Boo

Is this thing on?

Suppose it is...will try to use it more. We'll see.

-r

Cisco WLC and AP DHCP Options

For Cisco AP's to get registered to a WLAN Controller on a different subnet, you have to do a bit of work on your DHCP server. This is where it gets interesting.

I found an article online from Cisco that you can follow to get these AP's working with your WLC. You can find that article here.

The one thing I did differently in the Predefined Options was instead of using Binary in the data type, I used IP Address and then edited the Array to include the IP Address of the WLC. Then in the scope options, the IP address has been specified and is good to go.

The AP gets the Option 43 to get the files from the WLC and then registers after any firmware upgrade the controller could be offering.

All set and good to go.

Cisco Call Manager Express Phone Times

I had a buddy of mine ask me about making sure the time on his routers were correct on his CME boxes because the phone times were off. I recommended setting up an NTP server and syncing to that...and here was the instructions I gave him.

First of all, we need to make sure your time zone is correct.

Log (telnet) into you router and go into config mode and enter these commands:

router(config)#clock timezone GMT -6

router(config)#clock summer-time CST recurring

Then, you could either change the time yourself or configure an NTP server. If you have a Windows 2008 server, I would set it up as an NTP server and configure the router to check with it. Here is an article we followed to get the server to be an NTP server locally:

http://bchavez.bitarmory.com/archive/2009/12/21/how-to-setup-a-windows-2008-r2-sntp-ntp-server.aspx

Then on your router in config mode, do the following:

router(config)#ntp server x.x.x.x prefer

It will take a bit for the router to sync to an NTP server, and quite frankly, you are probably better off to set the time manually after you configure the NTP server since sometimes they don't want to sync if they are too far off. So, to set the time manually...you actually don't have to be in config mode, just at the enable prompt.

router#clock set 08:20:00 2 October 2012

To check to make sure it took, just enter this command…it will show your current time and date and whether it is manual or NTP synced:

router#show clock detail

08:25:35.826 CST Tue Oct 2 2012

Time source is NTP

Summer time starts 02:00:00 GMT Sun Mar 11 2012

Summer time ends 02:00:00 CST Sun Nov 4 2012

You should probably check your time zone in the telephony-service portion as well since this is where your phones check for their time zone:

router(config-telephony)#time-zone ?

This will bring up the number you need to put for what time zone you need:

router(config-telephony)#time-zone ?

  1-56  select timezone name used by IP phones (offset in minutes)

1 Dateline Standard Time -720

2 Samoa Standard Time -660

3 Hawaiian Standard Time -600

4 Alaskan Standard/Daylight Time -540

5 Pacific Standard/Daylight Time -480

6 Mountain Standard/Daylight Time -420

7 US Mountain Standard Time -420

8 Central Standard/Daylight Time -360

-snip-

So, for Central, it should be:

router(config-telephony)#time-zone 8

That should correct the time on the phones, but you may need to rebuild the cnf files. Still in telephony-service mode, issue these commands and it should help correct the time on the phones.

router(config-telephony)#no create cnf-files

router(config-telephony)#create cnf-files

That should fix you up!

music and thoughts

So...one of my favorite parts of Christmas is the music. Classic songs, parodies, and of course, songs of Christ's birth. I listened to probably my favorite song about just that tonight on the way home from OKC. It is called, 'A Strange Way to Save the World'. That song is one of the songs in my life that can bring me to my knees in thankfulness. But, the message of it is so simple...so real. Joseph thinking, "Why me? Why Him? Why her?" It just seems such a strange way...to save the world. It always get me thinking...
If you have never heard the song, look at up. I remember my old pastor, Chris Philbeck, singing the song. But, probably my favorite version is Michael Crawford. Good stuff.

Another song that Michael Crawford has on his Christmas CD that I love (and that touches me no matter who sings it because of the lyrics, but wow, can Mr. Crawford belt it out!) is 'O Holy Night'. "Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!" Man. Chills.

Christmas time is a time of reflection too...well, and New Year's. The end of the year process, I guess. It's funny in a way, sometimes I think I reflect too much...not living in the present enough. I think a lot...and I like to be alone to think. It seems the more I get older, the more I want to be alone with my thoughts...but, my thoughts tell me I should be more relational. It sure is hard.

To be honest, I have never let myself grow close to people I love...and that is no way to live. It is the safe way, sure, but did Christ want us to live safely? I am sorry for my family and my friends for the way I am. I should be more open, more transparent...less selfish and less closed. It is hard for me. The closer I get to people I love, the more anxious I get about anything that could hurt me or them. If I am not close, when something happens, I won't hurt...much. Losing my mom hurt. A lot. Losing Nicole's mom hurt a lot. I know it is part of life, but I don't like it. But. I have to change. I need to live my life involved, invested in my relationships. Hurt when those around me hurt...laugh when those around me laugh. Live. Life.

I have been failing miserably. And I ask your forgiveness. I will try to change. Again, it is hard, but I will try. Change my focus. Look for happiness where it needs to be looked for...look for love where it needs to be looked for...live life for whom it needs to be lived.

And that...is not me.

days

Ever have one of those days when everything just comes to a head? And then you lose it? And then you are embarrassed that you lost it? Yesterday was the day for me, I guess.

I'm tired, I'm fed up with everything...and I know I am the one that has to do something about it and don't seem to want to do anything about it. Familiarity breeds complacency, right? I have been complacent in a lot of things and that has to change...tomorrow. Heh, heh. Had to throw that in. :)

One of the areas I have been complacent is in relationships. I thought I had some at one point, some pretty good friends...ones that you would think would be there for you, would take a stand for you. But then...something comes up. Oh well, no need to beat a dead horse.

Well...last night started a new small group. Everything went well. Of course, I think I will always have that little bit of trepidation going into the relationships because of the past, but hope to move on. We had a great night of fellowship, learned some new things and the kids all seemed to get along good with each other which is always a plus.

A new day has dawned and things are looking a little better...time to make an effort to keep them that way. :)

Until next time.

-r

The Revolutionary Paul Revere, by Joel Miller

A timely addition to the various books on men who helped lay the foundation of our country, The Revolutionary Paul Revere has great insight to the life of Paul Revere. The book starts with a little family history and the paths to Boston. The young Paul learns a trade and is shaped into the man the country needed in a time of need.

The book was a little slow in the beginning, but was necessary background information of how Paul became involved with key people in our nation's formation. His skills as a craftsman put him in position to meet various people in different levels of society. The book also delves into his entry and ascension into the Masons and friendships formed.

The book quickly speeds up as England begins to try and force taxes and importation laws on the colonies. As the incidents heat up, Paul becomes more involved with the business of espionage and delivering information to other colonies, including the famous ride to warn of plans to destroy ammunitions in Concord and the arrest of Hancock and Adams. The rest of the book flows nicely during the war and after, where Paul expands his business, always learning new skills for wages and to help the fledgling nation.

The book seemed very well researched and meticulously noted in almost 30 pages of references. This book is a great comprehensive look into the life of Paul Revere.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

man

Yesterday I went to a funeral of a great man.

His life was well remembered.

If my life can be lived half as great as his, I will be successful.

Thanks Phil...for who you were.

-R