Semi-software refers to the fact that the card isn't truly hardware based. In fact, if you looked at the core components on those cards, they are simple ATA controllers. To do the actual striping/mirroring/spanning, they rely on the drivers loaded by the OS (whether it's Windows/Linux/Unix/BSD/etc.) to actually perform the operations. This uses CPU time and that is why I call it "semi-software". There are also other concerns, as Promise cards/chipsets have been known to have problems working with some motherboard southbridges/PCI buses, either not working completely, working partially, or working very slowly. All this leads up to why I suggested one just use Win2k server's mirroring ability.
I said in another thread that WinXP supports mirroring on dynamic drives, and I was wrong. I do agree that this is a major shortcoming (to only include mirroring/raid5 on server OSes.) However, if one is serious about setting up a mirror, I would go with a real truly hardware RAID card, such as the 3ware Escalade 7506-4, which retails for $255 and has connections for two hard drives. If you need four drives, they make the 7500-4 for $275. I'm sure people can find them cheaper, or one can find them used on eBay for less. Another advantage to buying a 3ware/higher end card is that the card will be able to do RAID modes other semi-software cards can't, like RAID 5 or 10.
Agreed, 2k Pro/XP doesn't do it. Only the server versions. I forgot about that tidbit of data. But the fact still remains, if you're trying to run a server of some sort, you're probably going to have Win2k Server to begin with, so the dynamic disks/RAID1 capability will be there for you.
Unfortunately, Windows XP and Windows 2000 workstation both ship with the mirroring code disabled, which is unfortunate.
Huh? I'm curious to know what you're talking about, since dynamic disks are enabled on Win2k Pro/Server and XP Pro. You can then setup a mirrored array with those dynamic disks. It's all in the help file. Try right-clicking on "My Computer" and choosing "Manage Computer". Then go to the "Disk Management" section.
All of the cards listed are a joke. They are "semi-software" RAID cards. They are crap compared to the real deal, such as cards made by 3ware and the like. Cards with actual processors/cache/etc. on them, and not just some hook into a hard drive interrupt.
If you want to go cheap, you're much better off using Windows 2000/XP's dynamic drives/mirroring ability in software.
I never will understand why motherboard manufacturers use Promise/Highpoint chipsets on their "high-end" or "server" boards. Complete waste of time.
You guys really need to read the instructions on Doom9's forums about removing the adware legally. Adaware won't work. Follow the instructions and you'll be fine.
Unless the person who encoded the DiVX5 file decided to not use a MPEG4 profile and activate some of the DiVX-only features, such as GMC (Global Motion Compensation) or quarter-pel. Then you're pretty much screwed.
If this makes sense to you, I do not want to live in your world.
Yes, let's all get high and forget our troubles, forget about working a job or being responsible for our actions. Feeling good and happy is all that matters, man! Far out.
However, as a civil liberties advocate, I beleive that every person has the right to take whatever poisons they choose into their own bodies, as long as they don't put other people at risk by doing so.
So are you going to take responsibility when someone doped up on marijuana/LSD/coke/your_drug_here decides they want to drive while under the influence or do something that affects the life/well-being of another person? Give me a break.
I shouldn't need to explain why "drugs" are bad for society, as it's been explained many times before and is pretty much common sense.
I use a program I found called "Handy Backup" It's only $30, and can backup to a local directory, an FTP, or to a CD-R(W), either copying straight data/folders, or ZIPping the files/folders to take up less space -- Backup events can be scheduled for certain times, or even when you log on/log off your workstation.
It's a pretty slick program, and I recommend it, having used it for the past year and a half on my own server.
If you are running IIS, WindowsUpdate will find patches for it. But like you said, a general purpose "find and patch" tool would be pretty useful, for everything.
1) WindowsUpdate needs to become MicrosoftUpdate. This would scan and offer patches for all MS software (OS, Exchange, SQL, IIS, Office, Visual Studio,....). Also extend SUS to do the same.
The typical home user is not going to have Exchange, SQL, IIS or Visual Studio running on their box. The Baseline Security Analyzer is meant to identify problems so that you, as an admin, can adminstrate and fix them.
On top of the fact that he most likely chose to install a NIC driver from WindowsUpdate and that caused his problem; which in that case "Roll Back Driver" would work just as well.
Then boot into safe mode and run system restore. Or choose the "Last Known Good Configuration" on the startup menu. Do I have to hold your hand?
Better yet, in the future don't install drivers from Microsofts Windows Update site. No one's forcing you. Go to nVidia.com and get the latest detonators. Problem solved.
Regarding #1, Microsoft already makes the "Baseline Security Analyzer", a free product that will scan your computer (or computers on a domain, or an IP block) for updates to IIS/SQL/Windows/Exchange, and ensure security is properly setup on them. Pretty slick little program. It's available here.
You should refer people to this page at Microsoft, which explains the "Background Intelligent Transfer" service in XP and 2003. It's what throttles the bandwidth for automatic updates and the like.
XP and 2003's auto updating feature uses the "Background Intelligent Transfer" service. This service will throttle itself to only download using "leftover" bandwidth. If you're not using your internet connection, it chugs along full steam ahead. If you start to use it, it throttles back and gives you priority.
Read all about it here before whining about how slow it will make your dialup.
Plus there's always the option of downloading the SP/hotfixes elsewhere and burning them on CD. Or just ordering the SP from Microsoft. Sheesh.
Come on, quit trolling. Microsoft doesn't include drivers in their "critical updates". If you had auto-update enabled, those wouldn't have even been downloaded. Now, if you went to WindowsUpdate and selected them to be installed yourself, aren't you at fault if they crap out?
Also, isn't that what system restore is for? You do take snapshots before updating drivers, don't you? Oh, you don't? Well it's a good thing Windows XP does it for you automagically.
Slashdot Mirror
Semi-software refers to the fact that the card isn't truly hardware based. In fact, if you looked at the core components on those cards, they are simple ATA controllers. To do the actual striping/mirroring/spanning, they rely on the drivers loaded by the OS (whether it's Windows/Linux/Unix/BSD/etc.) to actually perform the operations. This uses CPU time and that is why I call it "semi-software". There are also other concerns, as Promise cards/chipsets have been known to have problems working with some motherboard southbridges/PCI buses, either not working completely, working partially, or working very slowly. All this leads up to why I suggested one just use Win2k server's mirroring ability.
I said in another thread that WinXP supports mirroring on dynamic drives, and I was wrong. I do agree that this is a major shortcoming (to only include mirroring/raid5 on server OSes.) However, if one is serious about setting up a mirror, I would go with a real truly hardware RAID card, such as the 3ware Escalade 7506-4, which retails for $255 and has connections for two hard drives. If you need four drives, they make the 7500-4 for $275. I'm sure people can find them cheaper, or one can find them used on eBay for less. Another advantage to buying a 3ware/higher end card is that the card will be able to do RAID modes other semi-software cards can't, like RAID 5 or 10.
Yep, I'm an idiot and forgot this. Sorry, guys :)
It's Win2k Server/Adv Server and Win2003 Server/Adv Server
Agreed, 2k Pro/XP doesn't do it. Only the server versions. I forgot about that tidbit of data. But the fact still remains, if you're trying to run a server of some sort, you're probably going to have Win2k Server to begin with, so the dynamic disks/RAID1 capability will be there for you.
I stand corrected, sir. :)
Unfortunately, Windows XP and Windows 2000 workstation both ship with the mirroring code disabled, which is unfortunate.
Huh? I'm curious to know what you're talking about, since dynamic disks are enabled on Win2k Pro/Server and XP Pro. You can then setup a mirrored array with those dynamic disks. It's all in the help file. Try right-clicking on "My Computer" and choosing "Manage Computer". Then go to the "Disk Management" section.
All of the cards listed are a joke. They are "semi-software" RAID cards. They are crap compared to the real deal, such as cards made by 3ware and the like. Cards with actual processors/cache/etc. on them, and not just some hook into a hard drive interrupt.
If you want to go cheap, you're much better off using Windows 2000/XP's dynamic drives/mirroring ability in software.
I never will understand why motherboard manufacturers use Promise/Highpoint chipsets on their "high-end" or "server" boards. Complete waste of time.
That's the sound of the world's smallest fiddle playing a sad song for you, friend.
Want some cheese with that whine?
Or shall I call a whaaaaambulance?
Sheesh. I think it's time you jacked into Real-Life v1.0
You guys really need to read the instructions on Doom9's forums about removing the adware legally. Adaware won't work. Follow the instructions and you'll be fine.
Unless the person who encoded the DiVX5 file decided to not use a MPEG4 profile and activate some of the DiVX-only features, such as GMC (Global Motion Compensation) or quarter-pel. Then you're pretty much screwed.
stoned and happy populace makes some sense
If this makes sense to you, I do not want to live in your world.
Yes, let's all get high and forget our troubles, forget about working a job or being responsible for our actions. Feeling good and happy is all that matters, man! Far out.
However, as a civil liberties advocate, I beleive that every person has the right to take whatever poisons they choose into their own bodies, as long as they don't put other people at risk by doing so.
So are you going to take responsibility when someone doped up on marijuana/LSD/coke/your_drug_here decides they want to drive while under the influence or do something that affects the life/well-being of another person? Give me a break.
I shouldn't need to explain why "drugs" are bad for society, as it's been explained many times before and is pretty much common sense.
I use a program I found called "Handy Backup" It's only $30, and can backup to a local directory, an FTP, or to a CD-R(W), either copying straight data/folders, or ZIPping the files/folders to take up less space -- Backup events can be scheduled for certain times, or even when you log on/log off your workstation.
It's a pretty slick program, and I recommend it, having used it for the past year and a half on my own server.
Then go over to someone's house who has highspeed internet and a burner, and burn a copy.
Or go to an internet cafe with burners and burn a copy.
Or get a job, so $9 isn't that big of a deal anymore.
Seriously, guys. There is no excuse, here.
While I hate to keep debating this.. :)
If you are running IIS, WindowsUpdate will find patches for it. But like you said, a general purpose "find and patch" tool would be pretty useful, for everything.
Here's a better link for more information about BITS.
You were asking for:
....). Also extend SUS to do the same.
1) WindowsUpdate needs to become MicrosoftUpdate. This would scan and offer patches for all MS software (OS, Exchange, SQL, IIS, Office, Visual Studio,
The typical home user is not going to have Exchange, SQL, IIS or Visual Studio running on their box. The Baseline Security Analyzer is meant to identify problems so that you, as an admin, can adminstrate and fix them.
There's always "System Restore", jabroni.
On top of the fact that he most likely chose to install a NIC driver from WindowsUpdate and that caused his problem; which in that case "Roll Back Driver" would work just as well.
Then boot into safe mode and run system restore. Or choose the "Last Known Good Configuration" on the startup menu. Do I have to hold your hand?
Better yet, in the future don't install drivers from Microsofts Windows Update site. No one's forcing you. Go to nVidia.com and get the latest detonators. Problem solved.
Regarding #1, Microsoft already makes the "Baseline Security Analyzer", a free product that will scan your computer (or computers on a domain, or an IP block) for updates to IIS/SQL/Windows/Exchange, and ensure security is properly setup on them. Pretty slick little program. It's available here.
You should refer people to this page at Microsoft, which explains the "Background Intelligent Transfer" service in XP and 2003. It's what throttles the bandwidth for automatic updates and the like.
GAH!
Ok, people. You really need to research this.
XP and 2003's auto updating feature uses the "Background Intelligent Transfer" service. This service will throttle itself to only download using "leftover" bandwidth. If you're not using your internet connection, it chugs along full steam ahead. If you start to use it, it throttles back and gives you priority.
Read all about it here before whining about how slow it will make your dialup.
Plus there's always the option of downloading the SP/hotfixes elsewhere and burning them on CD. Or just ordering the SP from Microsoft. Sheesh.
Ok, getting a bit tired of the "dialup" excuse.
Microsoft has always offered Service Packs on CD for just the cost of S&H.
Or you can always go to a friends or an internet cafe with highspeed internet (or your work), download the patches/SP's, and burn them to a CD.
Sheesh.
Then apparently you're a dumbass and either don't know about "System Restore" or don't care.
Oh yeah, there's also a little button on a device's properties page that says "Roll Back Driver" Try pushing it next time.
Genius.
Come on, man. Quit trolling! I already gave you a solution in my other reply to you.
Ignorance is no excuse. Nor is "my internet is too slow to download patches, so I won't do it! No siree!"
Come on, quit trolling. Microsoft doesn't include drivers in their "critical updates". If you had auto-update enabled, those wouldn't have even been downloaded. Now, if you went to WindowsUpdate and selected them to be installed yourself, aren't you at fault if they crap out?
Also, isn't that what system restore is for? You do take snapshots before updating drivers, don't you? Oh, you don't? Well it's a good thing Windows XP does it for you automagically.