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The last couple of days have been busy with VMware and PowerSchool. We’ve had a consultant in working with us, and it was the perfect opportunity to migrate our student information system (SIS), PowerSchool, in to our VMware environment. I was planning on leaving PowerSchool as one of the our last physical servers to move in to the virtual environment, but given we had the experience on site to do it and I was confident in how VMware has been running, I thought we may as well give it a go. If nothing else, could simply roll back to the single physical server.

But, it all actually went fairly smoothly. I built up a template for Win 2k3 Enterprise with the base config and software, then deployed to 4 new virtual machines. One of these is running Oracle for the backend database, two are running the PowerSchool application node, with one being designated for general staff + parent logins, and the other for teachers and grading, and a final server dedicated to serving images, scripting and PHP reports. I have also snap-shot’d the database VM and one of the application nodes to be used for testing reports and in training sessions. Add in the new SIF ZIS which will be being deployed by the state over the summer, and that gives 7 virtual servers for PowerSchool, a far cry from the reliance and strain on a single physical server.

I’m really happy with how the migration went, as it really showed the power our VMware environment provides in terms of flexibility and resources. It also takes a huge weight off my shoulders, as we’ve never been able to successfully recover from a simulated failure using the backups due to the complexity of the integration between components, so with using straight vRanger Pro snapshots of the entire virtual machines, I can recover in minutes. I can also easily duplicate entire servers for testing updates, new releases (such as the upcoming PowerSchool 6), or for training purposes. Given PowerSchool is such a core system alongside FileMaker, both of which now run in our VMware environment, my management work load and stress levels should hopefully ease up considerably!

We still have a little work to do tomorrow – I’d like to automate a snapshot of the Oracle VM to a test VM that can be used by staff for building reports or whatever, though due to the way the database is tied in to the host IP, will need a little scripting. I’d also like to duplicate one of the application nodes and set it aside for testing the upgrade to PowerSchool 6. Is all positive stuff though, and giving me a lot of confidence in systems moving forward.

This was a long week, and an especially long Friday since we had the end of year barbecue potluck at lunchtime but then TAI didn’t get to skip out early. But, going to check my mail I picked up a copy of the Tundra Drums and recognized a certain photograph on the front page:

Very, very cool! I wasn’t expecting to get a front page photo published Really cheered me up. I got home, left if for a while, then actually sat down to read the paper, and then flipped open a two-page feature like page 6 which had another 4 of my photos, one whole page just of mine:

And the second page had one of mine in the bottom right too. Cool State of Alaska provided photo of the guy wading through with a kid on his back from a Yukon village:

Overall, a pretty cool issue! Very happy to have so many photos printed, think it’s actually all 5 that I submitted to them. Am quite proud to have so many published, and especially since they all look like they should be there too! I pretty much set out that night to make a certain set of photographs after Beth suggested what to look for with regards to what would work well in a photo feature, and managed to pull if off better than I hoped for.

To make things even sweeter, ’tis a 3-day weekend!

He’s a bugger to photograph with all the light in this room, and I’m not using the EOS 50D here (though there does seem a glimmer of hope on that note…):

Not quite as impressive as some of the aquariums I’ve had in the past, but it fills a nice little corner of my desk and adds a little interest too.

Last night, Erin started moving her gear up to Bethel for the summer. Since I have a spare room going to waste, I’m generously donating storage space rather than her paying for a crappy storage unit where everything will likely get water damaged. The lure of free pizza in return in no way swayed me. Much. Anyways, I then jumped in the boat for the second run of boxes. Was certainly a little different to a month ago or so when we drove down the river in a Suburban:

After loading up the boat with more boxes and playing around with the kids in the sunshine for a little, we then pushed out and headed back out along the slough:

We made the most of the sunshine and blue skies, as by the time we got back to Bethel it was starting to rain. Thankfully we got the boat unloaded and then back out the truck in my house before it got too heavy. This was mid way up the Kuskokwim to Bethel:

Captain Macy decided to take the helm for a while too (though Erin was still at the wheel…):

Really is one spoilt puppy

Was a fun evening though, nice to get out on a boat down the river for a little bit. The pizza + beer when we got back was a nice way to round off the night too!

This is why I run a 30″ Apple Cinema display. Days like this make me think I either need another one, or another job:

18 Apple Remote Desktop connections plus a Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection I had to quickly work on one chain of our site servers. As Ted pointed out – a computer can multi-task, but can Iain? Will be glad when it’s the weekend and the schools have all broken up so it will quiet down for the summer.

I haven’t exactly had a quiet week or so. It’s Saturday afternoon and I’m lying out on the couch with the sun streaming through the window and loving it. This is the first time in 10 days I’ve just been able to slow down and rest.

Last Thursday I headed out for drinks with a friend which became early morning walking home with the sun still up. That was just weird. Friday night we then celebrated Jamie being crowned intercontinental teacher of the year (well, teacher of the year at ME, but Jeff + I didn’t think that sounded quite as grand), that rolled on til gone 2a.m. Normally, such a finishing time would be respectable, however when you are then woken up less than hour in to bed by firefighters coming in your house and up the stairs telling you to get out, it does not bode well. My neighbour had a small fire in the chimney flue which was cause for concern with smouldering roof timbers, and my side of the duplex being the only way way in to the attic. Cue fire hoses dragged up the stairs, through my bedroom, and getting to sit in a fire truck and look at the purty buttons and dials. At 4a.m after drinking a tad, this was the best I could figure with the camera:

I finally got back in the house around 5a.m, but then had to be up at 7a.m to get out to the airport to head to Anchorage for the weekend. When you’re boarding the plane and the stewardness says “don’t worry, sir, there’ll be coffee shortly” you know you look rough So, I made a sensible choice of not renting a car and called Beth for a ride. I spent the day with her and Loren before heading out for a meal at Orso and some drinks, before the draw of Chuck E Cheese won us over and we went to play skeeball. Quite surreal, but incredibly good fun. I won a bunch of coupons so traded them in for activity books and stickers which the guys in the office didn’t seem impressed with…

After poker til 3a.m which gave me a few of those green beer vouchers, Sunday was a lazy day with shopping, a barbecue with Beth + Loren’s friends, then off to the hockey game to see the Aces play in the conference final (which they ended up taking 4-0 a couple of days ago and now go to the Kelly Cup!). Tim Miller and a friend met up with us, and was a great game with plenty of fights. More poker ensued until the early hours of Monday morning, and then a quick medical appointment on Monday before heading back to Bethel. Where I needed a canoe to get home:

There was a waist-deep water down 6th avenue which was bizarre, especially since it ended up all clearing away within a couple of days. But, was fun whilst it lasted. Got some awesome photos too, some of which I’m hoping get printed in the Tundra Drums, such as Katrina Dominic rescuing Spencer:

I spent Monday night at a friends to let the water recede a little, then Tuesday evening went out canoeing around the slough with Sarah which was good fun. Figured since I could just about walk home with water boots on, was a good sign. Wednesday all hell broke seemed to break loose, but stayed remarkably together. I had a lot of stuff hit me at once I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with, but getting out the office with Dennis for lunch helped diffuse things to the point I can smile about it now. Opened my eyes up a lot and made me appreciate those I have around me. Feel like I’ve become a lot closer to some people as result of the trust and friendship they’ve shown.

Thursday night brought guy’s night at Ted B’s, so I snagged a ride to ACE to pick up a couple of cases of IPA to donate and save on a cab ride! It was a good warm up for last night, since my house was picked to host happy hour, which was really good. Was so nice to be able to have all my best friends round, plowing through case after case of beer, and munching on pizza. We also found the buzzer on the dryer, when bumped in to, is a perfect signal for everyone to take a drink! I also managed to get Bethany and Brent to don a Sunderland shirt to start the Bethel branch of the the Sunderland AFC Supporters Association. Honestly, I don’t think they had a clue what they were wearing:

Outside, a highschool graduation was quietly going on (seriously, they were all very well behaved) with a bonfire as the focal point. By 1.30a.m, we were like moths to a light bulb and being drawn in. For what it’s worth, wearing a cap on backwards does not let you blend in. Even as the youngest of our mob, I felt old! But, we had a good few minutes hanging out before deciding we needed another drink and some snacks and retreated back home.

By 3a.m I made it to bed, and then got to deal with the clear-up this morning, generally involving an insane amount of empty bottles + cans! Good times though. Thinking a barbecue is in order next weekend. Anyways, my plan is to leave the house as little as possible this weekend and spend as much time on the couch as I can.

Erin, a friend down in Oscarville, hadn’t canceled her Full Circle Farm auto-order which left a box of organic vegetables here in Bethel whilst she was stuck downriver (literally, they’re cut off for a while until the river figures out what to do…). As I was checking an apartment out for her (which turned out great and she took it for next year), I got to snag the veggie box. Me being such a huge veggie fan, I now have to figure out what on earth to do with asparagus, leeks and mangos. By the process of elimination, I at least figured out what the baby bok choy was/is, but again, not what to do with it/them. Er, yeah. Anyways, was nice having fresh tomatoes and lettuce with dinner I’d actually been thinking of signing up for the small box every two weeks as the produce at AC or Swanson’s isn’t usually all that hot, and I am becoming a bit more adventurous with my food choices. I even look up recipes online from time to time. If I can figure out how to make the most of all this produce, may well go for it myself.

Friday evening I’d procrastinated too much to arrange a house warming party, but still had a few people round anyways. Was something quite bizarre but strangely relaxing about standing out on the deck with Jeff wearing shorts + t-shirts, slippers, and sipping scotch from a plastic tumbler whilst smoking a cigar Dennis brought back up from the Dominican Republic. Good times though, if only for being able to stand outside in shorts + t-shirts before the bugs arrive!

Yesterday was just beautiful weather (well, for May 2nd in Bethel!) at 60F, so I decided to walk up to Suzi’s house for the K300 volunteers party so I could play with my new camera. Those unacquainted with Bethel will not realize the hike it is out past Larson Sub! Starting out, the river itself is still pretty frozen solid, with a little standing water seemingly flowing on top of the ice on the far bank:

Elsewhere in town, fire truck #1 was outside the fire station in the sunshine:

The visitor center and museum for the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge was also enjoying the warmer weather and big, blue skies:

Coming up on Larson sub, which is way the heck out of town, you got a good overview on how spread out in general Bethel is. This small size doesn’t show the detail, but pretty much everything along the horizon is houses, stretching from Tundra Ridge on the left through the center of town and out to Blueberry on the right:

On the final climb up to Suzi’s, I came across a stack of abandoned vehicles. This is definitely tripod territory for some HDR shots in the future!

So, I decided I hate the Tokina 12-24mm F4 DX lens It’s fantastic – I love how crisp the photos stay, even handheld at 12mm. This is certainly a lens that will deliver some awesome results with the Manfrotto triopd + ballhead!

The K300 volunteers party was thrown to thank all those that helped put on the K300 races, and the great weather meant everyone was enjoying themselves lying around in the sun. A huge sled packed with snow and beer helped, as did the big grill! Games, music and dancing rounded things off. I’m not one to post photos of random people on here, the K300 site can carry those, but Suzi did steal my camera (that’s trust right there!) and grab some photos worth sharing, first of me and Casie:

The Sunderland shirt was down to the fact no-one would realize how well we’ve been playing lately Anyways, here’s another with Angie and Erin:

I then got bored with trying to smile for the camera! But, it was a good afternoon/evening. After wandering home gone 1.30a.m, I then didn’t appreciate Jeff waking me up at 9.30a.m asking if I wanted to go for a walk later But, after lunch we headed out for a ‘little stroll across the tundra’:

Yeah right. Only in Alaska could you have been going from thigh-deep snow to knee-deep water in a couple of steps whilst wearing a short-sleeve shirt… But, I did get to fire off a few clips with a .22 semi-automatic pistol:

The ear plugs were mainly for this beast of a .44 Magnum, which although ridiculously good fun to shoot, scared the crap out of me with it’s recoil!

After making it back to dry land, it had filled in 2-3 hours on a Sunday afternoon, so we rewarded ourselves with a beer. Nothing like shooting guns to build up a thirst. I’ll put up some of these photos on Flickr in higher resolution, and I love my new Canon EOS 50D! Some of the photos from the K300 party were awesome with having the full control of a DSLR, and I’m very excited for what else I can produce with it once I get used to all the features, especially next winter with all the sled dogs.