Sean Wilkins
Sean Wilkins is an accomplished networking consultant for SR-W Consulting and has been in the field of IT since the mid 1990's working with companies like Cisco, Lucent, Verizon and AT&T as well as several other private companies. Sean currently holds certifications with Cisco (CCNP/CCDP), Microsoft (MCSE) and CompTIA (A+ and Network+). He also has a Masters of Science degree in Information Technology with a focus in Network Architecture and Design, a Masters of Science degree in Operational Management, a Masters Certificate in Network Security, a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Networking and Associates of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems. In addition to working as a consultant, Sean spends a lot of his time as a technical writer and editor for various companies
- Website: http://www.sr-wconsulting.com
Sean Wilkins has written 65 posts for TrainSignal Training
Server 2008 R2: Remote Access Services
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ November 3, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
Introduction to RDS With the introduction of the Windows Server 2008 R2 the product formally known as Terminal Services has been renamed Remote Desktop Services and includes a number of key changes. The first of these key changes is an obvious change in the service and feature names as well as management tool names. Below [...]
IIS 7.5: New Features and Configuration
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 27, 2010 ⋅ One comment
With the introduction of Server 2008 R2, came the upgrade from IIS 7.0 to 7.5. With this upgrade a number of different enhancements were included to improve on the ability to maintain and deploy IIS. These enhancements include: Integration of the FTP service Integration of WebDAV, including support for HTTP over SSL A new management [...]
Server 2008 R2 BranchCache Configuration
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 20, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
As discussed in the BranchCache overview article, BranchCache is used to optimize access to specific HTTP and SMB based remote files. This is done by configuring the content server with a new role which enables HTTP remote file optimization and a new feature which enables SMB remote file optimization. BranchCache can also be used in [...]
Quality of Service Configuration Basics for Cisco Professionals
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 13, 2010 ⋅ One comment
When it comes to configuring Quality of Service (QoS) on Cisco equipment there are a couple of main concepts which must be understood. Cisco QoS is typically configured on modern equipment using the Modular QoS Command-line interface (MQC). With MQC, traffic is classified using the class-map and match commands, traffic policy is defined using the [...]
Windows Server 2008 R2 BranchCache Overview
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 13, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
One of the features which has been included in versions of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 is BranchCache. BranchCache offers the ability to cache specific remote content so that those individuals accessing it remotely can access them easier and with better performance. It does this by offering the ability to cache specific traffic [...]
Quality of Service Fundamentals for Cisco Professionals
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 6, 2010 ⋅ One comment
The idea of Quality of Service (QoS) in networking is rather simple; provide an ability to categorize traffic so that it can be separated into different service classes. Each one of these classes is then configured for a specific level of service which is provided to the traffic. What parameters are set for each service [...]
Windows Server 2008 R2 DirectAccess Configuration
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ October 6, 2010 ⋅ 7 comments
If you read my DirectAccess overview article you know the basics of what DirectAccess is used for and generally how it is used to make life easier. This article looks a little more in depth at the configuration steps required to implement DirectAccess. DirectAccess Connection Process As covered in the overview, the connection process for [...]
Intro to Windows Server 2008 R2 DirectAccess
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ September 29, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
In the modern work environment there are a number of different new challenges which exist when trying to deal with a workforce which has expanded outside the traditional workplace. Traditionally, these types of workers were able to utilize corporate intranet resources via either a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or via web gateways. The problem with [...]
Introduction to MPLS: Multiprotocol Label Switching for Cisco Professionals
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ September 15, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
In the last 15-20 years there have been a number of different technologies used to both terminate network traffic and transport this traffic from source to destination. These technologies include a number of which are well known including Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, Ethernet, PPP among others. All of these technologies had their various [...]
Windows 7: Advanced Network Configuration
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ September 9, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments
Windows 7, as with many of the different operating systems available, has a number of different network functions which can be configured. In my last article, I showed you how to configure a static IP address in Windows 7. Today we’ll cover: how to configure advanced IPv4 parameters, how to create a HomeGroup, how to [...]
How to Configure a Static IP Address in Windows 7
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ August 19, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments
Sometimes in order to gain connectivity in certain networks where a DHCP server is not running, the configuration of a static IP address is required. The steps required to setup up a static IP address are rather straightforward, but the process is a bit different from Windows Vista and XP. Let’s go through the steps [...]
Policy Based Routing (PBR) Fundamentals
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ August 9, 2010 ⋅ One comment
The problem that many network engineers find with typical routing systems and protocols is that they are based on routing the traffic based on the destination of the traffic. Now under normal situations this is fine, but when the traffic on your network requires a more hands on solution policy based routing takes over. Destination [...]
Cisco IS-IS Configuration Primer
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ July 30, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments
With the expansion of today’s networks over the last 30 years, routing protocols have become a vital central part of these networks to ensure efficient routing and reachability. Along with the well known routing protocols like OSPF and EIGRP there is also some other routing protocols which get less attention. These include BGP and IS-IS. [...]
Windows 7: Basic Home Network Troubleshooting
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ July 22, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
One of the features that are included with Windows 7 is a better designed troubleshooting system which has been designed for the typical user. This troubleshooting centers on the use of the Troubleshooter. This article focuses on the various network troubleshooting options which can be utilized with Windows 7. We’ll go over how to troubleshoot [...]
Cisco BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) Basics
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ July 19, 2010 ⋅ One comment
As all of the people reading this article probably know, BGP can be a beast that very few network engineers and consultants ever really battle, as it is used only on a specific type of network. This type of network is that of ISP’s and large enterprises with multiple external connectivity points. So why is [...]
Mobile CCIE Labs
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ July 1, 2010 ⋅ One comment
For all those who are familiar with the process of getting a CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) know that it is a two part certification. The first part being a typically written exam which resembles many of their other certification exams for their various certifications and the second part being a intense practical exam which [...]
Top Free Virtualization Solutions
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ June 16, 2010 ⋅ One comment
In the current market there are a number of different virtualization solutions available, some of which are open source and some of which are not. This article looks at three of the most popular open source solutions: OpenVZ, Oracle’s Virtualbox and Citrix’s Xen. The first thing that must be understood is that each of these [...]
Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) Certification Guide
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ June 1, 2010 ⋅ One comment
About a decade ago, Cisco put together a certification which was intended to be focused more on the design of computer networks than the operation of them. This was originally put together with a pair of certifications including the associate level CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate) and the professional level CCDP (Cisco Certified Design Professional). [...]
Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) Certification Overview
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ May 4, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment
In modern networks there is a large amount of attention put on network security. In order to fill this section of the market with well trained and qualified professionals, Cisco created the Cisco Certified Security track and like most of their certification tracks includes an associate (CCNA Security), professional (CCSP) and expert certification (CCIE Security). [...]
Master EIGRP For Your Next Cisco Exam
By Sean Wilkins ⋅ April 13, 2010 ⋅ 3 comments
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) like Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP) is a Cisco proprietary protocol which is considered a hybrid type. What this means is that it takes attributes from both distance-vector and link-state routing protocol types. If all of your equipment is and will continue to be Cisco then EIGRP is a [...]