I finally got around to posting some updated pictures of my network in Owensboro. I’ve been pretty busy here in the last month, so I’m going to make this post short and sweet and just have pictures (as if that’s not all I do anyways)
Fordsville Network
Well, here are some pictures of my other network. As of now, the only thing I host there is my web server (www.brandonnorris.me). I do have my FreeBSD router that connects to my FreeBSD router here by a VPN connection, which is pretty nifty for remote monitoring without the need to open ports. I plan to move my mail server there by the end of the year and move my web server here to host in Owensboro. Below are some of my pictures with sort descriptions under them.
As you can see in the far left picture, the server on top of the CRT monitor is my FreeBSD box. The middle picture is my Domain Controller running server 2003. The last picture is just a close up of my FreeBSD box.
The left computer is running Windows Server 2000. Its main role is to provide DHCP function to the network as well as some other roles. The right computer is my WSUS server on server 2003. More or less, that is just a test server as I wanted to learn more about WSUS with group policies.
The left picture is my web server, which spec are in the ”About” page. The middle picture is just a five port D-Link 1000base-T switch. The last picture is my D-Link DGL-4300 acting as an access point.
Replaced Phone Distribution Panel
Today, I decided to go on and replace the phone distribution panel as the title suggests. Since none of the cables were labeled, I had cut them all off and put a RJ-45 end on them. I then connected them one at a time to the panel with my butt set where the phones would be connected trying to find the main phone line. I first thought it was the gray cable, as its the only one in there, but found it running behind the TV when I cut that box out. Now that I got that sorted out and made sure everything was in compliance with T-568A, all I have to do is go to the individual phone locations and replace them with my new jacks so I can convert the phones to network drops if the phone is not used.
I still have a little ways to go on my networks drops; 9 at my last count. The next few weekends I should have that finished up and bundle all my wires up making them look very nice. As I’ve also been talking about, I did get some updated photos of my network rack. It’s still under construction, but once I get everything straightened out, it’ll look sweet.
Home Network Thus Far
Well I partially started wiring up the house for more network drops without the need for extra switches. It’s turning out to be a bigger project then I’d originally thought. The way the attic is laid out makes running cable a bitch, and with every hole I drill or cable I pull is a cloud of fine paper. Did I mention recycled paper insulation sucks? I had planned wiring the house in Owensboro Saturday then wiring Fordsville Sunday. This is way off as I’m not even finished with wiring the house in Owensboro. I still have a few things to do before I’m all the way done. Looks like I’ll be working on this again this weekend and starting Fordsville the following weekend as crawling around is not fun when you’re overwight.
Above the garage.
Home Network
Well, over the past few months I’ve been planning and working on my home network (which is why I haven’t been on here much). I have ordered several RJ-45 wall jacks, 4 boxes of 1000ft solid UTP orange Cat-5 cable, various wall plates, several 1ft orange patch cables, 24 port patch panel, and probably some other stuff I forgot to mention. This is going to be a big project, but I’m hoping to get this knocked out in a weekend. I’m trying to get all my networking gear in a central location, as now I have everything spread out. (continue reading…)
MacBook
For the past few weeks, I’ve been looking into getting a 13.3 inch MacBook. A large drawing factor for me was Mac being built on Unix . It does, however, take a little getting use to, much like anything different than the ”PC” architecture. So, I began scouting for a lower priced MacBook on places like eBay, thinking about just getting one used. At a quick glance, it was just as cheap to buy one new and get a warranty as to buy one used and potentially have problems. As Newegg no longer sells Mac computers, Amazon was my next stop. I found one on there for $954.54 with an instant rebate. This Mac has the newer glass Trackpad, which features right click (pictures below)! For the techies out there, the technical specs are as followed.
- 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 250GB Hard Drive
- 8x Double-layer SuperDrive
- 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
- 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
- Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard
When I got the shipping number from Amazon, it said that my MacBook could be shipped in just its box. I noticed that Amazon had certified the product as frustration-free meaning that it doesn’t come with wire ties and is free of plastic “clamshells”. As having stuff come in from UPS with boxes dented, this caused some concerns. This box was enclosed in a bigger box with four little cardboard pieces holding it in place. Although you might be able to tell, the box is fairly small and compact making damage to contents miniamal. (continue reading…)
