BridgeGate20.com

Until recently, gaming notebooks were normally custom made by select retailers. As I remember they were not really the best selling notebooks but as they were more significantly costly they were the best profit generating products. These popular notebooks were just too expensive. Had you been a power hungry user they were basically the best laptop computers you could purchase. They probably weren’t best sellers though because I reckon us people buy laptop computers that we can easily afford. As larger brands see the opening in the gaming notebook market, stuff looks to have altered.

In comparison to the tiny resellers these companies are aware that they can get even more margin. Margins have been so slim as of late that this is a good opportunity to get more cash by selling hardware. I am quite confident that people would buy laptop computers if mass marketed by these large manufacturers. Little companies definitely have their work cut out for them now. I guess once it becomes mass marketed it will lose some of the desirability. In addition the familiar brand name will give consumers greater confidence.

In my view these brands are bringing out the best laptop computers at this point in time. I still anticipate that smaller system builders will deduct significant support from this. I can determine the service of being able to customize the notebook computer to be an important purchasing factor. Such buyers are generally tech savvy and can compare all the minute details. Often these sorts of purchasers are more partial to the speed rather than the design.

This will be interpreted as a good change for the consumer. The competitiveness between the established players should drive prices down when they seek to distinguish from one another. Even though that is my view on it, its just my opinion and quite possibly not what will happen. I am not confident if the whole price of notebooks will be reduced but new portables are always at particular prices. We will find out what we can anticipate from the gaming notebook sectors large brands.

Is Mars Hollow? We are pretty sure it is not, but no one can be certain however we might soon know. The reason such a question is asked is because of questions about the Earth and the time it takes for sound waves to travel through it. And the speed of the spin rate of Mars, the question of moons is interesting and a few other interesting a recent discoveries. Here is one of the thoughts on the matter. By bouncing waves off the polar ice caps this can be proven or disproven;

http://www.ourhollowearth.com/MarsIsHollow.htm

http://www.goddardmultimedia.fsnet.co.uk/atpai/canals.htm

Most scientists to do not buy into the hollow planet theories, yet others admit we just do not know. The most interesting of all is the straight-line canals, which is hard to fathom considering using our own knowledge about our planet here. But Mars is a different planet or satellite and therefore has different characteristics completely.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/life-00v1.html .

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/largeimpacts2003/pdf/4102.pdf

And what is underneath our surface? Well we know certainly more than we did before. CalTech which runs JPL is getting to the under bottom of this. After all with all the seismic knowledge we have from there they ought to know. We are not the only ones studying this; the UK has ideas and so does Japan.

http://basic1.easily.co.uk/057044/04D005/NAW2003p2.pdf

So the question is not as far fetched as you might think. We will soon find the truth? We do not seem to be finding much complex life on the surface of Mars, although we have a lot more area to look at. We know of water on Mars and expect to find underground water too. Is this where life might be? Could it be in the polar ice caps and in the ground water in cavities under the surface? If there is anything such as the complex life forms we find on Earth, then they are probably underground, where we have not looked yet. Or perhaps the biblical scholars can rejoice and say; see we told you so? Think about it.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

THE MAGI:

I find no real fault in Constantine’s inclusion or plagiarization of earlier and other systems of thought or their symbology into Roman Empire social engineering. The problem I see is the nature of the knowledge that they sought to prevent average people from gaining. Knowledge is power and knowledge in the hands of the few is a corrupting power. They have used mind-fogging projections to enslave and make people live in fear of demons and other constructs.

“Among the most famousand fiercestof the laws that Moses is shown to bring down from Mt. Sinai are the ones that criminalize the practice of magic. ‘There shall not be found among you a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,’ decrees Moses. ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’ (From Biblio: Deut 18: 10; Exod. 22: 18.) Magic working is condemned with equal fervor in the Christian Bible, where it is explicitly kinked with all the other outrages of paganism: ‘The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, {Yes, and the Catholics had more idols than the pagan pantheon especially when you include the saints along with ‘Laddio, Daddio and Spook’.} and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’ (From Biblio: Rev. 21: 8.)

Ironically, an intriguing and illuminating clue to the function of sorcery in the pagan world is buried away in one of the most beloved passages of the Christian Bible. ‘Three wise men’ come in search of the newborn Jesus, or so goes the conventional English translation of Matthew 2: 1-2, ‘for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.’ The ‘wise men’ are plainly called ‘magi’ in the Greek text, the plural form of ‘magus,’ a word that was used among the pagans of Babylonia and Persia to identify seers, soothsayers and sorcerers. ‘Magus’ is the root of ‘magic,’ and so we might more accurately call the men who followed a star to Bethlehem the three magicians.

‘Magus’ came to be used in Jewish and Christian circles as a derogatory term to describe someone who trafficked in black magic; a sorcerer, a deceiver, even a poisoner. But the original meaning of the word in the pagan world was honorable and even exalted…” (1)

Then there are the constant proclamations that various ‘experts’ make about ESP. Stanford Research Institute included the inventor of the laser and many fine scientists that these so-called ‘experts’ are seldom able to evaluate or as debunkers are paid to marginalize. Russell Targ’s book Limitless Mind including a foreword by Jean Houston is a great book for the truly open-minded individual. Targ’s book - which is the study of consciousness and the ethereal Matrix at a high scientific level says: “…forced-choice ESP tests are an inefficient way to elicit psi functioning: they always have an additional burden of boredom and mental noise (AOL). In the above studies, the experimenters, on average, had to carry out 3,600 trials to achieve a statistically significant result. With the free-response type of experiment, such as remote viewing, we typically have to do only six to nine trials.” (2) Does it not make sense to ‘observe’ all the avenues for wisdom that we are blessed with?

1) God against the gods: the history of the war between monotheism and polytheism, by Jonathan Kirsch, Penguin, NY, 2004, pg. 46.

2) Limitless Mind, by Russell Targ, New World Library, California, 2004, pg. 95.

About the Author

Author of Diverse Druids, Columnist for The ES Press Magazine, Guest writer at World-Mysteries.com

Last week Microsoft bCentral required all users of it’s
ListBuilder Service to sign up for and use the Microsoft .NET
passport system by converting to that system before allowing
log-in to their existing accounts.

I normally distribute my list through ListBuilder on Sunday
evening for delivery by Monday morning to my subscribers. I got
NO NOTICE there was to be a change to the system until I tried
to log in to my list last Sunday evening, December 3, and
couldn’t.

The sign in system crashed my Netscape Browser twice, so I
opened up Explorer 5 and it just locked into a loop of agreeing
to the terms of service, I mark the “Agree” radio button and
click “next” to be returned to the terms of service agreement
over and over again. I give up with Explorer and return to
Netscape. Now my computer freezes entirely. I give up after 2
hours of trying different approaches. The “Help” screen is
worthless.

Monday A.M. I try to log in again on Netscape and go through the
process again at bCentral. Now when I click the “Next” button .
. . NOTHING HAPPENS AT ALL! I open Explorer 5 and try again to
get back to the terms of service feedback loop once again. Click
the button that says “I Agree” to the TOS and get returned back
the default “I do not agree” button checked over and over again.

I call customer support. I wait on hold for 45 minutes before
giving up fed up with the awful loop of loud Christmas music
I’ve heard repeatedly, along with that wonderful recorded, “All
of our customer service representatives are busy. Please hold
and your call will be answered in the order received” Well
either there is one person that can’t get satisfaction who won’t
hang up or there are six hundred angry callers ahead of me (or
both). I give up. I try again, for a WEEK!

I still don’t have my ezine out two issues later, I still can’t
get through the customer support phone waiting list. I sent an
email to bCentral support and got no answer. I have a paid
advertiser for the ezine and now I’ve got to explain that I’m
locked out of my list host and refund the money.

This has got to be one of Microsofts’ finest hours. I could care
less about passport as I never intend to use it for anything but
this service and will not share my personal info with them to
save my life after this debacle. So I’m willing to sign up for
passport for ListBuilder only, but all I want to do is access
and distribute my newsletter! My subscribers and advertisers
will love me for this absurdity!

After attempting for a full week to send out two issues of my
newsletter, that I can’t get by the ridiculous feedback loop of
agreeing to the terms of service over and over again or getting
signed in with the passport I create but then being prompted to
convert my account to passport. When I follow instructions I
still get the following message.

“The Microsoft .NET Passport you used to sign in is valid, but
we cannot locate your bCentral account”

When I attempt to convert again, I get the message over again. I
still can’t get through on the phone and cannot afford to spend
much more time trying.

They have not answered my queries sent to support and now I’ve
gone two weeks without sending my newsletter out. I sent a post
to LinkExchange Digest, but of course as a Microsoft sponsored
publication, they won’t publish my complaints.

I’m locked out of my account, I have only a two month old
subscriber list for backup and I can’t get any attention. This
is the most absurd thing I’ve seen since trying to change
registrars from Network Solutions to a helpful and reasonable
vendor that charges less and actually talks to me when I need
help.

We’re forced to use passport, but then can’t convert from our
previous account when we establish a passport. This behavior
could only come from a corporate behemoth that doesn’t give a
flying @#$% about individual customers. Only the mass market.
And then only when they don’t complain.

I found a page at bCentral for support phone calls and found
that phone support costs $9.95 monthly with a minimum commitment
of one year! or you can save $20 and pay for the year in
advance. So, in essence, you can pay us now or pay us more now.
But wait, at the bottom of the page it says the following:

bCentral Subscriber Phone Support is available to current
subscribers of:

Traffic Builder Commerce Manager Customer Manager

So the truth is that you can’t even PAY to talk to them about
ListBuilder! Does anyone find this in the least bit
objectionable? I’ve never seen worse customer service for paying
customers anywhere!

Can you imagine signing up for the .NET passport zwallet and
getting this kind of help when they have control of your money
at (if they get the adoption they are hoping for) HUNDREDS or
even thousands of sites across the web? This ought to be a
warning call for those considering handing over personal
information to passport and .NET and a clear signal that they
won’t provide customer support when you have trouble with it.

It is important for all businesses, institutions, and families who are considering hiring someone to take the critical step of performing a background check.

A middle-class family in suburban Atlanta recently woke to discover thieves had ransacked their home and taken nearly everything.

Who were the culprits?

Two men that were employed with a cleaning company who had been in the house less than a week prior. It was later determined that these men, who worked for a prestigious and reputable cleaning company had colorful criminal backgrounds of robbery and theft. The two men were on assignment at the home and while one of them did the cleaning, the other cased the house - taking note of valuables and even ways to get around the security system. It was eventually determined that the cleaning company neglected to properly investigate the backgrounds of its employees; and the company was sued for negligence. Stories such as this do not often in without violence; however, this example illustrates the dire importance of thoroughly screening all new employees with a background check.

This is example is surely of the extreme. It is, however, important for all businesses considering hiring someone to take the critical step of performing a background check. It is estimated 30% of all resumes submitted to employers, has some falsified content. This content can vary from exaggerations to outright lies. The most common falsifications are usually located in the education portion of the resume.

Most businesses deal with sensitive information at some level. This may range from handling social security numbers, credit card information, drivers license information and other types of personal information. In order to assure clients and customers that their information is being handled properly, it is the duty of the business owner to take the necessary step in getting a thorough background check on all employees. Personal and professional references are still a good method, however, they should not be relied upon solely. It should be obvious that prospective employees will give names of those who will give a good reference; background checks pick up where references stop - they will give you accurate and in-depth information regarding the candidate.

Background checks are available to cover a wide variety of areas. Drivers license, character references, personal acquaintances, education records, criminal records, court records, credit records and much more. It is also important to note that much of this is public information. In addition, employers should understand that according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, some information cannot be used in conjunction with a background check. Bankruptcies after 10 years and many other types of consumer information that is older than 7 years may not be reported. Criminal background, credit reporting, worker’s compensation claims and character references are just a few among a long list of types of background checks that are widely available. Employers should know the laws in their specific state regarding what information is available for their specific needs.

According to Paul Falcone, author of the book The Hiring and Firing, background checks serve many purposes: to enhance security in the workforce, to reduce turnover, to minimize the occurrence of employee theft and to leave you with the peace of mind that you have made the right decision in the hiring process. As a business owner, it is imperative to know who is working for you and what their background is. Employers should also include notice of the types of background checks performed, in their pre-employment literature. Most employers do not have the time, resources or authority to complete such thorough investigations. In order to gain this peace of mind, it is necessary to hire a background investigation firm.

Several types of firms conduct background checks. They can range from a company who verifies employment history only, to an online data broker to a private investigator. Though background check prices can vary widely depending on need, the average cost of an intermediate investigation seems to be in the $50 range. Business owners should consider this good practice and an inexpensive form of insurance for their company. Skimping on something as vitally important as a background investigation could possibly cost the company much more in the long run.

Free Background Checks

It is only human nature that the word ‘free’ catches our attention. Who doesn’t want free stuff? Employers should be extra careful when dealing with offers for free background investigations. If one searches the Internet for the query “free background checks”, he or she will certainly be bombarded with results. Upon closer examination of these “free” offers, it is apparent that the information you need is not really free at all. Yes, you can find out if a person has any outstanding warrants, any criminal charges but in order to see the details of the findings, you must pay a fee. It is very possible for employers to find the information for themselves. Various types of public records are searchable on the Internet. Another method is to contact the local police or sheriff’s department. Depending on the particular laws of a state and the employer’s needs, much of the information may be acquired for free from one of these agencies. According to privacy advocates, employers should be very cautious of those companies who advertise that they can find out anything about anybody - these companies might not be adhering to the federal laws regarding privacy. It is in the employer’s best interest to know as much about the investigating company’s practices before hiring them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Background Checks provides detailed information about criminal, employment, online, executive, and personal background checks. For more information go to Background Checks and/or visit our affiliate site at Original Content Web.

How we deal with stress has a direct impact upon our immune system. Learn how to properly manage daily stress and keep yourself healthy, vibrant and more youthful.

Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today’s fast-paced society. If left unchecked, it can wreak havoc upon our health. Learning how to effectively manage stress can mean the difference between being robust and full of life, or becoming susceptible to illness and disease. Stress can weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process. The ability to relax and rejuvenate promotes wellness, vitality and longevity.
A healthy immune system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. When stress compromises our immune function, it can result in colds, flu, fatigue, cardiovascular disorders and premature aging. Stress increases heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, adrenaline, cortisol, free radicals and oxidative damage. This initiates the “fight or flight” response, places undue strain upon the heart, and can also increase the feelings of anxiety and depression.

Protecting the immune system is a vital part of living longer, feeling younger and being healthy. Here are ten natural healthy ways to reduce stress, boost your immune system and slow down the hands of time.

1. Walking and Physical Activity (dancing, gardening, cycling, swimming, weight-lifting, etc.). Regular exercise and physical activity strengthens your immune system, cardiovascular system, heart, muscles and bones. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, improves mental functioning, concentration/attention and cognitive performance, and lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, cortisol and other stress hormones. Three 10-minute workout sessions during the day are just as effective as one 30-minute workout, and a lot easier to fit into a busy schedule.

2. Yoga and Stretching. The slow movements and controlled postures of yoga improves muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, balance, breathing, blood circulation and promotes mental focus, clarity and calmness. Stretching also reduces mental and physical stress, tension and anxiety, promotes good sleep, lowers blood pressure and slows down your heart rate.

3. Hand Hygiene. The most effective measure in preventing the spread of microorganisms that cause infections is good hand hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water as soon as you come home, and always before you eat, greatly reduces your exposure to bacterial and viral infections. In case you cannot wash with soap and water when you are away from home, carry some alcohol-based hand wipes with you to control microbial exposure and transmission.

4. Laughter and Humor. There is truth to the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Laughing reduces stress hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol. It also benefits your immune system by increasing the number and activity of Natural Killer T-cells. These cells act as the first line of defense against viral attacks and damaged cells. Find the humor in things and engage in activities that make you laugh to increase your immune function and disease resistance.

5. High Nutrient Diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants (like vitamins A, C, E and lycopene), omega-3 fatty acids, and folate. Antioxidants fight and neutralize free radicals, which are molecules that damage cells and cause heart disease, cancer and premature aging. Omega-3 fatty acids (a polyunsaturated fat) have anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular-enhancing and immune-regulating properties. It is helpful in preventing and controlling high cholesterol, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, depression, inflammatory and auto-immune disorders. Folate prevents age-related cognitive decline, damage to blood vessels and brain cells by lowering homocysteine levels. It also ensures DNA integrity (important as we age and when pregnant) and promotes healthy red blood cells. Excellent food sources for these nutrients are as follows.

• Antioxidants - pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, grapefruit (red and pink), blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges, peppers (red and green), tomatoes, broccoli, sunflower seeds, almonds and olive oil.
  


• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - ground flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, soybeans and pumpkin seeds.
  


• Folate - dark green leafy vegetables (turnip greens, mustard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, collard greens, etc.), beans, legumes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, beets and okra.

6. Music. Listening to your favorite music is a great method of reducing stress and relieving anxiety. Your individual preference in music determines which types of soothing sounds will best reduce your tension, blood pressure, and promote feelings of tranquility. Pay attention to how you feel when you hear a particular song or genre of music, and keep listening to the ones that produce a relaxing effect.

7. Sleep. Getting enough sound sleep has a profound impact on your stress levels, immune function and disease resistance. A chronic lack of sleep can leave you feeling sluggish, irritable, forgetful, accident-prone, and have difficulty concentrating or coping with life’s daily aggravations. Long-term sleep loss can also result in heart disease, stroke, hypertension, depression, and anxiety. Sleep time is when your body and immune system do most of its repairs and rejuvenation. Strive to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Remember rest and relaxation go hand in hand.

8. Positive Thinking. Optimism can counteract the negative impact stress, tension and anxiety has on your immune system and well-being. Often it is how you perceive things that determine if you get overwhelmed, both mentally and physically. Having a positive attitude, finding the good in what life throws your way and looking at the bright side of things enhances your ability to effectively manage stress.

9. Tea. Regularly drinking tea throughout the day can help strengthen your immune system and your body’s ability to fight off germs and infections. Both green and black teas contain a beneficial amino acid called L-theanine, which can increase the infection fighting capacity of gamma delta T cells. L-theanine also promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness and well-being by influencing the release and concentration of neurotransmitters (like dopamine, serotonin and GABA) in the brain.

10. Hydrotherapy. Relaxing in a hot bath relieves sore muscles and joints, reduces stress and tension, and promotes a good night’s sleep. Add some soothing music, soft lighting and naturally scented bath salts or bubble bath/bath foam to create an inexpensive and convenient spa experience in the privacy of your own home.

To get you started, try Monique N. Gilbert’s delicious and nutritious recipe. It’s high in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Banana Strawberry Power Smoothie

1 frozen ripe banana
1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup soymilk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon honey

Blend in a food processor or blender for 1-2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
Makes about 2-3/4 cups (2 servings)

Copyright © Monique N. Gilbert. All rights reserved.

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc., is a Health, Nutrition, Weight-Loss & Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author of Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook. She has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight-loss and stress management since 1989. http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. has received international recognition for helping people get healthy, manage stress, lose weight and keep it off. Through her coaching program and writings, Monique motivates and teaches how to improve your well-being, vitality and longevity with balanced nutrition, physical activity and healthy living. For more information, visit her website - http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com

CCNA exam success depends on mastering the fundamentals, and two important fundamentals are knowing exactly what the terms “collision domain” and “broadcast domain” mean. In this free Cisco tutorial, we’ll take a look at the term “collision domain” and how a collision domain is defined.

A collision domain is an area in which a collision can occur. Fair enough, but what “collision” are we talking about here? We’re talking about collisions that occur on CSMA/CD segments, or Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection. If two hosts on an Ethernet segment transmit data at exactly the same time, the data from the two hosts will collide on the shared segment. CSMA/CD exists to lessen the chances of this happening, but collisions can still occur. To lessen the chances of collisions occurring, we may decide to create multiple, smaller collision domains.

Let’s say we have four hosts on a single Ethernet segment. The entire segment is a collision domain; any data sent by one of the hosts can collide with data sent by any of the other hosts. We have one collision domain containing four devices.

To create smaller collision domains, we’ll need to introduce some type of networking device into this example. Hubs and repeaters have their place as far as extending the reach of a network segment and cutting down on attenuation, but these OSI Layer One devices do nothing to define collision domains. We could connect each host into a separate port on a hub (a hub is basically a multiport repeater) and we’d still have one single collision domain with four hosts in it.

The most common and most effective way to create multiple collision domains is to use a switch. If we connect each of these four hosts to their own separate switch port, we would now have four separate collision domains, each with one host; each switch port actually acts as a single collision domain, making collisions between these four hosts impossible.

Passing the CCNA is all about knowing the details of how things work, and knowing CSMA/CD theory and how to define collision domains is one of the many details you’ve got to master. In the next part of this CCNA tutorial, we’ll take a look at broadcast domains, and how defining broadcast domains in the right places can dramatically cut down on unnecessary traffic on your network.

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and “How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Get your CCNA study guide with The Bryant Advantage!

Simply put it acts as a barrier between your computer and the internet. To protect you from crackers, hackers and malware.

If your running DSL or a cable modem you should employ a firewall, as having a direct connection to the Internet can make you a target to attack.

Firewalls can be hardware or software based. With firewalls you set up ACL’s or Access Control lists to allow or deny traffic.

There are three different ways a firewall can block traffic.

1. Packet Filtering- Packets are analyzed against filters in the firewall rulesets. Firewalls will drop packets that are not allowed in the firewall rulesets.

2. Proxy Service- Information from the Internet is grabbed by the firewall and delivered to the requesting service thru the proxy.

3. Statefull packet inspection- looks up criteria against a database of trusted information. To see if the packet contains anything that would allow

or deny it into the network.

Firewalls are customizable allowing you to create your own rulesets you can block IP addresses, specific protocols such as Telnet, FTP, ICMP, UDP, SMTP and
many others.

Firewalls can be customized to block specific ports, or even keywords.

There are many software firewalls availiable such as Tiny Firewall http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?la=EN That is designed to keep hackers out of your network and block Spyware.

Zone Labs makes ZoneAlarm I like it bcause it has a simple interface allowing home users to configure it easily. http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

For hardware firewalls there is:

Cisco www.cisco.com There brand is called PIX firewall.

From home users I like D-Link DI-604 this is a inexpensive firewall that works well. Best of all it fits into almost any budget.

Linksys (now part of Cisco) offers a router/firewall that supports VPN and DMZ.
www.linksys.com

There are many hardware solutions including setting up a firewall on a *nix box. I like this the best as it gives you the firewall administrator the most control. I personally like OpenBSD for any security applications I would run with Unix, as it is secure. There have been very few exploits against this platform.

I will be writing more articles about firewalls shortly.

Benjamin Hargis CEO

Phuture Networks

http://www.phuturenetworks.com

email: ceo@phuturenetworks.com

Just like any business, your identity is very important. On the World Wide Web, your domain name is your identity. Of course, you can opt for a subdomain name that comes with many free web hosting like http://yourdomain.netfirms.com. But if you are serious about being successful on the Internet, you have to get your own domain name, like http://www.yourdomain.com.

Top 10 reasons to have your own domain name
Please note that all domain names listed in italic are ficticious:

1. It is cheap and easy to get your own domain name (less than $15/year in most cases)
2. You own the name (as long as you pay the annual fee)
3. You are not dependent on one web hosting company to let you use a subdomain, or worse, a subdirectory
4. Your web site promotion effort does not go to waste if you change your web hosting company (because the domain name remains the same regardless of what host you use)
5. The domain name can be optimized to your business, like www.best-used-cars.com
6. Your web site is more professional
7. The domain name is easier to remember. For instance, www.best-used-cars.com rather than www.geocities.com/web/public/business/auto/best-used-cars/
8. It is much easier to sell a web site with its own domain name
9. A good domain name can be an asset
10. It is cheap and easy to get your own domain name (this one is worth repeating)

How to register for a domain name
Please note that all domain names listed in italic are ficticious:

1. Think of appropriate name for that suit the theme of your web site. For instance, an online dating service may find domain name like www.loveconnection.com, more desirable than say www.best-used-cars.com
2. Search for domain name availability. Every domain name registrar will provide you with a search tool; although some search tools are better than other. You will have to do a lot of searches because a lot of domain name that you wish to have is probably already owned by someone else (very common).
3. As you come across available domain names that you like, jot them down. Keep searching until you have about 3-5 different domain names to choose from.
4. Choose a domain name and register it at a domain name ICANN Accredited registrar.

Other factors to consider

• Initially, you will want the .com version of your domain name. If your internet business takes off, you may want to consider registering other first-level domains (i.e., .net) of your domain name and perhaps even similar domain names to prevent mistaken identity
• Use domain name registrar that will register the domain under your name under all contacts information (perhaps with the exception of technical contact). It should be clear that you own the domain name.
• Use domain name registrar that provide good online account support.
• Use automatic domain name renewal if you are planning to own the domain name long-term

About the Author

Pinyo Bhulipongsanon is the owner of GreatNexus Webmaster Resources offering visitors with features such as webmaster forums, webmaster directory, webmaster dictionary, programming scripts, and webmaster articles. Please visit GWR for more webmaster and SEO articles.

When you’re getting started on your CCNA studies, learning the different router modes is key to passing your Intro and ICND exams. But keeping those modes straight can be very difficult. (At least it was for me!) Let’s take a look at the various router modes you’ll need to know about to pass your CCNA, and use IOS Help to illustrate the different uses of each mode.

The first mode you’ll see on a router (if the person before you logged off as they should have) is user exec mode. This is also the default mode a user is placed into when using Telnet to connect to a router. The prompt will look like this:

R1>

You can’t write or add to a configuration in this mode, but you can run quite a few show commands. This is a good mode to have users in who need to see the configuration, but shouldn’t be allowed to change it.

To get to the next level, type enable at the user exec prompt:

R1>enable

R1#

Notice that the prompt changed. This mode has two names, the official one being privileged exec mode. It’s more commonly referred to as enable mode, since “enable” is what you type to get into this mode.

This mode gives you more options for show and other commands, but you still can’t configure anything. To configure global commands, use “configure terminal”, or “conf t”, to enter global configuration mode.

R1#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

R1(config)#

The prompt has changed again, and now global configuration commands such as hostname and no ip domain-lookup can be entered.

From here, you’ve got a lot of options, but we’ll look at three you need to know for your CCNA exams. To apply configuration commands to an interface, enter interface configuration mode, as shown here:

R1(config)#interface serial0

R1(config-if)#

You must be in global config mode to get into interface config mode you cannot go from enable mode straight to interface configuration mode.

R1#interface serial0

^
% Invalid input detected at ‘^’ marker.

Interface configuration mode allows you to apply an IP address to the interface, as well as many other commands related to frame relay, ISDN, and dynamic routing protocols.

For the CCNA, you need to know about two other configuration modes. To configure console commands (such as password protection), enter line configuration mode as shown here:

R1#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

R1(config)#line console 0

R1(config-line)#password cisco

R1(config-line)#login

The prompt “(config-line)” indicates that you’re in line configuration mode. Your console line is not the only line you’ll be configuring for the CCNA, though your vty lines are used for incoming telnet connections and must be configured in a similar fashion.

R1#conf t

Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.

R1(config)#line console 0

R1(config-line)#password cisco

R1(config-line)#login

R1(config-line)#line vty 0 4

R1(config-line)#password cisco

R1(config-line)#login

Notice that you do not have to exit one interface mode to go to another one. Let’s say that you’ve configured your vty lines and now want to put an IP address on your Ethernet interface. You don’t have to go out with ctrl-z and then start again you can go straight to interface config mode from line config mode. Just make sure you see the prompt change!

R1(config-line)#line vty 0 4

R1(config-line)#password cisco

R1(config-line)#login

R1(config-line)#interface ethernet0

R1(config-if)#ip address 15.1.1.1 255.255.255.0

When you’re preparing for CCNA exam success, there’s a lot to absorb. Just take it one piece at a time, get some hands-on experience to go with your theory, and before you know it you’re moving around in the different Cisco router configuration modes without giving it a second thought. Keep studying and your CCNA exam success is assured!

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage (www.thebryantadvantage.com), home of FREE CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. Video courses and training, binary and subnetting help, and corporate training are also available.

For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” or “How To Pass The CCNP”, send a request to chris@thebryantadvantage.com today !