Today is my last day of Opsware/HP training today. I am learning how to use Server Automation System (SAS) 6.5. At this point I now know enough to be dangerous. When I return home I will begin using the test environment which is being configured at the office at this time.

The challenge before me and my coworkers is taking what we have learned and what we know about our existing environment and making a first draft WAG at how to define our new system and processes. This is not an easy task and will likely cause more than one of use to have a meltdown.

Another challenge is remembering everything we know long enough to be useful. The successful implementation of change requires an understanding of what is new. Understanding the new takes time, practice and patience, and managing the expectation of instant answers. We will not have answers initially. When the answers do come, they will likely vomit forth in a sudden rush. Those waiting for the answers should have there shields up as the cycle of information processing begins anew with the receiving end of the flood of knowledge.

I look forward to returning home and starting into all this.

I continue more Opsware/HP training today. I am learning how to use Server Automation System (SAS) 6.5. I am part of a validation exercise at work, so this is training so I am capable of performing a real validation. Note, I say validation, not evaluation. My employer is committing to use the product, in a round-about way, I am part of a group of people to make sure we do it the best that we can.

What is amusing is that at work we are implementing SAS version 7.0, but training for the 7.0 product is not available. This is apparently because the HP training labs require new servers to support the 7.0 product suite, but the HP servers are on backorder.

Aside from this, the product and training are quite good.

I am not under any specific non-disclosure about implementing this product where I work. However, you may have noticed I do not explicitly say where I work. Basically this is job protection. There is no reason I cannot say who I work for, except by leaving my employer somewhat anonymous I can talk about what I do, to a certain degree. I do not work for Microsoft.

After the Opsware/HP class last night, I went back to the hotel and connected to the office to work on minor issue. Connecting to work was not a problem, but sending email from Outlook on my nerva.com accounts was blocked. I imagine the hotel network was blocking the SMTP ports to prevent spam zombies from using their network. It is a little annoying, but not crippling. I have web access to send email if needed, so I do not need to invest time in a workaround.

I took a two-mile walk last night from my hotel and the HP training site, exploring the local strip-mall, and stopping by a local martial arts school I saw the other night. I may go back there tonight, if the schedule with my co-workers will allow me to get away. About the time I finished my walk I started to get hungry. I met up with a couple of my co-workers and had a pleasant dinner, and then I was off to bed.

I rarely get great rest staying at hotels. This has been no exception. Mostly it is hotel air-conditioning. I live outside Seattle and the need for air conditioning is marginal at best in the Pacific Northwest. I am not used to air conditioning. It seams most hotels, even upscale facilities, have obnoxious air conditioning units. The unit in my room, and in the rooms of my co-workers as I hear, sounds like a freight train. Worse, the infernal device starts and stops about every two minutes. Finally, I shut the stupid thing off and pushed the window open as far as it would go; about two inches. Once I did that, I was able to get some sleep. I hope tonight I will get caught up on sleep, but otherwise the hotel is nice.

I am online, in the Hewlett-Packard training lab, on the HP site outside Atlanta, Georgia. I am using an HP lab computer, an HP Compaq desktop of some kind with a nice LCD. There is a Dell mouse pad at ever desk in the class. I have not figured that out.

I am in Atlanta, Georgia. I arrived late yesterday and I am trying to get my head around the minor time change and schedule. I am taking a training class for the next several days at a Hewlett-Packard site, learning about the Opsware Server Automation System product. I am part of a project at work validating new systems. Naturally, I need to be trained on the systems functions being validated.

Posts are likely going to be sporadic for the next week, although I a may find some time in the evening. I am traveling with six of my co-worker and we are sharing two cars, which makes me a bit at the mercy of the group on what I can do in the evenings. Across the street from the hotel, a Hyatt, there is a martial arts studio I may check out. Unfortunately, I did not know this until last night or I would have looked into taking a class there. I did not bring my uniform or any other work out stuff for this trip, no checked bags, and did expect to have a chance to work out, but I will stop by the school and see what they are about. Just watching a class can be informative. I can always learn new teaching ideas.