Workshop

About the Author
Table of Contents
Jonathan Feldman works with UNIX, NetWare, Windows NT, and a whole team of networking
propeller-heads for the Chatham County Government in Savannah, Georgia. A multi-disciplinary
troubleshooting expert, Jon has also programmed everything from medical office applications to video
games. He is a Level II Certified NetAnalyst and writes regularly for SysAdmin and Network Computing
magazines. He has also contributed to SCO Magazine, and The Guru. Network and system tools that he’s
written have been downloaded by the likes of SCO, Cisco Systems, BellSouth, and NASA. He has two
overly energetic and cheerful kids, Leo and Moshe, and is married to his pal Stacy Feldman. In his spare
time he likes to cook, play guitar, and run, but not all at the same time.
Dedication
For Jim Reich: rocket scientist, GM, best man, friend, partner-in-crime, and always! co-hacker.
Acknowledgments
I could not have finished this book in the time frame that I did without the encouragement, intelligent
advice, friendship, and love of my partner and best friend, Stacy Feldman. I am more fortunate than I
deserve to be married to such a level-headed and giving person.
My Pop is largely responsible for attempting to beat good, diagnostic techniques into my head at an early
age; my hat is off to him. He is one of the best diagnosticians that I have ever met. In particular, I thank
him for teaching me how to write SOAP notes, and I thank both of my folks for teaching all seven of us
to think and fend for ourselves at an early age, both of which come in handy when troubleshooting
anything.
I’m grateful to the entire Reich family, notably Jim and his mom Mary, for allowing me to be a teenage
computer (and cookie) parasite decades ago. I probably wouldn’t be in this profession today but for the
hours I spent in their home hacking away on the Trash-80 and the good old Apple. (Not to mention the
fact that I probably owe them thousands of dollars for groceries.)
The long-ago advice of two mentors has helped me immeasurably, both with this book and with my
career in general. Harold “Reb” Carter from SUNY Buffalo gave me my first IT job, and showed me the
differences between hobbyist computing and professional information technology. John Esak of The
Valar Group showed me how much fun technology writing can be, and spent lots of time talking shop