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A right mess cleaned up

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Take a look at this: http://blog.nyphonejacks.com/2013/04/network-clean-up-overhead-paging-and.html

A nice example of what we often find. Mind you I’ve seen a lot worse. Not only is this installation difficult to trace out but it’s prone to damage. A little known fact is that so many network problems can be traced to dodgy patch leads. Patch leads that only make an intermittent connection, those with the retaining tags missing (a favourite one that..) and patch leads that simply do not work. Some leads, for no apparent reason, just die from old age. The motto? When in doubt, chuck ’em out.

6 things you should know

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A good article here: http://www.triptomyblog.com/business-it-support-services-6-things-you-should-know/

6 simple points but some which are rarely thought about.

24/7? Do you need this? If you do then you really do need it and many companies find this difficult to obtain at reasonable cost. IJNet will analyse your needs and can provide a very competitive quote.

Cost prediction. We have been specialising in SMBs for many years and pride ourselves on cost effective support. Do you really need the latest all singing and dancing system? Cheap desktop machines can be very reliable and, as long as recovery options are in place, can take the place of big iron servers (which would need recovery options in place anyway).

ATB, Ian.

Managing the security threat

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Despite the rather horrible jargon and double-speak channelnomics make the very valid point that security threats are far better dealt with by a managed system. http://channelnomics.com/2013/03/04/security-services-provide-smbs-scale/

So, what do we mean by “managed”. Most security vendors; AVG, Symantec etc; offer a centrally managed anti-virus solution. Instead of each individual machine being set up and downloading updates and telling the local user if anything is wrong there is a central agent doing all of this. One please too look at the whole of the network. Central management. Easier, quicker, cheaper. The way to go.

 

IJNet have a number of solutions, suitable for most companies. Get in touch with us..

VMWare Northumberland – Expect more small and medium-sized businesses virtualization

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In an article “Expect more SMB virtualization and hypervisor choices in 2013”

http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/feature/Expect-more-SMB-virtualization-and-hypervisor-choices-in-2013

Mak King makes the comment “I recently spoke with the office manager of a very small business co-located with my company. When I told him I was involved with server virtualisation to save the company money, he had no idea what I meant, but he said that it sounded complicated. SMBs like his would likely benefit from virtualisation if it were presented in a simple way that would not distract attention from the company’s core business. If Vmware is going to make a push into the micro-business market, SMB managers need to see clearly how virtualization saves costs and energy, and improves redundancy.” I find exactly the same thing. When SMBs realise the benefits of virtualization, which few do, it becomes the only way forward.

Here’s where else they could use help from technology solution providers:

Understanding the impacts of virtualization (56 percent)
Developing new back-up plans (50 percent)
Obtaining business buy-in (25 percent)
Developing new skills (25 percent)
Application migration planning (25 percent)

Here’s the complete info-graphic:

VMWare Northumberland UK

Computer Support – rubbish programs that claim to “speed up your PC” or “Clean out your registry

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I always feel a little uneasy reading articles like this: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10403216.htm

Touting “PC tune-up” services always makes me think of these rubbish programs that claim to “speed up your PC” or “Clean out your registry”. At best they often do nothing. At worst they can make things a lot slower by installing more unwanted dross. The anti-virus companies are also running scared. Modern operating systems are becoming more secure. They are also free anti-virus and anti-malware programs being supplied by Microsoft. The fact is the greatest threat to computer efficiency come from the uneducated user, installing unwanted utilities and allowing dodgy software to be installed thus bypassing anti-virus defenses.

User education and an holistic approach to computer support is really what is needed more than “quick fix” utilities.

IJNetworks Limited t/a IJNet

2 Eastview
St Cuthberts Lane
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 2ES
United Kingdom

01434 603999 / 07970 742233
http://ijnet.co.uk

 

 

 

VMWare Northumberland‏ – What’s up with VMware?

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In the article here:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/020413-vmware-266396.html

Northumberland VMware

it was pointed out that in the Enterprise server world VMWare was encountering stiffer competition from other vendors. Notably Hyper-V from Microsoft.

For all of us enamoured with VMWare this is a good thing. Competition is a good thing for users. It sharpens the product. Microsoft Hyper-V is excellent software but our preferred option remains ESXi mainly for its agnostic approach.

To learn more about VMWare‏ Computer Support at Northumberland area click here

Ian Firmin and IJNetworks Limited supplies Hexham Northumberland customers state of the art Computer support products and services.

IJNetworks Limited t/a IJNet

2 Eastview
St Cuthberts Lane
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 2ES
United Kingdom

01434 603999
http://ijnet.co.uk

Computer support – Computer network support

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learn more about Computer SupportThis is an excellent article. Steven Vigeant rightly says “In most cases, no in-house IT department is enough to cover all four of the pillars of IT support: on-site, remote, end-user and emergency.”. He then rightly goes on to remind SMBs that “ad hoc” support may be better than any in-house team or even a fixed maintenance support contract. The important thing is to assess your needs, assign priorities and identify any gaps you may have in your existing plan. A good outsourced support company can fill these gaps in the most efficient way.

To learn more about Computer Support at Northumberland area click here

Ian Firmin and IJNetworks Limited supplies Hexham Northumberland customers state of the art Computer support products and services.