Thinking in Automation

Stuart Lamont Part of XW19

This session will introduce participants to process automation and simplification. While I won’t be going into code and detail, I will be talking about the thought process that goes into automating tasks to simplify processes.


Stuart is a Sysadmin with a keen interest in process automation and simplification. He spent many years working for an MSP in Educational institutions, where limited onsite time meant process simplification and automation was key to actually completing works. This is his third year presenting at X World.


Introduction to Docker

Stuart Lamont Part of XW19

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, no doubt you’ve heard people talk about Docker, Containers, or MicroServices, but what does that mean?

In this half-day workshop, I will introduce you to Docker and give you some fundamentals on how to get started, and hopefully, some ideas for using MicroServices in your own organisation.

We’ll cover the What, Why, Who and How of Docker, and even demo some more advanced concepts.

This Workshop suits SysAdmins who are curious about Docker and Microservices, but have been too afraid to ask.

Participants should install the Community Edition of Docker Desktop prior to attending the Workshop, available at https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop. This Workshop will be 96% identical to the Docker workshop run at X World 2018.


Stuart is a Sysadmin with a keen interest in process automation and simplification. He spent many years working for an MSP in Educational institutions, where limited onsite time meant process simplification and automation was key to actually completing works. This is his third year presenting at X World.


Engineering For Administrators

Tony Williams Part of XW19

Good systems administration is not just using an MDM and good engineering using software built by many hands and easily available can provide many tools to make life easier.

In this talk I will look at how I built tools for backup, version control and improved workflows for Jamf Pro.


Tony is currently a systems engineer and responsible for the design, installation and support of a large number of Macs and iPads. With over thirty five years in the industry he has had a myriad of roles including C programmer, Unix system administrator, IT Manager, support specialist and Associate Editor of Australian Macworld.


Charming The Snake – Python For System Administration

Tony Williams Part of XW19

Tony WilliamsSystem administration often encompasses repetitive tasks that formerly we used to write a shell script for. With the development of modern scripting languages why settle for writing bash scripts?

This workshop will give you a grounding in Python and demonstrate the benefits of a modern language, including improved language flexibility, debugging and third party libraries.

To participate in this workshop, you’ll need a Mac laptop running a recent version of macOS. It would be a good idea to install the Python 3.7 version of Anaconda, available from https://www.anaconda.com/distribution/ before the Workshop


Tony is currently a systems engineer and responsible for the design, installation and support of a large number of Macs and iPads. With over thirty five years in the industry he has had a myriad of roles including C programmer, Unix system administrator, IT Manager, support specialist and Associate Editor of Australian Macworld.


Ben Greiner to Keynote X World 2019

Ben GreinerWe’re very happy to announce that this year’s X World keynote speaker is Ben Greiner.

Ben was a much-loved presenter at X World 2017, and we couldn’t wait to ask him back to be our Keynote speaker this year. As well as presenting the keynote session, Ben will be presenting a workshop on how to talk cybersecurity with customers.

Ben is the Founder and President of Forget Computers where he leads a brilliant team using intelligent tools, clear communication, and a positive attitude to help people accomplish more — more securely — with Apple technology. We can’t wait for him to help you do the same.

Learn more »


WWDC Scholarship Travel Support 2019

If you’re a currently enrolled student at an Australian or New Zealand University, and you win an Apple Student Scholarship to attend WWDC 2019 (results announced by Monday, April 15, 2019), we might be able to help out with your expenses. We’ve allocated 3 student support scholarships of up to $AU1500 each ($AU2000 for existing AUC student members) to assist with airfares.

Conditions apply. Applications will open on this site Monday April 15, 2019, and will close Wednesday May 1 at 5pm (Sydney time).

Learn more »


First X World Workshop Announcement

MacAdmins Podcast Host Tom Bridge and colleague Chris Dawe will be presenting a full-day workshop titled “Fundamentals of Wi-Fi: Physics Always Wins” as part of this year’s X World conference.

This workshop provide an overview of the fundamentals of Wi-Fi networking, particularly as it relates to the Apple device ecosystem. Attendees will learn the fundamental principles of Wi-Fi, how Wi-Fi differs from the wired networking, and how Wi-Fi client devices and networks behave (or don’t) in the real world.

The workshop is free to all X World registrants, and is also open as a stand-alone event to delegates who do not want to take part in X World.

Learn More »   About X World »


Fundamentals of Wi-Fi: Physics Always Wins

Tom Bridge and Chris Dawe Part of XW19


This workshop will provide an overview of the fundamentals of Wi-Fi networking, particularly as it relates to the Apple device ecosystem. Attendees will learn the fundamental principles of Wi-Fi, how Wi-Fi differs from the wired networking, and how Wi-Fi client devices and networks behave (or don’t) in the real world.


In the beginning–for most Mac Admins, anyway–there was the Airport Base Station, the Airport Card, and a wide-open spectrum…20 years later, it remains rare that one hears “The Wi-Fi at this conference is *great*!” Why?

In this workshop, Tom Bridge and Chris Dawe use their growing experience in the world of Wi-Fi to build on their 2015 and 2017 workshops to provide an understanding of a network technology that simultaneously manages to be ubiquitous, critical, and misunderstood.

This workshop will provide a basic introduction to Wi-Fi technology, describe basic Wi-Fi operations, provide an overview of Wi-Fi network design an troubleshooting, and discuss Apple-specific device behaviors that will make Wi-Fi network management more interesting than it was before.

In the course of the workshop, attendees will encounter the tools required for designing, building, and troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks, and receive a list of resources to continue their Wi-Fi education.

Topics covered in this workshop will include:

  1. Radio Frequency and Wi-Fi Technology Basics
  2. Basic Wi-Fi Client and Network Operations
  3. Introduction to Wi-Fi Network Design
  4. The Wi-Fi Engineering and Troubleshooting Toolkit
  5. Introduction to Network Security
  6. Apple Devices in the Wi-Fi World

Tom BridgeChris Dawe


Tom Bridge is a lifelong Mac user whose career in technology began in college at Denison University. Before co-founding Technolutionary, he honed his enterprise IT skills at the National Center on Education in the Economy, where he was part of a small team supporting 90 users’ day-to-day computing needs at headquarters and 60 users scattered across 8 satellite offices with a multiple-platform, Mac-managed network.

Tom is the producer and host of the MacAdmins.org Podcast, and a regular speaker at the Penn State Mac Admins Conference, Mac Admin & Developer UK Conference, MacTech Conference, and has also given talks at MacDevOps YVR and MacDeploy conferences. He is a founding member of MacDMV.

Chris Dawe is a consultant focused on macOS, iOS, and networking. He handles a wide variety of work, including system assessment, design, deployment, and support. Chris holds the Certified Wireless Network Administrator and the Ekahau Certified Survey Engineer certifications, and is working toward several others. Chris co-founded and helps manage Apple Admins of Seattle, a monthly administrator’s meetup based in Seattle. When not working, Chris dabbles in American history, cooks when he can, and appreciates both whiskey and whisky. Chris lives with Emily in Seattle, Washington.


Note: This workshop is available as a stand-alone event for those who would like to attend without taking part in X World.
 


X World 2019 Call for Presenters

X World is our annual training event for OS X and iOS system administrators and support staff, and will be held at UTS, Sydney. This year the event will run June 26-28.

We are now calling for presenters who wish to offer sessions and workshops at this year’s event. If you have a background in the installation, configuration, deployment, or on-going administration of OS X based systems, or experience in iOS deployment, management and app development, or if you work in related areas, we’d really like to hear from you. Presenters receive free registration to X World, and qualify for subsidised flights and/or accommodation.

The call for presentations is now open, and closes Friday March 29, 2019, at 9pm Sydney time. Offers can be made by completing the submission form.

Want to request a session at X World? Submit an idea on our requests board. We can’t guarantee anyone will pick it up and run with it, but you might just inspire someone else to share their experience!