Network virtualization

Looking at todays networks, one has to agree virtualization is key. Big datacenters and large companies have allready switched to popular platforms such as VMWare or Citrix in order to lower the amount of physical servers and optimise their infrastructure.

Network technicians today are challenged with the same virtualization challenges as server admins. Especially in provider and shared datacenter architectures there is a lot to do about network multitenancy. I have worked in big datacenter environments and in fact am challenged as well with the multitenancy environments, which make the job a lot more interesting.

Here are some key components for network multitenancy to work :

- Layer2 separation (we all know vlan’s don’t we ?)
- Layer3 separation (the VRF technology is key here)
- Layer4-7 separation (Firewalls, VPN solutions and other devices should all be multitenant capable)

In fact it’s key to have a clear statement about the true multitenant environment. Many vendors sell their product, capable of tenancy however when looking closely it might not be what you expect!

- Completely separate routing domains (eg : a routing table per tenant)
- Completely separate security domains (eg: by Cisco ASA Context technology)
- Completely different user databases / authentication groups (eg: VPN solutions)
- Completely separate management access (if required)

There are quite a few caveats with network multitenancy you need to be aware of, which will be covered in subsequent blogposts. You can imagine security and scalability being the most important factors when building multitenant environments. Several key players allready have products in their catalog adding value to these problems but most of the time the network architect needs to be aware of the solutions limitations.

The Non-definitive guide to the VMware vExpert Program, Tips, Tricks, How to become a vExpert!

by Christopher Kusek (PKGuild)

What exactly is this whole VMware vExpert Program and what does it mean to me?! I know that’s what you are asking, because you probably did a search of “VMware vExpert” and turned up this VMware vExpert FAQ Page, or some of these great details outlined in the vExpert Directory.

But if you haven’t read those pages, or you want a little context on exactly what the VMware vExpert Program is all about, it is extremely similar to the acclaimed Microsoft MVP Program, the EMC Elect Program, and even the rarely heard of Citrix Technology Professionals Program! Essentially, this is an award based upon your contributions to society, community, industry. Going above and beyond simply ‘doing your job’. That about sums it up!

What makes the VMware vExpert Program so special

The VMware vExpert Community is very much just that, a community of likeminded professionals who come together for the betterment of society as a whole. It may all sound sort of altruistic but there is no more accurate depiction of the truth than that. The community is filled with people who work tirelessly to help others, who are seen as and sought after as the experts in the industry, many of which feel they don’t deserve the accolade and others who work so diligently to ensure that their impact on those around them eclipses any benefits that may be derived from the mention. The vExperts are the authors, bloggers, podcasters, troubleshooters, helpers, friends and family which makes VMware and Virtualization such a prevalent thread it has been transforming the industry ever since its inception.

A few of the benefits ‘granted’ to the members of the vExpert community are

• Public recognition of the vExpert award with a certificate, gift, permission to display a logo, and inclusion in any public vExpert listing
• Access to a private vExpert community of your peers
• Free subscription to conference session materials on VMworld.com
• Access to exclusive events, beta programs, software licenses, and other exclusive opportunities to participate in activities with VMware. vExperts do not represent VMware and are not required to participate in any activities

But those are just the *published* benefits, here are some of the unpublished yet fully realized by members of the vExpert Community

• Priority Access to Private Betas
• Blogger Early Access Programs (Including Deep Dive Webinars with Product Teams)
• Influencer Day and Product Launch Briefings (Be on the inside track with the analysts and product launch embargoes)
• Focus Groups with SMB and Partners
• Special Opportunities presented by Partners such as Tintri, Symantec, EMC, Trainsignal, Tech Field Day, and more!
• And a particular favorite of many, private vExpert only CTO Party and Briefings with the Office of the CTO and Steve Herrod at VMworld

But it doesn’t stop there. Some of the extra benefits realized not by all, but by many as the form of opportunities tend to be

• Special Access to Guest Blogging spots on VMTN and other blogportunities
• Community Roundtable Podcast speaking opportunities and special guest access
• VMware Press opportunities to be a Tech Reviewer or Author (They’re always looking for talent, and check the vExpert pool often)
• Other Press sources opportunities to write and review (Sybex, Video training houses, tech blogs, Windows IT Pro, Speaking Gigs, etc)
• … The opportunities are seemingly endless!
• 
  

What exactly are the paths to being a vExpert

Since this is the non-definitive guide after all I can only go on what we know from the 2012 Calendar year which could possibly change. But instituted as part of this cycle was a growth of the vExpert selection criteria to differing paths of Experts; Evangelist, Customer, Partner.

Evangelist

The Evangelist Path includes book authors, bloggers, tool builders, public speakers, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others with the leverage of a personal public platform to reach many people. Employees of VMware can also apply via the Evangelist path.

Customer

The Customer Path is for internal evangelists and community leaders from VMware customer organizations. They have contributed to success stories, customer references, or public interviews and talks, or were active community contributors, such as VMUG leaders.

Partner (VMware Partner Network)

The VPN Path is for employees of our partner companies who lead with passion and by example, who are committed to continuous learning and to making their technical knowledge and expertise available to many. This can take shape of event participation, video, IP generation, as well as public speaking engagements.

What about the selection criteria for the vExpert Program

First let me start out by displaying what are a few caveats and considerations before I get too deeply into selection criteria.

• The vExpert award is based on contributions during the past calendar year. Activities earlier than the past calendar year are not considered in the awards and should not be entered on the application form.
• You can use the application form to apply for yourself, and an invitation form to invite others to apply. Everyone is strongly encouraged to apply.
• The vExpert designation is not a popularity contest. Multiple invitations or recommendations are not considered as a criteria for the award, so please do not ask multiple people to fill in the invitation form for you.
• The vExpert designation is given to an individual, not to a company. Your contributions could have been a part of your corporate activities, but your individual contribution should be clear and noted in your application.
• Designation duration is for one year. Existing vExperts are not guaranteed a renewal and are evaluated each year along with other nominees. 
  A committee of VMware employees chooses the recipients of the vExpert designation.
• You must be 18 years old to be eligible for the award.

Now that we have that out of the way, here are some of the types of things they’d look for on the application in years gone past (for what would be the Evangelist path, As details of Customer/Partner and other evolutions for 2013 come about, I’ll be sure to discuss that as it comes…)

Contributions and Activities to materials such as:

• Blogs (Blog posts you’ve written re:VMware/Virtualization, and contributions you’ve made to other blogs)
• Other Writing (Newsletters, Books, Whitepapers, Articles, KB Articles, Tutorials, Guides, etc)
• Multimedia (Podcasts, Videos, Interviews…)
• Events and Speaking (Organized events, spoke at them, involvement, etc)
• Online Communities (IT Forums you’ve contributed, participated in and been involved in)
• Tools and Resources (Tools you’ve created, collected, contributed to, resources and guides you’ve created, collections, etc)
• VMware Programs (Councils, Partnerships, Betas and other kinds of contributions)
• Actions and activities having gone above and beyond (self explanatory)

For a little more context and details about what each of these lines might be asking for (this is dated) refer to this link for the 2011 Application

The vExpert Program seems amazing and I work in Virtualization but I’ll wait until next year

This is for all of you out there who have said that, or some similar version of events. I know who you are, I’ve spoken with you a number of times. You contribute greatly within the community, internally at a customer, or extensively through the Partner organization. You’re familiar with the vExpert program but you say ‘eh, I’ll deal with that next year’. If this were like a certification deciding to take action NEXT month or NEXT quarter wouldn’t be such a big deal, but this isn’t a Certification. The VMware vExpert Program is a year-long designation based upon your actions for a calendar year. So what does that mean? By not being nominated or choosing to self-nominate yourself when the window of nomination opens, you are costing yourself on the opportunity for an additional 365 days. It’s not to say that ALL those who submit are accepted because they are not, but if you’ve got what it takes and you’re a super star in your own right I cannot for the life of me justify you NOT applying.

Some people like to equate the VMware vExpert to a Certification and will often say “Eh, I’m not changing jobs any time soon, so I don’t see why I should do this”. Yes, certainly like getting a VCP won’t make much of a different to an admin for life but an active Administrator who becomes a vExpert can gain that insight, that knowledge (and getting license keys for testing and all the worlds access never hurts!)

So if I leave you with nothing, I’d like you to take to heart a few tidbits and action items and I’ll share my own experience here

• It doesn’t hurt to apply or self-nominate into the program. If you’re unknown to the populace at large sometimes the first person to knock on that door and shine a light on your accomplishments has to be you, this isn’t about ego (Especially if you’ve accomplished all of the things you share in your contributions)
• This is first and foremost a community, not a ‘corporate charter designated by a policy driven figurehead with stringent metrics to follow’ So what I mean there is, if things don’t go as fast as you want them to be, it is not as though this is an SLA you are paying for; But we’re all in this together so lending a helping hand is never discouraged
• Get involved. Even if you’re objective is not to one day earn the designation of VMware vExpert. Our community is only as strong as its weakest link and as we all grow and become educated we continue to prosper together
• Even if you sit silent on the sidelines, get to know the vExpert’s in the community and more precisely YOUR community. These people didn’t become vExperts for nothing, they’re glad to help, spread the tech love and cherish and grow those around them

A few words from a silent cat

I’ve been a vExpert for as long as there has been a program (Technically not the FIRST year because I missed the submission deadline, but I digress) and every single year I sit back and look at the nomination form which asks countless questions about what your contributions were for the previous calendar year. (Submissions are usually a few months into the year, so remembering back to December let alone the previous January can be a chore!) Every single year I look back and say, “Well, crap I don’t think I did anything, how can I justify or deserve being a vExpert for this year” and then it all starts to settle in. In past years there’d be a request for your TOP blog posts or TOP cited reference points (limited to 2 or 3) and at first I thought ‘how am I going to find even 1 let alone 3!’ which then turns into “Ooops…. I did 20-30 things in the previous year, how am I going to pare THAT down!” This is surprisingly a common problem within the vExpert Community of Evangelists. Before the VMware vExpert program came to be, and long before it had broken out the Evangelist designation…. We were all evangelists in our own right. It wasn’t our job to do this, we didn’t do this because we were trying to achieve or accomplish some targeted ‘goal’, We saw problems in the world which either needed to be solved or we solved and wanted to share our experiences. We saw great things happening and wanted to make sure everyone around us was able to benefit. We don’t do it because we have to, We even don’t exactly do it because we WANT to. We do it because we are vExperts. We are Evangelists. We are community. I think nothing speaks more truer to that than the VMware vExpert program having doubled year over year of number of members accepted into its ranks, and I know we look forward to that number continuing to grow with other passionate and dedicated individuals like ourselves to make Technology, this Community and the World a better place.

How to Decide Whether to Invest in an Online Training Program

Webinars, interactive training, videos, coaching—the internet is filled with training programs. With so many opportunities out there (and at so many different costs), it can be difficult to know what to choose. In this post, long-time freelancer Laura Spencer shares her tips for deciding whether to invest in a program.

The Online Training Dilemma

There are so many training programs available online that I could spend all day every day doing nothing but training. But that wouldn't be a wise use of my time. Also, since many of the programs have a hefty price tag, purchasing too many of them can hurt my pocketbook. The thing is, an online training program can be good without being right for you. You need to figure out what type of program you should invest in.

6 Ways to Evaluate a Training Program

Who is providing the training? When it comes to online education, it's especially important to consider the source. Is the training being offered by a well-known and respected expert in your field, or is it being offered by someone you have never heard of? Do your research or you could wind up wasting your money.

What do the reviewers say? Even a respected expert can sometimes come up with a course that isn't worth your time. That's why I always check to see what others are saying. Yes, I know that not all online reviews can be trusted. But if the review is from a reputable site, I definitely pay attention.

Do I have the time? The best training in the world won't do you any good if you don't take advantage of it. To get the most from it, you need to make sure that you actually have time in your schedule. Just purchasing it won't be of any help.

Do I have the money? Some online courses can be quite pricey—sometimes as much as a college course. When this happens, I have to ask myself whether I would be better off just attending a class at a local college.

How will this training benefit my business? If the training is for your freelancing business, then it should help you to grow your business in some way. Will the training help you develop a marketable skill? Will it connect you with project leads? Know what you expect to gain.

What other benefits come with the training? Many online courses come with added perks, which can include newsletters, online forums, and sometimes even private job boards with work opportunities you wouldn't find elsewhere.

Is Free Worth It?

A growing number of courses are being offered for free, but don't be deceived. Free isn't always what it seems. There are a number of excellent free training courses out there. For example, I recently completed Google's free Power Search training. I expect this to benefit me because, as a writer, I rely on the search engines to help me research. But other free training courses are little more than an extended sales pitch for something more. And even if free training doesn't cost anything, it does take your time.

Make Online Training Work for You

Here are some steps you can take to get the most from online education:

• Schedule specific time. If you're not sure how much time would be needed, ask.
• Know what you expect to gain. You're more likely to get something from the training if you have a goal
• Participate. Do the homework. Interact with others taking the course and with the instructor if the opportunity presents itself.
• Take advantage of the extras. If your course includes extras like forums or job boards, use them.
• Apply what you learn. Make an effort to use the training within a week or so of taking it. If you don't apply it, you're likely to forget it.

Call Center Training in a Virtual World

New hire training is an important part of call center operations. It equips your employees with many of the tools necessary to excel at their jobs. It also can help to improve customer satisfaction, reduce attrition, and increase revenue. Any one of these outcomes is valuable in its own right, but combined, they show the undeniable advantage a company possesses when it has a well-run and supported training program.

Over the past decade, call centers have undergone a substantial transformation. Much of this change has to do with new technologies that have been leveraged to better serve both the customer and the company. One such change is the creation of virtual training.

These training tools can be deployed across the entire contact center enterprise, whether the agents work in a call center or in an at-home environment. With this new class of learning and employees, adjustments must be made by the employer, including new paradigms for training. Fortunately, some companies are embracing these changes, producing agents of the highest caliber using a virtual (or blended) training model.

The traditional training model generally involves new employees sitting in a classroom-like environment with an instructor or instructors leading the sessions. This works very well when agents report to a single facility on a set schedule. The integration of new techniques and technology, as well as the continued dominance of the traditional call center agent, has allowed this model to continue to thrive.

Virtual training models, on the other hand, involve no central physical meeting space, and may not even be bound to specific meeting times. Training is done via computer portals, with instructors interfacing with trainees remotely. Sometimes, the interaction is live, and sometimes it is not. A blended model, as the name suggests, blends these approaches and provides limited in-person training, while focusing on virtual interaction and opportunities when trainees are not in the same physical location.

You might say, “So what? Training is training. At the end of the day, someone either knows the information or they don’t.” I would disagree. Due to the shifts that have been required as a result of the rise of virtual agents, we have learned more about what works in training, regardless of model, and how to best utilize that knowledge to enhance training and achieve better outcomes.

For example, virtual training exposes trainees to a technologically immersive environment, which allows them to become proficient in the systems they will eventually rely on more quickly. This can lead to a shorter adjustment period once a new agent is placed on his or her team. Additionally, virtual training frequently allows trainers to more quickly identify strengths and weaknesses of individual agents. This permits more time for focus on these individual traits, thereby making for a more well-rounded agent.

Virtual training also allows for greater access to subject matter experts (SMEs), providing an exceptional opportunity for trainees to learn from the best. The fact that these SMEs might be 3 or 4 time zones away no longer matters. And with virtual training, one facilitator can run a training session for new hires across the globe. This reduces both facility and staff costs, while still providing an outstanding training experience. We have also seen that virtual training can result in higher assessment scores, as well as a decrease in overall training time.

Many organizations are now using a blended training model, combining the best aspects of traditional classroom-based training with the recent breakthroughs in virtual training. As these models continue to evolve, make sure your BPO partner is leveraging all resources at their disposal to provide you with the most well-trained agents possible. Your customers, your employees, and your bottom line will all realize the benefit.

ON24 Survey: Training, HR Execs Reveal Trends in Virtual Learning

SOURCE: ON24

More Than 90% Plan to Increase Use of Virtual Training in 2013

ON24, Inc., the global leader in webcasting and virtual event solutions, today announced the findings of its survey of over 3,000 registrants of the Virtual Learning Edge, the first ever virtual conference dedicated to virtual learning. ON24 conducts research evaluating virtual training perceptions and adoption on an ongoing basis, and this most recent survey revealed what HR and training professionals think about virtual training, as well as their use of it in 2012 and plans for the future.

The survey found that fully 9 in 10 (91%) HR and training professionals plan to increase the use of virtual training at their companies in 2013, and 1 in 3 (33%) even said they would be increasing use by more than 25%. ON24's market research also indicates that 74% of learning professionals are considering virtual learning environments in the next 6 to12 months and that 72% are considering training webinars.

The survey also found that 64% believe that customer/product training is the application best suited for a virtual environment, followed by:

• New Hire Onboarding - 62%
• Administrative Topics - 57%
• Sales Training - 48%
• IT Training - 41%

The primary virtual training benefits noted were reduced travel time (83%), more convenient (83%), more cost effective (79%), easier to involve company experts (52%), higher participation rates (43%) and more consistent training (38%).


"Our market research shows that the biggest training challenge facing learning professionals is training an increasingly dispersed workforce," explained Tom Masotto, ON24 Vice President of Product Management.

"Our research also indicates that over 82% of learning professionals want to offer more engaging training materials. The need to train global workforces and desire for more engaging training are driving interest in virtual learning environments."


When asked which characteristics matter most in a virtual trainer, the respondents' top answer was effective user of quizzes, polls and social media (88%), followed by:

• Facilitation skills - 83%
• Voice inflection - 74%
• Good with technology - 69%
• Topic matter expertise - 60%
• Funny - 50%

"These results show the incredible potential of virtual learning in a broad range of industries," said Masotto. "ON24's virtual learning environments are redefining how corporate training is being delivered, allowing companies to provide exceptional end user experiences, enhancing retention and improving learning outcomes."

Last month's Virtual Learning Edge attracted more than 1,100 attendees, including HR and training professionals from enterprises such as Boeing, HSBC Bank, UPS, AT&T, Bank of America, Hewlett Packard, Morgan Stanley and Accenture. With webcast views totaling 2,066, participants stayed an average of over two hours, downloaded 3,396 documents and participated in 333 1-to-1 chats. Virtual Learning Edge participants learned about online training solutions and technologies which enable companies to re-engage with their employees through social, mobile and personalized learning solutions.


The survey was fielded among a broad range of industries, including Banking/Finance/Insurance (19%), Technology (17%) and Healthcare, Government and Education (each approximately 10%). Respondents represented companies of all sizes, with slightly more than half (62%) coming from companies with more than 1,000 employees.

About ON24, Inc.
ON24, the virtual communications platform for the global enterprise, provides interactive, impactful cloud-based solutions that drive outstanding results. ON24 offers a broad and innovative product portfolio, including webcasting, virtual events and virtual environments, accessible from any device and supported by robust reporting and analytics. Applications for the ON24 platform include demand generation, partner enablement, training, product launches, company town hall meetings and user conferences. More than 700 organizations, including IBM, CA Technologies, Merck, Unilever, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte, Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young, Amazon and New York Life, rely on ON24. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.ON24.com.

Health IT training center opens

With patient care becoming more complex -- and with added emphasis on coordinating care and measuring the quality of care -- health care professionals need to know how to use emerging technology.

To meet that need, a new training center called QIT -- a merging of "quality" and "information technology" -- has opened Downtown.

The center already has held training sessions for an array of health workers, managers and students. In the past week alone, there have been sessions for 75 local emergency medical technicians, skilled nursing staff from five different organizations and more than 60 graduate medical students.

The center is a joint project of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative and Health Careers Futures, and is designed to be a central location offering specialized knowledge to area hospitals and schools that's not available elsewhere.

On Wednesday, Karen Wolk Feinstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

The foundation and the Allegheny County Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund each put in $200,000 to launch the center, which is located at the foundation offices in Centre City Tower on Smithfield Street. The center will be sustained financially through a mix of fees, grants and government support.

"HIT [health information technology] is here and it's here to stay," said Jason Kunzman, deputy director of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kunzman also is the former CFO of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation.

Speaking via video link from Israel's Clalit Health Services, physician Ran Balicer, an internationally recognized expert on clinical quality improvement, said enhanced data has helped monitor patients and detected patient health issues before they became major health problems and even has prevented hospital readmissions. "IT and data are crucial to this process," he said.

At QIT, the roster of instructors "runs the gamut from peer to peer, graduate student to grad student, policy makers, our own small army of coaches and trainers, local and national thought leaders," said Ms. Feinstein. "It depends on what we are teaching, to whom, and our aspirations."

Training such as that provided by QIT is badly needed for young people pursuing careers in health care, said Dan Bishop, co-founder and chief innovation officer for Qualaris Healthcare Solutions, who is currently pursuing both a medical degree and a degree in biomedical engineering. Qualaris specializes in developing software to improve patient safety. Mr. Bishop is also a board member for Health Careers Futures.

Medical schools will teach all about the human anatomy, said Mr. Bishop, "but they won't spend time on the basics of information technology that will be an integral part of my practice."

For more information on QIT, contact the Jewish Healthcare Foundation at 412-594-2586.

Firebox IT Training Offering New Java Server Faces (JSF) and Java Persistence API Training Courses

Firebox recently announced the addition of two new IT courses. Rapidly advancing programming languages like Java Server Faces (JSF) and Java Persistence API continue to provide additional challenges and new applications for existing programing languages and are the latest additions to their offferings.

According to Firebox Training, two of the more popular emerging technologies for their course demands include JSF and Java Persistence API training courses. Firebox recently announced the addition of the new courses in response to direct feedback from clients and site visitor course requests. Rapidly advancing programming technology continues to provide additional challenges and new applications for existing languages.

The IT training course offering expansion is part of an overall evolution at Firebox aimed at satisfying IT demand ahead of the curve or “on-demand” and developing custom course ware based on practical use and real world examples. The new course offerings also open up the class to a wider variety of students and can fit tight training budgets.

The 2-day Java Server Faces training course ranges from $1295 to as little as $695 per day, depending on the number of students enrolled from a single organization. The 3-Day Java Persistence course ranges from $1,495 to as little as $795, depending on the number of students enrolling from a single organization.

Firebox may also add the course to its public course offerings in the future. All courses are technically open to the public, though typically clients request courses for company IT staff. Public courses allow for individuals to register for the same courses in an instructor led environment, live or online depending on number of students.

“We are constantly adding new courses to meet the demands of our clients” says Shawn Johnson, Director of Sales at Firebox Training. “We take action and find or create the right course to meet our clients’ needs” The core of Firebox has also included their popular custom course ware “We have already delivered these courses more than ten times since we added them. Johnson added. “We have also done customized Java training, both online and onsite.”

High-end expert instructors with real world experience deliver the instructor-led online classes. In keeping with Firebox Training’s commitment to flexibility the new course structure is designed to fit in with the busy IT workers’ schedule. Ideal for companies with IT staff in multiple locations, the courses are offered either as an instructor led online format, or in the traditional on-site settings.

JSF or Java Server Faces is a request driven framework used in creating user interfaces for web applications using components. The ability for JSF to handle multiple language input is one aspect that has led to its rapid expansion and practical use. Java Persistence or API is used for managing relational data. Many of the features of the third-party persistence frameworks were incorporated into the Java Persistence API which has made it a useful skill to learn.

Firebox IT Training was founded in 2007 in Golden, Colorado. Since that time they have delivered training for well known organizations including, General Dynamics, Bank of America, Comcast, Arbor Networks, US Courts, Time Warner, Vertafore, NREL, US Navy, US Army and HP, just to name a few. Instructors travel to client locations across the globe. Most recently Firebox completed training in Alaska, Sydney, Singapore, London, New York, Austin, Seattle and Denver.

Small Business Training Classes to Begin in January in Oswego County

For those interested in expanding or starting a small business in Oswego County, there are two small business training classes scheduled for January.

The first class will be held online from January 14 through March 2.

Registration for this online class is due by January 10.

For more information email OBCR@oswego.edu with the subject line “Online Training Course.”
The classroom course is scheduled to begin January 26 and run Saturdays only through February 23.

The classes will be held at SUNY Oswego, room 118 Rich Hall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The program is coordinated by the City of Fulton Community Development Agency, City of Oswego Community Development Office, SUNY Oswego Office of Business and Community Relations and Operation Oswego County to provide guidance and support to people interested in starting or expanding a small business.

The program provides a 24-hour small-business training program that covers such topics as how to write a business plan, how to obtain financing, accounting and tax issues, business insurance, legalities, marketing, and other basic business start-up issues.

Classroom training is provided by OBCR small business advisors Larry Perras and John Halleron, as well as other area business professionals.

Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in low-interest financing to expand or start their business in Oswego County.

Tuition for the program is $200 and includes all materials.

Scholarships are available for households within low to moderate income guidelines as established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For more information or to register for either class, call 312-3492.

To download a program or scholarship application, visit www.oswegocounty.org/micro.html

Webcast: Cisco Unified Computing System: Foundation for Cloud

Register Now

Cisco Unified Computing System: Foundation for Cloud (Live Webcast December 6, 2012 at 9:00 am Pacific Time / 12:00 pm Eastern Time) Without doubt, one of the great appeals of cloud computing is its near limitless potential. While each organization’s path to building clouds is (and should be) unique, not all paths will deliver the full potential of the cloud. If your goal is to achieve the full potential of the cloud, your infrastructure choices are the place to start. Our panel of experts and customers will discuss how you can maximize the value of your cloud and design for the present and future cloud. Subject matter experts will be available to answer your questions. If you are a business or technical professional who is expecting significant returns or transformative business capabilities from cloud architectures, register now and learn more.

Agenda

Topics to be covered include: The role of open infrastructure programmability in achieving the full potential of the cloud How the right foundation can help prepare your cloud for true elasticity and scalability The architectural decisions that can affect the future speed of service delivery Deep integration: why clouds require extensive automation down to the physical layer Infrastructure capabilities that support resource distribution with complete transparency and simplicity Live Q&A Approximate duration: 60 minutes Register Now

Indian Railways to set up institute for accounting training

The railways is going to set up its own training institute to impart training and improve finance and accounting skills among its officials.

It will set up an Indian Railway Institute of Financial Management (IRIFM) at Secunderabad to train its officials in accounting and finance.

The state-run transporter will also start a specialized programme to depute middle-level finance officers abroad for training.

Announcing the decision on the occasion of Indian Railway Account Services (IRAS) day, Vijaya Kanth, financial commissioner of railways, asked IRAS officers to examine their role in public service that is meant to be efficient and effective with integrity.

She exhorted the officers to improve their skills which should keep pace with developments outside the finance world.

Webinar: Inspiring Others: Leadership Communications

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2013 IT salaries: 15 titles getting the biggest pay raises

Certain IT titles will be getting sizable salary hikes, according to data from recruiting and staffing specialist Robert Half Technology. At the top of the heap, based on percentage gains, are mobile application developers and wireless network engineers, who can expect a 9% and 7.9% increase in starting salaries, respectively, RHT reports.

 The firm examined more than 70 positions for its annual guide to U.S. tech salaries. Overall, base compensation for IT pros is expected to increase an average of 5.3% in the coming year. The 15 positions expected to see the largest salary gains, percentage-wise, between 2012 and 2013 are:

1. Mobile applications developer 2012 salary range: $85,000-$122,500
2013 salary range: $92,750-$133,500
Net: 9% increase

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2. Wireless network engineer 2012 salary range: $79,250-$108,500
2013 salary range: $85,500-$117,000
Net: 7.9% increase

3. Network engineer 2012 salary range: $75,000-$107,750
2013 salary range: $80,750-$116,250
Net: 7.8% increase

4. Data modeler 2012 salary range: $85,500-$117,750
2013 salary range: $92,000-$126,750
Net: 7.6% increase

5. Portal administrator 2012 salary range: $80,500-$106,500
2013 salary range: $86,500-$114,500
Net: 7.5% increase

6. Data warehouse manager 2012 salary range: $101,250-$135,750
2013 salary range: $108,750-$145,750
Net: 7.4% increase

7. Business intelligence analyst
2012 salary range: $87,750-$123,500
2013 salary range: $94,250-$132,500
Net: 7.3% increase

8. Senior web developer 2012 salary range: $85,750-$118,500
2013 salary range: $92,000-$127,250
Net: 7.3% increase

9. Web developer 2012 salary range: $61,250-$99,250
2013 salary range: $65,750-$106,500
Net: 7.3% increase

10. Network architect 2012 salary range: $95,500-$137,000
2013 salary range: $102,250-$146,500
Net: 7% increase

11. Network manager 2012 salary range: $82,750-$114,500
2013 salary range: $88,500-$122,500
Net: 7% increase

12. Data architect 2012 salary range: $97,500-$134,250
2013 salary range: $104,250-$143,500
Net: 6.9% increase

13. Data security analyst 2012 salary range: $89,000-$121,500
2013 salary range: $95,000-$129,750
Net: 6.8% increase

14. Software engineer 2012 salary range: $78,250-$119,500
2013 salary range: $83,500-$127,750
Net: 6.8% increase

15. Network administrator 2012 salary range: $58,750-$87,250
2013 salary range: $62,750-$93,250
Net: 6.8% increase

RHT's salary numbers represent starting compensation only. Factors such as seniority make it difficult to measure ongoing pay, the firm says. Bonuses and benefits such as perks and retirement packages also are not included in the tally.