Software every IT Tech would find handy
Every IT technician has his(her) own toolkit, with software that he(she) has found useful in his(her) environment.
For the newcomer this could take a few years, depending on the situations they face. Below is my list of software to make those decisions easier.
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Wireshark is by far the most important application if you are doing network support. With it you can sniff and analyse network packets. Please keep in mind that analysing those network packets does take some skill and experience, but keep at it and you will succeed.
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If you are on a windows pc as your desktop workstation, this program makes transferring those all important files to-and-from those linux servers. This is a very handy little program.
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Putty goes hand-in-hand with WinSCP on a windows workstation. You would use this to log into a Linux server via ssh. A must-have for any IT technician that supports Linux servers.
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This is not free software like the above ones, but still a very handy tool to carry around when you work in a Windows environment. With this program you are able to see basically anything about the pc you are running it on, from the motherboard manufacturer to the RAM slot count (and which of them contains RAM and how much) as well as various software licences for software installed on the computer. All in one, central location.
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This is also not free software, but, as with SIW, it is a huge time-saver if you are constantly between multiple networks. This program allows you to set up different network profiles (IP, DNS, Printers, etc), which you can then switch between with the few clicks of a mouse (or touchpad).
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If you want to know the extent of the Wifi networks at your location, this is the program for you. This is a very basic scanner for wireless networks. It reports SSID and BSSID as well as signal level in dBm. It also keeps a nice historic graph while the scan is running.
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Nmap/Netscan
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Ever wondered which IP’s are in use on your network or which ports is open on a specific computer, then nmap is the program for you. This is a basic network security scanner with some pretty advanced features, it can scan for open ports in a defined range or a list of standard ports. You have a choice between CLI and GUI. You also have a choice between linux and windows.
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This is a more portable (and choiceless) alternative to Nmap. This is a Windows only program. You have the same basic functions as Nmap plus a few more. Top of list for me would be the Wake-on-Lan [Wikipedia] feature which send a magic packet out onto the lan to boot a specific host. The catch is that you need to either know the MAC address of the host or have scanned it earlier when it was on, and have it in you scanned list. Very nice feature for remote IT’s, this could save you a lot of time. 😉
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We all know, and agree that passwords is a nightmare. Unfortunately it is a necessary evil. This program will help you remember those pesky 40 digit, funny character, passwords. In this way you don’t compromise on security, while still being able to quickly log into any PC. It is a very easy to use, password safe. It secures the passwords with a password (obviously), this way you only ever need to remember one password, Keepass will remember the rest. A must for any IT out there.
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Have you ever had a drive that has got no more free space left, but you don’t know what is chowing the space, then this program is the answer to your prayers. This program goes and scans all the folders and files starting at the starting point (which you can define, normally drive C). It then reports the space usage in a browsable tree list. It also gives you a nice graphical summary of the files scanned in a coloured block display, with every file type a different coulour as well as a list with all the top disk space using file types. It even scans inside hidden directories. A huge time saver. You even get a portable version, nice for those on-the-run IT’s. 😉
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This is THE kit for any IT. Almost as valuable as his IT Bible. This is a miniature boot-able Linux distribution that allows you to do almost anything. This includes, but is not limited to, resetting your password (windows and linux) and doing an offline anti-virus scan. You can burn it to a CD or install to bootable USB stick. The USB stick has the added advantage that you can store data for later use, like virus patterns or the config of the PC you are running Trinity on.
Some additional things I would suggest you acquire includes a spreadsheet containing the network details, like a list of IP addresses and ranges, and what the role is of each. Also a diagram of the network, even if it is just a single level, bridged network. I draw all my network maps in Dia but if you have a Visio install lying around, that will work too.
I would also suggest looking into the sysinternals [Microsoft Technet] suite. This is a nice collection of windows utilities, that makes your life a lot easier. It contains some interesting software like a task-manager that actually tells you what you want to know, in a tree view. I will leave it for you to look at, but trust me, well worth your time. 😉
If you are a windows user, in a dominantly windows environment, I would also suggest you install the windows admin pack [Microsoft Downloads]. This includes all the programs that windows use to set up and manage their servers. You can use these software to talk directly to the server from your computer, without having to go through a remote desktop connection like Terminal Services or Vnc.
Finally, every office has it’s own set of tools you would use to admin it. Some has database servers running PostgreSQL, others again will be running Asterisk servers for voice. The biggest piece of advice to you would be to use the right tool for the job. We have all heard the adage that goes: To the man with only a hammer, every problem will be a nail. I have been in that situation, and it aint pretty. Always keep an open mind. Look for the right tool for the job. Remember that with violence, you can break your finger off in your ear but with patience you can wait till it rots off by itself. Also there is no problem that can’t be fixed with the appropriate use of force. The most important skill is knowing where appropriate ends and inappropriate begins. Your most important tool is your mind, use it or loose it.
Well time for me to sign off now, ciao for now.
