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Recent Posts

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4876
I have tried several apps - they all seem to have devised their own methods for transferring files and most of them feel like backdoors/hacks that Apple has grudgingly allowed. I don't see how this makes for a good UI.

Funny, but I remember reading a review of the iPad (fruit pad) just after it came out that vilified it for just that reason. User experience was hampered greatly by the medley of horribly inconsistent interfaces found in the myriad of apps. There is no consistently structured file open menu or system of/for controls, everything is just helter skelter with artsy fartsy buttons and other controls making it impossible to find or operate anything new quickly.

Don't Panic - Apple is in control - This is going to take a while... So look pretty colors OOOooooooooo...
Squirrel!
4877
Living Room / Re: Connections problem has me stumped ...
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 08, 2010, 06:16 PM »
Web pages still load and other files will download - just the one stalled fie remains stalled.

That kind of eliminates the network shutting down angle. But it would be interesting to see what copying a large file across the LAN to that machine would do.

If another machine can still DL the same file at the same time just fine, it doesn't look good for a server timeout either.

Any chance it something off-the-wall like a file system issue? - (I'd been pondering this for a bit but didn't want to say it) - Run chkdsk /r and a defrag and see if the behavior changes.
4878
So you're saying that in Windows all roads lead to Rome ... and that's "bad"
.
And on a Mac all roads lead no where and are unidirectional ... and that's the "wave-of-the-FUture".

Bloody Hell, I'm gonna go back to being a mechanic. ...Before "they" start recommending that I cut off a few fingers so I can type faster on tiny keyboards.


...Yes I'm a bit cranky this evening.
 :D
4879
While I believe that Apple wishes to treat the user like an idiot by "protecting" them from the file system ... There's a part there that you're missing. Apple's file management is crap.

In Windows if you merge two folders with the same name by copying one into the other, the contents of both folders appearing in the target is the result. Which is the logical outcome that anyone (with at least half a brain) would expect, because two plus two is supposed to equal four...

On a Mac if you try to merge two folders with the same name by copying one into the other, the result is you lose all of the data in the target folder...(e.g. 2+2=2)...Brilliant huh?

Being that it's too hard for tech support to explain to sheeple why that is an "expected behavior", it's "best" to just keep them out of "dangerous" places.
4880
General Software Discussion / Re: slock - anyone using it still?
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 07, 2010, 06:30 PM »
Not sure if it helps any but some googling turned up this description/feature list for, AecSLock shareware protection 1.11 - Does that sound about right?

aecSLock allows you to turn your applications into shareware with very little effort. SLock uses the famous Blowfish encryption algorithm to ensure security and flexible registration options to allow you to protect your application how you want. Features include:Protection using encrypted entries in the Windows registry and in a given DLL for additional securityFive modes of protection:Number of daysNumber of unique daysNumber of startsSpecific Expiry DateTime outSLock supports Grace periods - the software will work for a given number of starts/days after it has expired, allowing you to show a LRegister Now!l message.Flexible protection optionsRegistration for a given userRegistration for a single machineThe Trial period can be extended up to 99 times by an extension unlock code. You can control if and when you wish to allow SLockls trial period to be extended.Many more...
4881
Hm... I'm not sure about the upload download part, but f0dder's suggestion reminded me of one of the Emails I got regarding T-Clock throwing "Unknown Publisher" errors on a user's (XP) machine.

The fix was to run the Sysinternals streams utility against the .exe to remove the offending garbage data from the file. Here is the link he sent me, perhaps it will help you also.

http://www.petri.co....es-windows-vista.htm
4882
Living Room / Re: Connections problem has me stumped ...
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 07, 2010, 05:54 PM »
When the download stalls, does all network access stall with it? Or can you still load a webpage during a stalled download.

Reason I ask is that if everything slows to a crawl/stop at the same time you can use ping to identify where the problem exists. If you can ping the local ip address but not the gateway (router) then it's a WiFi issue. However if you can't ping the local IP or even the loopback address, then it's a LM/driver/protocol issue.

When you reset winSock did you reset TCP/IP also?

If IPV6 is an option on any of the equipment involved, disable it as it tends to be a real PITA and the root cause of all sorts of weird behavior & performance issues.
4883
Developer's Corner / Re: (Train Wreck) Multidimensional Dynamic Array in ASP
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 06, 2010, 10:55 PM »
Okay, looks like I get to answer my own question (sort of/thanks timns) Here's the currently finally working code:
Code: ASP [Select]
  1. <!--#include virtual="inc/dbConn.inc"-->
  2. <%
  3. '--+++--> Orders_ReceiveArray.asp
  4. Response.Buffer = False '--+++--> HOLY SHIT!!!
  5.  
  6. Dim ar_LAPN, iCount
  7. Dim ar_vCode(10), ar_vFName(10), ar_vActive(10), iVends
  8. ar_LAPN = Split(Request.Form("LAPN"), ",")
  9. iCount  = Request.Form("iCount")
  10.  
  11. Dim ar_nVend00, ar_pVend00
  12. ReDim ar_nVend00(10)
  13. ReDim ar_pVend00(10)
  14.  
  15. Dim MyConn, MyQuery, mRS '-----> SQL Query Variables
  16. set MyConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
  17.         MyConn.Open(MySQL)
  18.  
  19. MyQuery = "SELECT VendorCode, VendorFName, Active, BorderColor, FontClass FROM VendorNames"
  20. Set mRS = MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  21. If mRS.BOF And mRS.EOF Then
  22.     Response.Write("MySQL Query Failed! " & MyQuery)
  23.     Response.End
  24. Else
  25.         iVends = 0
  26.         mRS.MoveFirst
  27.         WHILE NOT mRS.EOF
  28.                 ar_vActive(iVends)      = mRS("Active") '--+++--> Add Column for Vendor X Only if They're Active
  29.                 ar_vCode(iVends)        = mRS("VendorCode")
  30.                 ar_vFName(iVends)       = mRS("VendorFName")
  31.                 if ar_vActive(iVends) Then '--------------------------------------+++-->
  32.                         ar_nVend00(iVends) = Request.Form("nVend00" & iVends)
  33.                         ar_pVend00(iVends) = Request.Form("pVend00" & iVends)
  34.                 end if
  35.                 iVends = iVends + 1 '--+++--> This MUST be Here so the Vend00x Number Matches the db Info.
  36.                 mRS.MoveNext
  37.         WEND
  38.         iVends = iVends - 1
  39. End If
  40.  
  41. '============== MySQL TimeStamp Functions next 3
  42. function mysqltimestamp(aspts)
  43.         dim thetime,thedate
  44.         aspts=cstr(aspts)
  45.         thedate=left(aspts,instr(aspts," ")-1)
  46.         thetime=right(aspts,len(aspts)-instr(aspts," "))
  47.         mysqltimestamp=mysqldate(thedate)&" "&mysqltime(thetime)
  48. end function
  49.  
  50. function mysqlDate(d)
  51.         dim strNewDate
  52.         strNewDate = year( d ) & "-" & month( d ) & "-" & day(d)
  53.         mysqlDate = strNewDate
  54. end function
  55.  
  56. function mysqlTime(t)
  57.  dim strSuffix, arTime, i, x
  58.  t = trim( Lcase( t ) )
  59.  if inStr( t, "pm" ) > 0 OR inStr( t, "am" ) > 0 then
  60.   strSuffix = right( t, 2 )
  61.   t = left( t, inStr( t, strSuffix ) -2 )
  62.   t = trim( t )
  63.  end if
  64.  for i = 1 to len( t )
  65.   x = mid( t, i, 1 )
  66.   if not isNumeric( x ) and x <> ":" then t = replace( t, x, "" )
  67.  next
  68.  arTime = split( t, ":" )
  69.  t = ""
  70.  for i = 0 to 2
  71.   if uBound( arTime ) < i then redim preserve arTime( i )
  72.   if i = 0 then
  73.     if strSuffix = "pm" and cInt( arTime( i ) ) < 12 then
  74.      arTime( i ) = cInt( arTime( i ) ) + 12
  75.     end if
  76.   end if
  77.   do until len( arTime( i ) ) = 2
  78.    arTime( i ) = "0" & arTime( i )
  79.   loop
  80.   t = t & arTime( i )
  81.   if i < 2 then t = t & ":"
  82.  next
  83.  arTime = null
  84.  if dir = 2 then t = t & " " & strSuffix
  85.  mysqlTime = t
  86. end function
  87. '============== END MySQL TimeStamp Functions
  88. TimeDate = mysqltimestamp(Now)
  89. %>
  90. Production Parts Order<br>
  91. <%
  92.  
  93.  
  94. for iV=0 to iVends
  95.         Dim ar_nV, ar_pV
  96.        
  97.         if ar_vActive(iV) Then '------( IF Vendor X IS Active )-------+++-->
  98.                 ar_nV = Split(ar_nVend00(iV), ",")
  99.                 ar_pV = Split(ar_pVend00(iV), ",")
  100.                
  101.                 for i=0 to iCount
  102.                         if ar_nV(i) > 0 Then '--+++--> Create Entry Only IF the Part has a Quantity
  103.                                 MyQuery = "SELECT Printer, Description FROM Inventory WHERE LAPN = '" & ar_LAPN(i) & "'"
  104.                                 Set mRS = MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  105.                                 Printer = mRS("Printer")
  106.                                 Description = mRS("Description")
  107.                                
  108.                                 MyQuery = "INSERT INTO OrderHistory (LAPN, Printer, Description, Quantity, PriceEach, Vendor, timeStamp) " &_
  109.                                                                         "VALUES ('" & ar_LAPN(i) & "', '" & Printer & "', '" & Description & "', '" & ar_nV(i) &_
  110.                                                                         "', '" & ar_pV(i) & "', '" & ar_vFName(iV) & "', '" & TimeDate & "')"
  111.                                 MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  112. '                               Response.Write(MyQuery & "<br>")
  113.                         end if
  114.                 next
  115.         end if
  116. next
  117.  
  118. mRS.Close
  119. MyConn.Close '------------> Close db Connection,
  120. Set mRS = Nothing
  121. Set MyConn = Nothing '----> Free Memory & Leave!
  122. Response.Redirect "./"
  123. %>

Code formatting thingy doesn't seem to like tabs much do it? ...Hell it's midnight, I ain't fix'n it.
4884
Developer's Corner / Re: (Train Wreck) Multidimensional Dynamic Array in ASP
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 06, 2010, 09:50 PM »
Actually there are currently 6 vendors and about 400 parts (I'm trying to leave room for expansion), we're dealing with a lot of different parts that only a few people handle.

The array defined as (10, 1000) is actually a static array that is known to be large enough (6/400) for the current data set. I'd hoped to go fully dynamic but (only the right most dimension of the array can be redefined) as usual ASP sucks to much to do anything fancy with. So I'm resigning myself to using static arrays (unless a cheat can be found).

Christ, I'd rather be gargling battery acid...

On a brighter note, one the tutorials I came across listed a work-around for ASP's short-comings, in the process of explaining why what I'd wanted to do was friggin impossible. So... Now I have a semi working 2dim array - and by working I mean it runs with out errors or crashing. Unfortunately it also runs without any valid output ... It just iterates garbage. *Joy*

So here is the new and "improved" still totally borked code:
Code: ASP [Select]
  1. <!--#include virtual="inc/dbConn.inc"-->
  2. <%
  3. Response.Buffer = False '--+++--> HOLY SHIT!!! (that helped)
  4.  
  5. Dim ar_LAPN, iCount
  6. Dim ar_vCode(10), ar_vFName(10), ar_vActive(10), iVends
  7. ar_LAPN = Split(Request.Form("LAPN"), ",")
  8. iCount  = Request.Form("iCount")
  9.  
  10. Dim ar_nVend00, ar_pVend00
  11. ReDim ar_nVend00(10)
  12. ReDim ar_pVend00(10)
  13.  
  14. Dim MyConn, MyQuery, mRS '-----> SQL Query Variables
  15. set MyConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
  16.         MyConn.Open(MySQL)
  17.  
  18. MyQuery = "SELECT VendorCode, VendorFName, Active, BorderColor, FontClass FROM VendorNames"
  19. Set mRS = MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  20. If mRS.BOF And mRS.EOF Then
  21.     Response.Write("MySQL Query Failed! " & MyQuery)
  22.     Response.End
  23. Else
  24.         iVends = 0
  25.         mRS.MoveFirst
  26.         WHILE NOT mRS.EOF
  27.                 ar_vActive(iVends)      = mRS("Active") '--+++--> Add Column for Vendor X Only if They're Active
  28.                 ar_vCode(iVends)        = mRS("VendorCode")
  29.                 ar_vFName(iVends)       = mRS("VendorFName")
  30.                 if ar_vActive(iVends) Then '--------------------------------------+++-->
  31.                         response.write("Vendor: " & ar_vFName(iVends) & " Is Active: " & ar_vActive(iVends) & "<br>")
  32. '                       ar_nVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("nVend00" & iVends), ",")
  33. '                       ar_pVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("pVend00" & iVends), ",")
  34.                         ar_nVend00(iVends) = Request.Form("nVend00" & iVends)
  35.                         ar_pVend00(iVends) = Request.Form("pVend00" & iVends)
  36.                        
  37. '                       response.write(ar_nVend00(iVends) & "<br>")
  38. '                       response.write(ar_pVend00(iVends) & "<br>")
  39.                 else
  40.                         response.write(ar_vFName(iVends) & " Vendor Number: " & iVends & " is NOT Active!<br>")
  41.                 end if
  42.                 iVends = iVends + 1 '--+++--> This MUST be Here so the Vend00x Number Matches the db Info.
  43.                 mRS.MoveNext
  44.         WEND
  45. '       ReDim Preserve ar_vActive(iVends)
  46. '       ReDim Preserve ar_vFName(iVends)
  47. '       ReDim Preserve ar_vCode(iVends)
  48.         iVends = iVends - 1
  49. End If
  50.  
  51. response.write("<br><br>")
  52.  
  53. for i=0 to iCount
  54.  
  55.  
  56.                         MyQuery = "SELECT Printer, Description FROM Inventory WHERE LAPN = '" & ar_LAPN(i) & "'"
  57.                         Set mRS = MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  58.                         Printer = mRS("Printer")
  59.                         Description = mRS("Description")
  60.  
  61.  
  62.         response.write("LAPN: " & ar_LAPN(i) & " :-: " & Description & "<br>")
  63.         for iV=0 to iVends
  64.                 Dim ar_nV, ar_pV
  65.                
  66.                 if ar_vActive(iV) Then '--------------------------------------+++-->
  67. '                       response.write("<br>==========================================================================================<br>")
  68. '                       response.write(ar_nVend00(iV) & "<br>")
  69. '                       response.write(ar_pVend00(iV) & "<br>")
  70. '                       response.write("==========================================================================================<br>")
  71.                 ar_nV = Split(ar_nVend00(iV), ",")
  72.                 ar_pV = Split(ar_pVend00(iV), ",")
  73. '               response.write(" Qty: " & ar_nVend00(iVends, iCount) & " * Price: " & ar_pVend00(iVends, iCount) & " | ")
  74.                 response.write("Vendor: " & ar_vFName(iV) & " Qty: " & ar_nV(iCount) & " * Price: " & ar_pV(iCount) & "<br>")
  75.                 else
  76.                         response.write("==========================================================================================<br>")
  77.                         response.write("Vendor: " & ar_vFName(iV) & " - IS NOT ACTIVE!!!")
  78.                         response.write("<br>==========================================================================================<br>")
  79.                 end if
  80.         next
  81.         response.write("End of LAPN: " & ar_LAPN(i) & " Vends-break;<br><br>")
  82. next
  83. %>

Thank you!
4885
Developer's Corner / Re: (Train Wreck) Multidimensional Dynamic Array in ASP
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 06, 2010, 05:45 PM »
Shouldn't these 2 lines use iCount too?
(You're indexing using iCount later on)
         ar_nVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("nVend00" & iVends), ",")
         ar_pVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("pVend00" & iVends), ",")

You would think wouldn't you (I did), but it seems that Split(...) creates the "array" part of the array auto-magically. So a single dimension array is declared as just a plain dim (i.e. Dim myArray) and then the split does the rest.

myArray - Split(...)

Now it's used normally as myArray(x) ... This I've used elsewhere in the code so I know it works. One of the tutorials I ran across said... that to populate a multidimensional array you use myArray(x, 0) because Split would then begin populating dimension 2 from position zero. *Shrug* ...I couldn't find a hole in the reasoning ... So I gave it a shot.

I tried using iCount there just now and it results in a type mismatch error. :(

Also, your loops are one step too big - shouldn't they stop at iCount-1 and iVends-1?

for i=0 to iCount-1
for iV=0 to iVends-1
response.write(ar_nVend00(iVends, iCount) & "Vend ->")
next
response.write("br<br>")

It does appear that way, but iVends is decremented accordingly at the end of the while loop and iCount gets the same treatment on the previous page before being handed to this one.

Correction: iVends would have been correct if I was incrementing it on the right side of the if statement...  :wallbash: ...Fixed now, rest of code still broken :) (..shit)

I touched up the code above so the output string makes a bit more sense of what I'm doing (It was a might cryptic)


Thank you! (I'm willing to try anything at this point)
4886
Developer's Corner / (Train Wreck) Multidimensional Dynamic Array in ASP
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 06, 2010, 03:52 PM »
Greetings
    I'm currently (trying not to scream...) working on an office project that was done in ASP ... I've come to enjoy ASP about as much as I enjoy being repeetedly stabbed with miscellanous randomly sharpened objects.

Anyhow...

Part ordering interface, takes parts from multiple vendors, and compiles them into seperate orders for each vendor. Hence the need for a multidimensional array - which has to be dynamic, because the parts list is ever changing.

I cannot for the life of me find a tutorial on working with multidimensional dynamic arrays that makes any sense/works/doesn't try to trivialize the insane amount of dificulty there (apparently) is in doing this with ASP. Christ, if I was working in C++ I'd have been done with this hours ago.

Here is a stripped down (non-working) example of what I'm trying to do. It currently is just trying to dump the array(s)(s) back into the page via response.write to avoid listing the SQL query stuff and keep the example simple:
Code: ASP [Select]
  1. <%
  2. Dim ar_LAPN, iCount
  3. Dim ar_vCode(), ar_vFName(), ar_vActive(), iVends
  4. ar_LAPN = Split(Request.Form("LAPN"), ",")
  5. iCount  = Request.Form("iCount")
  6.  
  7. Dim ar_nVend00(10, 1000), ar_pVend00(10, 1000)
  8.  
  9. Dim MyConn, MyQuery, mRS '-----> SQL Query Variables
  10. set MyConn = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
  11.         MyConn.Open(MySQL)
  12.  
  13. MyQuery = "SELECT VendorCode, VendorFName, Active, BorderColor, FontClass FROM VendorNames"
  14. Set mRS = MyConn.Execute(MyQuery)
  15. If mRS.BOF And mRS.EOF Then
  16.     Response.Write("MySQL Query Failed! " & MyQuery)
  17.     Response.End
  18. Else
  19.         iVends = 0
  20.         mRS.MoveFirst
  21.         WHILE NOT mRS.EOF
  22.                 ReDim Preserve ar_vCode(iVends + 1)
  23.                 ReDim Preserve ar_vFName(iVends + 1)
  24.                 ar_vCode(iVends)        = mRS("VendorCode")
  25.                 ar_vFName(iVends)       = mRS("VendorFName")
  26.                 ar_vActive(iVends)      = mRS("Active") '--+++--> Add Column for Vendor X Only if They're Active
  27.                
  28.                 if ar_vActive(iVends) Then '--------------------------------------+++-->
  29. '                       ReDim Preserve ar_nVend00(iVends + 1)
  30. '                       ReDim Preserve ar_pVend00(iVends + 1)
  31.                         ar_nVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("nVend00" & iVends), ",")
  32.                         ar_pVend00(iVends, 0) = Split(Request.Form("pVend00" & iVends), ",")
  33.                 end if
  34.                
  35.                 iVends = iVends + 1
  36.                 mRS.MoveNext
  37.         WEND
  38.         iVends = iVends - 1
  39. End If
  40.  
  41.  
  42.  
  43. for i=0 to iCount
  44.         response.write("LAPN: " & ar_LAPN(i) & " ")
  45.         for iV=0 to iVends
  46.                 response.write(" Qty: " & ar_nVend00(iVends, iCount) & " * Price: " & ar_pVend00(iVends, iCount) & " | ")
  47.         next
  48.         response.write("Vends-break;<br>")
  49. next

While (this version of) the code runs without error there are no values output when run even tho all data pulled from the previous page is correct.

Note: this was a working production system before I started working on making it a bit more flexible/robust - I'm trying to get away from hardcoding the vendors.

Yes, I am working on (torching...) a Lab Clone of the production system.


Edit: reworked output code to make more sense out of what I'm doing - It was rather cryptic in retrospect.
4887
General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 05, 2010, 02:33 PM »
I fear that would be far to tempting (on bad days) to slip into character and go on a rampage.
4888
General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 04, 2010, 04:49 PM »
We don't offer hosted anything as yet although we've certainly been talking about it.

Bummer, that could have saved me some time... (hehe) ...Our primary product is re-manufactured toner cartridges, after that is printer service, printer sales (the margins are shit), and IT. IT consists of me only, and I spend most of my time swapping hats faster that a kleptomaniac octopus at a haberdashery.
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 04, 2010, 11:21 AM »

Most have already outsourced their web hosting. About half have done the same with email and purchase transaction processing. So it's only a short psychological hop to the notion of pushing their servers and office apps up to a virtual world.

We've got one client (SMB doctors office) that is hosting their Email domain with Gmail. While it is nice given the free hosting of mail@your-domain it has so far proven to be about half as reliable as a coin toss. The web development company that did their site, and recommended the Gmail solution said that it worked fine for many of their clients. So I'm trying really hard to reserve judgment ... But it's becoming difficult (aliases fail, MX record lookups fail, etc.).

Hosting a med practice's email on The Goog?

That definitely takes a bigger set of kahunas then I've got!

Yeah, wasn't my first choice either... But it's a small office (5 people) that's just starting up so it won't be a really huge mess if (when...) it goes sideways. Did I mention they were using @Yahoo accounts. I really am trying to give the whole cloud thing a fair shake as I don't want to be left behind with the main-frame crew ... But I do feel that a little kicking and screaming is warranted ... So I'm starting small.

Actually their original plan was to go with a thin client(ish) workgroup only because they were planning to us a cloud based solution. It was a knock down drag out battle to get them to go for getting even an entry level server let alone something hefty enough to handle publicly access services.

The schlockmiester sales crew from the cloud company strung these folks along till the very last minute. All the hardware had been spec'ed, approved, ordered, and was partially deployed...And only then... The price of the cloud service was (divulged)
discussed - to the tune of $86,000.00 - for a 5 person office - and training was extra. $12,000.00 extra (that is...).

So... we had to stick it (the Email) somewhere fast. Actually, if it wasn't for the fact that I tend to be a bit anal about wanting to spell peoples names correctly. I'd have never yanked open the box of newly delivered business cards and seen the company's website address on the bottom of the card. All previous inquires made received the response "we have no website".

...And that's how I got cornered into this little cluster f...



But what I was talking about was more along the lines of springing for a hosted Exchange server through one of the reputable business-class hosting companies. My personal feeling is that if your mail/ groupware requirements have reached the point where you need something like Exchange, you either need in-house IT - or a priority support contract/remote host arrangement if you're gonna go down that road. Because once you start using a groupware product, your whole business operation  becomes completely dependent on it in relatively short order. So unless you have full time IT, you don't want to be running your own Exchange server.

We be on the same page there. However I'm not sure which business-class Exchange hosting companies to recommend ... Well, that and I'd rather manage an in-house Exchange server for them.


Not to say my organization won't be happy to provide (and invoice) support for it of you do bring your own "e-box" into the server room. But that still won't get you fail-over without spending more money.

Might I inquire about the nature and location of your organization? Specifically does your organization provide Exchange hosting?

Y'know what? I just realized I'd be making piles more money if I weren't so honest with my SMB clients. Gotta do something about that one of these days.  :huh:

Kidding...just kidding.

I too have been drawn to the dark side at times ... But one look in the mirror, and I just - can't - do - it.
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Developer's Corner / Re: Check Gmail using C#
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 03, 2010, 05:23 PM »
Hm... I don't usually work in C# (yes that's a disclaimer) But in the code samples I saw online polking around, I got the impression that the filename needs to be added to the target url so it knows where to put it. Something like this:

Client.UploadFile("http://www.glensforkumc.com/non_church/"+FileName)

Also if IIS is configured to allow anonymous access, you're never gonna get asked for a password. Thy breaking the project into seperate chunks. (Temporarily) Allow anonymous write access to the target directory, set the NTFS permissions to allow it also, and then try uploading the file.

Also make sure you pick a small file to start/test with because IIS has default size/time limits that tend to bite.
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Developer's Corner / Re: Check Gmail using C#
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 03, 2010, 03:35 PM »
does this help any?

http://www.codeproje...-cookies-and-he.aspx

I bing'ed it.
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 03, 2010, 07:06 AM »
is DriveExtender basically RAID JBOD?

No, it has built in redundancy and deduplication features so you can "safely" blow and replace a drive without losing any data. Granted to the end user it behaves like JBOD but it's much more under the hood.
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 03, 2010, 07:01 AM »

 So MS would be shooting themselves in the foot if they pushed SOHOs away from WHS.


That, or pushing them towards 365 when it finally comes out.

For some reason, I keep getting the nagging feeling that MS ultimately wants to go over to a "software as a service" model of business for everyone but enterprise clients.

It would make sense. For one thing, it would effectively eliminate casual piracy. And it would also reduce support to requests on how to use an app as opposed to how to also get it (and the OS) to run correctly.

Damnit, much as I hate to I can easily see the logic there. SMB teetering on the brink of needing a full-time IT staff could put it off by shifting responsibility to cloud control, and SOHOs would be completely off-the-hook.

I'm not so sure about the casual piracy thing tho as it might actually make it easier for a time. No more registration or activation hassles, just share your login info with a few trusted friends and a whole office can run on a single account. Support...Now that one I gotta give you hands down. :)


Lots of my clients are very interested in getting out from under supporting their own computing infrastructure. Several are actively exploring the viability of  "cloud" solutions for their desktop and data storage needs. Maybe they're a bit premature and buying into the industry buzz for where we currently are. But I'm sure it will all become very doable in the relatively near future.

Mine too, but they're outsourcing it to us. However ironically We're using a cloud based solution to maintain it for them. Mind you the (totally brilliant) Kaseya solution we're using is hosted on our own internal servers - So It's My Cloud - But it is a cloud none-the-less.


Most have already outsourced their web hosting. About half have done the same with email and purchase transaction processing. So it's only a short psychological hop to the notion of pushing their servers and office apps up to a virtual world.

We've got one client (SMB doctors office) that is hosting their Email domain with Gmail. While it is nice given the free hosting of mail@your-domain it has so far proven to be about half as reliable as a coin toss. The web development company that did their site, and recommended the Gmail solution said that it worked fine for many of their clients. So I'm trying really hard to reserve judgment ... But it's becoming difficult (aliases fail, MX record lookups fail, etc.).


In some respects this has parallels with the history of the personal computer. When PCs first came out, the old mainframe crowd dismissed them as unsuitable for 'real' computing. Quarter of a century later and the same thing is happening to the PC and local server world as web apps, virtualization, and clouds offer up a new vision of how to get things done.

Well if PCs go boot to web thin client we'd pretty much be full circle back to the (neo-retro) cloud mainframe.
 
Gonna be an interesting five or so years coming up, that's for sure.  8)

*Shudder* Yep...  :D
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I meant that tweaking things like IP4 and IP6 properties and so on is more involved. Simply connecting to a network couldn't be easier - exactly as you describe!

Ah! Okay. I see what you mean then. I too drill into the dialogs so reflexively that I'm no-longer conscious of the actions ... Which makes trying to walk somebody through it on the phone pure hell because I have to stop and think about the steps involved. I think that's part of what I love about DHCP.
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 02, 2010, 09:46 PM »
@SJ- I think I may have failed to convey what I was trying to say.
Not really, I think we're just trying to debate this from the same side (e.g. we agree)

I am very much in support of WHS as a SOHO server solution over using workgroups. I also meant Foundation was a glorified NAS if used exclusively in it's base role as a file/print server. That being said, any dedicated 'real' server is a far better choice than trying to run even the smallest business network without one.
Got that part, have not problem with it/agree.

I won't even start to comment on SBS since I feel it's a generally mis-marketed product. Don't know if it's true where you are, but from what I've seen it's not a good choice for about 75% of the businesses I've seen that bought it. Most would have been far better off with the standard server product.

Yepper, there too we are totally on the same page. I just hate seeing SBS shoehorned onto a single processor box with 2GB of RAM and a software RAID1 array, trying to run Exchange (in even a limited capacity) without exploding. Easily half on the machines potential is wasted on services nobody knows about, needs, or can use...But it's a catchy name that sells well if the sheep is properly (scared) primed.

That being said... The point I was originally driving at is that WHS being such a perfect fit for SOHOs doesn't need to be pulled away from, or made less atractive to the SOHO segment as it's the only really practicle (MS Product) for them.

Granted I could be completely daft, but... You seemed to be saying (originally) that DriveExtender was being pulled out of WHS to make it less atractive to the SOHO market that's what I've been driving at. Anybody with a budget desktop server budget (SOHOs...) is either going to with a straight workgroup *Shudder*, WHS, or a Linux flavored NAS box. So MS would be shooting themselves in the foot if they pushed SOHOs away from WHS.

I agree if DNS is set up properly. But half the server issues I get called in on are the result of DNS configuration mistakes  So from my perspective, that's a pretty big if. I'm sure you've had your share of calls for that. Why so many company "computer gurus" feel the need to muck with DNS settings on a Windows server will always remain a mystery to me.

Amen to that, if I ever find one of these people I'm going to tape that chapter of the manual to a brick and beat them with it. It's not that I mind picking up new clients who are astonished by how their network sprung to life when it was finally configured properly. It's just that AD is a freaking decade old now... Am I really expected to believe that none of these clowns had time to pickup and crack open a manual in ten years time?!?

Quotes I just know you've heard (that make me cringe too):
Why does the DHCP server keep shutting down and deactivating itself?
Why does it always take 10 minutes to get to the desktop from the logon screen?
Gee the server is really fast first thing in the morning, but after I check my webmail it gets really slow or doesn't respond at all.

And my all time favorite from the ones that think they know:
But the Primary DNS server (as listed in TCP/IP settings) is always checked first...Right?
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in windows 7, it has to be said, you have to keep right clicking on network card names and network SSIDs to find "properties". It's second nature to me, so it doesn't bother me, but still...

Really, When? Maybe if you have some third party crapware installed I can see that happening. But if Win7 is left alone (default) it will just pop up a balloon that says new network found, would you like to connect. Click once (if open WiFi) done zoom. If it's not an open WiFi it will stop to ask for a key, or an auto configuration file, or have you hit the Okie-Dokie button on the newer routers and it'll authenticate itself.

I've had several (XP/Vista/7) customer machines come back months/years later and hop straight back onto our office WiFi without bothering me at all.
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 02, 2010, 05:47 PM »
But Foundation Server 2008 is awfully cheap with entry level server hardware it's (approx) $600.

Agree. But when you get right down to it, it's little more (more?) than a glorified NAS. (Hello! Can you say Linux?)  ;D

I think you're missing my point regarding the target market. 90% of the SOHO's run either a straight workgroup (no server), or play Russian Roulette with the Working Server configuration. I'm sure you've seen these train wrecks; the boss's workstation is referred to by everyone in the office as the "server" ... and you usually get called there because it went tits up (on a Monday morning). Their "networks" are a kludge of off the shelf media machines and other misc. junk from BestBuy.

For these people (a real server is a complete nightmare/impossibility, but..) to get WHS, is an easy (price-point as you mentioned) upsell. They won't be anywhere near getting a real server until business/staff size increases...or their first catastrophic disk failure.


You could also run WHS on comparable hardware (especially now that Vail requires 64-bit) and get a whole lot more bang for the buck unless you see a looming need for what active directory can provide. For most small offices, AD is overkill. (And if AD glitches, it won't be something they'll be able to fix for themselves.)

Absolutely, but that's the difference between SOHO and SMB. SMB's have gotten large and complex enough to need the more advanced services like AD, DFS, and a real hardware RAID array. That's where Foundation server shines because you can have a reasonably solid domain controller/file server on minimal (way less money) hardware. As opposed to SBS which must be 64-bit and comes with Exchange which is a world of issues (most folks don't need/can't handle), and therefore requires much more substantial hardware to not completely suck.

On a side note, on a small network, if DNS is configured properly, the chance of AD glitching is extremely close to zero.

Then there's the issue of needing CALs, which comes as a nasty shock to most first-time business server owners...
That issue has pretty much been killed in Server 2008. If someone forgets to get their extra CALs (they do all come with 5), they'll never know the difference (unless they're audited). The whole license service/install licenses/event logs filling with CAL deficiencies errors crap has been completely removed.
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Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 02, 2010, 05:03 PM »
if you don't fight it and let Apple do whatever it wants to do with your iphone/itunes, it usually works just fine

That same pitch can be made for sodomy in a prison shower... :)
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Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 02, 2010, 05:01 PM »
@JavaJones - Nice to see this thread getting back on topic... ;)

You definitely do have to be careful. My girlfriend just upgraded her iPhone4 firmware the other night, which was pretty much a disaster. The upgrading process didn't seem to start, making the Windows USB connect/disconnect sounds. So she unplugged the phone... which resulted in it half-bricking, just telling her to connect the phone to the computer to get the firmware updated. Problem being that she uses her iPhone for internet connection...

Um... Wow .... That is unbelievable. Given the uber simplistic attitude that surrounds the things you'd think they'd have (anticipated that eventuality) a device that would cache the entire update before doing the bouncing disconnection dance. Instead of trying to (juggle chainsaws) do the download and the update at the same time (that's just flat stupid) It can't be that hard, HP does it with the firmware updates on the big MFPs (Multi-Function Printers). First the new firmware is pushed to the machine via the spooler, and then (assuming it got there intact...) it auto-reboots and applies the new firmware. At the very least they should have done a check to let the user know that the route they're about to take is headed for a cliff...

Luckily she was able to borrow a lil' bit of internet connection love from a neighbor so she could update&unbrick the phone. Only to realize that all her settings and files had been wiped (this is of course pretty normal firmware update procedure, but apparently iTunes hadn't warned her enough about this).

...Normal for what? Or am I missing the sarcasm? Routers sure...If the settings aren't totally wiped, it's usually best to reset and redo them. But the iPhones "firmware" which Apple also calls the iPhone OS (at the convenience of what type of hype/excuse they're trying to make) should not have any impact on user data/settings if it is indeed an OS...which is being upgraded. Once again, HP can manage to pull this off, and there are a shit load of settings on those big MFP when you start considering all of the available network options they have available now to tie into AD/LDAP, Kerberos/SSL authentication, SMTP, Network shares, etc. Ya know...All the stuff Apple sucks at.  :D
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General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 02, 2010, 03:32 PM »
Microdoft is discovering it's hard to sell a small office on the advantages of dropping semi-serious money on SBS or their stripped-down entry-level server products when you can score a tricked-out little gem like WHS for about $150. Network backups, storage media pooling, simple workable RAS, media server features, good system management tools that don't take an MS Certification to understand and use - what's not to like?

Ya gotta good point there - But Foundation Server 2008 is awfully cheap with entry level server hardware it's (approx) $600. The SOHOs that are jumping to WHS are workgroup/homegroup users that are actually upselling themselves to WHS by not using the (completely insane) working server model.
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