system administration
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IT Pros, System Administrators, Webmasters: what's on your iPhone?
Brian Stucki over at Macminicolo has compiled a list of seven iPhone applications he uses regularly as an IT guy. It's a great start to putting together your own server-wrangling kit on your iPhone. Brian includes Network Ping Lite (Free [iTunes]), Web Tools ($1.99USD [iTunes]), and iSSH ($4.99 [iTunes]), among others. He also somewhat reluctantly admits to frequently using the infamous (and now technically unavailable) tethering app, Netshare. We'd like to add a few applications to the list, and I'd love to hear about any additions from your own arsenal in the comments. Our top picks include a few iPhone apps, some of which are alternatives to entries in Brian's list and some which are additions: FTP On The Go ($9.99USD [iTunes]), because sometimes you need to get in there and your iPhone is your only choice ... TouchTerm ($2.99USD [iTunes]), another good terminal emulator with SSH 1Password (Free [iTunes]), keep track of all of those server passwords SleepOver ($2.99USD [iTunes]), another Wake-On-LAN utility which comes out a little cheaper than iWOL (mentioned in Brian's list) A few web apps should also make the list, such as Inco (TUAW coverage), Webmin and iNagios, all of which are free and can be set up to allow server monitoring and/or administration from your iPhone. Take a look at Brian's list, have a peek at our additions, and then fill us in on what you're using on your iPhone to keep your server(s) up and your IT fires under control.
TUAW Interview: Inco, simple sysadmin from your iPhone
The dream of remote system management from your handheld device -- like Dick Tracy's wrist radio, but for geeks -- has long enticed IT professionals. Who wouldn't rather be at the beach or the ballgame instead of chained to a laptop and network access in case something goes wrong? There are already RDC and SSH clients for Windows Mobile and Blackberry devices, but it sure seems like the iPhone would be great for this sort of thing... basic, simple system admin from wherever you happen to be, and on the world's coolest phone, what could be better?That's what Virginia Tech sysadmin Josh Eckstein thought, and hence: Inco, the system management tool for iPhone. Inspired by a vacation (sans Internet access) where he needed to keep an eye on his servers, and complete with heads-up displays of processes and load, file/user controls and an SSH shell (all via MobileSafari, no need to jailbreak or install custom apps), Inco looks like a promising helper for the iPhone owner with rack-mounted gear back in the datacenter that needs monitoring. The elevator pitch for Inco is "like a Green Beret for your computer: be able to get in, do your work, and get out, no hassle," says Josh. If that sounds good to you, the beta signup for Inco has begun over at getinco.com, and you can try it out for yourself; the eventual release will run you $39. Josh was kind enough to sit down with us for a quick chat about the current state of Inco and where he hopes to get the product in the near term.
Sudos and sudon'ts
I find that I'm visiting RixStep on a regular basis these days. Today I stumbled across this post about using root privileges and thought I'd share it with you. If you want to learn more about using Mac admin privileges, this might not be the best post to start. If you already have some familiarity with the command line and with Unix, you can learn more about what su does, how to authenticate yourself, and understand why this affects security in a handy ten-point check list. It's a little verbose, but there's a lot of good meat in the article.
