IT Career

Giving Keynote – Networking is more relevant than ever in a cloud-native world

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I will be giving the Keynote at the next (MN)NUG (Minnesota Networking User Group) event on December 6th. (MN)NUG is a part of the (US)NUA (US Networking User Association) organization that hosts a vendor-neutral environment to talk networks. With beer.

After my talk, there will be a panel of networking experts from Target, Cologix, Cisco, and Arista Networks.

Here is my talk info:

Title:

Networking is more relevant than ever in a cloud-native world (cloud & Kubernetes)

Abstract:

Folks are often so focused on the new and shiny stuff in modern technology such as cloud, Kubernetes, and DevOps, however, core skills such as networking are as relevant as ever and one of the top skills one should have when working with these modern technologies. In this session, Steve is going to explore why you should start with networking when embarking on a journey into the cloud or Kubernetes.

Here is the full schedule:

4:30pm – 5:00pm Check-In / Open Mingle

5:00pm – 5:50pm Keynote Presentation Networking more relevant than ever in a cloud-native world (cloud & Kubernetes)

5:50pm – 6:15pm Break

6:15pm – 7:15pm Panel Discussion Emerging Networking Ideas & Trends

7:15pm – 7:30pm Open Mingle

If you have an unwrapped donation for “Toys for Tots” you may bring it to this event for drop off.

Full event info and registration here:

https://events.bizzabo.com/441464

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GitOps Fundamentals Certification

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Recently Codefresh launched the 1st certification in its GitOps certification path. This one is called “GitOps Fundamentals“. You can find it here: https://codefresh.learnworlds.com .

It takes you through the basics of GitOps to gain theoretical knowledge, and how to utilize Argo CD as the GitOps operator to gain hands-on knowledge. You will learn about both and will have questions on both in the quizzes and final exam.

They also touch on Argo Rollouts to go over Progressive Delivery with topics such as blue/green deployments and canary deployments. This is the 1st ever GitOps certification and it’s free! They do have plans for GitOps at Edge and GitOps at Scale certifications.

You can find more information about the GitOps certification and Codefresh’s future plans for it on this blog by Hannah Seligson (one of the authors of the course and exam) here: https://codefresh.io/blog/get-gitops-certified-argo.

I jumped all over this opportunity to get certified on GitOps, by signing up for the course, taking the training, and the exam! I passed and now I am GitOps certified.

Here is the certification:

GitOps is gaining adoption more and more every day in the Kubernetes space. Also, Argo CD is growing extremely fast as one of the top if not the top GitOps operator. I recommend you check this Codefresh GitOps certification out and get GitOps certified as this pattern and the technology behind it are growing at a super fast rate.

Also note, it looks like Weaveworks is planning to launch a “Certified GitOps Practitioner (CGP)” certification soon. I would guess the Weaveworks GitOps certification will contain content on Flux another GitOps operator. You can learn more about their coming GitOps certification here: https://www.weave.works/certified-gitops-practitioner

Also for more training on GitOps and Argo CD be sure to check out my GitOps and Argo CD courses on Pluralsight here:

“GitOps: The Big Picture“:

https://app.pluralsight.com/library/courses/gitops-the-big-picture

“Getting Started with Argo CD“:

https://app.pluralsight.com/library/courses/argo-cd-getting-started

And here is the link to my Pluralsight profile to follow me for future GitOps, Kubernetes, Cloud, and DevOps content: https://app.pluralsight.com/profile/author/steve-buchanan

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Guest on the 1st episode of Tech/Life Podcast

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A former Microsoft MVP and friend Steve Beaumont started a podcast. I was honored to be a guest on his first episode! The episode was released today. This podcast explores balancing Tech and Life. On the podcast episodes, Steve talks with people within the technology field, discussing both tech and diving into personal lives, stress, learning, and interests.

Steve has a website for the podcast here: www.techvlife.com.

Steve and I had a chance to catch up at MMS 2022 for the episode. We talked about my transition to Microsoft working as a Principal Program Manager in Azure. We also talked about my time practicing Kung Fu, how I stay motivated, make goals, balance tech with hobbies, how tech is one of my hobbies, and balancing that so it does not become another job, Kubernetes, AKS, and more.

Steve already has episodes with many other great folks already. He will be releasing them in the coming weeks. So be sure to subscribe to his podcast. Here are some of the other guests he will have on:


Aria Carley
Justin Chalfant
Ben Whitmore
Mike Danoski
David Segura
Donna Ryan
Mike Marable

You can listen to the 1st episode with me right here:

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16th Pluralsight course – “Laravel The Big Picture” a web framework for modern PHP based web apps

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I am excited to announce that I published a Laravel course on Pluralsight! This course is titled “Laravel 9: The Big Picture“. This is my 16th course with Pluralsight. I have been working with PHP based websites, Content Management Systems, Frameworks, and the language off and on for many years. When the opportunity came to author a course on Laravel I jumped on it.

Laravel is a full-stack web framework for modern PHP based web applications. PHP is a language that has been around for a long time used to power most of the web site and web apps on the internet today. And some of the best web development teams in the world build their products with Laravel.

Many don’t know this but Laravel can be used for front-end and back-end development, as well as developing a REST API. Some of the largest companies and most popular websites have been built using Laravel such as Disney, Apple, Pfizer, BBC, Twitch, Mastercard, and more.

In this course, Laravel 9: The Big Picture, you’ll learn about the Laravel full-stack framework. First, you’ll explore Laravel’s core components such as: routing, middleware, controllers, requests, responses, views, blade templates, and more. Next, you’ll discover how to install Laravel, configure it, how it handles security, works with databases, about its APIs and more. Finally, you’ll learn what it is like to develop, build, and deploy an app with Laravel.

When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of Laravel needed to decide if it is the right PHP web framework for you and where to go next on your journey with Laravel.

Check out the new Laravel course here: https://app.pluralsight.com/library/courses/laravel-9-big-picture

I hope you find value in this new Laravel 9: The Big Picture course. Be sure to follow my profile on Pluralsight so you will be notified as I release new courses! 

Here is the link to my Pluralsight profile to follow me: https://app.pluralsight.com/profile/author/steve-buchanan

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BIT Talk: Destination Cloud – Pivoting Your Career in Tech

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This month I will be a guest speaker at the free Blacks In Technology Twin Cities chapter happy hour event. We will be having a tech career discussion. The topic is: “Destination Cloud – Pivoting Your Career in Tech with Steve Buchanan“.

When: The happy hour event will be on Wed, May 25, 2022, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Location: Modern Well, 2909 S Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

Join us for an evening with me and moderator Brian Waters as we explore career pathways in the Digital Space. Here are topics we will explore:

  • Choosing an area of interest
  • Being Strategic & Intentional in Career Search & Growth
  • Transitioning into Different Tech Disciplines & Industries, and
  • Identifying tech trends on the horizon!

This event is both in-person and virtual. The in-person location is Modern Well, 2909 S Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55405 and the zoom link is below. I hope you can make it out to this event!

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85049210370?pwd=M0ZQR0twNTlQbTJGOUtDZjloVFA2dz09 or here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/destinationcloud-pivotingyourca6927748171498475520

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15th Pluralsight Course Published – Ember JS

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I am excited to announce that I published an Ember.js course on Pluralsight! This course is titled “Ember 4: The Big Picture“. This is my 15th course with Pluralsight. Ember.js is a JavaScript framework used for developing web apps. Some of the best web development teams in the world build their products with Ember.

This course will give an overview of Ember’s components and architecture and a guide to the next steps you can take to get started with Ember. In this course, Ember 4: The Big Picture, you’ll learn about the Ember front-end framework. First, you’ll explore Ember’s core parts: Ember.js, Ember Data, Ember CLI, and Ember Inspector.

Next, you’ll discover Ember’s core concepts: routing, services, and Components. Finally, you’ll learn how to what it is like to develop, build, and deploy an app with Ember.

When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge of Ember JS needed to decide if it is the right JavaScript framework for you and where to go next on your journey with Ember.

Check out the new Ember JS course here: https://app.pluralsight.com/library/courses/ember-4-big-picture

I hope you find value in this new Ember 4: The Big Picture course. Be sure to follow my profile on Pluralsight so you will be notified as I release new courses! 

Here is the link to my Pluralsight profile to follow me: https://app.pluralsight.com/profile/author/steve-buchanan

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Co-hosting 2 sessions in the Azure Hybrid Cloud Study Hall Series

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I am very excited to be a part of a new Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud Study Hall series. This is a free fourteen-part weekly series that starts in April running through June.

In this study hall, you will learn how you can manage your on-premises, edge, and multi-cloud resources, and how you can deploy Azure services anywhere with Azure Arc and Azure Stack.

In this series, each session covers working with hybrid cloud resources using Azure services and hybrid cloud technologies. In these sessions we will:

  • Answer your questions live
  • Walk-through how to configure hybrid cloud resources
  • Walk-through how to deploy hybrid cloud resources
  • Walk-through how to manage hybrid cloud resources

In these sessions, together with you, we will work through Microsoft Learn modules focused on Azure Arc and Azure Stack HCI.

We have a solid lineup of speakers from Microsoft and the community! And I will be co-delivering two sessions myself.

Some of the speakers and moderators

Check out this video Microsoft marketing made where I talk about the sessions:

My sessions are:

Introduction to Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes

on May 5, 2022 10:00AM – 11:30AM (Pacific) co-hosting with Pierre Roman. 

Add to Calendar:
https://aka.ms/learnlive-azure-hybrid-cloud-study-hall-Ep7

The Learn Module:
https://aka.ms/learnlive-20220505A

Implement Azure App Service on Kubernetes with Arc

on June 9, 2022 10:00AM – 11:30AM (Pacific) co-hosting with Lior Kamrat.

Add to Calendar:
https://aka.ms/learnlive-azure-hybrid-cloud-study-hall-Ep11

The Learn Module:
https://aka.ms/learnlive-20220609A

Check out all of the Learn Live – Azure Hybrid Cloud Study Hall sessions here:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/events/learntv/learnlive-azure-hybrid-cloud-study-hall

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Speaking at MMS 2022 in Person!

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MMSMOA is back in person for 2022. I am excited to be heading back to present a session and be on some panels!

Here is the MMS website: https://mmsmoa.com

My session will be with my friend and co-author of my latest book John Joyner.

Here are the session details:

Azure Arc: Extending Hyperscale Cloud Management to Your Datacenter

Description:

Learn about Microsoft’s Azure Arc service, a new multi-cloud management platform that belongs in every cloud or DevOps estate. The premise of Azure Arc is compelling: why not extend familiar management tools proven in Azure to on-premise and other cloud networks? A practical scenario-based tour will get you up to speed quickly, with instruction and demos that are heavy with hands-on experience. If your organization has resources across the hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, and edge environments, then this session is for you. You will learn how to configure and use Azure Arc to uniformly manage workloads across all of these environments.

What you will learn:

  • Introduces the basics of hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge computing and how Azure Arc fits into that IT strategy
  • Insights into Azure native management tooling for managing on-premises servers and extending to other clouds
  • Detail an end-to-end hybrid server monitoring scenario leveraging Azure Monitor and/or Microsoft Sentinel that is seamlessly delivered by Azure Arc
  • Define a blueprint to achieve regulatory compliance with industry standards using Azure Arc, delivering Azure Policy from Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Session link to register here: mms2022atmoa.sched.com/event/yDOu/azure-arc-extending-hyperscale-cloud-management-to-your-datacenter

I will also be a part of these panels:

Cloud Adoption Roundtable

Are you thinking about starting the cloud journey, or are you an experienced cloud engineer already?  Come join this interactive session where we will talk all things cloud!  We will have a round-table discussion about what resources are available, where to find them, and which ones are better than others.  Talk with experienced cloud architects about the mistakes they’ve seen and how to avoid them.  Come listen to stories, enjoy a few drinks, and have a great time talking about the cloud movement.

What you will learn:

  • How to begin your cloud adoption journey
  • What resources are available to start your migration process, and how to find them
  • Common mistakes/pitfalls
  • Q&A with cloud adoption survivors

https://mms2022atmoa.sched.com/event/102rB/cloud-adoption-roundtable

Cloud AMA – Come ask the Cloud MVPs Anything

This session will be an open format Q&A. Come ask your burning questions in front of a live audience and get real-time feedback from cloud MVP’s and SME’s. No question too hard, no topic off-limits. Wanted to know why something was built the way it was? Want to know how to accomplish something you’ve been working on for months? Have a general question about Azure in general? Come, listen, ask.

https://mms2022atmoa.sched.com/event/zp1h/cloud-ama-come-ask-the-cloud-mvps-anything

Hope to see you at MMS 2022!

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Speaking on the Metaverse at GatherVerse Summit 2022

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GatherVerse is a new conference about the MetaVerse. GatherVerse is the creation of entrepreneur & tech leader Christopher Lafayette. The GatherVerse is a global gathering discussing humanity first standards of education, safety, privacy, wellness, equality, community development and accessibility in the next steps of the metaverse. Here is the GatherVerse website: www.gatherversesummit.com

I will be a part of a panel discussing EdTech’s role in the Metaverse. This panel will be on day 2 – February 23rd, 2022 @ 2:00pm pst – 2:48pm pst

I will join a great panel of esteemed tech professionals. On the panel, I will give my personal point of view of how companies and technologies such as Accenture (who recently bought of 60k Oculus headsets), Microsoft, FlipGrid, TakeLessons, LinkedIn Learning, Roblox, Pluralsight, and more fit into the Metaverse.

This event is free. Here are links to learn more and sign up:

Free Tickets
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gatherverse-summit-tickets-217609685427

Website
www.gatherversesummit.com

LinkedIn Event Link
https://www.linkedin.com/events/gatherversesummit20226871478586432454656/about/

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