Welcome to Trainyard, the development/personal outlet of Nawsher A. Noor. That's me! This site is where I mostly talk about things that I've produced, delivered and interest me in my field of work. And also where I ramble on my 'dear diary' moments. Learn more ...

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MCTS on SQL Server 2008

Microsoft offers 3 MCTS on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 certifications — each aligning with market-relevant job roles.

1. Implementation and Maintenance – performing database administrator tasks: installing, configuring, and maintaining.
2. Database Development – writing application code against systems that run SQL Server 2008, writing T-SQL or Microsoft .NET CLR code that runs inside SQL Server 2008, or developing solutions in SQL Server 2008.
3. Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance – working with the business intelligence technologies, including Reporting Services, Analysis Services, and Integration Services [my interest]

Exam code: 70-448

Net price: US$ 50

Click here for exam centers.

Understanding J-1 Program

# Understanding InterExchange

A non-profit organization to promote cultural awareness through a wide range of work and travel, language, volunteer, professional training, internship, and Au pair programs within the United States and around the world. In the U.S., they offer J-1 Visa and H-2B Visa programs.

# J-1 Visa

J-1 Visa programs allow international citizens to work, train, and travel legally in the United States. Under U.S. State Department regulations, J-1 Visa students, trainees, interns, and seasonal staff are able to work legally in the U.S. as part of a cultural exchange program. Participants can work, train, and earn money while they experience daily life in the United States.

# InterExchange sponsors J-1 Visas for the following types of travel:

1. Au Pair USA – Live-In Childcare from Around the World
2. Camp USA – U.S. Summer Camp Counselors & Staff
3. Career Training USA – Internship & Trainee Programs in the U.S. [Applicable in my case]
4. Work & Travel USA – Seasonal Staff for U.S. Business

# InterExchange Career Training USA

Assists international students and young professionals with securing internships and practical training programs in the U.S.  Our programs help participants to develop the professional skills necessary to work in an increasingly interdependent world.

They offer two distinct program options:

1. J-1 Visa sponsorship program [Applicable in my case]
2. Internship placement program

# J-1 Visa sponsorship program

For applicants and U.S. employers who have already arranged an internship together and simply need a J-1 Visa sponsor. After an agreement has been reached regarding start and end dates, the stipend or salary, and the training plan and objectives, applicants can apply to InterExchange Career Training USA through the J-1 Visa Sponsorship Program.

Two types of programs available:

1. International Professional Training Program [Applicable in my case]
2. International Student Internship Program

Program eligibility requirements: http://www.interexchange.org/internship/intern-requirements.html

Visa application process: http://www.interexchange.org/internship/j1-visa-approval-process.html

Synchronize time with Windows Time service

To synchronize an internal time server with an external source:

w32tm /config /syncfromflags:manual /manualpeerlist:Peerlist

w32tm /config /update

Here, Peerlist is a comma separated list of DNS or IP Addresses for the
time servers.

To configure a client computer for automatic domain time synchronization:

w32tm /config /syncfromflags:domhier /update

net stop w32time

net start w32time

To see which time server is configured use following command:

reg query HKLM\system\Currentcontrolset\Services\W32time\Parameters

In case of workgroup:

You must manually configure the time synchronization settings. You might identify a computer as a locally reliable time source by configuring the Windows Time service on that computer to use a known accurate time source, either by using special hardware or by using a time source that is available on the Internet. You can configure all other workgroup computers manually to synchronize their time with this local time source.

In case of Active Directory domain:

The Windows Time service configures itself automatically by using the Windows Time service that is available on domain controllers. The Windows Time service configures a domain controller in its domain as a reliable time source and synchronizes itself periodically with this source.

References:

1. KB307897
2. http://spundae.wikidot.com/time-sync-with-time-server-or-domain-controller

IIS Issue: Upgrading Workgroup Windows 2003 server to Domain Controller

Scenario

Modified an existing Windows 2003 workgroup computer so that it can become a
Domain Controller (DC). IIS is already installed on this system. When promoted to a Domain Controller, the security gets messed up.

Cause

IIS uses certain built-in local accounts for it’s operations such as Network Service, System or IUSR_<computer_name> depending on which one you are using. Therefore, when promoting a member server to a DC, the concept of built in accounts work no more. And that has an effect on IIS.

Solution

It is highly recommended not to run IIS (or any other servers) on the Domain Controller for security reasons. If you use IIS on a DC, then the Anonymous user is a Domain account and has rights by default as a member of domain users. This may or may not be acceptable depending on your circumstances, but often is not.

References:

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300432
• http://www.eggheadcafe.com/conversation.aspx?messageid=33731252&threadid=33731252

Fix-it for Bangladesh 2009 Daylight Saving Time from Microsoft

About Update:

As reported in the Bangladesh Government’s Gazette, Bangladesh has announced the introduction of Daylight Saving Time (DST).  The start of DST for 2009 is on June 19th at 11:00 PM.

An optional update  is available to update the Daylight Saving Time for Bangladesh for the year 2009 for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 based computers.

This update creates a separate time zone for Bangladesh with the following DST setting:

• DST starts at 23:00:00 on June 19th, 2009
• DST ends at 23:00:00 on December 31st, 2009 *

* Note that no DST end date has been announced yet. Since the TZI (Time Zone Information) value in the registry requires DST end date and time, thus Dec 31st, 2009 is set for now until future changes overwrite it.

Applying Update:

1. Download and install the fix-it update.
2. Set your time zone to (GMT +06:00) Dhaka in the Date and Time settings.

Refer to KB972423 for details.

Understanding SAP

This is an accumulated information on SAP for my understanding. People who are interested may also be benefited.

Overview

• World’s second largest business software company.
• Largest European software enterprise.
• Third largest independent software provider in terms of revenues.
• Headquarters in Walldorf, Germany.
• Best known for its SAP ERP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

History

• SAP (“System Analysis and Program Development”) was founded in 1972 by 5 former IBM engineers (Hopp, Hector, Plattner, Tschira and Wellenreuther).
• The acronym was later changed to stand for “Systems, Applications and Products in Data Processing”.

Milestones

• In 1973, SAP R/1 solution was launched.
• In 1979, SAP launched SAP R/2.
• In 1981, SAP brought a completely re-designed solution to market.
• In 1992, by launching R/3, SAP followed the trend from mainframe computing to client-server architectures.
• Development of SAP’s internet strategy with mySAP.com redesigned the concept of business processes (integration via Internet).

Business and markets

• It operates in 3 geographic regions:
  1. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
  2. SAP America (North America and Latin America)
  3. APJ, Asia Pacific Japan (Japan, Australia, India and parts of Asia)
• SAP operates a network of 115 subsidiaries, and has R&D facilities around the globe in Germany, North America, Canada, China, Hungary, India, Israel and Bulgaria, Turkey.

• SAP focuses on 6 industry sectors:
  1. Process industries
  2. Discrete industries
  3. Consumer industries
  4. Service industries
  5. Financial services
  6. Public services
• It offers more than 25 industry solution portfolios for large enterprises and more than 550 micro-vertical solutions for midsize companies and small businesses.

List of SAP Products

List of SAP User Groups

SAP User-Group Executive Network (SUGEN)

List of ERP Vendors

List of ERP Software Packages

SAP Training Overview

Can’t access CommandArgument (LinkButton) in Javascript

Problem:
Cannot access CommandArgument value of ASP LinkButton from Javascript function

Solution:
Instead going for CommandArgument, there is a rather simple workaround to this. LinkButton has a “title” attribute and it can be used to pass values to Javascript function.

<script type="text/javascript">
function demo(sender){
      alert(sender.title);
}
</script>

<asp:LinkButton ID="LinkButton1" runat="server"
OnClientClick="javascript:return demo(this);"
CausesValidation="false"
CommandName="name"
Text='<%# Eval("[ name]") %>'
title='<%# Eval("[ name]") %>'
CommandArgument='<%# Eval("[Id]") %>'>click</asp:LinkButton>

Source: http://forums.asp.net/p/1414937/3121669.aspx#3121669

CellBazaar Background

Company: CellBazaar, Inc.

Role: Technology Manager
Duration: January 2006 to Present

Company Awards:

• GSMA 2008
• Manthan Award 2008
• Telecom Asia 2008
• Tech Museum 2007
• MIT Ideas 2005

Hands-on experience leading all stages of CellBazaar system development efforts, including requirements definition, design, architecture, testing, and maintenance.

Key Achievements:

• Four synchronized platforms – SMS, Mobile (WAP), Web, and Voice (IVR)
• Communication protocol with Mobile Network Operator’s SMSC, WAP and Web Gateways
• Web/Database Servers and Remote O&M system
• Key role as liaison with technology partners – Grameenphone, IBM, Microsoft, and Lucent Technologies – on solution architecture and infrastructure setup
• Hand selected employees to build Development and Maintenance Team

Details to be filled up shortly.

Online Exchange Background

Project: Online Exchange Portal

Undergraduate Independent Study (Computer Science) from BRAC University (January 2005)
Supervisor: Dr. Mumit Khan
Team: Nawsher Ahmed Noor, Sharif Muktadir

And yes, more details to be filled up soon.