NetworkUsAll Journal

This is the best way to achieve a clean and uncluttered install of any Windows operating system.
If you have a badly corrupted Windows operating system then first of all you will want to blank the hard drive first. This can be easily achieved by booting from a Linux boot disk then using the “dd” command to write directly to the hard drive. I shall cover the Linux boot in another post. Place your Windows install CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer. As the BIOS starts, hit DEL or F2 or whatever your BIOS requires to enter the setup and set it to boot from the CD-ROM drive first, followed by the hard drive you wish to install Windows on. Save your settings and restart the computer. This should now begin the Windows installation procedure.
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Posted in: Business, networking, windows by Julian Perry / Tags: bios, Business, cd rom drive, dd command, drivers, google, hard drive, installing windows, linux, linux boot disk, network interface, networking, partition size, windows, windows operating system

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This is an SMTP server like the one your ISP provides. It is targeted at Windows users and sells as a faster and more flexible alternative.

I don’t like to be negative about the efforts of others but, I do find it diffucult to see what advantage this server application gives you over the already available SMTP component that Windows XP gives you. If you are looking for improved email delivery times then Windows can do this already. PostCast Server does provide a greater level of control and reporting but if you already send large quantities of email messages then you will already have a form of recording your activity.

It suggestes that you don’t have to be on line to be able to queue-up your messages. Well the vast majority of systems keep messages ready to re-send when an SMTP server is not available.

Perhaps I’m just being a party pooper but it just seems a bit pointless to me.

Why don’t you try adding the Windows SMTP server component and try it out?

Control Panel – Add or Remove Programs – Add/Remove Windows Components – Internet Information Services (IIS), Click Details, select SMTP Service, OK, Next, Finish.

Tweak your email client to use “localhost” and away you go.

Posted in: Business, email, networking, server, smtp, windows by Julian Perry / Tags: Business, control panel, delivery times, email, email client, email delivery, email messages, iis, internet information services, isp, networking, party pooper, postcast, postcast server, quantities, server, server application, server component, smtp, smtp component, smtp server, windows components, windows users, windows xp

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Discovered something unexpected and annoying.

I recently installed an office VoIP system using 3CX and a mix of X-Lite and 3CX client apps. To cut a long story short, I sorted the bandwidth issue but two desktops continued to have issues. This was perplexing and rather annoying as one was the IT Director’s.

Convinced there was still a bandwidth problem, I continued to monitor data flow and any mal formed data packets. This appeared to be normal. Eventually it turned out that the network wall socket was the problem. Even though the PC continued to work fairly well, until we connected the network cable to another port it was not apparent what the problem was.

Immediately the PC was quicker and the user’s voip problems vanished.

I am always amazed how Windows will cope with a dodgy network connection without showing any indications that there is any form of connectivity problems. Everything worked – web, email and other network clients appeared to be working fine. However VoIP is a lot more temperamental. Calls were being dropped after a few minutes which is no good for a business. PC hardware also causes problems. USB audio equipment and onboard sound have to be operating perfectly. If you have a PC that occasionally exhibits unexpected behaviour then dont use it with VoIP or at least expect to lose calls unexpectidly.

Windows will cover up the problem – you need to prove that the hardware is stable (VERY STABLE). The slightest blip and VoIP fails.

Posted in: Business, networking, windows by Julian Perry / Tags: 3cx, bandwidth issue, bandwidth problem, blip, Business, business pc, client, connectivity problems, data flow, data packets, desktops, network cable, network clients, networking, onboard sound, pc hardware, stable, unexpected behaviour, voip, wall socket, web email, windows

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