The power and versatility of server and workstation virtualization is becoming not just a large enterprise option. I thought that EMC's iSCSI or FC nodes technology a few years ago was neat. Today, NetApp provides a front end to that existing technology also! So the same processing power advantages of the hardware are still utilized while allowing the advanced OS and data management provided by NetApp. This gives Storage Administrators and business IT a large cost savings.
As I use more Vmware and HyperV systems, I find that the Storage of redundant data is out of control. NetApp has come out with one of the greatest advantages since central storage was started. How about eliminating redundant data! Not just redundant OS but User data too! This makes the SAN storage system WAY more officiant. Now a company can have 1000 virtual machine images that only take the space of a little over 1 image! Net App publishes that savings is about 50%. Actual numbers appear to be greater.
Check this video, It shows exactly what I'm excited about:
A base hardware install for NetApp is still expensive, but when companies are spending $20,000 for a new MS Exchange super server box. The cost of a "NetApp FAS2000" at $7,920 is a nicer number.
On paper is one thing, As I use the technology I'll post more.
Thanks All!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
LED yellow Lights
To me LEDs like florecent light have not been a great light source until recently. The LED Lights are an example of a product that is maturing. I saw natural yellow light LEDs for the first time recently. I was quite pleased with the production of warm light. I didn't know that it was not a good old incandescent light. The positive is that it will last WAY longer! There are many designs the one I saw was a small recess light. See: http://lslled.com/product-detail.asp?ID=353
There are many models, I'm not sure it is fully ready for full replacement of all the bulbs in my house but I think I might try a few.
Calvin
other links:
http://www.myledlightingguide.com/Household_LED_Lighting-list.aspx
http://www.bulklights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_74&products_id=645
There are many models, I'm not sure it is fully ready for full replacement of all the bulbs in my house but I think I might try a few.
Calvin
other links:
http://www.myledlightingguide.com/Household_LED_Lighting-list.aspx
http://www.bulklights.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_74&products_id=645
The Psychology of Information Technology
The more I consult for IT, the more I realize that we are, at the end of the day, Human. Explore what I mean by visiting my other blog:
Having more fun....
Calvin
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Iphone as a small business man's phone
Like it or not Apple has made a big splash with the ipad and iphone. As time progresses more business people will be adopting these devices. This means that they will require Systems support folks to know and support the interconnectivity to data resources in the office. The iphone is maturing and will function better over time. I can't wait for it to do so. One area that I wish Apple would come out with is a mobile software interface system that is separate from itunes. Apple should continue to have itunes as a software player and store front still but make an application interface that can be programmed against for vendors and allow support personnel such as myself a way to work with the utility of syncing and installation of software that is away from the itunes library of paid music.
All on the phone
This is a wonderful concept. Have all you need on your phone. The issue is that you raise the number of variables of what could go wrong the more things that are required to perform a function. For example, In order to use Microsoft Remote Desktop (RDP) you have to make sure that the iphone is currently connected to the wireless provider, turn on vpn, insure the vpn is up, then use jump or other RDP program to connect to a remote PC. Or if you are in the same building or can get on the same wireless network, Insure your connection is working, you can RDP. Bottom line, the average Exec probably will not be RDPing from his phone unless he is taught and has enough patience to get all the variables in order.
The Bad thing is this counts also for Email or any other service that is related to the need for connectivity. Sure you can open your servers and allow connections form the internet and that security to do that is improving. However, Most IT shops have not made that change. The nice thing is that vpn as a software on the iphone has come along way and works pretty well. It does boil down to patience. If the Exec is willing to get all the "ducks in a row" and willing to get errors and try again. No problem with this great technology.
In fairness to Apple, My view will not be the only one I will post here. I have a customer who uses his iphone for EVERYTHING. I've asked him to give me a review. Once I get it I'll post it here too.
All on the phone
This is a wonderful concept. Have all you need on your phone. The issue is that you raise the number of variables of what could go wrong the more things that are required to perform a function. For example, In order to use Microsoft Remote Desktop (RDP) you have to make sure that the iphone is currently connected to the wireless provider, turn on vpn, insure the vpn is up, then use jump or other RDP program to connect to a remote PC. Or if you are in the same building or can get on the same wireless network, Insure your connection is working, you can RDP. Bottom line, the average Exec probably will not be RDPing from his phone unless he is taught and has enough patience to get all the variables in order.
The Bad thing is this counts also for Email or any other service that is related to the need for connectivity. Sure you can open your servers and allow connections form the internet and that security to do that is improving. However, Most IT shops have not made that change. The nice thing is that vpn as a software on the iphone has come along way and works pretty well. It does boil down to patience. If the Exec is willing to get all the "ducks in a row" and willing to get errors and try again. No problem with this great technology.
In fairness to Apple, My view will not be the only one I will post here. I have a customer who uses his iphone for EVERYTHING. I've asked him to give me a review. Once I get it I'll post it here too.
Hackintosh
Some people have said that creating a Hackintosh is an interesting project. Someone I know played with this idea. They had a older MSI Wind net book and decided to see if they could get the software to run.
They did it! After the install, I was able to play with the hardware and while it was strange to see Apple os on a Netbook. The speed was nice, I would say better performance than XP that was on it. While I do not endorce use of pirated materials the concept of a Unix / Linux system that has such an exceptional GUI as a Mac on a 1.6Ghz processor is appealing. The ability to come in and out of Sleep VERY quickly was nice.
In the future, I'm told that they will try Windows 7 Starter to see what performance they get out of the MSI Wind net book.
All in all a fun time was had by all.
They did it! After the install, I was able to play with the hardware and while it was strange to see Apple os on a Netbook. The speed was nice, I would say better performance than XP that was on it. While I do not endorce use of pirated materials the concept of a Unix / Linux system that has such an exceptional GUI as a Mac on a 1.6Ghz processor is appealing. The ability to come in and out of Sleep VERY quickly was nice.
In the future, I'm told that they will try Windows 7 Starter to see what performance they get out of the MSI Wind net book.
All in all a fun time was had by all.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Windows Server 2008 and FTP
For those who have hunted for the Server 2008 firewall settings for FTP.
Here is what I did:
Enable port 21 access.
Then enable program access.
Ran in elevated command prompt: "netsh advfirewall set global StatefulFtp enable"
Another quick solution by
Calvin
Here is what I did:
Enable port 21 access.
Then enable program access.
Ran in elevated command prompt: "netsh advfirewall set global StatefulFtp enable"
Another quick solution by
Calvin
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Human and Machine, a Theory.
Theory: Typing certain words on the QWERTY keyboard have a greater psychological impact than others.
My first thought regarding this "right and left brain" theory, started when I saw more and more people preferring to text over having face to face conversations. Sure, some of that might be explained by how introverted our society is becoming. But the question is, why are we becoming so introverted? A human response to technology has always interested me from an early age. Why do children relate to computers so easily? Is it truly that they are just so young and teachable as people suppose?
Currently, I am studying how the QWERTY keyboard originally was invented to see if there is any relationship at its inception to this theory. If so this would provide greater reason for proving the theory. Even if there is no relationship, it could be one of those wonderful natural numbers that Albert Einstein said simply were too pretty to not have a divine author.
On the surface the theory seems to show that there does exist an emotional connection to words that end predominately on the right hand... IE left brain. Also one's choice of the right or left shift key, and other individual choices may be related. Why do people use the right or left keys more? Is it only functional that we have the two shift keys? Does the use of certain keys show which side of the brain a person prefers? Does this explain why some people love to type and others hate it? I would submit that some people have been typing as a form of therapy already. Both as a way to get feelings out, as in Journal writing, yet with greater impact due to the use of both sides of the brain.
As an example, the word "Happy" is mostly on the right hand. Following the theory then, it is subconsciously processed by the left brain or logical. So its emotional response has much less impact then the word "Hate." Hate, following the theory, has a massive emotional impact when typed. The word "Love" is also interesting. For example, It starts logical and ends emotional. Interesting also is the fact that when I type the word with a capital "L" it used the left shift key. Changing the balance of the word to be Emotional. This balance is also related to the impact of words. Why do people capitalize letters in the middle of typing? Either way, the word "love" seems to have a VERY high impact as it uses both sides of the brain evenly or with emphasis when capitalized to the emotional.
There may be nothing here. The whole theory may be the imaginings of a Technology nut... but It will be interesting to study.
- Calvin
My first thought regarding this "right and left brain" theory, started when I saw more and more people preferring to text over having face to face conversations. Sure, some of that might be explained by how introverted our society is becoming. But the question is, why are we becoming so introverted? A human response to technology has always interested me from an early age. Why do children relate to computers so easily? Is it truly that they are just so young and teachable as people suppose?
Currently, I am studying how the QWERTY keyboard originally was invented to see if there is any relationship at its inception to this theory. If so this would provide greater reason for proving the theory. Even if there is no relationship, it could be one of those wonderful natural numbers that Albert Einstein said simply were too pretty to not have a divine author.
On the surface the theory seems to show that there does exist an emotional connection to words that end predominately on the right hand... IE left brain. Also one's choice of the right or left shift key, and other individual choices may be related. Why do people use the right or left keys more? Is it only functional that we have the two shift keys? Does the use of certain keys show which side of the brain a person prefers? Does this explain why some people love to type and others hate it? I would submit that some people have been typing as a form of therapy already. Both as a way to get feelings out, as in Journal writing, yet with greater impact due to the use of both sides of the brain.
As an example, the word "Happy" is mostly on the right hand. Following the theory then, it is subconsciously processed by the left brain or logical. So its emotional response has much less impact then the word "Hate." Hate, following the theory, has a massive emotional impact when typed. The word "Love" is also interesting. For example, It starts logical and ends emotional. Interesting also is the fact that when I type the word with a capital "L" it used the left shift key. Changing the balance of the word to be Emotional. This balance is also related to the impact of words. Why do people capitalize letters in the middle of typing? Either way, the word "love" seems to have a VERY high impact as it uses both sides of the brain evenly or with emphasis when capitalized to the emotional.
There may be nothing here. The whole theory may be the imaginings of a Technology nut... but It will be interesting to study.
- Calvin
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