Category: Must Read

  • Tips for IT Network & Infrastructure Students: How to Stand Out and Succeed

    Tips for IT Network & Infrastructure Students: How to Stand Out and Succeed

    If you’re planning to apply for an internship in IT networking or infrastructure, you’re already on the right track. The industry is always looking for people who understand networks, servers, security, and real-world troubleshooting. But the competition can be tough—so how do you stand out?

    Here are the best tips to help you prepare, impress during interviews, and perform confidently during your internship.

    Please choose where to do your IT networking or infrastructure internship, many students aim for government agencies because they sound stable and prestigious. However, if your main goal is learning, hands-on experience, and skill development, an SI company is often the better choice.

    System integrators handle:

    • Real client projects
    • Network deployments (Here where my skills when i need to replace current network switch where i learn how to read command)
    • Firewall setups
    • Server migrations
    • Troubleshooting across different environments

    You’ll get more chances to touch real systems compared to government offices, where interns may only assist with basic tasks.

    Many SI companies are partners with vendors like:

    • Fortinet
    • Cisco
    • VMware
    • Microsoft
    • Dell
    • HP

    Interns often get access to training or at least exposure to enterprise tools you won’t usually see in government environments.

    Government internships often involve:

    • Paperwork
    • Documentation
    • Basic helpdesk tasks

    Meanwhile, SIs are technical by nature — meaning most of what you do directly relates to IT networking or infrastructure.

    When you perform well during your internship, you increase your chances of being absorbed into the company. Based on my own experience, many companies—especially SI (System Integrator) companies—tend to offer full-time positions to interns if:

    • They see strong potential
    • They have available openings
    • You show good attitude and willingness to learn
    • You can work independently with proper guidance
    • You contribute value to the team
    • You show reliability and professionalism

    Internships are not just for learning—they are also a trial period where the company gets to know you, your work habits, and how well you fit into their environment. If you consistently show initiative, ask good questions, and handle tasks responsibly, you become a strong candidate for a permanent role.

  • The Most Common Mistake People Make When Creating Windows or Linux VMs

    I encounter this common issue when taking over support responsibilities for my employer’s customers. Some VMs experience repeated blue-screen errors as known as Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD), and after a quick check, I usually find that they have not been updated for a long time and never reboot for first time installation.

    Most unprofessional, i need to rollback, luckily that server is not database and just for application reading.

    When setting up a new Windows or Linux virtual machine (VM), most people jump straight into installing software, configuring services, or deploying applications. However, there’s one very common mistake that often gets overlooked:

    ❗ Not updating the VM before using it.

    Whether you’re using Proxmox, VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, or any other hypervisor, updating the system should always be the first step after installation.

    Why Updating First Is Important

    1. Security Patches

    Fresh installations usually come with outdated packages or missing security patches. Leaving these unpatched can expose your VM to vulnerabilities.

    1. System Stability

    Updates include important bug fixes that improve the OS stability and performance.

    1. Better Hardware & Driver Support

    Hypervisors often rely on updated kernel modules, guest tools, and drivers. Updating ensures better compatibility.

    1. Avoiding Package Conflicts

    Installing software before updating can lead to package version conflicts, especially on Linux systems.

    Examples


    🔹 Windows VM

    After installation:

    Run Windows Update

    Update drivers / VMware Tools / QEMU Guest Agent (depending on hypervisor)

    Reboot if required

    🔹 Linux VM (Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, etc.)

    Run updates immediately:

    Debian/Ubuntu:
    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

    RHEL/CentOS/Rocky:
    sudo dnf update -y

    You may check your OS command with community or official website