As an SMB your trying to control costs and, at the same time, provide constant connectivity to your site.  Fixed frame-relay circuits and static IP addresses are out of your monthly IT expenditures budget so you go with a DSL or cable provider.  The only problem is if you reboot the router the IP address may change (as it gets its' IP from a DHCP server).  Is there anyway to make sure your customers can always get to your site?  The answer is DDNS or "DynamicDNS"! 

This requires TWO components...first a DNS service provider that support DDNS and a client component to update your DNS records.  One such service is "DNS Made Easy" that will (for a nominal annual fee) maintain your DNS nameserver records.  Follow the link for detailed information on this subject as well as how to get started.

(NOTE: Some ISP's do not allow you to host e-mail or web sites without Business Class FIXED IPs.  You may want to verify your options prior to signing up with a service provider offering DynamicDNS)

Information regarding Microsoft Active Directory.  Introduced in Win2000 AD provides the ability to consolidate resource management and security into one place.  With AD you can manage your infrastructure deployment including devices, users and servers with extremely granular security and control. 

Follow this link to get a guicorporation.com overview on AD and its capabilities.  Whether your an executive with a "30,000ft view" or a technical administrator looking for additional information we have it here. 

Includes several links for up-to-date tools and utilities for simplifying your AD environment.

Information regarding the most commonly referenced Cisco IOS commands.  Although not intended as a complete reference it does provide insight on router configuration and concepts which can be very useful for both those still pursuing their CCNA as well as those who just need a quick refresher on a particular command and its intended outcome.

A link to Cisco Documentation on Introduction to Firewalls.  A high-level read on internet security issues and protecting confidential information.

Also includes information relating to specific types of attacks including:

- Network packet sniffers

- IP spoofing

- Password attacks

- Denial of Service (DOS)

- Application-Layer attacks

All network techs know the general formulas for conversion of decimals to binary then calculating available number of networks and hosts BUT...wouldn't it be nice to just punch in an IP address and subnet mask to get the rest of the information you need? 

Well now you can with this great site provided by SemSim who also provide CCNA certification training tools. 

Returns network address, all possible subnets, Class and type of the IP address, number of hosts available and binary representation of the address info.

Note: This tool does not provide for VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masks); an issue most SMB's will never have to address.  If you feel you need assistance here please contact us!

The DNS Resource Directory.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the Domain Name System and more!

Includes high-level overviews on what DNS is, what are domains and what kind of information is stored in the DNS. 

The site also includes links for configuration examples, where to get training and additional links for books on Amazon for DNS platform-specific implementations on:

- Linux

- Windows NT

- Windows 2000/2003

- Unix

Get information from dhcp.org authors Ralph Droms and Ted Lemon on best practices for DHCP implementation.  Links of interest include:

- DHCP working Group of the IETF

- Post for the mailing list

- Archives

- RCF's

- Java APIs