if you worked for the XYZ Company, you worked in the XYZ Headquarters building on Main Street with everybody else. The computer systems for the XYZ Company were managed by professionals whose full-time job was to install, configure, and maintain the systems. So if Joe in accounting had a problem with [...]
Role Playing with Windows 2008 Server Core
By Brian Nelson ⋅ April 9, 2008 ⋅ One comment
Ok, you’ve installed Windows Server 2008 Core, and it is pretty awesome. Those lower-level administrators that run to Ted whenever things get tough have stood before the daunting black command-line box and trembled in fear at the blinking white cursor. You sneered as you waited to see if they would break down and cry at [...]
GUI Schmooey –- Installing Windows 2008 Server Core
By Brian Nelson ⋅ April 2, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment
So, you’ve decided to install Windows 2008 Server Core. You understand that a Core install comes with no GUI. No problem. You aren’t one of those wimpy sys admins who say things like “Go ask Ted” when the problems get hard. There is no Ted. You ARE Ted. Your TechNets hang by a thread, proudly [...]
Less is More — Windows 2008 Server Core
By Brian Nelson ⋅ March 25, 2008 ⋅ 3 comments
In the movie Apollo 13 Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) references “computers that fit in a single room,” as an example of how far technology has come. In this day of powerful servers just an inch thick, it is easy to forget that just ten years ago a server was a very large computer. Each server [...]