i like my job

I really do. Even after all that complaining on that last post. I like computers. It's that simple. I do not enjoy tech support. It's that simple.

We've ditched most of the LDAP implementation and gone almost entirely to MySQL. Now MySQL is cool! I've been learning all about it. Now I am ATTEMPTING to create a php based management interface to create, modify, and disable users, and make sure they are not getting service they aren't paying for, and all that good stuff you try to do when you run a little ISP that is trying not to be too Amish.

I think I want to be a web programmer when I grow up. Maybe I'll even work for Google. Heh.

a gigantic ldap project

No one said this job would be easy, and believe me, it isn't. First of all, they threw a Windows guy at a bunch of linux boxes and said "GET R DONE," which is what I've been trying to do, but good grief, what a pain. Yeah, Linux is super cool and all, but man, what a huge learning curve for a GUI type of guy. I know what you're saying, "get a grep, man." Yeah, grep is awesome, I agree. So I've installed Linux on my home PC for the fourth time. (The other three times I fairly rapidly reverted back to windows).

I've successfully set up MYSQL replication between a server in Lancaster and a server in Stuarts Draft. That's really sweet. As soon as, and I mean RIGHT AWAY, when you add a record in Lancaster, PRESTO, it's there on the server in Draft. After a bit of grief, I also got the secondary RADIUS server in Draft working and pulling data off the replicated database, which has cut failed dialup logins down considerably! That felt good!

Next on the agenda is getting all of our authentication to use LDAP. This is going to be one very large pain in the tooshy. I am not making this up. The more documentation I read, the more depressed I get. The latest thing I'm bumping my head on is trying to figure out how to make ISA 2006 authenticate to an LDAP directory that is definitely NOT Active Directory, which ISA of course wishes it would be. Actually, it's an exaggeration to say I'm even that far in the process. I'm just thinking it's going to be fun when I get there. First, I've got to get LDAP working at all. The figure out how to do authentication with LDAP. Then figure out how to set up the schema. Then figure out how to make ISA like it. Then figure out how to make RADIUS like it. Then figure out how to make Merak like it. Then decide if we really want to use MySQL as a backend for LDAP, which Duane likes, but which may add complications, and etc.