Stuff i use ..

This page contains applications that i use on the platforms that i use most.

Mac OS X

Apple Remote Desktop – we received this either with the purchase of an XServe or with a large lease of computers, but it’s a great app for managing OS X machines.  you can remote control, install packages, or run scripts, amongst many other things.  I use this when we need to make the same change across a large number of our computers.  (more information)

ZTerm – I use this to with a serial connection to manager network devices, etc.  (more information)

Textwrangler – This is a great Text editor. It does syntax highlighting for alot of languages (at least everyone I’ve tried), has a nice interface, and one of my favorite features is that you can have mutliple files open and they are all listed on the right side for quick\easy switching. (more information)

cyberduck – graphical FTP and sFTP client.  does what i need, don’t know that I wouldn’t be open to switching, but what, other than transfer files, do you really need an FTP client to do? (more information)

tftpserver – obviously, it’s a TFTP server.  I use it to manually update switch and other devices that can pull images from a TFTP Server. (more information)

chicken of the VNC – pretty nice VNC client, like CyberDuck, not sure that I am sold that it’s the best application out there, but it get’s the job done.  I use to connect to Servers that have VNC installed and sometimes to connect to a single OS X client (but rarely, ussually use Apple Remote Desktop for that). (more information)

Caffeine – not really network\Server management related. This keeps the screen from Dimming or the computer going to sleep when active.  I activate during presentations and Web conferences so that i don’t have to worry about moving the mouse to keep the computer up. (more information)

Windows XP

Dameware NT Utilities- Dameware is a nice Desktop management suite for Windows based computers.  I initially used it only for remote control of XP workstations, but it can do alot more than just that.  you can start and stop services, see what local users\groups exists and manage them, and a ton of other things.  the other nice thing is that the price isn’t too bad, $250 per admin for as many stations as they manage. (more information)

PuTTY – Ok Windows based SSH client.  I haven’t found anything better, and I know alot of people use this, so i guess maybe there isn’t anything better out there. (more information)

PSPad – Windows based text editor.  does syntax highlighting, also does some interesting manipulation for comma and tab delimited files. (more information)

Tera Term Pro – Terminal Program i use for connecting to switches and other gear that uses a serial console. (more information)

iPhone\iPad

Penultimate – This is an app that allows you to write hand written notes. We have alot of construction going on right now and I use it as i walk around the construction site to take notes of things to e-mail the PMs about. i also use it when I’m patching over the Voice and data drops in the closets as the documentation that we’ve been receiving so far from the data contractor sucks. (more information)

iSSH – This is what it sounds like, it’s an SSH app for the iPhone and iPad.  it’s nice for quickly verifying configurations or making small changes, but i wouldn’t use it for major work.  it also has a VNC client with it so that you can control servers\computer with a VNC server.  it also works on OS X clients if you enable VNC connections with a password in remote management under sharing in System Preferences. (more information)

Remote Desktop – again, you’re not going to do a large amount of work using this app, but if you’re out somewhere, don’t have you’re laptop, and need to get connected to a server to check something.  This works.  I actually used it a couple weeks ago when there was a problem with the network while i was on vacation.  I was able to RDP to one of our servers and verify that the configuration on the switch was right without having to leave the beach.  (more information)

Evernote - I use this for general note taking at meetings since i can have a desktop client and one on my phone\iPad to refer to those notes later if i don’t have my laptop handy. (more information)

GoodReader – i load up alot of PDF manuals and documentation onto my iPad to read when I’m waiting at the Doctors or to pick my wife up at the end of the day.  it’s also real nice to have something open on the iPad and be working on the laptop and be able to see both at the same time. (more information)

Pages – I hesitate to put this on this list, but i do use it a bit to write up documentation when I’m somewhere that i don’t have access to my laptop, or don’t want to drag it whereever I’m going. (more information)