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10/24/2012

MONyog & GrayLog2

So, I've discovered and started using two new tools this week. First, I wanted to audit some of things going on with my mySQL server, and I ended up finding MONyog.  This tool allows you to see what queries are being run, counts on them, analytics on queries, and more.  The trial is 30 days long, but the overall price is pretty inexpensive for the most part.  It has helped me track down some connections that were being refused and track what data is being used the most.

The second tool I would like to share is Graylog2. If you're looking for a centralized syslog server, but don't want to pony up some dough, then I suggest checking this one out.  I ended up using this turnkey solution for Graylog2 by running it in VM called PartyLog.  Another one that is note worthy, but I haven't played much of any with it is LogStash

I found these tools pretty helpful, at no cost. MONyog has a cost if you need to use it beyond the trial, but still worth a look.

9/17/2012

Flashpanel for Google Apps

Need to be able to take more control of your Google Apps deployment?  Check out FlashPanel!  It provides all the necessary tools that you need to audit your domain in a quick fashion.



6/28/2012

Android Notifications Firewall Port

Having problems with getting notifications from Google Play, GMail and or applications on the wireless behind a firewall. Open the following:

TCP 5228

T-Mobile Wifi Calling Firewall Ports

I switched to T-Mobile yesterday and wanted to have calling enabled on specific IP's, discovered and tested that these are the ports needs for Wifi Calling

TCP 5060 (Unsure if this really required, but added it)
TCP 5061
UDP 52000-59999

5/31/2012

Google Apps update alerts: Google Apps Password Sync for AD

Google Apps update alerts: New Product: Google Apps Password Sync for Active ...: Google Apps Password Sync allows Google Apps admins to synchronize their users' passwords from Active Directory to Google Apps as they are changed.

Edit: A comment on this, the utility only submit's password changes as they happen on the Active Directory Side, it does not provide a AD attribute that you can use with GADS to sync on a regular basis.  You'll want to use the utility in my other articles if you want it to also sync passwords on a regular basis as a fail-back.

5/21/2012

Blackboard Connect 5 API with PHP

I've been working on connecting our Data Warehouse to the Blackboard Connect Service using the SOAP API's. For those interested, here is the quick and dirty way to do it on PHP 5.3

Create the SOAP client
$client = new SoapClient("https://Service.BlackboardConnect.com/Contact/v2/ContactService.asmx?wsdl",array ('trace' => 1));
Create Authorization Header
//Parameters
  $options = array(
       'DATE' => gmdate("Ymd"),
       'TIME' => gmdate("Hi"), 
       'API' => '*API KEY*',
       'SECRET => '*API SECRET*');

//Hash Parameters
$hash = md5(strtoupper($options['API']) . '|' . $options['SECRET'] . '|' . $options['DATE'] . '|' . $options['TIME']);

//Create Token
$authtoken = trim($hash . '|' . $options['API']);

$headerbody = array('Token' => $authtoken);

//Set SOAP Header
$header = new SOAPHeader('BBConnect.Service.Contact', 'AuthToken', $headerbody);
$client -> __setSoapHeaders($header);
I had to strip the header tag for the xml
$xml = simplexml_load_file(*path to file*);

$convert = $xml->asXML();
$xmldata = str_replace('<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>', '', $convert);
Create SOAP Variable
$input = new SoapVar( $xmldata, XSD_ANYXML );
 Submit Request
try {   
            $request = new StdClass();
            $request->inputXml = (object) array('any' => $input );
            $response = $client->UpdateContact($request);
        } catch (Exception $e) {
            echo "<h2>Exception Error!</h2>";
            echo $e -> getMessage();
            }

Get Response
echo "<h3>RESPONSE:</h3>";
echo htmlspecialchars($client->__getLastResponse());
Debug Request/Header
echo "<h3>REQUEST:</h3>";
echo htmlspecialchars($client->__getLastRequest());
echo "<h3>REQUEST HEADERS:</h3>";
echo htmlspecialchars($client->__getLastRequestHeaders());
Blackboard Connect 5 API Documentation

Pretty straight forward, if you have any questions let me know.

3/13/2012

Google Apps at NCCE 2012

For those attending NCCE 2012 in Seattle, on Thursday I will be co-presenting a Google App's session with the Bethel Group. Please check out the session if you can, we will be covering the transition at Bethel from decisions, migration, training, and usage.

Google Apps: The Whole Kit and Kaboodle

Inexpensive Glass Whiteboard

Looking for an inexpensive glass whiteboard for your office?  I came across this piece together from IKEA parts you can use to build one for about $100 or less.  I decide it would work nicely in my home office, so here is my setup.



3/07/2012

Apple Configurator Releases Today!

Apple quietly put this out today. I suggest checking it out if you have to deploy labs of iOS devices

http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/03/apple-configurator/

You can find it in the Mac App Store for free.

2/10/2012

NAS build in progress...

I picked up a HP N40L along with some other goodies for it.  I'll be providing an overview of the system with use of UnRaid in the near future. As soon as I finish up the build, which is a little time consuming but well worth it, I will provide a write up on all the hardware used along with a estimated cost.

To preview the build it is the following:

  • HP N40L (watch newegg for these deals!)
  • 15 TB of usable storage in RAID 5
  • UnRaid Software with addons