Fabric issues

I wonder if anyone's got the hang of Lefthand Networks VSA.
Not as simple to configure like Netapp or a Clariion in my opinion.
The thing has just too many areas to look at for getting stuff done.
I figure it's still better to use the VSA ,than the aging CX-320 for ISCSI.
Don't want to do too much to that old beast , its too cranky.

The other thing that cranky is our fabric.

I had shutdown our switches before a scheduled power maintenance on Sat.
On the brocades I ran a normal sysshutdown.
Come Monday after power them on, and this switch is acting all weird, the web interface doesn't work and
even a "zone show" results in "Fabric busy try again later" ??
Rebooted it , still the same issue .
I had to perform a persistent disable of the switch , fast boot it , then re-enable config to get it to work.
Dunno what was the RCA , I guess I need someone with a BCFP to analyse the supportshow dump for me (Or I should get one myself)

4 gig problem

I had bought extra RAM for the box , upping total to 4 gigs.

I install the chips , boot up Vista and check under “My Computer-> Properties” and it shows 4gigs. So , chips are ok and everything’s cool.

Week passes by , I’m try to run multiple VMs and seem to run into a performance snag .

So , I start the windoze troubleshooting ritual by opening up task manager. So here comes the funny part , it shows 2.5 gigs of physical memory ? But “My Computer-> Properties” shows 4gigs ?

After reading up forum posts on this , here is what I understood.

1> My Computer –> Properties shows you the physical memory present on the box.

2> Task manager will show you the physical memory that is actually getting used by Vista.

3> PAE is disabled in Vista (PAE lets 32 bit windoze OS’s go above the 4GB barrier)

4 If you have 4gigs , then this formula applies : Memory that can be used by Vista = 4GB – Graphic Card RAM (1 gig in my 8600GT) – Some RAM used by BIOS (~ 300 MB)

So , don’t go to 4GB on Vista 32bit , 3GB should be okay . Or install 64bit Vista (that’s what I did )

Ping Pong !

Squeeze those brain cells to get some blog juice ….

Life is beautiful

The job promotion into training is beginning to change life in many ways.

It was my karma to do this job.

Even as a support engineer , I was spending more time on helping others, than tackling my own work.

As I am just about to complete my first off-campus assignment , I sometimes feel like a stage performer during the training sessions.

I have learnt that a little humour goes a long way in building a student-instructor rapport.

Animated expressions and antics leave a longer lasting memory than plain vanilla "stand on the stage and talk" speeches.

Slumdog

I have always complained about 'Masala' bollywood movies with same old stereotypes and storylines .
But, if you have to make Masala-ishtyle movies , you better make 'em like this one.

I got a copy of the movie just coz it was receiving rave 'phoren' reviews and expecting that this would be, again, one of those same old western-indian crossover movies.

It turned out to be one of the best Masala movies I have ever seen (although I don't see many) .
Quoting a Bollywood cliche 'Isme action hai , Romance hai , Gaana hai , Mast item hai , fullto maximum paisa wasul hai baap '

For someone who has stayed in a Mumbai slum (in an old haunting past that I can't blank out) , I can vouch for the genuineness of the sets and life potrayed. Perhaps it is that emotional connection that makes me treasure this movie.