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Hackintoshing Dell Mini 10v

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So, after successfully hackintoshing a Dell Mini 9, today I got to do a 10v.

Issue 1: Brand new from Dell, it has A06 bios. This needs to be downgraded to A04. Here’s that info: http://mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mini-10-guides/12408-downgrade-your-mini-10v-bios-a04-requires-windows.html

Issue 2: The process has evolved a lot in a couple months. Now, you can just run a single .app against a thumbdrive that’s been “Restored” with the 10.5.6 dmg, and it will take care of the rest. That app is called NetbootBootMaker.app. Info on that can be found here: http://osx.mechdrew.com/guides/nbi1.shtml

Other than that, it seems pretty cut and dry. The only issue I had was rebooting after installing the 10.5.8 Combo update. It seems to need the thumbdrive attached when that is done.

Dokuwiki Highlight plugin

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Just posting a quick note. Dokuwiki is my wiki of choice, and one of the plugins I use is called “Highlight”. The problem is, it’s kinda hard to get ahold of anymore, and it hasn’t been updated in forever.

The Dokuwiki plugin page for Highlight is here.

I have a copy that I have fixed to include the anti-XSS code posted on the plugin page. You can grab a zip of the plugin code here.

Thanks.

Time Management for System Administrators

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time_mngmt_sys_admin_comp.inddTitle: Time management for System Administrators
Author: Thomas Limoncelli
Publisher: O’Reilly Media
Published: Nov 2005
Amazon link: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5.

Having owned this book since early 2006, I can say I’ve read it a few times, which helpfully is what the author suggests in the book (multiple readings). I first found out about the book via a review on Slashdot (here). The book, by and large, has changed the way I work every day. While I can’t say I’m the best at following the suggestions, I do try.

The biggest point of the book, and what any SA should walk away with, is the notion that brain power is better used doing your job, and not keeping track of tasks. So, use something “trustable” to manage your tasks. In the authors case, a “PAA” or Personal Analog Assistant (a day planner). Write everything down, so that you don’t have to remember it for more than a few seconds. Carry it everywhere. I tried this, since when I first read the book, Palm was the only real PDA available, and they didn’t work nearly as well as one would like. So, I bought a Franklin Covey planner, and used it. Never worked very well, being a lefty. Stopped trying within a couple months. I pretty much gave up on a lot of the process until I got an iPhone 3G. Once I had one of those, things really started coming together. Largely due to one set of programs, one a desktop app, and one an iPhone app: OmniFocus. At that point, keeping track of items became as easy as pulling out my iPhone to add an item, or adding something on the desktop. Now, I don’t have to keep track of “to-do’s” in my brain. OmniFocus does it for me.

After reading the book the first time, we also implemented RT at the office. This has since been merged into a campus-wide RT system, but either way, the ability to have Troubleticketing is another step toward working more efficiently.

Between those two items, there is a missing part (I think) that a Wiki fills. I personally really like Dokuwiki, but any wiki will work. It allows for easily documenting processes, documenting systems, etc.

The only part(s) of “The Process” I haven’t been able to enact have been the mutual interruption shield, and planning my day in the first 5-10 minutes I’m at work. Both of these are due to my placement in the office (being right next to the door). This is going to be changing in the coming weeks, when I’ll actually be in the back of the office, and people will have to work past several others before getting to me.

All and all, the book has greatly increased my productivity, and allows me to actually have idle time at work. I get more done, and have more time to work on “fun” projects. All and all, I highly recommend it to all SA’s, and SA bosses.