How to create a selfcontained Wireless Network

This was a challenging project, put upon me by a friend and colleague who needed a web server that they could carry around with them. The goal was to have it accessible by wireless devices such as mobile smart phones (Android, Blackberry and iPhone etc), iPods, Playstation portables, and Nintendo DS'; without the requirement for either the server or the devices to be connected to the Internet.

For the purpose of a presentation and demo, the web server would contain a small mobile website that the devices could view at any location that the demo was taking place, and interact with, without having to worry about having Internet or even local network connectivity.

Using Local Internet Connection While Connected to a VPN

Occasionally work has to be done "out of hours" by IT Professionals to avoid disruption to users. Sometimes this can be done from a remote site with our feet up, a hot cuppa and an episode of friends. During these times, nothing is more valuable than a VPN connection to your workplace. It gives you connectivity to everything on your network as if you were sitting in your office. All you need at home is an internet connection and a computer. Both of which all IT Professional's tend to have.

I am not going to take you through the configuration of the VPN at either end. We are going to assume that your VPN at work is configured and that you have a connection setup on your home PC.

One of the main problems we encounter while using a VPN is with general local web browsing. Connected to a VPN your computer will try and use the same web connection that your PC at work uses. This can prevent your local browser from displaying the latest footie results.

Changing the IP Settings and Hostname of an ESX VSphere Console

For all beginner ESX VSphere Administrator newbies:

Changing the IP for the Service Console must be done from the physical console or through a remote console session. If you make changes through a network connection such as SSH, network connectivity to the Service Console disconnects because the Service Console's network interface changes.


To set an IP address:

First logon to the ESX Console

Disable Skype Supernoding

Skype is one of the most popular pieces of VoIP and IM software available.  It is fast, free, good quality, fairly reliable and seems to work almost anywhere. It is also one of the few more secure pieces of communication software, using basic PGP Encryption for calls and instant messaging.

Skype operates on a peer to peer model, rather than a server to client model using is own Skype Protocol and proprietary VoIP Network. This means that the user directory is scattered between "nodes" in the network, rather than using an expensive, centralised infrastructure.

Each client has a list of "nodes" called the "host-cache." This is a list of IP Addresses and Port Numbers of "supernodes."