How Some Companies Do Support.

Dell SAS 6iR Plug-in card, PCI Express x8, 2 CH, PC, Unix

2009-10-23T20:22:00.004-04:00

Dell SAS6/iR Integrated SAS Controller Card Storage controller (RAID)- Serial ATA-300 / SAS- 300 MBps - Plug-in card, PCI Express x8, 2 CH, PC, Unix .

This RAID controller card from Dell only supports RAID 0 and RAID 1. It support 2 hot swap drives and has a combined 12Gbps throughput from 4 channels at 3Gbps. It's not a bad controller card for entry level servefrs and workstations but one of it's limitations is that it does not support RAID 5 or RAID 10 (RAID 0 + 1). I discovered this unfortunately when trying to configured RAID 10 (RAID 0 +1) in a PowerEdge r610 server.

Dell Storage Controllers

Desktop and server remote access support software

Configure RDP Port Forwarding on a Cisco ASA 5505

2008-10-13T18:46:00.013-04:00

Cisco ASA5505

For those of you searching the Internet to try and find a good or simple example of how port forwarding is done on a Cisco ASA 5500 series firewall (in this example, it is a Cisco ASA 5505 version 7.2) This post contains a working example of a port forwarding configuration on a Cisco ASA 5505 that's allowing RDP, TCP port 3389, through the firewall to from the Internet to the LAN side to a server. For new users to the ASA, how to configure a port forwarding rule on a Cisco ASA 5505 can be a more easily accomplished if the working configuration of a working ASA5505 is viewed. For many of the more seasoned users of the Cisco security appliance, port forwarding is very easy and need not be searching for answers.

Since the RDP protocol and the services running on windows XP and Vista client machines are derivatives of Microsoft's Terminal Server, the proceedure for setting up a port forward configuration for Microsoft terminal server is the same. The Cisco ASA5505 is not concerned what you are connecting to behind it, it's just concerned that its own configuration allows the right data and connection to go through.

Below is a GUI shot of a working RDP (Terminal Server) port forward configuration running on a Cisco ASA 5500 series firewall. The TCP port number 3398 is forwarded from the outside interface that's part of VLAN2 to the inside interface that's part of the VLAN1.

!
interface Vlan1 nameif
inside security-level 100
ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0
!
interface Vlan2 nameif
outside security-level 0
ip address dhcp setroute

Using the example below, just swap out the ip addresses shown in the static NAT translation for port forwarding RDP (terminal Server) with your own and you have a connection from the Internet to the LAN.

If you prefer command line, it's three lines of code at the command line that will do a simple port forwarding for RDP on the Cisco ASA.

Here they are:

access-list outside_access_in extended permit tcp any interface outside eq 3389
static (inside,outside) tcp interface 3389 192.168.1.10 3389 netmask 255.255.255.255
access-group outside_access_in in interface outside

Obviously, if you are looking to use the lines of code shown in the example above, change the 192.168.1.10 ip address shown above to be the address of the computer or server your forwarding RDP (terminal server) port to connect to. You can essentially use this example for terminal server RDP or for any other forwarding requirement you may have like ftp, http,smtp, etc.

Link to this post:

http://remotesupportsoftware.blogspot.com/2008/10/configure-rdp-port-forwarding-on-cisco.html

Link to this blog:

http://remotesupportsoftware.blogspot.com

Service Pack 3 Doesn't Install IE7

2008-05-15T09:24:00.003-04:00

The fact that SP3 for XP doesn't install IE7 was a very good decision made by Microsoft. There are still too many applications that rely on IE7 and would break if installed with an update.

XPSP3 is just over 300 MB. This is a nice sized download and contains all previous hotfixes after SP2.

List of fixes:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946480/

Catastrophic Failure Message Display During Installation

2008-05-13T16:31:00.007-04:00

Catastrophic failure for feature mini driver when installing, re-installing or removing the Fujitsu Windows scanning software.

If you get this message, while trying to install or remove the software from a desktop then open registry editor and do a search for the string windows scanning. Rename or remove the keys for these entries and especially the ones that have to do with the list of installed applications. The goal is to make Windows XP believe that this software is not already installed. Once this is complete then try installing the software again.

I had experienced this message while working with a fujitsu 5120 scanner. In windows, the scanner comes up as a fi-5120Cdj scanner and is popular with many medical manager applications.

HP Online Diagnostic - Memory

2008-05-13T16:00:00.001-04:00

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Desktop and Server Management

2008-05-06T18:18:00.001-04:00

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Desktop and Server Management

Are you considering offering your customers a NOC type service for their desktops and servers. Want to monitor your customer's networ kand data infrustructure to provide more support and generate more revenue by knowing about problems before your customers do. Managed service can be provided by a software package known as Kaseya.

Supporting Technology with Technology.

2008-02-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

Supporting Technology with Technology

Microsoft LiveMeeting has a new version and some great new features to go with it.

Sign-up for a demo:

LiveMeeting Demo

Read White Paper:

Conferencing and Collaboration White Paper

Computer Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Remote Support Software

2008-02-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

Computer Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Remote Support Software

2008-02-11T14:09:00.008-05:00

Microsoft LiveMeeting

Prior Post:

Computer Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Remote Support Software

LiveMeeting Demo:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/livemeeting/HA102035491033.aspx

LiveMeeting Trial Download (registration form) :
https://trials.messaging.microsoft.com/site/

LiveMeeting is more than a conferencing and collaboration application. Hidden inside is online software application is computer remote support software for computer remote support.

Desktop remote support can be accomplished with Microsoft's LiveMeeting. The attendees are in a session with the presenter can optionally allow access to their applications (1 or more) for viewing or for remote control. This is useful feature and built-in tool of LiveMeeting as for demoing feature of a program of for online training and guidance. Tech support can use this feature too as they can access the desktops of the remote computers to show users how to perform specific task within an application, correct configuration errors or even install/upgrade new software.

The benefits are far reaching and the benefits out-way any of the negatives which there was only one that I saw. Microsoft LiveMeeting needs to install using the windows installer which in itself is not that bad. Where is can be come complicated, especially in regards to presentations. is that if a remote computer has a problem with the windows installer service on their computer desktop then Livemeeting will not start. This problem is present for many online apps. One of the ways to circumvent it or to overcome the possibility of this occurring is to have another method for the software, in this case computer remote support software that is imperative that it downloads and connects, is to download and install. Many applications use activex to add features to the browser or to give online access to more features for the desktop to utilize for the duration for the duration of the time the connection persists.

Remote Support Software

For fast access to clients' remote desktops, computers and servers there no better choice than remote support software. Remote support software helps technical supprot departments, support greoups and conpanies get to the problems faster by useing the web rather than traditional means for access computers for support.

Remote support on the web

Remote support on the web for remote computer access and desktop remote control support.

Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller and a Dell 2950 PowerEdge Server.

2008-01-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller and a Dell 2950 PowerEdge Server.

The Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller is not compatible with the Dell 2950 PowerEdge Server.

In a previous port I review software how software tools that give techs the ability to remotely access and remote control computers both on the LAN and the Internet, benefit both the organization the tech works for and the customer, client or user who is receiving the desktop support.
http://remotesupportsoftware.blogspot.com/2006/12/remote-support-softwarethere-are-many.html

This was an onsite customer support call:

In this post I want to tell the world (tech world) about a little problem with a Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller intended to be used with a tape autoloader In a Dell 2950. I hope everyone bookmarks this page and lets the world know about the compatibility problems of this card with the Dell 2950 Server.

The card simply does not work in the PowerEdge. It will work in a PowerEdge 2900 but not in the 2950 model (who knows why). HP finally confirmed the problem and they will be shipping me a new storage controller that will work with the 2950. The symptoms are the fans just operate at high speeds and do not reduce their speed and their is no video. There's no much you can do at this point. I updated the BIOS and every other thing that had an update for it from Dell's website for this service tag. It just would not work.

Now HP OEMs these cards and places their name on them. The manufacturer was unable to confirm that the Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller card would not work and Dell's support simply said the card is compatible and there's nothing wrong with the server. After speaking with HP support for several hours, it was determined that the Hewlett Packard StorageWorks U320e (AH627A) Storage Controller is not compatible with the Dell 2950 PowerEdge.

Link to this post:

http://remotesupportsoftware.blogspot.com/2008/01/hewlett-packard-storageworks-u320e.html

2007-06-17T09:08:00.000-04:00

Symantec Norton Security group has been in my experience the worst in providing even just basic informational support. I had a question that was fairly easy for a customer and it's been a week and I've not received a response from them. Not even an automated response was sent back as a notification that the email was received - nothing. One week now and they've not replied. That is pathetic.

A previous post http://remotesupportsoftware.blogspot.com/2005/12/november-19th-2005-at-454-am-this-new.html highlighed reports how their software at the time had difficulty removing the W32/Sdbot-ADD worm.

Symantec products, in my opinion, aren't that good either, too pricey, often add to a problem, and in most cases I find them slow. For example, the Norton Antivirus software is a computer CPU and memory hog! While working on a system to resolve another issue, I'll turn off that program just to allow the computer to work faster so I could complete the original problem.

In the case of Norton security, it IS THE PROBLEM. What a piece of junk that program is. It's worse than Microsoft Vista's UAC (User Access Control). I had to work out a bunch of issues for a customer that was unable to send email because Norton security was blocking Outlook, yes Outlook, from sending email . Norton Security is a horrible joke to play on people.

Tags: symantec security,software, symantec,security

2007-04-05T15:36:00.003-04:00

I wanted to add this little piece of knowledge to the online community and hope it's found useful for someone. While working with some Sonicwall firewalls, I needed to create a VPN tunnel between two units. It was a basic and simple VPN that was mostly comprised of default settings.
The VPN tunnel wasn't coming up for me and in the log there was the message:

Received notify: INVALID_ID_INFO

This was an interesting message and it really had nothing to do with the identification of the tunnel or addresses or, SA name or description, or even with the remote firewall's names or descriptions. It was caused by having both of the Sonicwalls in Aggressive mode for Phase 1 of the tunnel establishment. Switching both to Main mode solved the problem. The setting can be found in the VPN policy Proposals Tab.

Once this change was done, the VPN came right up and the two sites were communicating with each other. This is a setting that can catch some one off-guard and the message that inserted into the log can be deceiving. It can make one think the the name of something is incorrect. Sonicwall's support can have you running in circles too.

As a reminder:

Remote Support On The Web

For PC remote support software try a fast growing and affordable remote support solution. Support somputers over the web almost instantly and do it without creeating a crunch in your budget. Deliver remote tech support software to your users from the office and then from home or another office. If your Internet access provider changes, that's ok, this system is dynamic and can adapt to the changes so your not stuck and unable to continue supporting your users remotely. Some support systems provide you with a static program then if your ISP changes or you want to support your clients, customers or company end-users from another location you have to buy another program. This isn't the way it should be. This system is created in such a manner that you can change ISPs or locations and the programs provided to you for remote support on the web still work. Instantlay they are aware of the changes and the very next time your users connect for remote support from you the software already are using the new settings.

2006-12-22T09:20:00.003-05:00

Remote Support Software

There are many products on the market today that give computer technicians a tool for providing Internet based remote support software. The tools are generally of two flavors. One is the well known brand names of remote support that have a very technologically advanced and robust system for desktop remote support and communication like webex or gotoassist. These are the extremes on one end of the scale. They are well known brands and do a very nice job of giving techs the tool to remotely assist users on the web.

On the other end of the sclae is the least most technologicaly advanced systems that are merely a program sold to you that have network configuration information compiled into them so that when they are downloaded and executed, they are programmed to connect to your "burned in" address. These are cheap and found from a variety of software vendors. There are even site s that let you build you own program that will do exactly as described.

This type of program for remote control access of computers over the web to provide web-based remote support works well. Their inherent problem is that when your location from which you are providing remote support from changes, the program is obsolete. Not only can they not adjust if the location your providing internet based remote support software from changes, but they will also fail if you change Internet providers. So let's say for example, you switch from cable to dsl or a dedicated circuit like a T1 or fractional T1, the PC remote support software program that has you network information burned into it for your to provide remote tech support to your users or customer s to has just been rendered useless because it's programmed to connect to your old network address.

A better aproach is to use a system that maybe is in the middle of these two extremes sicne at these two extremes come a price difference as well.

2006-07-26T12:01:00.000-04:00

Tone Software Corporation Tonesoft

ToneSoft's ReliaTel application sounds like an incredible product for monitoring and managing telecommunication devices. The devices could be from multiple vendors too. This is an app that I would love to see in action. Enabling Technologies Corporation has selected TONE’s ReliaTel Remote Management solution to expand the Enabling Managed Services Monitoring business.

Powerful Telecommunications Management Tool Monitors and Controls Multi-Vendor Devices From one Location

"A single convenient application, ReliaTel gives authorized staff complete control of multi-vendor voice systems. The system enables authorized staff to control local and remote devices, enabling global monitoring from one location with a common interface. With no need to buy multiple management packages or depend on outside monitoring centers, maintenance and staff training costs drop dramatically."

Read the rest of the news article on Tone Software's site

2006-07-26T11:42:00.000-04:00

This is something new to add to the list of experiences.

I'm kind of baby sitting a computer network for a brokerage firm. They have their main offices in Manhattan but a bunch of the brokers have houses out east on Long Island - the Hamptons. This company has purchased a house and referbished the inside to make it look nice, new and comfortable. They equippedthe office with some state of the art computers, each with dual screens, and a high speed connection to the internet and their main office for trading. The computers ahve some financial broker type software on them from which the traders/brokers work from.
I'm spending the day out here waiting for something to fail I guess if they paid their IT staff more money, one of them would have a house out here too and be able to do this instead. I guess they don't and of course it's cheaper for them to hire my company to do it for them for the duration of the summer.
They've go a pretty good setup and it works out great for the employees. They finnish up work and with no commute home, they're in the pool by 4:30 in the afternoon. wow.

The dell desktops they have are quick and this is the fastest internet access I've experienced. The dual screens are pertty cool too but I'm not used to having them so it takes a little adjusting to look at both of them. I catch myself looking for a window I openned often on the same screen just to realize the window is o nthe other. Oh well...

2006-05-26T23:21:00.000-04:00

Source:ITWorld
May 26, 2006

Enterprise software developer Hummingbird Ltd. said on Friday that it agreed to be purchased by holding company Symphony Technology Group in a deal valued at US$465 million.

The company reported a $4.9 million profit in its second quarter, driven by winning new customers and expanding deals with existing customers. Hummingbird competes with other ECM developers including Interwoven Inc., IBM Corp., EMC Corp. and FileNet Corp.
Provided the transaction is approved by shareholders and regulators, the acquisition is expected to close in July.
Symphony Technology Group owns several companies including Information Resources Inc. and Gers Inc.

2006-05-12T19:37:00.000-04:00

Blog

Gates looking trying to get cheap computers to the masses leaving no one out of the technology era.

Sun Microsystems with initiative to have Java preloaded on millions of new pc systems - even second and third tier manufacturers.

2006-04-23T15:27:00.000-04:00

Source:ECM Connection

Digital Insight Expands Strategic Partnership With BankServ To Bring Remote Deposit Image Capture To Business Banking Clients
4/17/2006

Digital Insight Corp. (www.digitalinsight.com), the leading online banking provider, announced today it has entered into an agreement with BankServ (www.bankserv.com), a major supplier of bank branded Check 21 and Accounts Receivable Conversion ("ARC") services for the banking industry, to offer Remote Deposit Image Capture to Digital Insight Business Banking clients. Today's agreement expands upon an existing strategic partnership between the two companies established in 2003. The agreement demonstrates Digital Insight's continued success in establishing and enhancing strategic partnerships with leading technology companies to provide products and services that help its clients achieve business growth through the online channel and compete for share of the business market.

2006-04-20T13:36:00.000-04:00

How Some Companies Do Support.

Microsoft delays release of Vista...

2006-04-09T18:17:00.000-04:00

Instant Virtual Extranet v2

Plug-in Network Appliances Enable Secure Remote Access By Browser.

The Instant Virtual Extranet (IVE) appliances, the flagship product line from Neoteris, Inc., are plug-in devices for network administrators that enable secure remote access to corporate network resources for employees or business partners. The appliances themselves are installed onsite, on the organization's LAN, and serve as somewhat of an access proxy; enabling remote users to access corporate servers and applications using only their Web browser as an interface. The remote users connect to the devices using their public Internet connection and existing Web browsers (no additional client software is required); and the device then communicates with the host servers or applications via its built-in support for multiple communication protocols.

more...

2006-04-08T14:28:00.002-04:00

Windows Vista Release Delayed

It's so common that Microsoft delays their releases. I could remember going as far back as the first windows 95 realease date. It was postponed several times. At this point, whatever I hear or read as the release date, I tack on 6 months to a year. it may just be a well used and repeated marketing mechanism. For each delay there's an announcment and the buzz kicks about around all circles not just tech support rings. these delays resonate up the ranks to individuals who are making business and budget decisions (that's not to say tech-heads don't do those sort of things). Businesses make decisions on the deployment of computers depending on release dates of windows OSes. I am certainly sure of this as one of my company's custoemrs is waiting for the release of Vista before making a substantial purchase of new desktops.

Online pc remote support software

Remote Support Software

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the next Microsoft Server OS is called longhorn. One of the key changes in the networking subsystem is the totall integration or "built-in-ness" of IPV6 for both vista nad longhorn (server and desktop). Vista is, as I last heard and looked it up, due to be released in January of '07. As far as the next server release, those release delays are even more previlanet with the Server OSes so untill the due day is just a month or two a way, actually a week or two, it's hard to belive it will be released when expected.

2006-04-08T14:28:00.000-04:00

Microsoft delays Vista Release
It's so common that misrcrosoft delays their releases. I could remember going as far back as the first windows 95 realease date. It was postponed several times. At this point, whatever I hear or read as the release date, I tack on 6 months to a year. it may just be a well used and repeated marketing mechanism. For each delay there's an announcment and the buzz kicks about around all circles not just tech support rings. these delays resonate up the ranks to individuals who are making business and budget decisions (that's not to say tech-heads don't do those sort of things). Businesses make decisions on the deployment of computers depending on release dates of windows OSes. I am certainly sure of this as one of my company's custoemrs is waiting for the release of Vista before making a substantial purchase of new desktops.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the next Microsoft Server OS is called longhorn. One of the key changes in the networking subsystem is the totall integration or "built-in-ness" of IPV6 for both vista nad longhorn (server and desktop). Vista is, as I last heard and looked it up, due to be released in January of '07. As far as the next server release, those release delays are even more previlanet with the Server OSes so untill the due day is just a month or two a way, actually a week or two, it's hard to belive it will be released when expected.Thank you, Remote Support

2006-03-20T23:51:00.000-05:00

Remote Support Software - How it Works. Desktop remote control software for remote PC support over the Internet.

We've made it simple, easy and fast to provide on-demand remote desktop control of computer systems online over the web for remote support. With on demand PC remote control you could remotely support end-users, weather they're customers, fellow employees or friends and family quickly saving time & money.

Get remote control of virtually any PC quickly over the LAN, WAN, and the Internet without having to worry about getting through firewalls or routers. Your end user connects to you through the web. Best of all, there's no elaborate installation programs, hardware to buy, or web site URLs to maintain.

Learn more...

2006-03-20T22:48:00.000-05:00

I have always like Lotus Notes. Although I have not used it personally in several years, I have associates that use it daily in their workplace. It's really one of the most reliable large software packages around. It known for its stability and reliability. It's unfortunate that there isn't a good markeing strategy behind it however. Lotus now has a colaboration component to it. True to Lotus notes history, it's feature rich and reliable as the Notes and the Domino server itself.

SGA Systems is an developer Integrator specializing in Lotus Notes Domino Collaboration software. They could be found at - www.sga.com

Below is a snippet from one of their pdfs. A link to the pdf and the rest of the article could be found on the following page on SGA's web site - Read more...

" Imagine using one database to create, manage, and share all project information, tasks and activities. Imagine securely using that information on your laptop to work anytime and anyplace, regardless of whether you are connected to a server. Imagine if your team and management could collaborate with you inside the same database. SGA’s Project Collabartion provides all of these features and functions and much more. With our single-entry technology, you can handle multiple tasks at once. For example, when you schedule a meeting a calendar entry is automatically created on the integrated shared calendar and written to your personal calendar. If you have a PDA the information will be written to calendar next time you sync (or automatically with devices such as a Blackberry). You and your team build up the project activity history together. All project information is at your fingertips, including all activities in reverse-chronological order. Store all relevant files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) within the database for complete document management. Since the database is Lotus Notes based, you’ll have automatic replication to other servers and the ability to replicate... "

2006-02-18T23:07:00.000-05:00

How Some Companies Do Support.