Have you ever wanted to test out some web pages that you have been working on without having to set up a full featured web server? SimpleServer:WWW, a simple web server by AnalogX, lets you do just that. It installs really easy in every Microsoft OS that I have tried, and to get it working [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Servers'
New Features in Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard
May 10th, 2011 · No Comments · Managed Hosting, Microsoft, Servers, Storage
Microsoft has made business operations much simpler and more accessible through the new Windows Small Business Server 2011. Packed with enhanced features and improvements, it is a must for every small business.
Microsoft has released an upgrade to its Small Business Server Platform – Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard. Based on the Windows SBS 2008, [...]
Tags: Backup·Exchange·Microsoft·Servers·SharePoint·SQL·Windows
Overcoming Problems with XenApp Virtualization
March 30th, 2011 · No Comments · Servers, Virtualization
I recently virtualized a XenApp server into a XenServer environment. Everything went pretty smoothly, with a few exceptions. I was seeing several different unrelated errors in the event log, and the new VM was unable to contact the original license server. Through a series of tests and research, I found that performing the below steps [...]
Tags: Servers·troubleshooting·Virtualization·XenApp·XenServer
How Adding Cloud Services Can Save Your Business
March 9th, 2011 · No Comments · Backup, Cloud Computing, Managed Hosting, Servers
If you’ve seen the current commercials Microsoft is running, you may already have the feeling that cloud-based services are great for personal use, whether it’s for accessing your home media center from a distance or storing the family photos online. But as cloud computing becomes more widespread, it’s establishing itself as a viable and smart [...]
How to Configure a MPLS Network
February 11th, 2011 · No Comments · Cloud, Cloud Computing, Managed Services, Routers, Servers
Part 1 – Planning and Configuration
Recently I was able to configure all of the edge routers for an entire MPLS network for one of our customers. They have offices in Hong Kong, China, and the United States. The MPLS provider that they are using is providing the MPLS cloud, and we are providing the edge [...]
Tags: Cloud Computing·Dallas Data Center·Managed Services·MPLS·Server
Importing Linux Clients Into a Virtual Environment
February 10th, 2011 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Linux, Managed Services, Servers, VMware, Virtualization
One of our customers has a small Linux farm of servers that provide a variety of functions including MySQL and some internal web services. Recently we began pulling these servers into a unified VMWare environment for ease of use and fault tolerance. The Windows based servers have been relatively simple to import, but the CLI [...]
How to Upgrade Exchange 2003 to 2007—Part 1
February 9th, 2011 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Dedicated Servers, Managed Services, Microsoft, Servers, VMware, Virtualization
One of our customers has recently moved their infrastructure into a VMware environment. Along with this move, we have decided to update their Exchange environment from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007. Exchange 2007 requires a 64-bit processor, so an in-place upgrade is not possible. A new, 64-bit server must be turned up, and then mailboxes [...]
Tags: Dallas Data Center·Dedicated Servers·Exchange 2007·Microsoft·Server·Virtualization·VMware
InfoWorld Announces 2011 Technology of the Year Awards
February 4th, 2011 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Routers, Security, Servers, Storage
Who says awards lists are only for the end of the year? InfoWorld has released their picks for the best software, development tools and hardware for the upcoming year in their InfoWorld 2011 Technology of the Year Awards. From best storage system (Dell EqualLogic PS6010XVS) to best PC (Apple iPad – and they make a [...]
Tags: Apple·awards·Dell·development·Google·hardware·infoworld·Software·Technology
This server is a virtualization power house!
January 3rd, 2011 · No Comments · Cloud Computing, Consolidation, Dallas Data Center, Managed Hosting, Servers, Switches, Virtualization
What does all that add up to? Support for massive virtualization. With minimal fanfare, Dell over the summer unveiled the PowerEdge R815, a 48-core 2U server touting four Opteron processors (with 12 cores each) and another four Gigabit Ethernet adapters to service them.
Tags: Cloud Computing·Dallas Data Center·Dell·Managed Hosting·Server·Virtualization
The Top 5 Boot-CD Tools
December 28th, 2010 · No Comments · Business Continuity, Dallas Data Center, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Microsoft, Security, Servers
Over the last year, one tool that I have consistently pulled from my belt is the Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD). Details on how to create one can be found here. Whether it is virus/malware removal or drive recovery, no other tool I have gets the job done like my UBCD. Here are my top 5 UBCD tools.
Tags: Business Continuity·catastrophic·Dallas Data Center·Disaster Recovery·Managed Hosting·Managed IT Services·Server
The More Complicated the Password, the Better
December 10th, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Dallas Data Center, Firewalls, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Security, Servers
Your passwords hold the keys to most – if not all – of your online presence, so keeping them secure is paramount.
In the same way that keys are used to open different doors, passwords are used to access many areas of cyberspace. However, those passwords are vulnerable to hacking, stealing, or random guessing – which [...]
Tags: Cyberspace·Hackers·IT Security·Malware·Passwords·Phishing·Security·Vulnerabilities
Documenting and Assessing Your IT Needs
December 1st, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Cloud Computing, Consolidation, Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Security, Servers
Documentation and assessment of your IT needs might expose the fact that your IT environment is not as efficient as you thought it would be. This may explain why you are experiencing problems such as a weak internet signal or a web browser that won’t load.
Today’s businesses rely heavily on computers. That’s why most entrepreneurs [...]
Tags: Backup·Internet·IT Environment·Managed IT Services·Recovery·Web Browser
Storage At Its Finest
November 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Dedicated Servers, Managed Services, Servers, Storage, Virtualization
For those who haven’t heard or aren’t familiar with the EqualLogic line of SANs from Dell, they recently announced some quite impressive changes for the PS6500 series of products. These new options include a PS6500E with 96 Terabytes of disk space in a 5U package, a PS6510E with the same capacity, the PS6500X and PS6510X [...]
Tags: Dell·EqualLogic·Fiber Channel·Managed Services·SAN·Servers·Storage·Virtualization
Get Efficient Results Using Managed IT Services
October 25th, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Cloud, Colocation, Dallas Data Center, Dedicated Servers, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Security, Servers, Storage, Uncategorized, Virtualization
Utilizing IT Managed Services allows entrepreneurs to concentrate on their company’s core competencies, resulting in an increase in productivity which translates to increased revenue.
The term Managed Services is defined as “the practice of transferring day-to-day related management responsibility as a strategic method for improved effective and efficient operations”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_services) While large corporations regularly choose this [...]
Tags: IT·IT Managed Services·Managed Hosting·Managed Services
Trials and Tribulations of SharePoint 2010 Deployment
October 22nd, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Microsoft, Servers, Uncategorized
We recently deployed SharePoint 2010 for our internal use and for collaboration with one of our partner companies. For those of you that aren’t familiar with SharePoint, it’s a great utility to use for internal collaboration, document sharing, meeting planning, email notifications, etc. It can also be used for collaboration with sister or partner companies. [...]
Do you have a backup?
October 20th, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Disaster Recovery, Managed Services, Security, Servers, Uncategorized
How many articles, blogs and entire websites have been dedicated to backing up our data? The idea has been around for a long time, but we still dedicate a lot of resources to backups. Recently I had two experiences that really drove home not only the need for backups, but the right questions to ask [...]
Tags: Backups·Continuity·data center·Disaster Plan·Disaster Recovery·Failover
New Viruses Infiltrate Systems Through USB Drives
October 13th, 2010 · No Comments · Dallas Data Center, Managed Services, Microsoft, Security, Servers, Uncategorized
Two new viruses have been discovered to infiltrate systems through removable drives.
USB flash drives have become indispensable to almost everyone who uses a computer. It’s a quick and easy way to immediately transfer and share information and other data, especially files that are too large to send through email. Unfortunately, some malware take advantage of [...]
Site-to-Site VPN Between Cisco and Juniper
October 11th, 2010 · No Comments · Backup, Business Continuity, Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Dedicated Servers, Firewalls, Managed Services, Servers, Uncategorized
I was recently faced with configuring a Juniper SSG320M Firewall for one of our client’s remote offices in China. I was also faced with creating a site-to-site IPSec VPN between the Juniper (in China) and the Cisco ASA 5505 that was here in their Dallas office. If you’re unsure of what a site-to-site VPN or [...]
Tags: Cisco·Firewalls·Juniper·Site-to-Site VPN·WAN
Managing your rack…
October 8th, 2010 · No Comments · Colocation, Dallas Data Center, Data Centers, Managed Hosting, Managed Services, Servers, Uncategorized
For those of you who work daily in server rooms and data centers, you’ve probably seen how messy your rack can become. Cables start growing additional branches and servers and network gear seem to get lost in the jungle. This is especially problematic if you haven’t memorized the exact rack location of every server you [...]
Before Moving Your Business To The Cloud…
September 13th, 2010 · No Comments · Cloud, Cloud Computing, Dallas Data Center, Managed Services, Security, Servers, Virtualization
Before you entrust your sensitive data to a “cloud” service provider, make sure you weigh the risks with the benefits.
“Cloud computing,” largely synonymous with Internet-based computing, has become a hot topic of discussion among many in the business community, with its promise of radically simplifying the access to, and use of, computing resources on demand. [...]
Tags: Budget·Cloud·Cloud Computing·Managed Hosting·Managed Services·ROI·Security·TCO·utility computing