by Geoff Courts - @Macnamara_Geoff
If you are experiencing a poor internet connection, there are a number of websites that offer to test your upload and download speed for you. The problem is, if you want to get a truly accurate result, the act of measuring can actually affect the result. In physics this is called the Uncertainty Principle; this states that, on a quantum level, you cannot know both an objects’ speed and location, because the act of measuring will impact on the outcome (all measurement exerts some force or energy of the object being measured).
On a macro scale, the energy impact of photons of light has a negligible effect, but when measuring the velocity and location of individual particles, this can give experiment tainting results.
Speed test websites that use heavy flash simulations to display moving dials and pictures are consuming bandwidth at the very time you are trying to get an accurate reading of the connection you are using. Similarly, it’s no good testing the connection if someone else in the office is streaming BBC iPlayer, and someone else is downloading a large PDF report off a website. Uploads and downloads will affect directly the results of the speed test, including downloads from flash animations.
http://speedtester.bt.com/ gives an accurate reading of the actual download speed of the connection. It requires only that the PC you are using is connected directly to the router on the connection, and that no other machines are connected on the network, so the line is as clear as it can be and the externalities of other connected devices are avoided entirely. (It does require a Java plugin, however)
What’s more, the test results are logged with BT and, in Macnamara’s case, Zen (our preferred ISP), allowing them direct access to the results in case a fault is raised on the line.
If the test fails, or returns ‘inconclusive’, a second test may be initiated, which involves re-setting the router username and password to speedtest@speedtest_domain. This connects directly with the BT exchange, giving the truest reading on the line possible. If the result is poor, then the evidence is strong that the issue lies with the line itself. If the performance is shown to be good, it suggests that there may still be another network issue at play, and further investigation may be required.
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
8 iPhone Apps to help IT Pros with day to day business . . .
By @Macnamara_MB
While the frivolous iPhone apps usually get most of the media attention (yes, there really is over 175 apps that can produce rude bodily noises), there are quite a few apps that can help you do your job as an IT worker. While less notorious, they are worth your time to download and check out.
These apps serve several purposes. They can control or interact with appliances that are part of the corporate network, monitor and remotely control your office PCs, or check your Web server. While the small screen of the iPhone can't deliver everything that your multi-monitor desktop rig can, this collection of pro-class applications will help iPhone-holding IT workers manage their work lives better.
What follows is a list of 8 IT business-related iPhone apps. Most of these apps require the v3.0 (or higher) firmware to work properly. I have also tried to pick those apps that are free (or nearly so).
1. Ever-note (FREE) Collect, sort, tag and annotate notes and other miscellaneous information
2. Documents to go (£5.99 with Exchange Support £2.99 without also FREE Version)
3. Dropbox (FREE) File Sharing
4. Network Ping (FREE) Test broadband speeds from your iPhone anywhere on the move
5. Team Viewer (FREE) Remote Access from your iPhone
6. 0870 (FREE) Save a fortune, never dial 0845/0870/0844 from your mobile again
7. Logitech Touch Mouse (FREE) Remote mouse, just type in PC’s IP address
8. NetPortal (1.79) Remote file sharing over VPN or router port-forwarding.
You will be relieved to know, that I have picked apps that work with 3.1.3 firmware, as not so many people have upgraded their handsets to iOS4 software yet (if you hold a 3G, you’re not missing much). So us eager IT workers now have a handful of apps to make our work more in hand.
While the frivolous iPhone apps usually get most of the media attention (yes, there really is over 175 apps that can produce rude bodily noises), there are quite a few apps that can help you do your job as an IT worker. While less notorious, they are worth your time to download and check out.
These apps serve several purposes. They can control or interact with appliances that are part of the corporate network, monitor and remotely control your office PCs, or check your Web server. While the small screen of the iPhone can't deliver everything that your multi-monitor desktop rig can, this collection of pro-class applications will help iPhone-holding IT workers manage their work lives better.
What follows is a list of 8 IT business-related iPhone apps. Most of these apps require the v3.0 (or higher) firmware to work properly. I have also tried to pick those apps that are free (or nearly so).
1. Ever-note (FREE) Collect, sort, tag and annotate notes and other miscellaneous information
2. Documents to go (£5.99 with Exchange Support £2.99 without also FREE Version)
3. Dropbox (FREE) File Sharing
4. Network Ping (FREE) Test broadband speeds from your iPhone anywhere on the move
5. Team Viewer (FREE) Remote Access from your iPhone
6. 0870 (FREE) Save a fortune, never dial 0845/0870/0844 from your mobile again
7. Logitech Touch Mouse (FREE) Remote mouse, just type in PC’s IP address
8. NetPortal (1.79) Remote file sharing over VPN or router port-forwarding.
You will be relieved to know, that I have picked apps that work with 3.1.3 firmware, as not so many people have upgraded their handsets to iOS4 software yet (if you hold a 3G, you’re not missing much). So us eager IT workers now have a handful of apps to make our work more in hand.
Set Up Your iPhone with MS Exchange
From Geoff Courts - @macnamara_geoff
These days, everyone has an iPhone. In addition to the incredible number of applications with dubious merit you can add to it, there is one very useful function built in, and that's the Exchange Connector. This syncs not just your E-mail, but also your Calendar and Contacts from your Microsoft Exchange account.
You can of course sync with your Hotmail and G-mail accounts as well, but they can be added alongside your Exchange account, and it is Exchange that will almost certainly be running your business e-mail system. Since iPhone is rapidly gaining primacy in the business mobile device market, even over the mighty Blackberry (it was always a winner with the non-business users), lets show you how easy it is to set up your Exchange account on it.
N.B. You should note that only the latest version of iPhone - IOS4 - can support more than one Exchange account, so if you already have one set up, you will need to upgrade your iPhone's software before adding another.
1. Go to Mail Settings, select new Account, and select Microsoft Exchange
2. E-mail Address - this is your full e-mail address (e.g. yourname@domain.com)
3. Domain Name - leave this BLANK
4. Username - your username (the one that you use to log on to a PC with)
5. Password - your password (again, the one you use to log on to your PC)
6. Server name - the mail server name, e.g. mail.domainname.com (you may need to ask your administrator)
And that's it! You may be prompted that the Security Certificate is invalid. Every Server needs a certificate when accessing remotely. Some are verified by third parties (such as GoDaddy) but some are self-signed - i.e. you trust it because IT says you can. Just click 'Yes' when prompted if you want to continue.
You will also be asked if you want to over-write or merge your existing iPhone contacts - that's up to you.
If you have multiple sub-folders, it will only sync the top level by default, due to data allowances. If you have an enormous mailbox, but no subfolders (when you use Outlook, are all your e-mails in your Inbox?) you may want to create some additional subfolders before you sync, otherwise you risk downloading the entirety of you 10,000 e-mails and attachments over your tariff.
These days, everyone has an iPhone. In addition to the incredible number of applications with dubious merit you can add to it, there is one very useful function built in, and that's the Exchange Connector. This syncs not just your E-mail, but also your Calendar and Contacts from your Microsoft Exchange account.
You can of course sync with your Hotmail and G-mail accounts as well, but they can be added alongside your Exchange account, and it is Exchange that will almost certainly be running your business e-mail system. Since iPhone is rapidly gaining primacy in the business mobile device market, even over the mighty Blackberry (it was always a winner with the non-business users), lets show you how easy it is to set up your Exchange account on it.
N.B. You should note that only the latest version of iPhone - IOS4 - can support more than one Exchange account, so if you already have one set up, you will need to upgrade your iPhone's software before adding another.
1. Go to Mail Settings, select new Account, and select Microsoft Exchange
2. E-mail Address - this is your full e-mail address (e.g. yourname@domain.com)
3. Domain Name - leave this BLANK
4. Username - your username (the one that you use to log on to a PC with)
5. Password - your password (again, the one you use to log on to your PC)
6. Server name - the mail server name, e.g. mail.domainname.com (you may need to ask your administrator)
And that's it! You may be prompted that the Security Certificate is invalid. Every Server needs a certificate when accessing remotely. Some are verified by third parties (such as GoDaddy) but some are self-signed - i.e. you trust it because IT says you can. Just click 'Yes' when prompted if you want to continue.
You will also be asked if you want to over-write or merge your existing iPhone contacts - that's up to you.
If you have multiple sub-folders, it will only sync the top level by default, due to data allowances. If you have an enormous mailbox, but no subfolders (when you use Outlook, are all your e-mails in your Inbox?) you may want to create some additional subfolders before you sync, otherwise you risk downloading the entirety of you 10,000 e-mails and attachments over your tariff.
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