FTP is one of the oldest network protocols still in use. In its first iteration, it was created in 1971 as a way to quickly move files between computers and has been in continuous use ever since. It’s particularly common on the web, where it is responsible for moving files and data.

Unfortunately, while common, it is also insecure. FTP transmits user credentials, file contents, and other data in the clear. For that reason, anyone with a packet sniffer and a bit of patience is free to take a look at it.

This video looks at the security of FTP traffic. It covers:

• How to set up an FTP server on Windows Server 2008 and configure a simple site
• The use of a packet sniffer (Wireshark) on Ubuntu to monitor network traffic

You can watch the video here.

Tags: Security,Ubuntu,Windows Server 2008
Categories: Computer
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As difficult as it can be to secure individual computers, making sure that a network is secure is even more challenging. This because, instead of working with a single machine, you have an entire network of devices to worry about. It’s a classic case of, “if the security of one is threatened, we’re all threatened.”

Luckily, there are several tools that can be used to “harden” individual computers, thereby making the network as a whole more secure. This series of videos will explore a few of those, including the Windows Server Security Configuration Wizard, the Role of Security Templates, and some of the Linux/Unix Security best practices.

This first video kicks things off by looking at the Windows Server 2008 Security Configuration Wizard and shows you how to configure a simple firewall setting.

You can watch the video by going here.

Tags: Networking,Security,Windows 7,Windows Server 2008
Categories: Computer
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Note: This is a cross post from Apolitically Incorrect. If you would like to comment or remark, please consider stopping by.

Windows Server Core is a relatively new version of Windows Server. Like it’s slightly more mature sibling, the “full” version, it is tremendously powerful. Server Core allows you to set up Active Directory domains, DNS/DHCP, and web servers. It can help secure your infrastructure, and probably floss your teeth.

But that isn’t what makes it interesting. Server Core is interesting for what it doesn’t have: the Windows Server GUI. Like in the case of Linux servers, nearly all of the action happens in the command line. This makes Server Core light weight and an excellent candidate for network virtualization, as it can run all of the core networking services need to administer a domain.

In this video, we take a look at how a Server Core installation can be configured to run as a DHCP server. It will walk you through the process of installing the DHCP server role from the command line, registering the DHCP service with Active Directory, and configuring the first zone. When combined with the earlier Active Directory tutorial, this video describes a way to run the three core networking services needed for domain administration – DNS,  DHCP, and Active Directory – on a single server.

This lays the groundwork for later networking and security tutorials by allowing us use the less resource intensive Server Core for simulation and exploration rather than the full Windows Server virtual machine.

To view the video, please visit blog.oak-tree.us.

Tags: DHCP,Windows Server 2008,Windows Server Core
Categories: Computer
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