Kept one of them online for about an hour with, of all things an old Vista VM I had.
Let it go, and go - then came the sting for $$$ and I politely declined. Then the anger started, I enjoyed the threats for a minute or more - then calmly told them I had actually scammed them. He was confused, and I explained that it was a VM with a snapshot, and that as soon as he was off the phone the VM of Vista would be back the way it was before they called.
Then again, on another call - when asking there was a problem with "Microsoft Windows", I asked which one of my Linux or Mac's was causing the issue....
I enjoyed the threats of "we know where you live". The counter for that is, can you afford the airfare on your wage?
My thoughts exactly. I get that the shuttles were aging technology. But NASA did describe them as "pickup trucks", well I've seen some beat up pickup trucks on farms that still keep going.
I saw the Challenger disaster live, but without risk there is no gain. Several lessons were learned from that.
It is a sad end to an era, and people seem to be cheering it on.
Now it is the Russians and for-profit industry that will make those science/adventure movies reality.
Well, being an Australian - I have nothing but caps. But the MikroTik solution is a very good option. I'm running RouterOS 5.2 x86 on my embedded PC and works like a treat, though the 80Gig HD is a bit overkill....
If you are buying 1000 of them, I would expect the price to be *MUCH* cheaper than that.
I work for a local council - and my last PC refresh I got the PC and a 22" monitor from our supplier for just over $1K/system. I only ordered 60. All components come with 9-5/5 3 year warranty, got access to (thank godness) the ENGLISH HP Government Helpdesk.
I only need to do basic diagnosis of hardware faults - HD Dead, loud fans, PC/Monitor dead. We pay for warranty, we let our HP techs figure out the problem. One or two spare desktops is all we have ever needed.
I haven't crunched the numbers, but rolling your own is gunna cost you more down the track.
We also get our integrator to do the heavy lifting of swapping out desktops.
Sorry, but IBM is up there with Dell and Acer for me.
Down here in Tasmania, we are told we are suburb of Melbourne...
Server down, critical app out? Can you download this app and run? Yeah, SLA's don't mean much to us.
Yeah that drive to get the app server going again won't be to you until next week. Tasmanian rep? He's in Melbourne...
Sorry, IBM, if you can't look after us "small fry" I pitty those that drink the Kool-Aid...
lol, OK five years ago, my daughter was the same way.
Took an old keyboard, removed the "guts" and cable - presto! Worked well with both girls.
Now they have my old Asus W2VC laptop (locked down and parental supervision!) to play their flash games on.
Leapster is also a huge hit with them.
+100 I have no idea why people seem to thing that an Email system provided to them by the company would be theirs for personal use...
There are lots of webmail services out there
I know with only 30 end users getting the funds to do this can be a challenge....It was for use (local council) until literally every time our HVAC systems would draw extra because of heat or cold, the whole phase would trip out...Thus we would have a mad panic to the DC to shutdown servers manually! Finally got a electrician (big hint here, get one familiar with Datacentres!) who looked at all three phases of power coming into our building. The first thing that we did (after a facepalm of the original setup) was to load balance ALL the power coming in, and moved the Datacentre power to a different phase than the HVAC - a no brainer, but no one before me really had thought of this!
The second phase of what we did, was to run our own 3 phases right from the main switchboard into the Datacentre with the main breakers in the Datacentre, then a couple of sub-panels.We now have our Datacentre with a North/South power distribution feeding two Liebert UPS's that in turn, feed PDU's. So if we loose one phase, things will "scream" and email off alerts - but things will stay up. We still (because of the age of our first UPS) need a physical server connected to the UPS via serial, but the newer one has a web card in it. I have a script that if both UPS end up on battery mode, a graceful suspend of the VM's starts, with our exchange and DC's being the last to suspend.
We happen to be a Windows shop, with a HP C7000 blade enclosure that is our VMware farm, connected to HP EVA 4100 which the two SAN switches have up to 96 hours of write cache. The other thing that I am looking at on its own small UPS is a
MikroTik 411u with a prepaid 3G to give us independent source of SMS's. There is little point of having a SMS server that is going to be shutdown because it is on UPS.
The key thing to remember about UPS (as far as I am concerned) - is that they are not a replacement for mains power. The suggestions for a generator are interesting given the fact that you only have 30 end users, the expense, maintenance of them would make them cost prohibitive tive in your environment.
But 30 minutes to bring up a DC?
I totally agree with the above. Sadly, the ONLY piece of Cisco Kit that we have is 5000 Series ASA - that our ISP manages for us (as part of our services from them) that we only use as a VPN concentrator. Licensing is, well, confusing to say the least...paying annual maintenance on it, DOES NOT allow you to get upgrades to firmware or the propitiatory Cisco VPN client (no x64 Windows 7 client yet - if ever!!!).
Network is fully equipped with HP Procurve Switches, which not only have a lifetime warranty, but firmware upgrades at no extra levels of support.
Our core router is an http://routerboard.com/pricelist.php?showProduct=57 which (and we sadly have static routing - but that is another story) I have just started at looking at the whole potential of it after a year in service.
OS X is a decent operating system, but few people can be satisfied by a single hardware vendor. Might as well write off Apple as a player now, as it's unlikely they'll ever release the death grip and let the world play with OS X.
+1
Probably a reason why I will never drink the Apple Kool-Aid.
Not really much difference between the current system and outright anarchy when people can sue you to death.
Replace "bastard feudal lord from hell" with "giant corporation", and "peasant" with "individual" and you will find things have really not much changed.
I love that quote - so much so I "borrowed" it for my email sig....
WHOM do I send money to? You, or/. or my local ISP?
If you think we *want* to be stuck on IE 6, we don't. We don't really care. However, the developers wrote some asinine ActiveX shit that doesn't work on IE 7 or IE 8, and sure as fuck don't work on Firefox. Or, we're using PeopleSoft software that isn't certified on anything about IE 6, etc.
For XP? Well, by the time Vista was working well enough with the internal apps to roll out, Windows 7 was in beta. Why the hell would I go through upgrading everything to Vista just to have the same people turn around and want Windows 7 next week, but we can't afford to have any departments down for a day to reimage.
It comes down to the golden rule of the sysadmin -- if it's working, don't fuck with it.
I couldn't agree more! Though we don't use PeopleSoft, our major corporate software does *at random* change the default email program to Outlook Express, from Office Outlook! Migrating to IE7 was a huge PITA - because of the fact that the developers of said software insist that we run IE with a stupidly low security - thankfully it is just on "trusted sites" inside our network.
Re-image? Yeah, well that is always easier said than done - we STILL have people that run "highly critical" SpreadSheets on their desktops - "Because it is easier.", They learn right smart after the said SpreadSheet corrupts or they blow away data from it, that we can't recover it from a back up - Because we don't back up PC's!
(rant)
SmallFurryCreature - "Lets face it, most of us here are probably a bit more clueed in then some MSCE drone who thinks unix is something they did to men in harems."
As far as that statement goes - I have to disagree with the general tone that Unix/Linux admins seem to paint MS Admins with. I am yes a MS Desktop/Network admin (sorry no paperwork, I can't justify spending the money on exams), but I also know my way around *nix as well as we have several *nix based servers under our control as well. VMware is just one example of this. The thing that probably separates me from calling my self a *Nix admin, is that I have a little knowledge of how the thing works - And I know it, after all a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! But that being said, if there is an issue with our *Nix servers, I tend to do some research regarding the issue, because no doubt other people have run into the same thing.
But not knowing the command line in MS - yes, then trying to do everything via GUI is just a unenlightened MS Admin. I tend to try and deploy packages via our Altiris server via.cmd file.
(/rant)
This is a $$ solution, but we have been using Altiris Deployment server for a number of years (yes, it is a sad fact that they are owned by Symantec now....)
But via Altiris, one can track EVERYTHING on a PC - MAC Address, IP Address, Serial #, Make, Model, Software and Patches installed. Works on MS, MAC and Linux.
Simple Excel SpreadSheet plugin to the DB gets you a "quick and dirty" report.
We run a EDMS system for our local council here - doesn't matter about the filename, it is how it is all indexed. Too many people here are thinking that you need to re-name EVERY document.
I don't have any experience with Hummingbird, but what about HP's TRIM software? Yes $$$$, but it also has a WEB GUI interface. Just a thought.
It'll require an expensive support contract just to load any software on it or add any new hardware to it.
Based on what we have paid for a very basic ASA 5510, I shudder to think what the support costs are!
And to paraphrase other people, we have a HP cClass Blade system, that has proven to be very reliable and econmical.
Did I mention that we are an HP shop? Replaced all of our 3Com switches with ProCurves, for 1/5th the cost - all with lifetime warranty and software/firmware updates as needed - all for NO ANNUAL FEE!
Hmmm...Interesting - but why only on Urinals? Why not in the stalls in BOTH sexes of restrooms?
Either way, this confirms that I don't really want to make the US as a destination when I make trips from Australia to Canada...
Slashdot Mirror
Kept one of them online for about an hour with, of all things an old Vista VM I had.
Let it go, and go - then came the sting for $$$ and I politely declined. Then the anger started, I enjoyed the threats for a minute or more - then calmly told them I had actually scammed them. He was confused, and I explained that it was a VM with a snapshot, and that as soon as he was off the phone the VM of Vista would be back the way it was before they called.
Then again, on another call - when asking there was a problem with "Microsoft Windows", I asked which one of my Linux or Mac's was causing the issue....
I enjoyed the threats of "we know where you live". The counter for that is, can you afford the airfare on your wage?
Way down in Tasmania.
The WISP is expanding in the DC arena - http://www.tasmanet.com.au/data-centre/
My thoughts exactly. I get that the shuttles were aging technology. But NASA did describe them as "pickup trucks", well I've seen some beat up pickup trucks on farms that still keep going.
I saw the Challenger disaster live, but without risk there is no gain. Several lessons were learned from that.
It is a sad end to an era, and people seem to be cheering it on.
Now it is the Russians and for-profit industry that will make those science/adventure movies reality.
That's it if D-Link is involved it is bound to be success! ;)
Make your software send it...
You can not teach the world, so why try?
Absolutely should have been part of the software...
But let's face it most software now is about the pretty pictures....
Our two main kits of software generate error codes that can be submitted to the IT Helpdesk and assigned accordingly.
+ 100
http://www.internode.on.net/news/2011/09/247.php
Makes the 1% of me feel better that when I am surfing I'm green about it...
...with a script for Greasemonkey called Unfriend Finder. You have to install Greasemonkey addon for Firefox first.
+1000 been using for two years now, I guess they want to make it for the ~85% of people on IE6....
Well, being an Australian - I have nothing but caps. But the MikroTik solution is a very good option. I'm running RouterOS 5.2 x86 on my embedded PC and works like a treat, though the 80Gig HD is a bit overkill....
Don't forget about Canada http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=people+per+square+mile+in+Canada
Or Australia http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=people+per+square+mile+in+australia
But back on topic, I've know no internet WITHOUT download caps...
If you are buying 1000 of them, I would expect the price to be *MUCH* cheaper than that. I work for a local council - and my last PC refresh I got the PC and a 22" monitor from our supplier for just over $1K/system. I only ordered 60. All components come with 9-5/5 3 year warranty, got access to (thank godness) the ENGLISH HP Government Helpdesk. I only need to do basic diagnosis of hardware faults - HD Dead, loud fans, PC/Monitor dead. We pay for warranty, we let our HP techs figure out the problem. One or two spare desktops is all we have ever needed. I haven't crunched the numbers, but rolling your own is gunna cost you more down the track. We also get our integrator to do the heavy lifting of swapping out desktops.
Sorry, but IBM is up there with Dell and Acer for me. Down here in Tasmania, we are told we are suburb of Melbourne... Server down, critical app out? Can you download this app and run? Yeah, SLA's don't mean much to us. Yeah that drive to get the app server going again won't be to you until next week. Tasmanian rep? He's in Melbourne... Sorry, IBM, if you can't look after us "small fry" I pitty those that drink the Kool-Aid...
lol, OK five years ago, my daughter was the same way. Took an old keyboard, removed the "guts" and cable - presto! Worked well with both girls. Now they have my old Asus W2VC laptop (locked down and parental supervision!) to play their flash games on. Leapster is also a huge hit with them.
Can someone tell them to turn off the BING image view. Sorry, we're in the third world of Australia, and searching images is no, just epic FAIL.
+100 I have no idea why people seem to thing that an Email system provided to them by the company would be theirs for personal use... There are lots of webmail services out there
I know with only 30 end users getting the funds to do this can be a challenge....It was for use (local council) until literally every time our HVAC systems would draw extra because of heat or cold, the whole phase would trip out...Thus we would have a mad panic to the DC to shutdown servers manually! Finally got a electrician (big hint here, get one familiar with Datacentres!) who looked at all three phases of power coming into our building. The first thing that we did (after a facepalm of the original setup) was to load balance ALL the power coming in, and moved the Datacentre power to a different phase than the HVAC - a no brainer, but no one before me really had thought of this! The second phase of what we did, was to run our own 3 phases right from the main switchboard into the Datacentre with the main breakers in the Datacentre, then a couple of sub-panels.We now have our Datacentre with a North/South power distribution feeding two Liebert UPS's that in turn, feed PDU's. So if we loose one phase, things will "scream" and email off alerts - but things will stay up. We still (because of the age of our first UPS) need a physical server connected to the UPS via serial, but the newer one has a web card in it. I have a script that if both UPS end up on battery mode, a graceful suspend of the VM's starts, with our exchange and DC's being the last to suspend. We happen to be a Windows shop, with a HP C7000 blade enclosure that is our VMware farm, connected to HP EVA 4100 which the two SAN switches have up to 96 hours of write cache. The other thing that I am looking at on its own small UPS is a MikroTik 411u with a prepaid 3G to give us independent source of SMS's. There is little point of having a SMS server that is going to be shutdown because it is on UPS. The key thing to remember about UPS (as far as I am concerned) - is that they are not a replacement for mains power. The suggestions for a generator are interesting given the fact that you only have 30 end users, the expense, maintenance of them would make them cost prohibitive tive in your environment. But 30 minutes to bring up a DC?
Why the hell is Cisco still in business, again?
I totally agree with the above. Sadly, the ONLY piece of Cisco Kit that we have is 5000 Series ASA - that our ISP manages for us (as part of our services from them) that we only use as a VPN concentrator. Licensing is, well, confusing to say the least...paying annual maintenance on it, DOES NOT allow you to get upgrades to firmware or the propitiatory Cisco VPN client (no x64 Windows 7 client yet - if ever!!!). Network is fully equipped with HP Procurve Switches, which not only have a lifetime warranty, but firmware upgrades at no extra levels of support. Our core router is an http://routerboard.com/pricelist.php?showProduct=57 which (and we sadly have static routing - but that is another story) I have just started at looking at the whole potential of it after a year in service.
OS X is a decent operating system, but few people can be satisfied by a single hardware vendor. Might as well write off Apple as a player now, as it's unlikely they'll ever release the death grip and let the world play with OS X.
+1 Probably a reason why I will never drink the Apple Kool-Aid.
Not really much difference between the current system and outright anarchy when people can sue you to death.
Replace "bastard feudal lord from hell" with "giant corporation", and "peasant" with "individual" and you will find things have really not much changed.
I love that quote - so much so I "borrowed" it for my email sig.... WHOM do I send money to? You, or /. or my local ISP?
If you think we *want* to be stuck on IE 6, we don't. We don't really care. However, the developers wrote some asinine ActiveX shit that doesn't work on IE 7 or IE 8, and sure as fuck don't work on Firefox. Or, we're using PeopleSoft software that isn't certified on anything about IE 6, etc.
For XP? Well, by the time Vista was working well enough with the internal apps to roll out, Windows 7 was in beta. Why the hell would I go through upgrading everything to Vista just to have the same people turn around and want Windows 7 next week, but we can't afford to have any departments down for a day to reimage.
It comes down to the golden rule of the sysadmin -- if it's working, don't fuck with it.
I couldn't agree more! Though we don't use PeopleSoft, our major corporate software does *at random* change the default email program to Outlook Express, from Office Outlook! Migrating to IE7 was a huge PITA - because of the fact that the developers of said software insist that we run IE with a stupidly low security - thankfully it is just on "trusted sites" inside our network. Re-image? Yeah, well that is always easier said than done - we STILL have people that run "highly critical" SpreadSheets on their desktops - "Because it is easier.", They learn right smart after the said SpreadSheet corrupts or they blow away data from it, that we can't recover it from a back up - Because we don't back up PC's! (rant) SmallFurryCreature - "Lets face it, most of us here are probably a bit more clueed in then some MSCE drone who thinks unix is something they did to men in harems." As far as that statement goes - I have to disagree with the general tone that Unix/Linux admins seem to paint MS Admins with. I am yes a MS Desktop/Network admin (sorry no paperwork, I can't justify spending the money on exams), but I also know my way around *nix as well as we have several *nix based servers under our control as well. VMware is just one example of this. The thing that probably separates me from calling my self a *Nix admin, is that I have a little knowledge of how the thing works - And I know it, after all a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! But that being said, if there is an issue with our *Nix servers, I tend to do some research regarding the issue, because no doubt other people have run into the same thing. But not knowing the command line in MS - yes, then trying to do everything via GUI is just a unenlightened MS Admin. I tend to try and deploy packages via our Altiris server via .cmd file.
(/rant)
Even funnier is the http://www.arrangebypenis.com/ for Windows users.....
This is a $$ solution, but we have been using Altiris Deployment server for a number of years (yes, it is a sad fact that they are owned by Symantec now....) But via Altiris, one can track EVERYTHING on a PC - MAC Address, IP Address, Serial #, Make, Model, Software and Patches installed. Works on MS, MAC and Linux. Simple Excel SpreadSheet plugin to the DB gets you a "quick and dirty" report.
We run a EDMS system for our local council here - doesn't matter about the filename, it is how it is all indexed. Too many people here are thinking that you need to re-name EVERY document. I don't have any experience with Hummingbird, but what about HP's TRIM software? Yes $$$$, but it also has a WEB GUI interface. Just a thought.
It'll require an expensive support contract just to load any software on it or add any new hardware to it.
Based on what we have paid for a very basic ASA 5510, I shudder to think what the support costs are! And to paraphrase other people, we have a HP cClass Blade system, that has proven to be very reliable and econmical. Did I mention that we are an HP shop? Replaced all of our 3Com switches with ProCurves, for 1/5th the cost - all with lifetime warranty and software/firmware updates as needed - all for NO ANNUAL FEE!
Hmmm...Interesting - but why only on Urinals? Why not in the stalls in BOTH sexes of restrooms? Either way, this confirms that I don't really want to make the US as a destination when I make trips from Australia to Canada...