digiCoast Blog

Got Backups?

Peter Gabriel learned that it isn't just fires and floods that you need to worry about when planning for disaster recovery.

posted by GornDog @ 4:17 AM 0 comments links to this post

Partnering Networks for Solutions Providers

An article in eWeek discusses partnering among solution providers.  It is interesting to see that the most revolutionary partner network, OnForce, wasn't mentioned.

Here are links to each partner network:

• Avnet OneTech
  
• Arrow Engineer Exchange
  
• IBM PartnerWorld
  
• Ingram Micro Service Network
• TechSelect (by Tech Data)
• OnForce

posted by GornDog @ 12:10 PM 0 comments links to this post

Rash recommendation from Sun

In an article on energy efficiency, Mark Monroe, a director at Sun, recommended shutting down "all those mystery servers".

I've worked in data centers of all sizes and will acknowledge that most organizations do not implement configuration management very well and that mystery servers do exist as a result.  In many cases, the best thing for the organization is to move toward getting all unnecessary equipment powered off and decommissioned — not just for saving energy but for prompting justification for what should be powered on in the first place.

However, unplugging first and asking questions later is no way to run a data center.

posted by GornDog @ 9:04 AM 0 comments links to this post

Remote Control / Remote Desktop Roundup

Below is a fairly comprehensive list of the Remote Control tools for accessing a computer remotely. Comments are welcome.

KPR Access Remote PC

Anyplace Control

CoPilot by FogCreek.
Works through firewalls and communications are secure.

Beyond Remote

COOL Remote Control

DameWare Mini Remote Control

Danware NetOp

Desktop Rover

eMando Remote Control

EMCO Remote Desktop Professional

GoToMyPC

Im InTouch

LapLink Everywhere

LogMeIn
LogMeIn Free version is available.

NetSupport Manager

Remotely AnyWhere

Remote Administrator

Remote Dekstop
Included with Windows XP Professional and most Vista releases.

PCAnywhere by Symantec

Remote Explorer

Remote Support System

Simple Desktop

TeamViewer
Works through NAT/proxy.
First 20 minutes free for non-commercial use.

TightVNC
Free, open source. Cross platform (Windows, Linux and Unix).

Timbuktu Pro by Netopia
Cross platform (Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac).

posted by GornDog @ 11:07 AM 0 comments links to this post

10 second Windows Vista Upgrade Guide

Here are the questions I am asked most often regarding Microsft Vista:

Q.) Do I need to buy a new computer to run Windows Vista?
A.) It depends. A rule of thumb that many follow is that any desktop computer over 3 years old should be replaced rather than upgraded. If you have Windows XP currently, you can run the Vista Upgrade Advisor which will report on whether or not you will need to put your PC out to pasture.

Q.) Can I upgrade or do I need to reinstall from scratch?
A.) Microsoft supports both options. Most techies recommend a clean install. But that option also requires that you reinstall (and re-patch / update) all software that you run and transfer your data files.

The File Settings and Transfer Wizard was upgraded and renamed to the Windows Easy Transfer tool in Vista. Enterprise users get a new User State Migration Tool (USMT). more ...

Q.) Do I need to move to Windows Vista just to run Office 2007?
A.) No, Microsoft's system requirements for Office 2007 programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc) include Windows XP (although XP SP2 must be installed).

Office 2007 system servers (Project Server, Sharepoint Services v3, Groove Server 2007) have different requirements.

posted by GornDog @ 2:56 PM 0 comments links to this post

Practice what you preach

When consulting on IT Infrastructure there are two things I tell clients:
1.) With electronic devices if it squeaks, buzzes, intermittently locks up or does anything else that it shouldn't be doing, either fix it or get rid of it.

2.) If a device were to be disconnected (power, network) and that action affects your operations then that device cannot be considered "decommissioned".

Why I am writing about this today?
The fan for the graphics card on an old PC at my home office had started to rattle intermittently. Today the system froze up and would no longer reboot. My suspicions were confirmed after opening it up -- the graphics card fan no longer turned. Because I still used that box for print sharing meant that I could no longer print -- something that normally wouldn't be that big of a deal, but today it most definitely was.

A few weeks ago when I first noticed the intermittent rattle I discounted the likelyhood that failure was imminent. I thought I was safe deferring maintenance because at the time I had deemed the equipment to be "basically decommissioned".

Today I had to cancel my appointment because I could not generate the needed printouts.

Shame on me.

posted by GornDog @ 10:53 PM 0 comments links to this post