Silly Science Trick: Super-Cooling & Snap Freezing Experiment #137

While most people whine and complain about the cold weather, I look forward to it for many reasons. I don’t dig the heat, or the humidity at all, which is really funny because have opted to live in the South!

What’s to look forward to? Snow, ice, seeing your breath, doing donuts in your car in the snow (uhmmm or so I’ve heard), etc. Of course there are the negative sides, such as scraping ice if you don’t have a garage, and worrying about your teenage children driving in the slick stuff.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the ability to use the cold in the car to instantly turn a liquid into a solid. In this case, a bottle of water I leave in my car for entertainment purposes. Every cold morning when I get in the car, I perform the following, all in the name of science:

I know, your 5th grader does this too, but hey, at least I am never bored!

Have fun with this, and I will get back to doing that thing we do – computer, server and network service, support and sales here in chilly Greenville, SC…

Cloud computing: Is Microsoft Aurora / BPOS right for your small business?

Cloud Computing Solutions - Google Apps - Microsoft BPOSToday you can hardly have a conversation with IT professionals without the buzz words, “cloud computing”, “in the cloud”, “cloud solutions”, etc popping up.

What do these terms mean? To over-simplify the definition, it means that something is not stored at your location. It is stored “in the cloud”, or on a remote server, and accessed via the internet. The “it” could be data, as in your databases, email, files, or it could be programs / applications, such as web based suites of software like Microsoft Office suite, including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word or custom applications.

All this talk about moving to “the cloud”, a term which is generically used for the internet, has people thinking about how it can be used for their business. Let’s take our own small business and use it as an example.

Currently, we use a large server which has Microsoft Server 2008 loaded on it and functions as our domain controller, DNS, DHCP, and other standard server tasks… It also serves as our file server, and it hosts Microsoft Exchange for our in-house email. Other tasks this one piece of hardware is responsible for are: TFTPd for management of our VoIP phone system’s configuration files, backup of data (Using multiple backup systems such as Servosity Online Backup Solution, an “in the cloud” product, and MozyPro) and Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security Advanced for anti-virus and anti-spam.

We have a second server which hosts additional files, Blackberry Enterprise Server (not currently in use due to the switch to Android phones), and is a test bed for us. Then we have two other servers, a Voice over IP server based on Linux OS which is in control of our phone system & voice mail, and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) for storage of video from our CCTV cameras.

In order to reduce some overhead, we could potentially maintain a smaller main server with only Windows 2008 R2 running on it as a domain controller, then utilize Microsoft Aurora, or even Microsoft BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), allowing mail storage and transport to take place outside our building.

We could then switch from Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security Advanced to the Trend Hosted solution, relieving our server from those duties.

Since we are already using a remote backup solution, we would not have to worry about that, and our backup requirements would actually drop since we would no longer need to backup the Microsoft Exchange Store (Microsoft would handle that for us with the BPOS solution).

As you can see, eliminating the main server entirely from the equation here is not going to be possible, however a considerable amount of storage, backup, and resources could be moved elsewhere.

One thing to take into consideration before moving to these hosted solutions is, what if our internet is down? That is a good question which still has many people concerned about these technologies. In the case of online file storage, if you do not have cached storage at your location, you simply have no access to it. In the case of mail, if you are caching the information locally, you CAN see your old/existing email, but you cannot send or receive new mail until the connection is reestablished. It is important to note that cloud based email will still RECEIVE email when your business is without an internet connection and you will get it as soon as the connection is reestablished, something that doesn’t happen now if you use an onsite Exchange Server, unless you are using a mail hold & forward (spool) system at your ISP or other provider.

Should you desire to discuss your needs and how products like Microsoft Aurora, BPOS, Google Apps, Servosity and other cloud services can fit into your infrastructure, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for a free consultation!  We are partners with Microsoft, Google, Servosity, MozyPro and other cloud providers. We also offer a full line of computer, server & network service, support, sales and consultation here in Greenville & Upstate SC!

Free 30 Day Microsoft Business Productivity BPOS Trial

Microsoft is offering a free 30 day trial of their Business Productivity Online Suite if you would like to see it in action.

Greenville’s Warehouse Theatre presents “Screwtape”… Reserve your tickets now!

Screwtape and Wormwood

Screwtape at Greenville's Warehouse Theatre

Paul Savas and the Warehouse Theatre have done it again… They provided an evening of entertainment for my family that did not break the bank! Just what I needed on a Friday evening!

This time we attended the opening performance of “Screwtape”, an adaptation of “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, which I have never read or had any exposure to at all, nor had my daughter Megan. Of course, my wife Pamela read up on it as if there would be a test at the end.

I must admit, after seeing the incredible production of “The Rocky Horror Show” at The Warehouse Theatre, I was half expecting “Screwtape” to be about a 70s adult film or something similarly risque, but in my heart I knew the author wouldn’t go there as he was a Christian. In short, I really didn’t know what to expect at all… 

The play was indeed Christian themed, and one we can all relate to, even if you are not a believer. It is about good and evil, and how evil walks the earth and tempts you…

In this case “Wormwood” (played by Dayrl Ward Phillipy) is a fiend from Hell, charged with the task of tempting Mike (Jason Adkins) under the supervision of his uncle “Screwtape” (Kevin Treu) , a seasoned devil. Should Wormwood fail, he will be eaten below, as their slogan goes, “Bring us food, or be eaten…”. They enlist a female fiend to help with this job, “Slumtrimpet” (Roberta Barnes) and a running gag is the continued varied pronunciation of “Slumtrimpet”, whom they resort to calling “Slut”.

Interesting to me is that this comes from the point of view of the evil side, showing everything that Screwtape, Wormwood and Slumtrimpet embark upon to get Mike to give up his soul. They reverse all the lines we are used to hearing, so we don’t hear, “Father above”, instead we hear, “father below”, etc.

I won’t give away the plot or the ending here…   You could read up on that at the Wiki entry for The Screwtape Letters.

As in every event we have attended at the Warehouse Theatre, the set and props were perfect, the audio, video and lighting awesome, and the actors were incredible. The Upstate is apparently filled with so much talent that I didn’t even know existed and The Warehouse has found them! The only thing that could really be improved upon would be the audio track used in a couple of scenes in which the lyrics are hard to pull out. I write this one off as an opening night glitch and surely this will be cleared up quickly. 

Simple people are easily amused, but I really enjoyed the stereo effects, the use of video projectors and scrims.

This show is appropriate for your more liberal church groups, as long as they can handle the words, “slut”, “bitch”, and a topic from the perspective of hell, instead of heaven for the most part. I believe it would be rated “PG” if it were a movie.

Thank you again to the cast, crew & supporters of The Warehouse Theatre for another great production! I can’t wait for January to get here because, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” looks interesting too!  

You need to reserve your tickets now as I understand they are selling out fast, last night was totally sold out, tonight is probably sold out.

Trend Micro Personal Security Products Going End of Life December, 31 2010

Trend Micro Internet Security

Trend Micro Internet Security is great for business or personal use!

It’s that time of the year again where we must say goodbye to support for previous generation  personal security products from Trend Micro.

Trend Micro will continue to provide support for your current version until the “End of Support” date. If you have a current and active subscription with a supported operating system, then you can always upgrade for free to the latest version of the product line.

Below you will find a list of products have not been sold since at least 2009, but will be reaching their End-of-Life on December 31, 2010:

  • Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2009
  • Trend Micro Internet Security 2009
  • Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2009 (Version 2.0)

In addition to those products reaching EOL, the following will reach the “End of Support” on December 31, 2010:

  • Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008
  • Trend Micro Internet Security 2008
  • Trend Micro Internet Security Pro

You can find more information about the Trend Micro Product End-of-Life (EOL) Roadmap HERE.

Should you require assistance or would like additional information regarding Trend Micro Personal or Business Security products, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We are proud to partner with Trend Micro and offer sales & support to Upstate & Greenville.

Microsoft Office 2007 reaches end of sales cycle December 31, 2010 – Seneca Data / Nexlink

Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2010

One of our preferred computer vendors, Seneca Data, the manufacturer of Nexlink branded business computers will discontinue sales of Microsoft Office 2007 starting on December 31, 2010. Private label sales will follow shortly afterward.

This does not mean the end of support from Microsoft, only the end of sales. Mainstream Support for the product will continue through April 10, 2012, and Extended Support on April 11, 2017.

Microsoft Office 2003 Professional reached an end of Mainstream Support in 2009, and on April 8, 2014, Extended Support will come to an end.

More information about the Microsoft Support Lifecycle can be found HERE.

Homeland Secure IT will continue to offer sales of the Microsoft Office 2007 product until retail supplies are depleted for those who require 2k7. Microsoft will also offer a “downgrade” to those who purchase Microsoft Office 2010 through the Open Licensing program, enabling you to obtain and use the previous version.

If you would like to know more about how Microsoft Office 2010 can be used in your business, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We offer sales, service and support to Greenville & Upstate businesses and individuals.

Upstate storms underscore need for computer backup solutions and UPS

Lightning Strike

One lightning strike can ruin your whole day...

Last night was scary for some people here in the Upstate of SC. Easley was hit hard in the business area of Main Street and Pendleton Street and residences along 135 by the passing storms.

As I watched the news and saw the video footage of damage, I felt horrible for the business and home owners affected. We turned on the scanner radio and listened as emergency crews went street by street, clearing each house they came to. We heard that business owners would not be allowed back into their business until 8 AM today, and an entire condo was evacuated and they were not allowed in until after power was restored.

Those who did not suffer structural damage from the wind, or trees falling on their building and the water that poured in, may have suffered in other ways. Servers and workstations that were not on an UPS (Un-Interruptable Power Supply) went down when the power went out, losing any data that was not saved, and potentially corrupting hard drives or data that was being written at the time.

Then there is the damage to electronics, especially computers & servers, when the power attempts to come on, spikes, surges, brownouts. These power events have the potential for destroying sensitive components.

A simple and relatively inexpensive device such as an APC or Eaton UPS could help prevent costly damage, lost productivity and save your data by automatically shutting down the computer after a power failure, saving data properly, and during the continual power up/power down cycles, provide the filtering necessary to protect your systems. Your insurance company may offer discounts for coverage of equipment covered by UPS due to the reduced chance of costly computer server repair or service, or even replacement.

Another nice feature of an UPS would be to supply power to internet routers / switches, CCTV system and VoIP systems to allow you to view your security cameras to assess possible damage before you can even enter your building (If the internet connection is not severed), and your phone systems can continue to function if you have a large enough UPS so that Voice Mail and FAX can still come in.  An UPS can serve to power your systems until your generator comes online if you have one, so your Microsoft Exchange system may never go offline assuming your building is not one of the ones affected by structural damage.

The obvious next layer of protection is a backup solution, such as an onsite backup, whether it is an LTO, DLT or other tape drive, external hard drives, NAS / SAN etc, which could help if the need to restore data comes up… Taking that idea one step further would offer an offsite, or online backup solution, placing your data “in the cloud” safely away from your geographic location, so if a fire, tornado, flood or even a theft occurs, your data is located elsewhere and can be downloaded to a new computer or server.

If you would like to discuss how power protection and backup solutions can safeguard your systems or if you require assistance with a business continuity plan, please email info@homelandsecureit.com or call 864.990.4748. We are partners with APC, Eaton, Symantec, Quantum and Servosity.  We also offer a FREE trial of the Servosity Online Backup Solution….

Contact us today for more information about our free Servosity Online Backup Trial!

Free Servosity Online Backup Trial

Server 2000 should just die!

This afternoon we spent a few hours looking at an old Windows Server 2000 for a local hotel who is having issues…

I forgot just how unfun this Operating System is! It makes us appreciate Windows Server 2008 all the more!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Should you be running Server 2000, take this opportunity to upgrade and enjoy the speed, security and reliability of a Microsoft Server 2008 R2! Just do it…  Need some convincing? Call me at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com and we will set up an appointment to talk to you here in Greenville / Upstate, SC!

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When buying a Microsoft Windows 7 Computer do you need 64-bit or 32-bit?

Windows 7 64 Bit

Windows 7 - 64 Bit

If the time has come to replace or upgrade your aging desktop or laptop computer, you may find yourself looking at offerings from the major manufacturers and wondering if you need to get a 32 bit or 64 bit system now that the price difference is no longer a factor.

At first it seems that a 64 bit computer would be a no-brainer! I mean, it’s “32” MORE and more is better, right?

Absolutely, a 64 bit machine can address more memory for one thing. Your old 32 bit system has a limitation of 4GB, and Windows 7 on a 64 bit machine will support up to 192GB. Actually, 64 bit machines can address 16 exabytes in theory. Also, a 64 bit system can run more applications at once and take advantage of software such as Microsoft Office 2010 specifically tailored to the 64 bit PC.

Graphics, databases, complex calculations can all benefit from the increased performance.

Servers have used 64 bit Operating Systems for years, why not your desktop?

According to Gartner Inc. research, 75 percent of all business computers will be running 64 bit Windows by 2014…  But moving from a 32 bit environment to a 64 bit Microsoft Windows 7 machine could introduce some new issues for you. A number of older printers, plotters, scanners and other devices have no support for 64 bit. Some copiers which offer printing from your PC also may not function.

Do you have a specific PCI card that you use, such as a SCSI interface for scanning or external storage? You could find it is incompatible and need to replace that too.

Your computer service professional should be able to assist you in determining if a move to 64 bit is right for you. If you require assistance with this in Greenville or Upstate, SC, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

We offer wide selection of business computers from our partner manufacturers HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Seneca Data / NexLink and more!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Computer Deals too Good to Pass Up…

Yesterday was Thanksgiving here in the USA, in case you missed it… Everyone here at Homeland Secure IT and our families have so much to be thankful for that I would have to dedicate an entire blog post to just that…  One thing worth mentioning other than the most obvious like the ability to live in the greatest country on the planet, having a roof over our head, a gracious God and healthy families, would be YOU, our friends, family and clients. You make it a joy to open our eyes in the morning and greet another beautiful day!

Today is “Black Friday” and by now you are probably home, safe and dry…  Black Friday CrowdI hope everyone enjoyed their shopping experience and found everything they had on their Christmas list at deep discounts too good to be true!

From reading advertisements & news articles, retailers continued the trend of luring people in with the promise of a Sony Notebook Computer bundle for $199, a ViewSonic 24″ monitor for $99, an HP all-in-one wireless printer for $49.99, best selling video games for $9.99, 2TB hard drives for $49, 16GB flash drive for $4.99, Microsoft Office Home and Student for $79 with 3 user license, etc.

However, only a few lucky people serious shoppers received those deals… In the fine print of those ads, there is generally written “1 available”, and everyone was rushing in at the store’s opening and staking out their territory to be the one person to get the deal of the year. Sometimes there are a dozen available, but when we are talking about a popular item, chances are slim, unless you are a pro at shopping, that you will be the one in the front of the line.

I read sad tweets this morning from people saying they got up early to get the gadget they wanted and it wasn’t there. Many bought something similar that was on sale at a discounted price, which is exactly what the merchant was counting on!

Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there were some outstanding sale items and prices! I’m sure many of you did get something at a greatly reduced cost and only spent an hour or two doing it. Still, the crowds, the unlikely chance that I will personally be the one to get my hands on the brass ring and the fact I have to get up at 3AM or earlier (or stay up) keeps me out of the stores on Black Friday here in Greenville / Upstate, SC.

Which brings us to “Cyber Monday”. This is more my speed. I can shop from the comfort of my home (or office, but shhhhh, don’t tell anyone), and the only inconvenience I have to suffer is laggy internet due to everyone else doing the same thing.

I’m seeing spectacular deals that await us this coming Monday, and many Etailers are offering their discounts all weekend long.

Sure, there are those certain products that big online retailers will be selling with limited quantities, or “50 at this price”, but I think I can live with that, easier than seeing my neighbor climb over someone with murder in their eyes to grab the last widget on the shelf.

When scouring the web for these great deals, be careful if you are Googling for a product, say a “Nikon d7000 dSLR camera”, and find it at a price too good to be true from a place you have never heard of. Chances are, it IS too good to be true. Also, be aware that scammers have been waiting for this moment, and they have created sponsored (Ad Word) ads and even got their own websites up in the rankings for specific keywords. These sites look legit when you are searching, they may even have a URL that looks like it “bestbuy.com”, but it is not, and takes you to a malicious site, promising 100 dollar notebook computers, just install this driver or player.   Don’t fall for it.

Now get out there and buy something! Help our economy by spending a lot and have a happy & safe holiday shopping season!

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Scam Alert: Microsoft supposedly calling and offering to help fix security issues from remote

Microsoft Remote Support Scam

Don't buy it - Microsoft is not going to call you and offer to help!

Today has been interesting… I received an email from a long-time friend saying he had the strangest phone call, from MICROSOFT… They informed him that his system was vulnerable and that they wanted to help him fix it if he would give them access to his system by visiting a website.

This guy was born at night, but he wasn’t born last night, so he questioned it, and when he did so, they hung up on him as expected.

It seems a once popular old scam has returned from the grave. In fact, a quick Google search just now turned up this showing that it is happening elsewhere, not just here.

With that said, please keep in mind, Microsoft is NEVER going to to call you and offer to help fix your computer security issues. That is like thinking the US Government is going to call you up and offer to fix your financial woes.

This is called “Social Engineering” and it has been around for as long as people could reach out and touch someone. In the *old* days, a person would call their mark on the phone and tell them they were with Ma Bell and that they were updating their records.  Then they would give them a little information about them, such as “We have your phone number as 555-1212, and your name is Joe Schmoe, we are setting up security measures so we can insure your privacy, can you please give me your mother’s maiden name? Now how about your social security number so we can identify you when you call us in the future?”.  Sure enough, if the person on the other end of the phone sounded official, the mark would give them anything they wanted.

This only works on people who are trusting. So here is your warning to question things that come to you with no reason. Question that strange phone call asking for more information about you, question why you should open a particular link that a ‘friend’ sends you in email, question why you might need to install a codec, player or driver when visiting a website, and for goodness sakes, question why Microsoft might call you up wanting to help.

If you have fallen for this type of scam, please contact a computer service professional and have them thoroughly checkout your machine for rootkits, keystroke loggers, and other forms of malware. For more information you can email info@homelandsecureit.com or call 864.990.4748 in the Greenville / Upstate area.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving, we ALL have so much to be thankful for!