Here’s another one I just started:

SecondBrain ChadGo

I’ve intergrated Delicious, Digg, Faves, GoogleReader, StumbleUpon and Twitter into this account. I’m new to this one, so I don’t have much of an opinion on it yet, other than the fact that I like all the different sites you can integrate with.

convert this post to pdf.

Just signed up for Twitter yesterday. If you’re interested in following or seeing what I’m up to here’s the link:

http://twitter.com/ChadUCM

convert this post to pdf.

Announced today at the Google Factory Tour is Google’s new product, Google Health. Search medical issues and store you medical history online. Very interesting service/product, please take a moment to look it over. Finally a service that allows you to bring all your medical information to one location including doctor visit information, lab results and prescriptions.

convert this post to pdf.

So you have decided to buy and install your first dedicated server. Many small businesses setup a file and print server, while others setup a web server, or an email server. That’s OK, since setting up any server involves many of the same configuration steps.

Initially, the setup is just like setting up a personal PC: Unpack everything, compare the shipping list to the box contents, connect the keyboard, mouse, and network cable, and plug in the power. But first you must consider the location of the server. Best is a lower traffic location such as a dedicated server room or wiring closet. Don’t forget about physical security- if someone can just pick up your server and walk away then all the OS, network, and application security you setup will mean nothing.

A server environment needs to not only be safe, but should also be controlled for temp and humidity. You will need to make sure the heat from your server can be dispersed. Additionally, if your server is in a location you may not visit often, or there’s any risk from the environment, you should think about using a physical monitoring device. The APC Netbotz 420 or the AVtech Room Alert 11 E both track temp, humidity, motion, flooding, airflow, and more, and can issue alerts when they are needed.

Nowadays many servers have dual power supplies. It is best if you can plug each power supply into a different UPS and plug those UPSs into two separate circuits. This way only one power supply will go offline if you lose a circuit.

If your server’s operating system has been preinstalled this will save you time. If not, insert the DVD or CD into the drive and turn the server on. Here are some configuration guidelines for your new operating system:

Install Only Options You Plan to Use. If this is only a straight print and file server, you do not need to install Web server or email server software. In fact, it is best not to. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the extra software contain extra security vulnerabilities, so if it’s not installed you don’t have to worry about them. The second reason is the extra software takes up drive space and can waste CPU and memory resources.

Use a Strong Root or Administrator Password. Your password contains the keys to your server. A strong password will not contain words from the dictionary, be seven or more characters long, and contain a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. For help generating a strong password, try a website like www.strongpasswordgenerator.com, which will help you do this for free.

Create Usernames That Are Understandable. Some users want to get cute and use names like SkunkyBuddy, but how is that going to help you manage the server? It is best to decide on standard conventions, such as first name.last initial, for example, and stick to that. This is a business environment, not private email. Make sure to create usernames in advance and assign proper privileges to give users access only to the directories they need. Also make users change their password when they first login and periodically thereafter.

Have a Backup Process in Place. Once the server comes online, everyone is going to start storing files to it, which is what you want right? But the last thing you want to do is put all that data storage into a single point of failure, and then not back it up regularly. It’s best not to wait for a server hard drive to fail, or for data to go missing- get a backup system in place and running. To check out different backup options, see PC Mag or some other resource for more tips.

Put in Place a Network Security Policy That Protects The Server. If this is an internal server that does not have to be used externally, then configure your firewall to block all traffic incoming that does not originate from a server session. The server will need to get out for downloading patches. If this is a single departmental server, then block access from outside the department. This can be done using firewall rules, or by setting up a Virtual LAN which creates a network that uses the same infrastructure as everyone else but a separate network address.

Setup Server Monitoring. Many servers already come with utilities for monitoring. Check on system resources such as memory, CPU, and hard drive use to make sure the server is capable of doing its job. If you do not have monitoring in place, then applications can start to crash as the unit gets used more. If this happens, first try adding more server RAM. Monitoring will also give you a heads up if the server goes down. Most monitoring programs or consoles have the ability to send an alert if the server happens to go down.

Don’t Forget Security Software. You are already running software firewalls, anti-malware, and intrusion-prevention systems on your workstations, so why not on your new server too?

convert this post to pdf.

Something that I’ve been having trouble with recently is I’m running out of room on my hard drives. Storage didn’t use to be such a problem. However, my addiction to bit torrents have gotten me into storage trouble.

I find myself saving larger video files and it’s constantly eating up my free space. So I have to make some decisions on what to keep and what to delete. You would think that 750gb would be enough for me. But no… I’m deleting files and cleaning up my drives almost on a weekly basis. And of course, fragmenting those drives at the same time.

Here are some of the things I’m doing to keep/consolidate/delete my data:

1. The Big Purge. I hate to do it. I agonize over what I must through out. But in the end, I’m deleting lots of content.

2. Data Shuffle. Here’s where I have to move those larger files I MUST keep to new drives, partitions or other computers. I hate doing this. Normally I’m very organized. Raid Arrays broken out into partitions that are designated for data types. Space constraints force me to mix my files, and it drives me crazy!

3. Forced Defrag. All this data movement constantly fragments my drives forcing me to defrag on a weekly basis.

I know the solution here. It’s time to migrate all my data to a NAS drive, but I’m just too cheap to do it. I’ll be on the lookout for an inexpensive 1TB solution with a simple setup. Hopefully something will catch my eye soon.

convert this post to pdf.

Are you being constantly nagged by Windows about your dangerously low virtual memory? You know, that little pop-up bubble in the lower right hand corner of the screen (that’s near the System Tray for those of you who know).

Why are you getting this message? When you don’t have enough Computer Memory
in your computer to handle the tasks that you are asking it to perform, your computer will use virtual memory. Virtual memory is an portion of your hard drive that the computer will use to simulate the function that RAM (Random Access Memory) performs.

The correct way to resolve this problem and eliminate that annoying pop-up window is to upgrade your computer’s memory. If you just want the quick fix, follow the steps below:

1. Go to your System Properties (Right click My Computer and choose Properties or locate System in your Control Panel).

2. Choose the tab titled Advanced.

3. In the Performance section, click on the Settings Button.

4. In the Performance Settings window, choose the Advanced Tab .

5. The Bottom section is the where you can set your Virtual Memory or Paging File size.

6. You can change the Maximum Size to a larger number than is already there. Many times it will read 512mb as default. This can be changed to 1gb (1024mb) or 2gb (2048mb).

This will eliminate the warning message and give your computer more room on the hard drive to use as virtual memory. A word of caution, by increasing this space, you are essentially removing some of your free space on your hard drive. Make sure that you have plenty of free space available (more than 15% free is a good amount).

Also, please re-read the title of this post. This is a Quick Fix! The only good way to eliminate this warning is to increase the amount of RAM in your computer!

convert this post to pdf.

The typical computer user’s ideal laptop would fall into one of the two most popular categories – ultraportable or mainstream. Ultraportables are pretty and trim, generally weigh less than 4 pounds, and can be carried almost anywhere. Mainstream laptops deliver a good balance of portability and power. Between the different manufacturers, models, and sub-models, consumers are faced with a variety of laptops to choose from, varying greatly in price, features, design, and performance.

Performance, dictated by the quality and power of the components, was once the major factor in choosing a mainstream laptop. For ultraportables, performance was not a selling point, because the small sizes did not permit parts that ran faster. Today performance is less of an issue, so most laptops of either type don’t need to be pushed to their limits. Although the gigahertz rating and the amount of RAM included in a laptop are still important purchasing factors, other elements like looks, multimedia features, and cheaper prices are more significant than ever to consumers. Here we’ll look at some of the hottest ultraportable and mainstream laptops on the market, and show how they are selling more than just power and speed.

Not too long ago, laptops were considered underpowered, poor relations of desktop computers. Yea, they were a great portable solution to moving your work around with you, but nobody expected them to be powerhouses. Usually, buyers found themselves paying a premium of $2000 or more for mediocre components, limited features, and so-so battery life. As far as styling went, you could forget pretty. Most laptops came in black, or black, like the old Model T Fords.

Times have changed! Now, laptops have become the primary computer for many people (I am writing this article on my laptop which is my work computer), and buyers demand more. The market has responded, and manufacturers are now offering laptops with a wide range of features for under $1000. If the laptop is selling for over $1500, it had better have a high-definition optical drive. Mainstream systems are packed with cool and powerful components but now rarely weigh over 6 pounds, while the ultraportable laptop field is bubbling with innovative features, from hyper-thin optical drives and LED backlit screens, to super small hard drives. Design-wise, laptop manufacturers are pulling out all the stops, with curving chassis, innovative alloy frames, and a plethora of color choices.

Mainstream laptops offer the best blend of features and portability. They used to be 14 inch screen models with limited resolution, but now offer high resolution screens in a variety of formats and sizes. Using smaller components and 13.3 inch widescreens is making the units lighter,, and even 15.4 inch widescreens can be used without going over the 6 pound level. Resolutions are now being advertised as “HD ready,” where the most generic resolution meets the 720p criteria.

Almost all mainstream laptops now offer built-in web cams. When is comes to still pictures, webcams give poor resolution compared with most digital cameras, but that doesn’t really matter because they are most useful for videoconferencing. Some units are even offering fingerprint readers for personalized security. And today’s mainstream laptops can utilize a single hard drive that can hold up to 320GB of data.

Whichever you decide on, a sleek ultraportable like the new Apple MacBook Air, or a mainstream laptop like the HP Pavilion dv6500t, make sure to get the maximum amount of RAM, either from the factory, or aftermarket from a reputable seller, and you will be happy with your purchase for a long time.

convert this post to pdf.

A customer emailed me last night asking about the Acer Aspire 5610z notebook. Our website shows memory upgrades available for this computer up to 4gb installed as 2x2gb. My customer asked if this was actually possible as she had seen several forums of people discussing an issue with the 5610z and installing 2x2gb modules. People are having POST freezes or errors with 4gb installed, however they are having successful POSTs with 1x2gb installed. Hmmm. This looks like a BIOS issue to me. the 2gb parts will work individually, but together,the BIOS is having trouble. I’m hoping that Acer will release a BIOS update that will resolve this conflict so that this machine can actually operate with 4gb installed as the manual states! Here’s a link to the memory upgrades for the Acer Aspire 5610z Notebook at our store.

And a link to one of the forum threads discussing the issue

convert this post to pdf.

Here’s what I came across this morning. I was doing a search on the Acer Aspire 5610z and googled the model # and received a Google Error. Huh? That’s right it was a “403 Forbidden” error. Quick test shows the same results in IE and Firefox. Here’s what the page said:

We’re Sorry

… but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can’t process your request right now.

We’ll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.

If you’re continually receiving this error, you may be able to resolve the problem by deleting your Google cookie and revisiting Google. For browser-specific instructions, please consult your browser’s online support center.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we’ll see you again on Google.

Then it asks for you to key in some text so that it knows your not a robot. Apparently this is how Google responds to spam queries. After an initial freak out, and a quick google search on the error, all looks good. No more 403′s yet, but I’m keeping an eye on it.

BTW, the Acer Aspire 5610z search came up with some interesting results. . . .

convert this post to pdf.

It has been a buyer’s market for premium DDR2 memory lately. Your choices range from modestly over-clocking memory modules, which command only a slight premium over value memory, to cutting-edge modules with high heat spreaders that can hit clock speeds up to 533 MHz (DDR2-1066) and require voltages higher than 1.8 volts. Recently, we’ve seen DDR2 modules from Corsair rated to use as much as 2.3 volts.

What are the advantages of premium memory? High-end DRAM chips are bin-sorted, a term used by manufacturers to refer to sorting chips that can run at differing speeds into “speed bins” which hit higher frequencies and voltages. These chips can run at lower latency timing than standard DRAM. Finding exactly the right timing settings can be tough. It’s often a trial-and-error process that involves many test, reset, and reboot cycles.

Most standard or value-grade memory won’t run at the lower latency at which premium-grade memory runs. For DDR2, that currently means latencies lower than the standard 5-5-5-15 timings.

If DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 doesn’t make sense, then read on to learn how to decode it and why it should matter to you. But first let’s clarify how memory works.

Memory accesses don’t happen in one step. Memory is laid out on a chip in rows and columns, which require repeated pulses of electricity, referred to as “strobing,” to reach each location. When memory is accessed, each cycle of strobing takes a fixed amount of time, explained as follows:

tCL Column address strobe (CAS) latency; or the number of clock cycles required to access a specific column of data. (The t prefix refers to time.)

tRCD Row address strobe (RAS)-to-CAS delay; or the number of clock cycles needed between a row address strobe and a column address strobe.

tRP RAS pre-charge; or the number of clock cycles needed to close one row of memory and open another.

tRAS The number of clock cycles needed to access data in a specific row of RAM.

Now let’s break down the particular DRAM label above. 800 is the effective clock speed in megahertz. That’s the actual clock speed multiplied times data per clock cycle (200 MHz [for DDR2-800] X 4 [4 samples for DDR2 per clock cycle]). DDR2-800 has a maximum bandwidth of 6.4 GBps. “5-5-5-15” is referring to a tCL of 5, tRCD of 5, tRP of 5, and tRAS of 15.

Because latency is measured in clock cycles, the smaller the numbers, the faster it is. Therefore less time is required for memory accesses. The time is measured in nano seconds, with a typical system making millions of memory accesses every second. Latency and memory speed trade off with each other. For example, the same DDR2-667 memory module can run at 333 MHz with latencies of 5-5-5-15, or at DDR2-533 speed at 266 MHz with latencies of 4-4-4-11. Since higher clock frequencies represent smaller time intervals, the total time is basically the same for both these speed settings.

The serious over-clockers out there will want to push their memory speeds up to 1,100 MHz or more. Over-clockers also need to run their memory at higher voltages, so it’s important to have a good motherboard with a beefy voltage regulator, and a BIOS setup that lets you tweak your memory settings. For an example of a motherboard that allows very high memory clockings, look up the eVGA nForce 650i Ultra motherboard.

What you get with premium memory is the ability to run at higher clock speeds and lower latencies. If your applications are sensitive to memory performance, premium memory can pay off. Games, 3G rendering, and media trans-coding are all sensitive to memory latency. A typical users’ regular web browsing, office applications, and streaming media typically are less sensitive and will work just fine using standard RAM memory.

convert this post to pdf.