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CIPS Connections
Internationally Renowned Certification and
Security Expert; Wireless Authority; Widely-regarded Writer, Author and Trainer
This week, Stephen Ibaraki,
I.S.P., has an exclusive interview with Will Schmied, BSET, MCSE, CWNA, TICSA,
MCSA, Security+, Network+, and A+. Will is President of Area 51
Partners, Inc. (Area51Partners.com), a provider of
wired and wireless networking implementation, security, and training services.
Will holds a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from Old
Dominion University Will’s writing and authoring
credits encompass books, articles, self-study guides, and practice exams
published by groups such as Que Publishing, Sybex, Syngress, Certified Wireless
Network Professional (CWNP), Osborne McGraw Hill, TechProGuild TechRepublic,
CramSession.com, MSExchange.org, ISAserver.org, Microsoft Certified Professional
Magazine, and SelfTest Software. His book credits alone for QUE
include: 1) MCSA/MCSE Planning,
Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam
Cram 2 (Exam 70-284) 2) MCSE Planning, Implementing,
and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam Cram 2 (Exam
70-296) 3) MCSE 70-293 Training Guide:
Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure 4) MCSA/MCSE 70-291 Training
Guide: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network
Infrastructure 5) MCSA Training Guide (70-218):
Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment 6) MCSE Windows 2000 Server Exam
Cram 2 (Exam 70-215) 7) Special Edition Using Windows
XP Professional, Bestseller Edition 8) Platinum Edition Using Windows
XP Due to his highly refined
expertise, Will has also worked directly with Microsoft in the MCSE
exam-development process. Discussion: Q: Will, you have an impressive
background in certification, wireless, security, and Windows-based technologies.
Thank you for coming in to do this interview. A: It's my pleasure, thank you so
much for the opportunity. Q: Your wife Chris and children,
Christopher, Austin, Andrea, and Hannah must have some opinions. What do they
say about their famous IT “guru” dad? A: Heh, that's kind of funny in a
way. Chris is acutely aware of almost every thing I do, although sometimes she
probably wishes she were not. Our children are almost oblivious to the fact of
what I do, which is probably for the best. They do know that I have my name on
quite a few books, although they usually do not spend too much time in the IT
section of Barnes & Noble as their tastes run more towards the children's
section. There was one time last year when I had one of my daughters with me in
the IT section though looking for a particular book and she happened on one of
mine…it kind of blew her mind to see her dad's name on this big huge book. Q: When you are not busy working,
you find time being with your family or playing the latest video games. What are
your favorite games and why? A: I guess the computer is just
an integral part of my daily routine. It's been that way since I was in
elementary school and I got my first experience on the Atari 400's of the day.
Since then, my gaming tastes have changed as the times and technology has. In
the "old days" of monochrome monitors and 8088 CPUs, I played many of the
Infocom text games like Zork and so on. Today, I typically stick to strategy and
action games. Some of my current favorites include Dungeon Siege and Delta Force
Black Hawk Down. Of course, 2004 promises to be a big year with Half Life 2 and
Doom III coming out, along with new versions of Dungeon Siege and Delta
Force. Q: How did you get into
computing? What challenges and lessons did you learn along the way to your
current success? A: Oh, that's one of those
lengthy questions. As I said previously, I got my first time on a computer using
the Atari 400. About that same, the school also got some TRS-80's in the
library. Of course, in middle school there were the Atari 800's and the Apple
IIe's which had just started gaining popularity. In 1985, I got my first
computer at home…the Tandy 1000. That thing was a beast to be sure, with two 5 Ľ
inch 360 KB floppy drives, 128 MB of RAM and a 4.77 MHz 8086 CPU. Back then,
hard drives were for the very wealthy as were color monitors, so I had the
standard green monochrome monitor. I did a lot of programming in BASIC back
then. When I got my first color monitor a year later, I really started to see
use for the computer for things like word processing (yes, I was typing my
English homework at home in the ninth grade) and playing games. Later I started
programming the Apple IIe's in both BASIC and machine language. Of course, I
still played many games. I guess by that time it was too late to change the fact
that the computer would always be a part of my daily routine. I used the
Internet back when it was really boring (and geeky) as a text only thing…then
came Netscape 1.0 and my whole world changed. Everyone I knew would always come
to me with his or her computer problems and thus it became official that I was a
computer geek for life. I have worked with every version of Windows from 3.11
(sorry, I missed the first two versions) to Windows Server 2003 and everything
in between. It was not until a few years ago that I decided I should take my
experience and start doing something with it—like getting certified and so
forth. Q: Give a profile of your
certification portal, MCSEWorld.com. A: Let me preface the rest of
this answer by saying that since the Internet went graphical, I've been building
Web sites. At first, I started small using the 1 MB of space my ISP offered me
and working with Netscape 3 Gold and Notepad. Eventually I moved up and started
using more advanced tools, such as Front Page and Notepad with real domains that
I owned. With that in mind, MCSE World was born out of my frustration with one
particular large certification portal that just did not get it—they were
completely out of touch with their member base in my mind. It was, and still is,
my goal to provide a free certification portal that not only provides something
to those who need it, but also remains in touch with its members. Member input
is almost always taken into consideration when we consider major changes to the
Web site. As well, we openly encourage members to become part of the site's
success by letting members submit original articles and scripts for publication
that remain their intellectual property. If you are working on or already have
completed your MCDST, MCSA or MCSE, then MCSE World might be the place for you.
Although our primary focus is on getting people certified, we are also a place
for those who are already certified. We have a little bit of something for just
about anyone working with Microsoft products. Q: Describe your latest projects
with your company, Area 51 Partners Inc. A: We have actually put the
business on the back burner lately, not taking on any new projects with the
exception of some new authoring work. We wanted to slow down for some time, so
it worked out good for all involved. Q: Where do you see yourself and
your company in five years time? A: In regards to Area 51
Partners, I am sure it will be around in one form or another. We are actually
moving to the Memphis area later this year, so the type of business we take on
will likely change as a result. As for myself, I am sure I will still be very
deep into the technology that makes this business so much fun to be in. I am
starting to move up (and out) into other areas of professional knowledge,
including (finally) getting some Cisco certifications done. I am also working
towards the CISSP, which I think is still one of the most premier certifications
there is…especially for those who are security minded. Q: Describe the context, meaning,
and usefulness of each of your certifications. A: Well, I think most everyone is
familiar with the A+ and Network+ certifications, so I will start with those as
they often go together. Although these are entry-level certifications, I think
they definitely have their place in this business. Being a true hardware geek
from the old days, the A+ exams were not all that difficult for me…after all, I
had supped up my Tandy 1000 to over clock it to something like 12 MHz….not an
easy task back in those days. I think the true value in these two certifications
lies in the broad base of knowledge they represent—like your underclass courses
for a college degree. I've seen seasoned MCSEs who couldn't install a network
adapter before—it was a sad sight. The Security+ certification is also
considered entry level, but is somewhat more difficult in nature due to its
specialized subject matter than the A+ or Network+ are. Anyone who wants to be
the security part of IT needs to start out with Security+ at some point in time.
The TruSecure ICSA (TICSA) certification is also considered by some to be an
entry-level security certification, along with the SSCP certification, and is
actually very similar to the Security+ exam. As for the MCSA and MCSE, a lot of
people really don’t understand the difference or the need for separate
certifications. Microsoft has started to disclose details of a four-tier
certification program for network administrators. The MCDST certification is the
first tier of this program and is targeted at those help desk personnel that
support Windows and Office products. The MCSA is the second tier of this program
and is targeted at more experienced administrators who typically manage and
maintain existing networks, but don't expand or implement any new functionality.
The MCSE is the third tier of this program is targeted at more advanced and
knowledge network administrators that are typically responsible for things such
as the daily operation of the network, installing and configuring new servers,
implementing new services and so forth. The line between senior MCSA and junior
MCSE often is a blurry one at best. The fourth tier of this program is the yet
to be officially announced "architect" certification that I suspect will be
similar in both difficulty and value to the CCIE…perhaps even with a hands on
lab as part of the final certification. Q: Which three certifications are
the most beneficial today and which ones would be the most useful in three years
time? A: Well that really depends on
the experience level of the person…so I'll look at it from the point of view of
some one trying to break into the market. Today: Security+, CCNA, OCP. In three
years: CCNA, MCSE (I think it will regain its value), OCP. I think that Oracle
certifications are poised to become very valuable in the next few years. Q: You have authored countless
study and exam prep guides. What are your top ten suggestions for efficient
learning? A: 1) Know what you are tying to
accomplish. Are you trying to prepare for a specific certification exam or are
you trying to deepen your level of knowledge on a specific topic? The way you go
about learning is somewhat dependent on what you are trying to learn and
why. 2) Get plenty of hands on
experience. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever replace the value of actually
doing something yourself. Whether it's creating and configuring that new DHCP
scope or running SQL queries against a database, hands on experience will show
you whether or not you're ready to do it on a live production network. 3) Have a safe test environment
that you can work in. This goes hand in hand with number 2—you need to have a
test environment to work in so that when disaster strikes, no harm is done to a
production network. This makes the learning process much more beneficial because
sometimes it pays to blow up the network. 4) Pick a time and place that
works best for you. Some people can study anywhere at any time. If you are one
of those people, keep some notes or a small book with you wherever you go. If
you can only study effectively in a quiet place, such as at home, then do not
try to do it elsewhere. 5) Get your family involved. If
you have a family, let them know what you're trying to do and get them involved
in it so that they will understand its importance to you. Does this mean that I
am telling you to have your eight year old configure that router for you? Not
unless he or she can... What it does mean is that you should not exclude those
that are closest to you from this part of your life—especially when it can
become a major part of your life. 6) Don't spend more than you have
to. I am a big proponent of self-study and to be honest, I've never sat in a
training course. If you do not have the money, don't borrow it to take classroom
training. There are so many free and low cost resources available in book
stores, the library and on the Internet that no one should be paying for
training they can't afford—and probably don't need. 7) Let your employer foot the
bill. If your employer will spring for training classes, certification exams or
even college classes let them! Be sure to check into this as you might be
surprised what your employer might be willing to do to help a valued employee
succeed. 8) Don't be brand loyal. When
buying books, get the one that best suits your needs and personal preferences
even if it is not from a publisher you have used before. On the other hand, if
you really do prefer a specific style of writing, then you may want to consider
sticking to a particular author or publisher. Just remember this little fact:
even though Ford Motor Company has made quite a few good cars, they were
responsible for the Pinto. 9) Don’t single source your
reference material. One of the worst things you can do when studying, in my
opinion, is to single source your reference material. I am not saying you should
go out and buy three or four different publishers’ study guides, but you should
consider getting two. If you cannot afford two, then you need to for sure get
into the vendor’s knowledge base and the vendor’s free resources. As an example,
I prepare for all of the beta exams I take by using the reference material
available on the Microsoft Web site that pertains to the product at hand—it is
invaluable material and the price is always right. 10) Set a deadline for yourself.
The worst thing you can do is never commit to a date for test day…you have to
have a goal in sight that you are working for. I find that I study much better
once I have put down my money for the exam. Q: Describe the usefulness of
experience versus certification versus academic credentials. If you could have
only two of the three—which ones would they be and why? A: That is a tough one as all
three can be very valuable. If I could only pick two of them, I would go with
experience and certification. You must have experience in today’s market—that is
a no brainer anymore. Five or so years ago you could get away just being
certified—hence the paper MCSE phenomena that was rampant in the NT 4.0 days.
That is most definitely no longer the case. While there are still too many
“paper certified” individuals out there, it is slowly getting better as
employers start to realize there is more to keeping the network running than
having that MCSE certificate on the wall. Of course, I am not knocking the
importance of the certification program either—being certified, and having the
experience to back it up, means that you’ve dedicated yourself to that goal—to
becoming a better MCSE or CCNA or whatever specific field you’re working in. People have asked me many times,
“Should I get some certifications or should I finish my Bachelor’s degree”.
Every time I am asked that question, I say the same thing: finish your degree.
It makes you a better learner down the road when you start gaining those
certifications. My good friend Robert Shimonski wrote a great article on this
very topic last summer. You can read it here:
http://www.certmag.com/articles/templates/cmag_feature.asp?articleid=287&zoneid=9 Q: Share your top ten tips from
your many articles. A: 1) Don’t ever try something
new without having a safety net. If you can work on a test lab while you are
working with something new, do it! 2) User account templates are
smart and save time. 3) Always use groups to assign
user rights and permissions to users. 4) Always disable the Guest
account. 5) Don’t forget about the little
tools, such as the Task Manager. 6) Use Scheduled Tasks to the
greatest extent you can…after all, why should you have to remember to run a
defrag or backup job when you can schedule it? 7) Create and use scripts for
tasks you will perform routinely, such as adding new users to the domain. 8) Don’t do things the hard way
if you do not have to…make use of the many great GUI tools in Windows. 9) Don’t ignore a tool or utility
you do not know anything about….learn how to use it. See number one in this
list. 10) Never stop learning! The day
you stop learning is the day you stop being an effective administrator. Q: As a security expert, give us
your top five tips for planning and implementing security. A: 1) Determine where your most
dangerous threat comes from. After that, determine what other threats, and their
severity, you are facing. 2) Always use defense in depth
(or layers of defense). Don’t rely on a single method, such as a firewall or
passwords to keep your network secure…use many methods, such as an external
firewall, an internal firewall, strong user passwords, IPSec on sensitive
communications and EFS on sensitive files. If your network can support use,
consider segmenting traffic according to level of access using VLANs or physical
arrangement if required. 3) Don’t overlook the security
tools that are present in Windows. Windows has gotten better and better at
making your job easier, especially in Windows Server 2003. Take advantage of
what you have to work with. 4) Don’t throw up a solution
without thoroughly planning it out from end to end. The worst thing you can do
is give yourself, and your boss, a false sense of security only to find out that
your new solution had more holes than a block of Swiss cheese. 5) Documentation is a must. You
absolutely must document each and every thing you do from the time you implement
a solution onward. Every change that is made must be documented. This becomes
especially important during upgrades and attacks. Q: What are your top five tips
from planning and implementing wireless? A: 1) Take your time to be sure
of what you’re doing. 2) Research all of the available
means to accomplish your goal. 3) Stick to one vendor as much as
possible. 4) Don’t ever install a wireless
network with security. 5) If you do not absolutely need
wireless, do not use it just because it is new and neat. Q: How can you plan and implement
server roles and server security? A: I’m a big proponent of
dividing server roles up between servers, meaning that I believe the DHCP server
should only be providing DHCP and not file and print services. By that same
token, you want to seriously consider using a screened subnet to house any
servers that must be made available from the Internet. Never have any services
or applications available on a server that don’t absolutely have to be there.
Also, don’t forget about physical security by placing your servers in a secure,
isolated room that has controlled access. Q: How can you plan, implement,
and maintain a network infrastructure? A: This ties into the server
roles idea in a way. If you can afford it, do not go cheap when implementing
your network infrastructure. If possible, have at least two of everything in
each major location on the network. Nothing is worse than having a critical
network service such as DHCP or DNS fail and you are under the gun to get it
fixed. When implementing multiple DHCP servers, configure them in pairs using
the 70/30 or 80/20 rule to split up scope ranges, this will allow for some
functionality should one server become unavailable. As for DNS, use Active
Directory integrated if you can, it is really the best option. Use standard
secondary servers in remote locations to provide faster name resolution. Of
course, you will also want to have multiple RRAS, Terminal Services, WINS, file
and print servers on your network as well to help distribute the load and make
for a more reliable configuration. Take into consideration what type of network
connectivity you have between sites as well. Lastly, remember to monitor the
status of your network using your logs and a network sniffer from time to
time--this will keep you up to date on what is going on. Q: What are the critical factors
in planning, implementing, and maintaining server availability? A: Server availability comes in
two basic forms: redundant servers, as I discussed above, and clustered servers.
For services such as SQL and Exchange, you owe it yourself to consider building
them as clusters. You can even cluster your DHCP and other network services
servers if desired. Bottom line; do not ever leave yourself with just one of a
particular server. Money is often times tight, but you have to find a way to get
redundancy built into your network. Q: Comment on the keys areas for
setting up and maintaining an Active Directory Infrastructure. A: The key to this is the same as
most other things: planning. Active Directory has certainly made Windows a much
more attractive network operating system. With the enhancements in Windows
Server 2003, AD has never looked better. However, when you are planning a new
infrastructure, take the time to determine what you really need. Draw it out on
a piece of paper and see if it makes sense. Think about how many and where you
will locate your domain controllers and global catalog servers. Take into
consideration what type of network connectivity you have between sites as well.
Redundancy in Active Directory is crucial to the proper and efficient operation
of any size network, especially those that span more than one physical
location. Q: Provide effective strategies
for users, computers, and groups. A: The most important thing here,
in my mind, is to plan some sort of role or task-based security before you start
creating users and turning them loose on the network. This is where
Organizational Units, security groups and Group Policy Objects come into play.
You should determine what roles or tasks there are on your network and then
configure the appropriate permissions on security groups. Place your users into
these groups and you have a fast and efficient means of passing these
permissions down to them. It’s also very important to create and enforce a
consistent naming convention for all objects in your organization, such as
lastnamefirstname for a user’s account. By doing so, any administrator (and even
some of your power users) will be able to quickly identify any object in your
organization by looking at its name. This rule applies to any object, servers,
workstations, printers, shares, etc. As well, consider using template accounts
if you find yourself creating many user accounts through the GUI. If you find
yourself creating user accounts from the command line, consider creating a
script to automate the process for you. Anything you can do to save time and
increase efficiency is always a plus. Q: What are the most important
areas to consider in planning, setting up, and maintaining Group Policy? A: Like most other areas, you
need to plan effectively and identify your needs. Group Policy is somewhat
forgiving if you don’t get it right the first time, but with the great tools
available now such as the Resultant Set of Policy, you should never end up
implementing a bad policy on a production network. Group Polices should be
applied in a hierarchy, going from the least specific at the top of network,
getting more and more specific as you delve deeper into your organizations
structure. The most specific, and restrictive, Group Policies should be applied
to Organization Units that actually contain objects, such as users, servers or
workstations. Q: Describe an effective
networking expert. A: As I have many times already,
it is that administrator never stops learning and never thinks they know it all.
A good networking expert is one who knows his stuff, but is not afraid to admit
when he does not know something and then goes out and locates the required
information. The bottom line is this: No one can know the answer all the time,
but make sure you at least know where to look! Q: What should our readers be
looking for when evaluating certification courseware? A: The first and most important
thing when buying any type of certification preparation material is that you
should make sure the company is well respected and stands behind their products.
Too many fly by night companies have popped up in the past few years that I
would not trust at all. If the company has a phone number and address on their
Web site, that is usually a good first step. Ask around and see what other
people have to say about the vendor as well. Lastly, anything that seems to good
to be true…usually is. Q: Who should read your latest
books? Why should our readers carefully study your books and what uniquely
differentiates them from others in the market? A: Anyone who is looking to pass
exams for their MCSA, MCSE or MCDST should consider reading them. One of the
most common comments people have made to be about my writing style is that’s
it’s a little easier to understand that I tend to provide more information than
is required, especially in my sidebars. My goal when writing a certification
book is to get you past that specific exam and provide you with a reference book
you might consider placing on your bookshelf for usage later. I put a lot effort
into my writing, interpreting what I have read and seen first hand, and putting
that into words that demystify the confusing aspects of certification. Q: What are the five most compelling issues facing network administrators and
system integrators today and in the future? How can they be resolved? A: 1) Security. Constant
vigilance is required to keep your network secure. 2) Funding. This is a tough one
that is not going to go away for at least 18-24 months still from what I can
see. We are in a spending upswing, but nothing anywhere near where we were say 5
years ago or so. 3) Lack of qualified personnel.
Even though the certification vendors are taking proactive steps to prevent
paper certifications from occurring, too many people just do not have the skills
to perform the tasks they are certified for. 4) Lack of enough personnel. With
spending down, budgets for IT staffing have been cut. Too often now,
administrators find themselves doing the jobs of two or three other
administrators. This results in a higher chance of problems, including
successful attacks on the network, as the administrators attention is split
amongst too many things at one time. 5) Too many solutions. Every time
you turn around, a new vendor has brought out a new solution to a
problem—sometimes for problems that you did not even know existed. It’s quite
easy to get overwhelmed by this situation if you do not take the time to
determine first what your needs are before you go looking for a solution. As
well, it’s usually a mistake to jump on the “brand new and really cool”
bandwagon if you really do not have a need for a particular item, be it
hardware, software or other. Q: List the ten best resources
for IT professionals. A: 1) Google! Hands down, Google!
is the single best resource I think. While there is a lot of junk out there, if
you are looking for something, Google! is going to most likely have it. 2) Microsoft TechNET. I’d say
over 95% of the documentation that Microsoft has ever produced is on TechNET
somewhere…all of it indexed and available for free if you can find it. This is
one area where Google! shines as they have a Microsoft specific search
engine. 3) The Microsoft Resource Kits.
While all of this content is available for free on TechNET, I like to have real
books in my hands. With as much time as I spend looking at a monitor writing and
such, I don’t want to have to read off of one, so I always buy the hard copies
of the Resource Kits. 4) Trade publications. There are
plenty of general and specific trade publications out there, just take a trip to
your local bookseller and see which ones interest you. These are good for
keeping up to date on new things that don’t get a lot of coverage elsewhere. As
well, they often have insightful interviews with people who are shaping the
future of the industry. 5) Your peers. No one person can
ever know all there is to know about networking, but when you get three or four
other people around and start talking you’d be surprised what you can learn. As
an example, some of my best friends in this business include people who know
WLAN inside and out, Novell inside and out, Cisco inside and out, etc…I think
you get the point. 6) Conferences and other events.
If you can get to any of these events, such as Tech Mentor or Black Hat, do so.
These are the places where you will have the chance to meet and talk to more
people from more backgrounds than anywhere else. Just getting to see the
presentations can often times make these trips worthwhile. 7) Local user groups. Not every
area has a user group, but if you have one in your area that pertains to
something you’re interested in, consider joining up. This provides just one more
means to gain the insight of countless other people who are doing the same
things you are…but in a different way. 8) Web sites. There are hundreds,
if not thousands, of Web sites out there that are all trying to do the same
basic thing: present information to you that you can use. Many of these Web
sites also have discussion forums and original articles that you will not find
published anywhere else. Again, this is just one more way to see how other
people are handling problems. 9) Classroom training. While this
can be costly, it can also be beneficial if you do not have the means to learn
about a particular skill set in your current environment. Not many of us have
full-blown networks that we can just go in and “tinker” with because we want to
learn a bit about something. Often times, good training centers will have just
what you need to practice in a safe environment…and knowledgeable instructors
who can guide you along the way. 10) Other vendors’ Web sites.
Every vendor has a Web site full of information and free documentation that you
should be taking advantage of. I myself frequently browse through Cisco’s and
Red Hat’s Web sites, reading their library of documents. Q: Now provide us with those
valuable rare “tips” that only you know. A: Gee, I don’t know that I have
any little golden nuggets that no one else is privy to. The one most important
thing that I cannot ever say enough of is never stop learning, never stop
bettering yourself…not just in your professional life, but also in your personal
and family life. You’ll be the winner when all is said and done if you always
keep striving to improve and learn. Q: What are the most important
trends to watch, and please provide some recommendations? A: Personally I always like to
keep an eye on the big vendors, such as Microsoft, Cisco and Apple to name a
few. You have to be aware of where the technologies are going and who is driving
them. Security is one of the key areas that you have to be attentive to as more
often than not the bad guys are paying very close attention to what’s going on
with the operating systems and applications you’re running. Spending trends are
also of key importance as we all search for the end of the DOT COM bust
days. Q: What kind of computer setup do
you have? A: We have a wide variety of
computers here. My main lab network consists of four custom built PCs running
various versions of Windows with various other applications installed on them.
These PCs have swappable hard drives so that I can change their configuration
very quickly…and it beats multi-booting, which I am not a big fan of. The test
lab PCs get built, used and “blown up” several dozen times a year--which is
another reason I have swappable hard drives in them, as I can just put all of
the old ones aside and rebuild them as I have time. Our actual production
network is a mixed network with Windows 2000 Server, Windows XP Professional,
Windows Server 2003 and Macintosh OS X 10.3 Jaguar machines. Of course, the
Windows machines are mine, with the servers being our domain controllers/DNS
servers and file/print/DHCP servers. The Windows XP Professional machine is what
I do all of my writing and gaming on and the Macintosh’s are what my wife uses
for graphic design and to run the financials for the business. There are also
three Linux machines that I put on the network from time to time for specific
tasks as well as two Windows XP Professional laptops and one Macintosh iBook. We
are all tied together via both wired and wireless networks. Overall, it looks
like the back end of a computer store. One of my cats has taken to playing with
the network cable that goes to one of the laptops as it hangs free on one side
of my desk. Q: If you had to do it all over
again…? A: I think I’d be smarter about
the number and complexity of projects that I take on. Most days I have anywhere
between three and six book projects going on and it gets to be very difficult
trying to stay up to date on all of them and still produce a top quality product
that people will want to not only purchase, but recommend to someone else. Q: What drives you to do what you
do? A: I love the technology and I
really enjoy helping others succeed. Q: Will, we enjoyed your
insightful answers since they provided a deep picture into your articles, study
guides, and books. Thank you again for your time, and consideration in doing
this interview. A: Thanks for asking me to do
this interview. I really enjoy doing what I do and I am always happy to share
any knowledge I may have with others.
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