Allied Networks

Getting Things Done

Sat, 26 May 2007 00:34:04 +0000

Network Intro: Peer to Peer vs. Domain

Fri, 25 May 2007 21:21:47 +0000

We routinely encounter businesses that have setup their networks in a “peer to peer” or “workgroup” configuration as opposed to establishing a domain. A peer to peer network is a configuration that was made popular in 1992 with the release of Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Peer to peer networks were easy to setup and required only a basic knowledge of computer networking. In Windows XP, this technology is often referred to as “File & Printer Sharing.”

Many businesses forego the cost of establishing a domain due to their belief that a peer to peer network is quicker and therefore cheaper to setup. However as we will demonstrate in this article, establishing a domain provides your business with a complete business solution that will serve your needs now and into the future. It provides you with a central location from which to manage your network - simplifying your network and therefore dramatically reducing technical support.

The Peer To Peer Network

* A peer to peer network does not require a server. However it is not uncommon for us to encounter a peer to peer network that has a server which has simply been configured as a peer rather than a domain controller.

* In a “peer to peer” or “workgroup” configuration, each workstation on the network must be separately configured.

* The management of your network is spread out amongst all workstations on the network. When a technical issue arises, it is not uncommon that it be addressed on each workstation.

* For each staff member to have access to each workstation, a user account must be created on each workstation.

* Shared drives must be mapped manually from each workstation.

* Shared printers must be manually connected and printer drivers installed on each workstation.

* The user account name on the workstation must match the server if one exists on the network. So the user account must be created not only on the workstation but on the server as well.

* In a peer to peer network, company data and electronic mail is stored on various workstations throughout the network rather than being stored in one central location. The daily backup job if one exists is therefore not able to backup all company data because it is not in one central location.

The Domain Environment

* The domain environment requires a server running the Windows Server operating system. The server is then configured as a domain controller.

* The user accounts for the network are created in one place - on the server. The workstations on the network are then simply joined to the domain which allows staff members to utilize their user accounts.

* The management of the network is conducted from one place - on the server. When a technical issue arises, it is typically addressed from one place on the server which often resolves the problem for the workstations on the network as well.

* When a user logs in to the network, the server grants access to files and directories as defined by the business owner and/or network administrator. In addition, they are passed through a login script which maps common network drive letters throughout the network.

* For a user to have access to a printer, they are simply connected to a print queue on the server. The print driver is only installed once on the server and the workstations are then connected to the print queue.

* All data in the domain is then typically stored in one place - on the server. The daily backup then insures that all data such as company files and electronic mail are backed up from this location on a daily basis.

If you haven’t already done so, we would be happy to configure your network as a domain environment! Give us a call.

New York vs. Dell

Wed, 16 May 2007 20:25:30 +0000

Many business owners have long known that they cannot trust the manufacturers of their computers to provide fast or proactive customer service, and now the state of New York has come to the same conclusion:

“New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is suing Dell, alleging bait and switch financing tactics, false advertising, and ‘numerous other deceptive business practices relating to their technical support services, promotional financing, rebate offers, and billing and collection activity.’ According to Cuomo himself, ‘At Dell, customer service means no service at all.’”

Windows XP Phased Out by Year’s End!

Thu, 10 May 2007 19:16:31 +0000

The last Windows XP OEM version will roll off the lines by the end of this year. Despite huge demand, Microsoft won’t sell the operating system in 2008. Get ready to move to Vista, whether you like it or not…

Vista too slow for you? Tips to speed it up:

Thu, 10 May 2007 19:12:50 +0000

Alex Saunders explains,

“For some time, Microsoft has been promoting a new technology in Windows Vista called ReadyBoost. ReadyBoost caches the pagefile, extending the virtual memory cache onto USB memory, if available, rather than using the hard disk. Since flash memory is 10x faster than disk, theoretically it should be a significant performance improvement. Sounds cool! Moreover, using ReadyBoost is trivial. It’s just an option that appears anytime you plug in a USB connected device. So how well does it work in practice? The performance boost was immediate and obvious. Applications load faster, the hard disk pages less often, and the machine generally feels much more responsive. That 1G key now has a permanent home in one of the rear USB ports on my PC. It’s the best $29 I’ve spent on performance in a long time!”

Hard Drive Data from Google

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:01:58 +0000

To date, most hard drive data has been provided by manufacturers. Their tests to determine lifespan of their equipment has been accelerated, and does not necessarily reflect real world usage. Most people in the IT industry have assumed that:

* High activity levels = increased failure rates
* High temperature levels = increased failure rates
* SMART parameters provide an accurate predictor of failure

According to a study by Google, perhaps one of the world’s largest user of hard drives. These assumptions are wrong. Turns out high temp and activity are not a good predictor of hard drive failures. In reality letting your hard drives cool off is worse than letting them run a little hot. Additionally, while not a good predictor of failure in general, the following SMART parameters are a sure sign your drive is about to fail:

* scan errors
* reallocation counts
* offline reallocation counts
* probational counts

Of course, the study did explain that if you are waiting for SMART signals you may be disappointed as only a small percentage of failures were predicted by SMART. Get the full study from Google here.

Referrals and Fixed Price Rule IT

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:34:05 +0000

The researchers have finally figured out what Allied Networks has known since 2001.

50% of small businesses find their IT service provider via referral.
50% suggest good references are more important than price.
66% of small businesses prefer a fixed-rate contract, instead of an hourly rate.

Check out the report here, or get a snapshot below:

In their early stages, small business owners oftentimes act as their own IT departments. But as they grow—and to foster growth—it doesn’t take long before they need to hand off IT-related tasks to a dedicated resource.

Through a recent LogMeIn survey, it’s clear that many small businesses turn to IT service providers, which provides the flexibility to take on only as much IT service as they need.

Types of Providers and Services
Small businesses are handling their IT business services in a variety of ways, with 21% currently in a formal contract with an IT service provider.

Top IT Concerns for SMBs
Surprisingly, the top concern among small businesses today is how to use technology to effectively work smarter and maintain a competitive edge. This indicates that IT service providers must go beyond just implementation of secure systems and break/fix scenarios, but should offer value added consulting to help small businesses maximize productivity gains achieved with the right combination of IT tools.

Finding IT Providers

Over 50% of small businesses find their IT service provider via referral, which means the single best thing you can do to gain new customers is to ensure total satisfaction of your existing relationships. Satisfied customers will not only renew their contracts with you, but will recommend your services to other small business owners, which is key to business growth: a personal recommendation is the most important criteria cited by small businesses when selecting an IT service provider, exceeding even the price of the services.

Billing Preferences
Most small businesses indicate that the type of billing they prefer depends upon the service provided. But when given the choice between fixed price and hourly rate, twice as many prefer a fixed price. This indicates that to secure more business, you should offer customers fixed-rate contracts. As a result, you will need to focus on efficient delivery of IT services to gain maximum value from your service contracts.

http://apcmag.com/5835/vendors_in_no_rush_to_ditch_xp_for_vista

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:55:03 +0000

Microsoft forces us to switch from XP to bug-infested Vista?!

http://blogs.msdn.com/tzink/archive/2007/02/22/gmail-disappointing-me-a-lot-like-walmart.aspx

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:31:59 +0000

GMail having a hard time with spam