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Monday, October 16, 2023

Ace your AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam!

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the first step towards your advanced AWS certifications!

So, in this blog, I am going to share how I cleared the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam on my first attempt!

  • First of all, on a daily basis, you have to dedicate a couple of hours to self-study, I prefer late at night!
  • Create a free account in AWS / ACG and keep it ready
  • Understand the high-level domain/section and the number of questions/weightage for each domain/section.
  • Go through the recorded AWS training materials and videos.
  • Create a mind map of the topics. Here is the screenshot of my mind map.

AWS study Mind Map

You can download the PDF version here.

  • After each chapter/section, try it on AWS / ACG, which you created earlier 
  • After all the training is completed, attempt free sample/trial exams provided by AWS and other learning platforms.
  • Check where you made mistakes during the sample/trial exam, and take down error notes.
  • Review the mistakes before the next sample/trial test, and come up with a strategy.
  • Finally, schedule the AWS certification exam and attempt it with confidence!
  • Wish you all the best and let me know in the comments if this was helpful!

Check out my AWS Certificate

Also, please check out my other posts related to this subject

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

My Private AI setup on laptop - Step by step guide to install LLM on your local Windows Laptop!

Are you fascinated by LLMs like GPT by OpenAI, and at the same time wondering if you will compromise your privacy, IP leak, Security, or Model Inaccuracies? well, the answer is PrivateAI!

Check out how you can install and configure LLM like LLAMA 2 on your Windows laptop, and overcome the concerns listed in the above paragraph!

Before we start, I highly recommend all of you see my earlier blog which lists the difference between AI, ML, DL, and GenAI

Pre-requisites: Windows 11, minimum 10GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce MX570 GPU 

Manual Steps

1) Download and install Visual Studio Build Tools, use the defaults like the following screenshot.


2) Install Conda / Anaconda, Git, wget

3) Go to the Start menu and launch "Anaconda Powershell prompt" Run as Administrator 

> conda install PyTorch
> conda install cuda --channel nvidia/label/cuda-11.7.0b 

4) Visit the Meta AI website and register to download the model/s. After registration you will get an email, please don't delete this email.

> mkdir llama2
> cd llama2
> git clone https://github.com/facebookresearch/llama
run the download.sh using Git Bash
Provide the URL that you get from the email 
Choose 7B-chat
It will take a while to download the model (it took nearly 22 min for me)

5) Once the model is installed, you can use it programmatically and interact with it, for which you need some GUI.

Automated way: If you are finding it difficult to follow manual steps, you can try following steps
  • Using the command prompt, clone the repo "git clone https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui"
  • From the folder, double-click on install_windows.bat
  • This will install the required software on your laptop and start the UI http://127.0.0.1:7860/.
  • Create an account at https://huggingface.co/ using the same email address that you have used to download the LLAMA 2 from the Facebook website.
  • In the local UI, in the model tab search for meta-llama/Llama-2-7b and click download
  • For the download to start, your request should have been approved by Meta and you need to set HF_USR and HF_PASS environment variables in your local machine by generating a token in the Huggingface > Settings > Access Tokens.
  • Once downloaded, you can refresh, select the LLAMA, and load it (Please refer the following screenshot) 
  • Then navigate to the Chat tab and start using it without worrying about privacy, IP leaks, Security etc.
  • If you are facing issues in downloading Meta LLAMA, then try VMware/open-llama-7b-v2-open-instruct
  • Enjoy your Private AI LLM set! 

Local LLM in action! 

References:


Thursday, September 14, 2023

Bee a Hands-on Global Leader!

Being hands-on while also excelling in leadership requires a delicate balance. Effective leadership is always the result of hands-on activities. Leading depends on your ability to take action and get things done. The first step in leadership is understanding what leadership means and what it isn’t. Here we will look at the characteristics of hands-on leaders and identify how you can become one.


1. Set Clear Priorities: Identify tasks that require your direct involvement and those that can be delegated. Focus your hands-on efforts on critical areas that align with your expertise and contribute to strategic goals.

2. Delegate Effectively: Build a capable team and delegate tasks appropriately. Trust your team's skills and provide guidance, allowing them to take ownership of their responsibilities.

3. Stay Current: In the ever-evolving IT landscape, continuous learning is crucial. Dedicate time to stay updated on industry trends, technologies, and best practices to maintain your technical competence.

4. Lead by Example: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, commitment to quality, and attention to detail. Your team will mirror your behavior, so set high standards.

5. Effective Time Management: Prioritize tasks, use time management techniques, and leverage tools to maximize productivity. Ensure you allocate time for both leadership and hands-on activities.

6. Empower and Support: Encourage your team to take initiative, make decisions, and solve problems. Provide guidance and mentorship to foster their growth and independence.

7. Communication Skills: Communicate clearly, both as a technical expert and as a leader. Translate complex technical concepts into understandable language for non-technical stakeholders.

8. Strategic Thinking: Balance tactical work with a strategic perspective. Align hands-on tasks with broader organizational goals to ensure your efforts have a meaningful impact.

9. Adaptability: Embrace change and adapt to evolving roles and responsibilities. Be open to new challenges and opportunities to lead in different capacities.

10. Feedback and Recognition: Provide constructive feedback to your team and recognize their achievements. This boosts morale and encourages continuous improvement.

11. Balance and Self-Care: Maintain a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout. Delegate tasks when necessary and prioritize self-care to stay energized and focused.

12. Networking: Build and maintain a professional network within and outside your organization. Networking can provide valuable insights and support.

Remember that being a great IT leader doesn't mean you need to know everything or do everything yourself. It's about leveraging your technical expertise to guide your team toward success, fostering a collaborative environment, and making strategic decisions that drive the organization forward. Balancing hands-on work with leadership responsibilities is an ongoing process that requires flexibility and adaptability.

Note: A portion of the blog is assisted by ChatGPT!