Jay's Blog

The heat is on!

Hello,

Man it is hot out.  It got real humid real fast today...

I had to update a client's Symantec Antivirus Server install this morning.  I am not big on Symantec & SAV.  I have seen mal-ware get right by both the consumer & client versions of the product.  Plus, the consure product is damn instrusive, and slows the hell out of any machine it runs over.

Needless to say, I was expecting disaster this morning, but it was not too bad. 

What I did:

• Remove the old version of Symantec System Center, reboot the server.
• Install the new SAV server over the old one, reboot the server.
• Reinstall the newest version of Symantec System Center, reboot the server (just like Windows NT).
• Import the new license file.
• Update the client installs from the server.  The XP clients have to have the firewall off, and simple file sharing disabled.

The server is a Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 with SP1, MS Exchange.  The upgraded version of SAV was 10.0.0 to 10.1.6000.

Fun on the network !!!

Hello,

It's crunch time on campus...  Now we are starting to get down to the wire with getting the classroom computers ready for the new semester. 

We are using Symantec Ghost to multicast images of the computers to each of the classrooms.  Many factors depend on the outcome of each "ghosting" operation.  One big factor is the link speed of the connections from the ghost server to the target computer, they must all be the same.  We have been coming across many that are not and that has been really problematic.  All routers must be configured to pass on multicasts packets as well, and not all will.  Political interferance rank high amongst the list of issues that get in the way of fixing the problems.

Vista Wireless...

Ugh!  I guess I am used to the way Windows XP handled wireless connections, but the way Vista does is a royal pain in the ass!  We use 802.1x on campus t osecure our wireless connections.  Vista does not support much of anything out of the box, especially 802.1x connections.  After installing the client sofware, everything is pretty straight-forward, but Vista buries all of the configuration dialog way down deep in the OS.  I am starting not to like Vista all that much.

MacBreak Weekly...

Leo Laporte's TWiT podcast that comes out every Wednesday is gearded toward the Mac user and all things Mac.  First, let me iterate that I love the podcast and the many other shows that is put out for free, by Leo and TWiT.  If you are looking for informative content regarding the Mac, you might be a little disappointed.  Leo and his cohorts do discuss Mac topics, but nothing all that informative.  Alex Lindsay is a co-host on the show and specializes in audio/video production on the Mac.  His contributions follow one of two items, Pro Tools, or Final Cut Pro.  So, unless you are an A/V geek there is really nothing there.  Merlin Mann, is a blogger and productivity expert of some sort. Merlin's web-site, (http://www.43folders.com), is an assortment of web 2.0 cultural junk food for the ADHD mind.  He is entertaining, funny, and very articulate, but his tech knowledge is resolved to any quick Google search.  Scott Bourne, my least favorite, is an audio production stalwart with his own company and a bunch of money.  That money is the balance to a lack of knowledge that Mr Bourne uses to justify any issue Mac-related. He rags on the PC platform, but claims to never really use one or have ever used one ???  MacBreak Weekly, good fun, but not too serious for those wanting to actually learn about the Mac.

/N

Google, Yahoo, & AOL

Hello,

One part of consulting for small businesses is dealing with very limited technology budgets.  Purchasing decisions are often made by those who do not focus their work on IT.  These companies often do not have a full-time IT staff.  The need for such is not always apparent and worthe the expense.  Sometimes, an "informal IT" role is fulfilled by an employee that is the company tech guy.  Otherwise, there are those like me who have a small support role in a nich market.

The computer purchasing usually follows what the purchasers know, hear about and followed by a little research.  This usually brings Windows in on the cheapest Dell, HP, or beige box.  If the owner/purchaser is a tech fan then they will usually get a nice machine for themselves.  I don't mean to poo-poo the cheap PC, after all I have a bunch of them.  Most users need a word processor, spreadsheets, some form of data access, the Internet & e-mail.  A Core 2 Duo is more than most folks need these days.  Whatever be the case, I advise two things for Windows networks; Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, & Outlook). Vista needs a little more consideration and circumstances that many cannot justify at this time.  RAM is the most important hardware consideration.  Windows needs RAM, the more the better.  I tell clients to go with 1 gigabyte or better, even for Windows XP.

What gets me is the various amounts of trialware that manufacturers install on consumer PCs.  Basically, the customer is paying for placed ads on their own computer!  I usually end-up spending a least an hour removing all of the yahoo add-ons, google desktop, google toolbar and AOL.  These programs are sanctioned spyware, and do the computer well not to have them installed at all. 

Folks, you do not need to have these things installed.  These programs collect personal information and slow down your computer...

/N

Ghosts & Viruses

Hello,

What a day!  Actually, it wasn't that bad...

I had an older PC acting up all day, going back and forth between clean and an AdWare that came with a 3rd party program.  The program starts calling home when Windows loads and IE does it's thing.  One side-effect is to occupy a significant amount of RAM in the process.  This computer is in use by a retired fellow and is technically off of the books.  It needs to be rebuilt with a fresh install of Windows and the necessary apps.  Funny part about the whole thing is that the computer is patched to the latest extent, current with Symantec antivirus, and still this happened...  Go Windows!

For Tom on CNet's Buzz Out Loud;

MICROSOFT WILL NEVER RELEASE IT'S OWN VERSION OF LINUX. 

Tom & co-host theorized this idea while discussing open source's slow creep onto the desktop.  Read the GPL fellows, then read the EULA from any Windows installer.  Steve Ballmer himself called Linux a cancer on the software market.  No matter how bad Microsoft's products become, and how much of the software market they lose, they will never go down the Linux road.  Just to keep Stallman from starting his rants...

Symantec Ghost, what an elaborate pain inthe ass!  I understand the ideas and principles behind the system, but the cost of implementation in the measure of time and hours spent has proven to be drastic.  It is prone to failure and all kinds of technological caveats.  The idea is to image all of the classrooms using ghost over our network.  The idea is simple and great in the idea-space, but in practice has a number of flaws.  The biggest flaw, or perhaps a rub, came today. My boss started imaging ten PCs in another building.  Suddenly, the whole cast, or "PUSH" as ghost calls it, quit.  One of the machines was interrupted by someone trying to use it.  Now, why some one would try to use a machine currently exhibiting a DOS screen, or the ghost console, I don't know.  One does not need to tech genius to not recognize Windows and read the words "Ghost" on the screen to realize something is not normal with the computer.  Logic should then follow to tell the person not to play with something they have no knowledge about.  However, what the probably happened was that the person did not care... 

I thank the fellow(s) who screwed up our work this afternoon.

/N

VB.nut

Hello,

 

First, this is not what you want in front of you at 0845 while you are trying to get in to work.

This stupid could not get out of it's own way.  Big-ass cement truck, 0-15 in 8 minutes.  I wonder if that is a union thing???

I am not a monkey, Molly, referring to Molly Wood of the CNet.com podcast, "Buzz Out Loud".

/N

Contribute CS3

Hello,

I broke down and picked up a copy of Adobe's Contribute CS3 software today.  The price wasn't bad considering the educational discount.  The previous version of this software has proven essential to helping non-technical folks create and maintain web content.  Dreamweaver is not for everyone...

OMG... The weirdest thing just happened!  My MacBook Pro just went blank, waited a few seconds then came back on again.  Before it died, the battery indicated 43%, now it indicates 0%.  That was one hell of a jump! I would never ever ever let a battery go down that far.  To do so would damage the unit, and prevent future charges from completing. After that the fans went up to about 4500 rpm, and that's when I decided to cool it off by shutting the MBP down...

I have been reading Al Gore's book "Assault on Reason".  Okay, I do not exactly have the time to "read" it, but I listened to it from a download on Audible.com.  I am in no way political, nor am I a Democrat or a Republican.  Former V.P. Gore makes a very compelling arguement for numerous constitutional violations allegidley committed by the Bush administration.  Numerous examples are cited without any real trail to hard proof or evidence.  Perhaps I just do not want to believe
that the authors contentions may be true.  Wherever you may stand it is a good read, or listen...

/N

Awful Awful...

Hello,

It has been awhile since my last post.  Things are really gearing for Mac's arrival.  We are on the downwind and have the target in sight.  ETA 9/15/2007.

We had to bring our cats to a shelter today.  Health reasons and behavioral concerns forced us into that decision.  The cats have been a part of our family for five years.  I will miss them and hope they can be adopted to a good family.  I have been trying for months to give them away, but there were no takers.

Good luck guys...  I am sxorry and I feel awful about it...

Tech News:

Windows Home Server Beta 2 Evaluation Wrap-up.

WHS is a great system.  Easy to use, and set up.  Perfect for the burgeoning home network market.  I do think the minimum hardware requirements should be adjusted.  My test PC had 768MB of RAM, a 2.4GHz Celeron CPU, 250GB HDD, and it was a bit slow for my liking.  The connection software was a bit slow on connection and would often crash.  I think a faster server would have helped the matter.  Windows 2000 support would have been nice, but I understand why it is not included.  Windows XP and Vista support is right where it should be.

Windows Home Server: Two thumbs up !!

Now it's on to test Beta 3 of Windows Server 2008...

L8r!