The Springboard Deployment Learning Portal is an online assessment and learning tool, designed to help IT Pros identify their knowledge strengths and information gaps around Windows 7 deployment.  Based on interactive assessment responses, the participant is provided targeted learning to help them gain critical deployment know-how, keeping them at the top of their game.

I tried it myself and I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of the tests, and the tips it gives to learn more about it.

So if you are deploying Windows, Office within your environment – whether it is via MDOP, WDS, RIS or SCCM – take a quick dab at the tests and see where you can learn more.

Now sure you can use for example PRTG Network Monitor (freeware version is limited to 10 sensors, available at: http://www.paessler.com/prtg) or The Dude (available at http://www.mikrotik.com/thedude.php) but well… you still miss out a bit.

So far I haven’t really found my end-all solution that does everything that I want, which is SNMP monitoring, Syslog, and PING-ing. Now keep in mind that I have a fairly simple network. (2 routers set up as access points, 3 wifi-networks, 2 Ethernet over Power Adapters, 1 security device, 2 PC’s, 1 server, 2 notebooks, and 1 network-disk) so it shouldn’t be too hard.

For the time being I am using Kiwi Syslog Daemon (available at http://www.kiwisyslog.com/kiwi-syslog-daemon-overview/) for Syslog functionality – and PRTG Network Monitor for monitoring / PING.

Let’s hope I find something a bit more workable in the future. Untill then, if you are looking for a simple and free solution, you got 2 that you can use :)

Both are a breeze to setup and configure and well, they do work. Tips, comments and/or suggestions? Let me know!