IT Support Advice For Data Backup And Disaster Recovery

 By Michael K John 

Photo: blog.appassure.com

These days we are all so dependent on computers that we just can't do without them. If you do have a flood, fire, robbery or some other kind of disaster you can always buy new computers, but the data is uniquely yours.
That means that you can't get the data anywhere else. Recreating all the invoices, emails contact details, sales history, etc, is well-nigh impossible - that's why so many businesses go out of business when they lose their data.
Once your data is gone it's gone! So it's up to you to make sure you have a backup copy. Without a current backup the cost of recovery and the time required are so great that few businesses survive the experience. The irony is that data backup isn't complex or even expensive if you outsource it to IT Support professionals who know what they are doing.
Can IT Support Restore Your Data backup?
If you are not backing up all the critical data on your network - or if you are, but have never tested your data backups - you are at high risk of losing irreplaceable company files and information.
Most IT Support Companies recommend that you do a backup every night and perform a regular test to ensure that your backup system is working. It's not uncommon for backup files to become corrupt and useless, and you certainly don't want to wait for a crisis situation for your IT Support Company to tell you that your backup wasn't working.
Which Is The Best IT Support Service - Tape Data Backup or Online Data Backup?
You've probably heard some IT Support Companies say that tape backup is dead. Yet others will say that tape is the only backup that's reliable enough for business use. The reality is that there is no 1-size-fits-all solution - in other words it all depends. On some occasions tape data backup is right solution and on others online data backup. Each has a place.
The main strengths of each are:
Tape data backup
Better and more cost effective for data volumes of over say 50GB
Better for archiving data for months or years
Online data backup
Better and more cost effective for data volumes under say 50GB
Does not archive data for weeks or years
Tape Data Backup Is Fastest For Large Data Volumes
The main disadvantage of tape data backup is that it's manual. Your IT Support Company is unlikely to be at your office each day. That means that somebody in your company must remember to change the tape each night. Ideally it should be taken it off the premises each day so that it is in a different location from the original data. However the main advantage of tape backup is that the process of copying a data onto a tape is very fast. This means that it can cope with large data volumes better than the relatively slow online backup.
Tape Data Backup Is Cheapest For Large Data Volumes
With online backup you pay per gigabyte of storage, so the cost soon mounts up. However once you have purchased a tape drive you can back up as much data as you want at no extra cost.
Online Backup Is Automated
The speed of your broadband limits how much data you can back up overnight. Assuming that you have an average number of changes during the day you can usually backup a database of 50Gb to 80Gb - any larger than this and the transmission of the changes may not finish by the next morning. And that will slow your network down. However most small to medium sized businesses will have less data than this unless they have a large number of images.
Online backup for servers, PC's and Mac's is simple and easy. Unlike tape backup your daily online data backup is entirely automated. Your IT Support Company can set it all up for you.
When it's time to do a backup (usually when everybody has left for the night) the backup software will check which changes have been made since yesterday and create a fully encrypted incremental backup. Your IT Support Company will then monitor that the backup has worked correctly on a daily basis.
Seek Advice From Your IT Support Company
Data backup can be complex, so consult your IT Support Company to make sure that you have a reliable secure data backup.

Ziptech Services Ltd offers cost effective IT support and services at affordable rates without including any surprise or hidden cost.

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Key Components of Network Management

 By Fateh Kumar Singh 

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Network management is very crucial for every business organization as your business operations depends on the smooth running of the network. All the network components are periodically monitored because if any device fails it will cause a lot of downtime affecting your business. It is very important to specify about the device which is being monitored. There are many other parameters like applications, protocols, equipment and other processes which should be considered for the monitoring plans.
There are many divisions of network management like fault management, performance, device management, security and change management, configuration and implementation management. The fault management contains the monitoring which is done on a proactive basis of the devices. Special attention is done to specify what should be monitored and a response time for the generated alarms. The escalation process starts after the alarms are generated. The methods for escalation support are done by the NOC team for better solution.
Security management is another aspect, here the engineers make sure that the servers and the network devices are secure and match with the policy of the organization. There are different devices like routers, firewalls, switches and many types of servers. The main constituents of security are password assignment, change policy, community strings, dial security etc. In the device management process the maintenance of the database inventory is done. It contains the WAN Devices, modules, serial numbers of the devices, IOS Versions, documentation of the server and design.
Later on the configuration is executed on the network for circuits and servers. A new task is established to configure the new devices, their modification as well as to maintain the TFTP servers. Change management is very important for the network availability. Many people make many unauthorized changes without giving any alert can cause problems when the changes do not work properly. The changes made to the production network must intimate to the network operations center as well as the concerned person from the IT support staff.
Another concern is to implement the new modifications without any disruption to the network. There are various SNMP applications focusing on managing the devices, circuits and servers. Its version which is applied must be noted to the server. Some customers take applications having their own software also in them; give information to the management group. These SNMP applications monitor the routers switches and circuits. When the events are exceeded a predefined event alarm is triggered for it. When making the strategy for effective network management these main elements should be considered.

The author Fateh Kumar Singh is currently working in ProVal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. as a Marketing Executive. He is constantly sharing updates about technical services like Server Management and other IT Support by his writings.

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All You Need To Know When Buying a New Motherboard

By Simon Daniels  

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A computers motherboard is fundamentally the most important component inside the PC. It is responsible for all the communication between devices internal and external. If you get it wrong then many things can go wrong and other components can get damaged.
Motherboards can come with all major devices such as audio and graphics fitted onboard or without these components, allowing for better performance audio or graphics cards to be fitted independently. This decision is usually determined by the final use of the PC. A gaming PC would usually have a separate graphics card fitted to allow upgrading as gaming is a fast paced industry and the requirement for the latest hardware is based upon the types of games played.
When replacing a motherboard there are a few things that should be considered to reduce the risk of damage or generally getting it wrong.
The first thing to consider is your existing system. If you are replacing your existing motherboard then you need to know what specification you have. Your computer may be a branded PC such as HP, Sony etc and the motherboard may have their branding stamped on it. This makes things a little bit difficult as a replacement may only be obtained from the manufacturer and sometimes this may be impossible due to age of the machine. If this is your situation then a look at the motherboard may help you to determine who originally manufactured the motherboard. (PC manufacturers do not make their own components they are usually made and branded by the component manufacturers). When looking at the motherboard write down every visible number or word that is written on it. Now turn to the internet and use a search engine to search these numbers and names and see what comes back. Usually it will not take long before you have the original manufacturer and model number of the motherboard. User forums can be very useful when trying to obtain this information.
If building a new PC from scratch it will be necessary to decide which processor brand and type you wish to use as this will directly affect which motherboard series you can buy and install. The motherboard contains a socket which holds the processor. AMD and Intel use different styles of socket and this determines the motherboard that they can be fitted to.
The next consideration is the case size. Motherboard sizes are called their "Form Factor", this determines the size of board required. It is important to note the form factor of the PC case or chassis as the motherboard should be the same. For example a micro ATX motherboard is designed to fit in a micro ATX case.
After determining the above points you are half way there to determining which motherboard you require. The next important thing to note is the availability of ports and slots that hold other devices. These need to be considered carefully if you have existing devices to connect such as printers, digital cameras or external hard disk drives etc.
Make a list of all the hardware that you need to connect to the motherboard internally and externally. Once you have this list check each requirement off against the motherboard specifications to determine that it can support the devices you have. Pay particular attention to the amount of USB devices you have. All the ports you see on the rear of your computer are part of the motherboard. Also make sure there are enough internal connectors for your hard disk drives and CD/ DVD disk drives.
Motherboard Checklist
1- Check the computer case or chassis size also known as the form factor.
2- Determine your processor type and supported types and sizes.
3- Check the memory type and how much the motherboard supports.
4- How many internal devices does the motherboard support such as hard disk drives, CD / DVD drives.
5- Determine the amount of expansion card slots the motherboard has for installing Graphics cards, sound cards etc.
6- Check how many external devices you may need to support and determine how many ports the motherboard has for these devices.

The author has worked in the IT industry for approximately 15 years and has worked in various support roles for companies and public bodies. The company, IvoryEgg for which he now works is a supplier of motherboards and consumer electronics.

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Five Important Tips to Remember When Buying a Projector

 By Andrew Craig Wall 

Photo: asia.cnet.com

In the last few years, projectors have become more popular as these devices now operate not only in boardroom and conference rooms but also within the education sector and at home. Consumers are now looking to change their home entertainment system into full-sized theatres that is like having your own cinema at home. Technology has played a crucial role in the development of projectors as now you can get devices that support both HD and 3D.
The technological advancements in projectors have resulted in more consumers and businesses acquiring a projector. You may find it is easy to purchase a projector but there a certain factors you need to consider beforehand, as you do not want to buy a projector that you cannot use or does not meet your requirements. Factors to consider are the price, functionality and replacement bulbs. In the market today, there are various models of projectors from different manufacturers such as Optoma, Epson, Acer, Samsung and Sanyo to name but a few.
The first factor you need to be aware of is what the purpose of the projector will be i.e. what you would the projector to do for you. Projectors are brought for a number of different reasons such as for classroom use, laptop, boardroom and conference presentations and home theatre use.
If you are a person that travels from one place to another to present presentations, then the ideal projectors for you will need to be lightweight and portable. For the home user, it is best to buy a DLP projector that supports HD and 3D as this will enable you to watch the latest movies in crystal-clear clarity. If you are planning to use the projector outside or with a dusty environment, then you need to do further research in obtaining cheap bulbs for the projector. Projectors used in these kinds of environments will have a shorter bulb life because of the dust and bugs that get attracted to the light of the projector. Remember the following five tips when choosing your projector:
1. Decide what the projector will be used for and where it will be used i.e. boardroom, classroom or at home.
2. If you are going to be presenting your presentations in different places, then a lightweight and portable is the best option to buy.
3. Evaluate the technical details of the projector against your requirements e.g. contrast ratio and lumens output.
4. Find out the cost of a replacements bulbs
5. Visit online forums and review sites in order to get a better understanding of the projector and to compare prices.

Projector Planet stocks a wide range of projectors that are suitable for a variety of settings such as the classroom, boardroom and at home. It is internet only retailer, which helps keep prices low. Box Limited runs this website, having been formed over fifteen years.

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