Is this why your internet connection seems so slow?

An article in the Wall Street Journal today quotes a small business owner saying he found "that 70% of the workers in its 125-person headquarters watched videos on Web sites like Google Inc.'s YouTube and News Corp.'s MySpace for about an hour a day".

Folks, 70% of 125 employees is just over 87 man-hours a day - the equivalent of having almost 11 people on payroll who do no work at all. Think about that.

Now the funny part is that the Wall Street Journal has prominent links to videos on its home page. But the point is, you're just supposed to watch them after business hours. Yes, your employees will want to check local and national newspaper sites, or CNN and Fox, during the day. But as the article points out, the problem is "Online video files on average are about seven times as large as audio files, and 100 times as large as email" (my bold).

We can work with your company to evaluate your current bandwidth usage, and then to make recommendations on how to turn your internet connection back into a business tool. Call us and see for yourself.

Windows Vista SP1

Walt Mossberg's February 14th column at All Things Digital has a good preview of the upcoming Windows Vista Service Pack 1. It looks like a lot of download time and bandwidth (65 Megabytes worth) for very little performance gain.

Mossberg says "based on my tests of Vista SP1, I believe that for most average consumers, it will likely be a nonevent, and for others it will be disappointing. For mainstream users, it adds no significant, visible features to Vista, and changes little or nothing about the way the operating system looks and works."

He goes on to say that most of the annoying Vista flaws, such as slow system start-up and reboots, and the security system prompts of do you want to do this remain unresolved.
His best comment is late in the review, where he says "To my horror, I found that SP1 actually made rebooting — already slower than on comparable Windows XP computers or Macintoshes — even slower. Microsoft explained that this was due to the fact that installing SP1 erases certain data used by Vista to speed up program launching. It takes the system a few days to build this data back up, the company says. Until then, it says, overall performance, including reboots, can be slower under SP1 than under original Vista."

But I'm not really seeing that it takes that much longer to startup or reboot. Besides, users don't really have much choice about these kinds of things - not installing updates and service packs makes no sense. Large corporations won't continue remaining on Windows XP two years after Vista shipped. They've made a plan for migration and are moving forward with Vista, sometimes slowly.

For small businesses, or home users, unless you just want to deal with a total software reload, or love the cutting edge (assuming your hardware can support it), just stick with XP. And Mac users - yeah you made a good decision.

Windows Vista Networking Issues

Networking with Vista can sure be exciting and frustrating. Things got moved around a lot from XP, and many times there seems to be no reason for the change. Such is life.

When I went to the Network & Sharing Center (right click on the Network desktop icon and choose Properties) my network was not showing up. Couldn't see the other computers in my workgroup, and couldn't Map a drive. The first area to troubleshoot if this happens is to make Absolutely Sure that every computer in your workgroup is configured with the same workgroup name, or is properly joined to your domain. In Windows XP the default workgroup was MSHOME, in Vista the default is WORKGROUP. Your workgroup name might be different, I know I had changed my default as a security precaution.

So check this first.
- Click "Start > Control Panel > System
- Choose "Advanced System Settings" on the left-hand pane
- Choose the tab "Computer Name" and the Workgroup name is displayed halfway down
- Change it by choosing the "Network ID" button directly under the Workgroup Name
This will require a reset.

The next problem area to look for is Microsoft's use of a new discovery protocol called NTLMv2, which is used by (almost) no one else. This can be fixed on your Vista installation by choosing the sensible - but not the default - choice of using this protocol if available, but also automatically trying the established LM & NTLM protocols as well.

Here's how:
- Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy
- In the left-hand pane, click the triangle next to "Local Policy", then click "Security Options"
- In the right pane, near the bottom, right-click "Network security: LAN manager authentication level" and choose properties
- Click the drop-down box, and click "Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated"
- Click OK

These two settings should get you up and running on your network most of the time.

USB Storage & Windows Vista ReadyBoost

Windows Vista has a new "performance feature" called ReadyBoost. It allows the use of a USB storage device instead of a (potentially) slower paging file on your hard disk when you're low on physical memory (RAM). Since USB storage is faster than your hard disk drive, this is intended to increase performance. It’s important to note that the actual Page File is still cached on the hard drive, but is being accessed from the Flash drive - which means that you're not at risk for losing your data.

While some users (mostly with less than 1GB of RAM) claim a decent performance gain, others say the benefit is negligible. So I'm giving it a shot, and will let you know my perceived results.

If you want to try this, your USB storage device must meet the following requirements:
- the device should have at least 1GB of free space.
- the device must be USB 2.0 compliant.

Just plug in your USB stick, go to "Computer", right-click on your USB device, select "Properties", then select the "ReadyBoost" tab, click "Use This Device" and set the amount of space for the system file to use.

I'm finally trying Windows Vista

I have been avoiding implementing Windows Vista for most of the common reasons: lack of device drivers, waiting for all the flaws to be fixed, waiting for software compatibility.

However, I decided that 2008 was the time to "go live" with Vista on at least one production machine. And so far, Vista has lived up to its reputation for "why did they have to do this" complexity.

With that being said, I also remember when people said the same thing about XP. I can remember one colleague who, after installing Windows XP, immediately changed all settings back to look like Windows 2000, because he didn't want to learn XP.

So tomorrow I'm going to start the process with a clean install on a laptop.

Why Have You Not Looked At Virtualization?

I've been recommending server virtualization to clients for several years now. This technology can benefit any business with multiple computers typically running specialized tasks. Situations like having your domain controller on one PC, your accounting system on another computer, your shared directories on a third PC, and your email server on a fourth.

Products such as VMware let you transform or virtualize the hardware components (CPU, RAM, disk, and network interfaces) to create a fully functional virtual machine running its own operating system and applications. This involves a lot of vendor jargon, like hypervisor, dynamic resources and concurrency.

Products such as VMware have made it possible to realize enormous benefits from virtualization even in small businesses, because they run on industry-standard servers and desktops, and support Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.

For example, the VMware website sites these statistics:

• 60-80% utilization rates for x86 servers (up from 5-15% in
  non-virtualized PCs)


• Cost savings of more than $3,000 annually for every workload virtualized


• Ability to provision new applications in minutes instead of days or
  weeks


• 85% improvement in recovery time from unplanned downtime

Combining servers means less equipment to own and upgrade, lower electricity costs, and easier administration. Additionally, because each instance of a Virtual Server is really a set of files, these Virtual Servers can be moved to new servers easily with completely reloading entire operating systems and installing all the patches and security fixes.

Your business really needs to make a New Years resolution to meet with us to discuss this technology!

Network Deletions

It's Friday afternoon, the weekend before Christmas, and the urgent call comes in. A client has had a number of files deleted - person and time unknown - from a Windows shared network drive.

People get this sense of confidence from having a Recycle Bin on their Windows desktop. They forget that network drives typically don't have this feature. And they're panicked, because they don't know if the backups have been being run correctly, and they have to worry all through the long weekend holiday.

Easy fix, however, just requires the application of a little money. The folks at QueTek Consulting make a great tool call File Scavenger Version 3 Disk Data Recovery Program which can recover files in just this sort of situation. Of course it depends on how long ago the files were deleted, how much disk write activity there has been, and of course your results may vary.

For this company, a little Saturday download/install consulting got all their files back.

Web Design Capabilities

We can provide your firm with the capabilities and experience in web design, web upgrades, training on content management solutions, and marketing support.

We provide your business with cost effective, customized, and on-demand information technology expertise.

Websites convey your company's image to world at large, and need to be not only functional, but look good, be easy to use, and fit with the rest of your marketing material. Many options exist to get a cheap website - you need someone to work with you to develop a site you can pleased to tell people about.

Call or email us to find out how to get your business the customized IT expertise you’ve been looking for. Let us be your out-sourced IT department – there when you need us.

When it comes to information technology, you need a trusted advisor, not a salesman. We can help you develop an IT business plan – where you are now and where you want to be in three years, or five years. Then we’ll help you work your plan.

Let us work with you to listen, understand, and help your business. Let us be your IT partner.

Security Capabilities

With extensive experience in information security, we can work with your company to implement or review policies to safeguard your critical business information from outsiders, insiders, or natural catastrophe.

From implementing firewall solutions to setting up network access policies to allow only "need-to-know" employees, we can help your business. We provide businesses with cost effective, customized, and on-demand information security expertise.

As a business owner, you must balance the ease of use of your systems against the need to retain critical business systems and data against unknown threats. You want technology that will benefit your business and make economical sense. You need someone to help manage your IT needs, so you can do what you do best.

Call or email us to find out how to get your business the customized IT expertise you’ve been looking for. Let us be your out-sourced IT department – there when you need us.

When it comes to information technology, you need a trusted advisor, not a salesman. We can help you develop an IT business plan – where you are now and where you want to be in three years, or five years. Then we’ll help you work your plan.

Let us work with you to listen, understand, and help your business. Let us be your IT partner.

Server Capabilities

We provide installation, upgrades, support and training for Servers, desktop PC's, and laptops. We have experience in server consolidation, VMware, archiving, and backup solutions.

We provide businesses with cost effective, customized, and on-demand server expertise, and are experienced in Windows, Linux, and VMware environments.

As a business owner, you are constantly faced with requests to upgrade infrastructure and critical business systems. Your IT investment grows, but becomes less manageable. You want to cost-justify these requests, and decide if new technology would benefit your business and make economical sense. You need someone to help manage your IT needs, so you can do what you do best.

Call or email us to find out how to get your business the customized IT expertise you’ve been looking for. Let us be your out-sourced IT department – there when you need us.

When it comes to information technology, you need a trusted advisor, not a salesman. We can help you develop an IT business plan – where you are now and where you want to be in three years, or five years. Then we’ll help you work your plan.

Let us work with you to listen, understand, and help your business. Let us be your IT partner.

Networking Capabilities

We provide installation, upgrades, support and training for Network Infrastructure such as routers, wireless, switches, and firewalls. We can work with you to protect the health of your e-mail systems, servers, and user's PC's through the use of network anti-virus, anti-spam, and web content filtering software and appliances. We can also assist in cabling.

We provide businesses with cost effective, customized, and on-demand network expertise. We work in multi-vendor (Windows, Macintosh, Linux) environments, as well as multi-generation (Windows 95/2000/XP/Vista) environments.

As a business owner, you are constantly faced with requests to upgrade infrastructure and critical business systems. Your IT investment grows, but becomes less manageable. You want to cost-justify these requests, and decide if new technology would benefit your business and make economical sense. You need someone to help manage your IT needs, so you can do what you do best.

Call or email us to find out how to get your business the customized IT expertise you’ve been looking for. Let us be your out-sourced IT department – there when you need us.

When it comes to information technology, you need a trusted advisor, not a salesman. We can help you develop an IT business plan – where you are now and where you want to be in three years, or five years. Then we’ll help you work your plan.

Let us work with you to listen, understand, and help your business. Let us be your IT partner.

Support Capabilities

We offer over 20 years of industry experience in installation, upgrades, training, and support of:

• Network Systems, Cabling, Firewalls, Email Systems, & Anti Virus/Spam Solutions
• Servers, Desktop PC's & Laptops (Windows, Macintosh, & Linux)
• Website Development and Maintenance
• Software Applications

We can provide your business with cost effective, customized, and on-demand information technology expertise.

As a business owner, you are constantly faced with requests to upgrade infrastructure and critical business systems. Your IT investment grows, but becomes less manageable. You want to cost-justify these requests, and decide if new technology such as wireless or VoIP would benefit your business and make economical sense. You need someone to help manage your IT needs, so you can do what you do best.

Call or email us to find out how to get your business the customized IT expertise you’ve been looking for. Let us be your out-sourced IT department – there when you need us.

When it comes to information technology, you need a trusted advisor, not a salesman. We can help you develop an IT business plan – where you are now and where you want to be in three years, or five years. Then we’ll help you work your plan.

Let us work with you to listen, understand, and help your business. Let us be your IT partner.

Macintosh Support

This fall I began providing Macintosh support to a client. It has been a while since I have had a Mac client, but I'm seeing more interest in the platform over the last year.

OS X works seamlessly with both Windows and Linux servers, and there is a lot to be said for not having to deal with the anti-virus overhead imposed on Windows users.

The client has gone too long between technology upgrades, and needed assistance in migrating some older applications onto newer hardware running 10.4 (Tiger). We'll see if they want to move to Leopard when it comes out.

Welcome to My New Blog

Welcome everyone! I have recently switched my website to this blog, to allow me to (hopefully) become more interactive with my clients. I hope that this format will allow me to keep clients aware of new technology and new areas we can be of assistance.