The Interconnect Group

Extension of our staff..

Tuesday, August 16, 2011 by TINCG Clients

We have used TINCG for about 5 or 6 years. Before we started working with Chad (and Daniel),we attempted to perform as much of our own IT support as possible. As a result,we experienced constant IT problems,which ultimately started to interfere with our aircraft parts distribution service. The TINCG team first worked to integrate a new IP phone system through SaveItNow,then within a year or so implemented a new Small Buisness Oracle Server,deployed to support our three seperate sales facilities. It is a relief to have phones that work,and an computer network that always functions when needed!

As business owner,I can tell you that TINCG is an excellent resource for your company, for the following reasons.

1) Technical Skills-We have yet to run across a technical problems with our IT network that Chad and Daniel couldnt handle.

2)Hardware-TINCG have been able to specifically recommend hardware,ranging from HP servers to power backups. TINCG installed an entire new rack with multiple servers.The network has performed exceedingly well,with Daniel remotely monitoring the health of our servers.

3) Software Implementation-TINCG was able to dig into industry specific software packages,and directly install and integrate these programs into our network. TINCG was of course well able to implement new Microsoft and Intuit products.

4) IP Phones-TINCG installed our PolyCom phone system,as well as or T1 feed.

Think of TINCG as your own IT department,you wont be dissapointed.

Name: Norman Chance
Company: Chance Aviation
City: Indianapolis
State: Indiana

Support your BlackBerry phones better with BlackBerry Enterprise Express Server

Wednesday, July 27, 2011 by Daniel White

BlackBerry phones are becoming less and less prevalent in the small business market. Historically, Blackberry phones offered the benefit of securely accesing enterprise class Microsoft Exchange e-mail servers. The cost of adding the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) application t your Microsoft Exchange server is typically cost prohibitive for the small business market. Rival phone products like Windows Mobile 7, Apple Iphone, and Android phones have greatly improved thier capabilities in accessing business resources such as Microsoft Exchange based e-mail. The most major difference is that most of the rivals offer similar functionality as Blackberry, but for free. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server features that aid in phone integration and security are unmatched by any competitor, but at the entry cost of over a thousand dollars and a per user license fee of one hundred dollars. Many small business users are tranistioning to rival products once contracts expire due mainly to the total cost of ownership of the Blackberry Enterprise Server solution.

BlackBerry now offers the free option called the BlackBerry Enterprise Express Server which fills this market segment. The BlackBerry Enterprise Express Server still retains most of the important features (listed below) for up to two thousand users at no additional charge. BES Express works with Microsoft Exchange 2010, 2007 and 2003 and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 and 2003. With this new software connected to your servers, your employees' BlackBerry smartphones will be able to do the following:

·   Wirelessly synchronize their email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks.
·   Manage email folders and search email on the mail server remotely.
·   Book meetings and appointments, check availability and forward calendar attachments
·   Set an out-of-office reply.
·   Edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files using Documents To Go.
·   Access files stored on the company network.
·   Use mobile applications to access business systems behind the firewall.

For IT administrators, BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express also offers:

·   Runs on the same physical or virtual server as the Microsoft mail server or on its own server.
·   BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express is also certified for use with VMware ESX
·   Over 35 IT controls and policies, including the ability to remotely wipe a smartphone and enforce and reset passwords.
·   A Web-based interface that allows remote administration and makes it easy to install the software, connect BlackBerry smartphones and apply usage policies.

For more information on our Blackberry server configuration service in Indiana and business phone support please call us at 317-831-0704. We also provide BlackBerry server troubleshooting services for our Indiana clients.

Looking to the Future: The Netvanta 7100 "Office-In-A-Box"

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 by Britton Starr

The future is on it's way, and it's coming fast.

Recently I had the privilege of receiving in-depth training on one of the networking world's up and coming stars, the Unified Communications platform. After hours of learning the ins and outs of this device, I can honestly say that this is the future of Small Business Network Design.

Adtran Netvanta 7100, Network Hardware, The Interconnect Group, Inc.

In particular the device in question is the ADTRAN Netvanta 7100 series Unified Communications appliance. This elegant device, with its outwardly simple appearance is an incredibly robust machine, capable of performing nearly any function needed of a small business network, short of say a file server or network OS. Features include full featured Multi-service Router, SPI Firewall, 24 PoE Fast Switch, VPN Tunneling, WAP Control, QoS, Door Relay, Voicemail, Key System, and full featured IP PBX. There's support for 24 users out of the box, expandable to as many as 100.

ADTRAN Netvanta 7100 Features, The Interconnect Group, Inc.

But what does that really mean?

It means this device can do just about anything. It's powerful with a good set of defaults out of the box, but with a little fine tuning, can be fitted into any preexisting network or connection type. The device's versatility is not to be underestimated. It fits well into VoIP Network Design, due to the variety of interchangeable voice and data modules it supports. The 7100 allows incoming SIP trunks, making it ideal for those using Hosted VoIP Solutions. It can accommodate many types of data connections, from cable modems to dual T1's. It even supports IP phones and soft-phones from several 3rd party vendors.

How can you use this device to your business's advantage? Simple. Let's say you have your CFO who finds himself concerned with the sudden skyrocketing of your company's long distance charges, after opening a new branch. This is likely attributed to all the new service calls to this remote location. The Netvanta 7100 can be configured to allow the use of say, an under-utilized T1 connection (as they many times are), to send voice traffic to the branch office's 7100 or 6355. This device then forwards the call out through the branch offices local phone line, thus sparing the company any additional charges. Pretty practical, huh? Another feature I particularly like is the ability to email users when a voicemail is left on their system, even in the case of multiple accounts or groups.

Adtran Netvanta 7100 back, Interchangeable NIM/VIM Slots, The Interconnect Group, Inc.

While on paper the 7100 may seem like a bit of an initial investment, the return on that purchase is undeniable. Having a single device allows for the simple, easy to administrate solution that many small business owners want. Additionally, after a technician installs and configures the device to the client's needs, the day to day administrative tasks, such as adding new users and voicemail greetings may be easily maintained by existing IT staff through an easy to use GUI. The "office-in-a-box" solution also allows for the simplification of IT Networking Support, as a technician need only examine a single device. Similarly, the simplicity of Computer Network Wiring and the identification of cable faults are vastly improved.

So as you can tell I was very impressed by the device. Powerful features, adaptability, and one-box ease of deployment make this a great choice for any small business wanting to take their network to the next level. If you'd like to hear more about the Netvanta 7100, and what it can do for your business, don't hesitate to call The Interconnect Group, Inc. at 317.831.0704. Let us help you, IT Networking Support is what we do best.

Backups!: Seven easy ways to backup

Friday, March 18, 2011 by Britton Starr

In part two of of my PC Backup Solutions blog, we're going to look at seven specific ways to backup our valuable data. As mentioned in my previous blog, in PC Repair Indiana computers will inevitably fail. Not to mention natural hazards, such as floods, ice and lighting storms. And, given our increasing reliance on these machines in our day to day lives, data backup is essential. (If you haven't read my first blog on the subject, I'd definitely take a minute to scan that one to find out the importance of backing up)

So, now let's get into the knitty-gritty of actual ways to back up your personal information. We'll take a look at some of the various backup methods, their strengths, their weaknesses, and the associated costs. In particular we'll look at 7 backup methods that are most relevant to a home PC user.

1. CD Backup
Burning important files to CD-R's is a cheap and easy way of backing up your important documents. CD-R's are incredibly cheap costing only maybe $12 for a 50 pack, readily available, and usable on nearly any machine made in the last 6 years. They are however prone to scratching, not rewritable meaning that you can't update the files, and relatively low capacity. While light years ahead of a floppy, they won't store more than say, 150 photos or songs. They're great for burning a single important album or backing up a couple years of tax info.

2. DVD Backup
Burning important files to DVD's is an affordable and easy way of backing up important files and documents. DVD-R's are only a little pricier than CD's at maybe $15 for a 50 pack, easy to find, and store six and a half times as much information as a CD-R. There are even more expensive dual-layer discs that store 9 Gigs of information! Like CD's though, they are prone to scratching and will get torn up if mistreated.

3. USB Flash Drive
Keeping backup copies of important files on a flash drive is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to help ensure your data is protected. A 4 GB flash drive, which would be enough for say, 900 photos or 1000 songs, can be purchased at many stores for as cheap as $11-12. An even larger drive, such as 8 GB runs only $16-18, and you can buy even larger drives if storage becomes an issue. Using one, couldn't be easier. You just open two windows, select the files or folders you want, and drag them onto the flash drive. USB drives are fairly resistant to most damage if treated with any amount of care, though personal experience has shown, it's best not to run them through the wash in your pocket.

4. USB Portable Hard Drive
Sometimes you just have too many photos, or too much music, to make backing up on DVD's or a flash drive feasible. Enter the USB Portable Hard Drive. These small, pocketable hard drives can carry enough storage to backup most laptops, and most small to midsize desktops. They don't require any special plugs or adapters, just a single USB port for data and power. Like the flash drive you can simply drag and drop your data on to the new drive. Some even come with software tools to make backing up even easier. Portable hard drives are pretty rugged, but much like a laptop excessive shaking and harsh drops should be avoided.

5. USB Desktop Hard Drive
This is the biggest and best of the add-on type of discs/drives. These are larger drives, both physically and in regards to storeage amount. Many drives even have higher speed connection types, such as firewire or e-sata, to make backups and file transfers incredibly fast. There is enough storage on most of these drives for 10,000+ photos or songs, and to back up nearly any desktop or laptop. Most large drives include backup software as a standard feature. The drawback with these drives though, is that they require a separate plug for power and are a little bulky to carry around.

6. RAID Array Backup
When purchasing a new PC, there is one option that is especially great for data backup and reliability. A RAID setup can have many forms, the one we're ideally concerned with is what we call RAID 5. Avoiding the technical end of things, this allows your computer to run faster, and keeps copies of your data on multiple drives, so that even if one drive fails, a new one may be substituted in its place. The computer reconstructs the data, and it's like it never happened. Raid is not terribly expensive to setup, however it needs compatible hardware and must be done at the time the machine is made, which are a couple of the system's only drawbacks.

7. Offsite Remote Backup
This backup solution is the ultimate in protection and security for your data. It is a powerful way to keep your data safe in even the most severe of circumstances. It's also what we normally recommend for our IT Support for Small Business customers. Since your data is backed up to a remote location, your files are kept safe even in the event of catastrophe like a fire or flood. While it is a little more expensive than some of the other options, it is the most reliable and easy way to ensure your valuable data is kept safe. We provide this service for many of our business customers, and so called "cloud" backups are available for home users as well.

So hopefully you've learned not just why we need backups in today's society, but also about some of the various ways we can backup our important data, files, and memories. If you have any questions, or would like us to help you implement a backup strategy of your own, please don't hesitate to call us. As always, we're here for all your Computer Repair Mooresville needs.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

Backups!: Why Backups Are Crucial In Todays Electronic World

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by Britton Starr

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." -Benjamin Franklin

We've all heard this saying before. It addresses the fact that sometimes a little effort up front can save you from a world of trouble in the long run. I want to share with you about just such a situation. Today I'd like to compare this timeless quote to the world of PC Backup Solutions. While it may seem a little far-fetched at first glance, the comparison is quite valid. So why do I bring this topic up? Because if there is one thing I have learned in Computer Help Desk Support, it's that you should plan for the worst, even if you hope for the best.

Modern computers are incredibly complex. While a computer is meant to be as fault tolerant as possible, things can and will happen. Think about how we use our computers today. Banking, news, email, music libraries, taxes, homework, facebook, financing, photo storage, business correspondence, the list goes on and on. The problem is, if your computer fails you can lose everything. This is why in today's technologically dependent world, corporations aren't the only ones who need to think about backup solutions.

Reliable data backup can be a lifesaver, not to mention a sound investment. I once lost $600 worth of wedding photos, due to a hard drive crash. No red flags, no warnings. The data was just gone. Priceless memories, and part of my reputation as a freelancer lost because of a simple mechanical failure. Tax documents and massive music collections are just as vulnerable. Given the importance of such documents, even at home backups are a must. It's a lesson several of our Indianapolis IT Support customers have learned the hard way.

Let's put this in context of our quote. Our ounce of prevention is like our Backup strategy, being quite easy and rather affordable on the Indiana PC Repair customer. Solutions for a home PC can range from a USB Drive purchased for a few dollars use to back up key documents, to a robust and safe offsite backup available for a reasonable monthly fee. If we neglect these options however the results can be devastating. The loss of precious memories, the thousand dollar charges of advanced data recovery services, even potential financial or legal trouble. While some products like music may be purchased again, some documents are irreplacable and should be treated as such.

Clearly, we really are better off safe, rather than sorry.

In part two, which will be posted later this week, we'll look at the specific options and pricing we have available to help protect you and your valuable data. That's all for today. If you have any concerns about your computer's health, or feel it might be time for a tune up, please visit us for all your Computer Repair Mooresville needs.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

Computer Basics: Better Understanding Your Computer Part 2

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 by Britton Starr

Today I'd like to continue on to the second part of my blog on better understanding your computer. I thought we'd take a look at some of the other components that help make the computer an invaluable part of today's high tech society. So, today we're going to look at a Motherboard, a NIC, a Video Card, and finally a Optical Drive. In Computer Help Desk Support I routinely service a wide variety of machines. Having a familiarity with different types of hardware allows me to connect symptoms of a problem to the component that might be faulty. While knowing how the various parts of a computer work is essential to proper PC Repair, it also will benefit you in your everyday use of computers at home or work.

Motherboard

A motherboard (or logic board if you use a Mac) is an absolutely key part of your PC. This is the largest circuit board in the computer, and connects all the crucial components of the machine together. It provides a way for data to move from various pieces of hardware and back, and contains some of the most basic instructions your PC needs to operate. It also determines what types of hardware can be used in the machine at all, based on the various slots and sockets. My motherboard at home for instance, is a gaming board and will let me use parts like Intel Processors, and multiple video cards. Which brings me to my next point...

Video Cards

A video card is another important component of your PC. The video card is responsible for turning your computer's instructions into visible images, videos, or text that you can understand. It also renders any games, and translates any DVDs you might want to watch. Video cards are quite varied in design and form. Some performance cards are hulking pieces of metal with fans and giant copper heat sinks, while many smaller ones are built into the processor, such as on Intel's new i3 and i5 chips.

NIC

A NIC, or Network Interface Controller, allows your computer to communicate over a network. There are many types of NICs including Ethernet cards, Wireless cards, and 56k Modems. Many are built into the motherboards already. All of these share the common goal of allowing your computer to speak to the outside world. They use various networking protocols (languages) such as TCP/IP, UDP, and IMAP to let view webpages, send emails, or watch videos online.

Optical Drives

An Optical Drive is the component on your machine responsible for reading, and many times writing CDs, DVDs, or even Blu-Ray discs. This allows you to watch movies, install software, or burn DVDs. Each optical drive has a small laser, that reads the data on a disc as it spins. This data is stored as microscopic valleys and peaks on the disc's reflective surface. There are many forms of discs; CDs, CD-Rs, CD+RWs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs. Most optical drives on the market today can use almost any of them.

So I hope you feel like you've learned a little today, and feel even more comfortable with your computer. You may find knowing a little about the way a computer works can increase the enjoyment you getA out of using one. If you have any questions, or are perhaps considering a PC Hardware upgrade, please stop by our Mooresville, Indiana PC Repair Facility and let us take great care of you and your machine.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

Computer Basics: Better Understanding Your Computer

Friday, November 12, 2010 by Britton Starr

Hello Indiana PC Repair customers!

Today, I thought I'd kick off the first of a multiple-part blog post series. My goal is a simple, easy to understand guide that will help you better understand your computer and how they work. At our Mooresville Computer Support office, one issue we commonly run into is that people feel they just don't understand enough about computers. Hopefully this guide will inform you, and help you feel more comfortable around computer IT that has quickly become a large part of our lives.

First we're going to take a look at the main components of a PC. The big three, as I call them, form the core components of your machine. These three are your Processor, RAM, and Hard Drive. Let's take a look at what each of them does, and then we'll see how they work together.

Processor:

The Interconnect Group, Inc. Processor PC Support Help Guide

The processor, or CPU, of your computer is key. It's the brains of the whole operation, doing all the math and calculations you might require. It also distributes resources and can help send messages to different parts of your PC. Processors are capable of performing millions of tasks in a single second Physically speaking, a modern computer processor is a small silicon-based microprocessor with thousands of microscopic circuits and pathways crammed on to a single tiny chip.

RAM:

The Interconnect Group, Inc. PC Repair Help Guide RAM Memory

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a core component of your PC. Computers use and manipulate all kinds of numbers and data, many times more things than a processor can keep track of at once. RAM allows the processor an easy, accesible, and nearby place to store pieces of information until it needs them again. This volatile memory (non-permanent) allows the computer to do many tasks in rapid succession, with little noticable slowdown. RAM looks like two small thin green sticks with a series of small black chips on the sides.

Hard Drive:

Hard Drives are the third primary component in a PC. Sure, we want our computer to perform calculations and accomplish tasks, but if we don't have any mp3's to listen to, or office applications to use, what fun would that be? The hard drive in your computer is a series of magnetic discs that store files and information permanently. You can always write over the data later, but until you do the information is kept indefinitely. A hard drive is a small black and silver box, that contains numerous metal discs to keep your data on.

Well, I hope that now you feel like you know a little more about your computer and how it works. As always, should you have any Computer Support, Virus Removal, or PC Repair questions, I hope you'll stop by our Mooresville facility and let us help keep your computer in top shape.

How to protect yourself from phishing attacks!

Thursday, November 4, 2010 by Daniel White

Phishing is a method that criminals use to steal your personal data, typically with fake websites and e-mails. This information is used to steal your identity or even used to break into your small business IT network. The common problems associated with phishing attacks are banking websites being broken into, email passwords stolen, and business network servers being infiltrated. A way to protect yourself from this problem is a mixture of protection software, and a little training to help you spot a phishing web site.

Here are some simple clues to help you spot a phishing website.

Look for evidence of a real-world presence: an address, a phone number, an email contact. If in doubt, send an email, make a phone call or write a letter to establish whether they really exist.
The website’s address is different from what you are used to, perhaps there are extra characters or words in it or it uses a completely different name or no name at all, just numbers.
Even though you are asked to enter private information there is NO padlock in the browser window or ‘https://’ at the beginning of the web address to signify that it is using a secure link and that the site is what it says it is.
A request for personal information such as user name, password or other security details IN FULL, when you are normally only asked for SOME of them.
Although rare, it is possible for your computer to be corrupted by viruses in such a way that you can type a legitimate website address into your browser and still end up at a fake site. This problem is known as 'pharming'. Check the address in your browser's address bar after you arrive at a website to make sure it matches the address you typed. Subtle changes ('eebay' instead of 'ebay' for example) may indicate that your computer is a victim of a pharming attack.

Here are some helpful tips to help keep your computer safe from phishing websites.

Make sure that all your antivirus software is update.
Have the newest of your web browser, both Internet Explorer and Firefox have a anti phishing website filter.
Also have your antivirus software up to date.

This is a web site from a popular web security company to help you see the difference https://www.phish-no-phish.com/default.aspx.

If you have any question please call The Ineterconnect Group computer help desk support and 317-831-0704 EXT 1 or you can call the business phone support line at 317-831-0704 EXT 2.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

How to install RAM on a Lenovo ThinkCentre All-In-One PC

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 by Britton Starr

Hello Indiana PC Repair customers, and welcome to my first blog.

This week I was reminded that we can all use a little help sometimes, even computer help desk support technicians. We sold a customer a Lenovo ThinkCentre A70. This All-In-One is a great, space-saving machine perfect for everyday computing. They do come a little light on RAM out of the box for running Windows 7. Since upgrading a PC’s RAM is both a practical and affordable performance improvement, it was an easy decision for the customer to decide on the memory upgrade. Upon trying to open the computer case, I encountered some difficulty. Being unable to find any Support articles online, I decided to document the RAM installation process from start to finish. You will need the proper RAM and a few simple tools to complete this job.

Unplug the machine. Be sure to ground yourself (removing any static electricity), by touching something that is metal and grounded, such as a pipe. This is a crucial step in PC Support and Repair, as it protects against accidental damage to your components.
Gently lay the computer on its face, screen side down.
Find the two case screws, each located in the lower corners of the case. Loosen these two screws. They are bracketed however, and do not come entirely out.
Next locate four small black rubber plugs. They should be arranged in a square, near the leg’s hinge. Using your fingernails or a paperclip, gently pull the plugs out of the case and set them aside.
Underneath each of the four plugs should be a screw. Remove these screws, and set them aside near the rubber plugs.
To remove the Leg assembly, rotate the bottom end of the leg up. The square black plastic piece should rotate with it, and can then be removed from the back of the computer. Set it aside for now.
With the leg stand gone, the back plate of the PC must now be removed. The case is held together by a series of small clips. Using a straight screwdriver, gently pry the case apart. Start near the corner screws on both sides, slowly working your way towards the middle. Eventually you should hear a series of ‘pop’ noises and the back of the case may be removed.
You should now be seeing something similar to this. Locate the RAM slot, it should on the left of the machine, towards the center.
If you have to remove the old RAM to install your new memory, this must be done first. This happens if you have two new sticks to go in, remove the old one by pushing down on its white tabs and pulling the RAM stick out.
We are just adding an additional stick, so we’ll install that one. First, locate the inset in the stick of RAM, and match it to the one on the motherboard’s slot. Open the white tabs on each end.
Put the RAM into the second memory slot, using the inset to help ensure accurate placement.
Push down firmly on both ends of the RAM stick, being careful not to let it turn sideways or go in crooked. When the RAM is in far enough, the white clips on each end should pop up helping to hold it securely in place. Check that the fit is snug.
Now that the RAM is installed, the computer must be put back together. Place the main black plastic panel back onto the rear of the machine, and press gently along the edges to begin snapping the back into place.
Tighten down the two screws located in the corner of the machine. You may hear several small pops as the case moves into alignment.
Press firmly along the edges of the case, to ensure a proper seal. This will help to keep unnecessary dust out of the computer.
Then we need to reattach the legs. Line the two small black plastic tabs on the top of the leg assembly up with the two small notches on the back of the computer. Slide these tabs in, and rotate the piece down like a hinge.
Replace the four screws that hold the leg assembly, and screw them in loosely. Check to make sure all four are seated properly, and then tighten down firmly.
Finally, replace the four black rubber plugs, to cover the screws that were just installed.

**Now that the RAM is physically installed, we’ll set up your computer to properly utilize it. If you end up needing Computer Help Desk services however, we are always happy to provide you with any IT services you might require.
After reconnecting all of the essential cables, like mouse, keyboard, and power turn the computer on. You may see a black screen with some text on it that you aren’t used to seeing, but that’s just the computer recognizing the new RAM.
Once Windows has started, click on the Start button in the bottom left of your screen. Then right-click on Computer, and click Properties.
In the window that comes up, click Advanced System Settings in the upper left panel. This will bring up the Advanced tab of the System Properties window. Under ‘Performance’ click Settings, and on this new window click Advanced at the top of this dialog box.
On the ‘Performance Options’ box, select Change to adjust what’s called your “paging file.” This file must be adjusted whenever RAM is installed. First, uncheck the Automatically Manage box. Then, make sure the Custom Size radio button is selected.
To set your paging file to the proper size, a small bit of easy math must be performed. Take the number of Mb’s (or megabytes of memory ) that the RAM now totals, let’s say for example 2048 (for 2 Gigs) of memory. You take this number, and multiply it by 1.5, so roughly 3000Mb. This is the “Initial Size” we’ll set. Add an extra 200 on, so in our example 3200Mb for the “Maximum Size” and hit Ok to accept the value.
Click Ok on the next screen to apply the changes we’ve just made. Click the red ‘X’ in the corner to close the open windows. Your computer should ask you to restart, and do so.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully installed your RAM. Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor… likely a noticeably faster computer!

Should you decide that your machine is in need of a boost, come by our Mooresville, Indiana facility and let one of our qualified IT Support Technicians help you enjoy your PC even more.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

A Great Small Business Network Router for your Design

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 by Chad Whaley

If you've read any of my previous blogs, you may have noticed that I'm a very big fan of Adtran routers. I've used them across a wide spectrum of projects and have never been dissatisfied. If you've ever stepped into a telecom closet, you have most likely seen an Adtran router mounted on the wall being used by the local telecom carrier. Adtran routers are very effective for VoIP Network Design and/or the standard Small Business Network Design.

One model that I really like is the Adtran Netvanta 3438 Multiservice Access Router. It has a network interface module that will support up two T1s. In addition to the two Ethernet ports, there is a built in 8-port, non-blocking Ethernet switch with an optional PoE add-on. I've used the NV3448 for both hosted VoIP solutions Indiana projects and small business network solutions alike. I prefer getting the version with the Enhanced Feature Pack (EFP) more for the Voice Quality Monitoring (VQM) feature than the VPN capabilities although the VPN feature is very robust. The VQM comes in very handy when monitoring client's historical VoIP call quality.

Adtran offers both a good GUI and command line interface (CLI). I commonly use the CLI for my initial configuration setup as well as those times when I'm troubleshooting a tough problem. I use the GUI for general maintenance and monitoring tasks. Since you can see the raw SIP messaging at the CLI level in Adtran's Operating System (AOS), additional steps of capturing SIP messaging and importing into Wire Shark isn't necessary.

I would be remiss in my blogging duties if I wrote an article about Adtran routers and didn't mention their industry leading warranty. Adtran stands behind their products and offers a 5 year warranty on most products and a 10 year warranty on some select product lines. Adtran offers free firmware updates for their hardware for the lifetime of that hardware. Adtran offers free telephone support on their products which is staffed by English speaking, Engineering degreed US based staff. This is a very key selling point to me and my small business network design clients.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

Virus Alert!! Make Sure You Are Protected!!

Monday, October 18, 2010 by Chad Whaley

The Interconnect Group, Inc. Blog - Virus Removal Indiana

On the way home the other night, I was listening to the Clark Howard radio show on 93.1 WIBC. In his Rip Off Alert segment, he spoke of the Zeus Trojan Virus which has gotten a lot of news coverage of late. As a provider of Computer Support Indiana services to both business and consumer clients, I found the segment very interesting.

Putting the technical discussion aside for a moment, I was surprised to learn how the law provided protection to individual victims that got hijacked but did not afford the same protection to business owners who got hijacked. As Clark Howard put it, the law assumes that the business owner has a "shared responsibility to protect against the loss." I would recommend all business owners, entrepreneurs, and contractors to read the Clark Howard article.

From a technical perspective, it reinforces the importance for computer support Indianapolis clients to remain vigilant with respect to computer security. If you do not currently have Indianapolis IT Support resources maintaining your computer security, then at the very least make sure you and your employees are doing the following:

Religiously Maintain Software Security Updates and Patches
Maintain Antivirus Updates and Run Scans Often
Implement a Strong Password Policy Company Wide
Minimize Computers from which Banking Accounts are Accessed

Although we have not personally seen anyone affected with the Zeus Trojan Virus, we have seen an increase of more intrusive infections over the past few weeks come in to our virus removal Indiana facility located in Mooresville, Indiana. No matter if you are a business owner or an individual user, make sure you have a good Antivirus product installed and up to date on all of your computers.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:

Know your 4G wireless networks and their future

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by Dawn Tomey

As many of you know the 4G (fourth generation) wireless network evolution is in full swing. What does this mean to Indiana Telecommunications Provider customers/users?

Higher data throughput speeds
Lower latency*
Internet global mobility
Excellent geographic coverage
Improved in-building penetration

*Latency is the amount of time it takes data to travel end to end within a network

Verizon Wireless has estimated that 100 million people will have their 4G wireless network coverage by the end of 2010. USB modems are expected to be the first devices used, followed shortly thereafter by smartphones and mobile hotspots. By 2012, industry analysts estimate 50 million user devices will have embedded wireless capabilities. LTE technology will support videoconferencing, real time gaming apps, home heating/air control, as well as appliance control.

There are currently 3 different types of 4G networks.

LTE – Long Term Evolution

WiMAX – Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

HSPA+ – High Speed Packet Access (Emerging 3G Technology)

LTE technology has been chosen by the 3 largest wireless carriers. Meaning it will support more than 100 billion customers. Verizon Wireless plans to be the first U.S. carrier to have nationwide 4G coverage. AT&T is currently upgrading their network to HSPA+, but plans to migrate to LTE starting in mid 2011. T-Mobile is beginning to deploy it’s 3G technology and has indicated their choice as LTE when they begin to move forward. Sprint chose WiMAX rather than LTE. They launched their 4G network in late 2009 in partnership with Clearwire and operate their WiMAX network under the Clearwire brand.

Speeds expected with the new 4G networks:

	*LTE*	*WiMAX*	*HSPA+*
*Download*	5 – 12 Mbps	Up to 4 Mbps	1.5 – 7 Mbps
*Upload*	2 – 5 Mbps	500 Kbps	1 – 4 Mbps
*Expected Latency*	Up to 30 ms	Up to 100 ms	Up to 100 ms
*Global Adoptation*	Yes	No	Yes
*Contiguous U.S. Coverage*	Yes (VZW only)	No	No
*Carriers*	VerizonWireless Vodafone China Mobile T-Mobile	Sprint	AT&T (plans to migrate to LTE starting in mid 2011)

Mbps = megabits per second Kbps = kilobits per second ms = milliseconds

This undoubtedly will bring greater options to the world of remote worker solutions and small business telecommunications. The idea of being able to download information at a multiple Mbps via a USB Modem or even a Smartphone opens a world of possibilities.

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Computer Boots Directly Into Safe Mode

Monday, May 31, 2010 by Brett Neal

Today I had a computer come in that when it was turned on, it went straight into safe mode repeatedly each time. I must say in all my time in PC Repair Indiana, today was the first time I had seen anything like this happen. If you ever run into this problem on Windows Vista, this is how you fix it.

Just go to Start, and type MSCONFIG and press enter. Then go to the boot tab. In the boot tab you will see an option on the lower, left hand corner. Uncheck "Safe Boot" and restart your computer. If that does not fix the issue you may need to take it to a Computer Support Indianapolis specialist. It could still be going into safe mode because of a virus, software, or hardware issue.

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New Features in Office 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010 by Daniel White

Working in a IT Networking Support company we get excited when a new verson of Microsoft Office Suite comes out. Coming June 5th of this year, Office 2010 will be the new office suite to help with your business and home document needs.

Easer Screen Shots
New feature in Word 2010 — the ability to capture screenshots from inside the application and paste them into the document, all in a couple of clicks. The Screenshot button has been added to the Insert tab of the Ribbon.

Inserting screenshots into Word is easier than ever.

When you click the Screenshot button, you’ll see the available screenshots, and you can click on the one you want to insert into the document. After you insert a screenshot, the picture tools will automatically appear to allow you to perform photo editing.

Open in Protected View

When you open an existing document for the first time in Word 2010, if you try to start editing it, you may be surprised to find that nothing happens. If you look more closely, you’ll see that the Ribbon is hidden and that the document has opened in Protected View.

As you can see, a red box across the top of the document notifies you that you’re in Protected View and tells you that the file originated from an Internet location. This gives you the opportunity to determine whether it’s safe to open. If you click the Enable Editing button, the document downloads, the Ribbon appears, and you can make changes to the document as usual.

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Drive-By Downloading

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Daniel White

Did you know that you could jeopardize you business network by just surfing your favorite web sites? A drive-by download is a method of attacking user computers by just visiting viruses infected web sites. While you are reading that web page, you really may be download spyware, a virus or maleware all beknown to the user. Drive-by downloads may happen by visiting a website, viewing an e-mail message or by clicking on a deceptive popup window. The user clicks on the window with the mistaken belief that, for instance, it is an error report from his own PC trying to trick the user into downloading and installing a malicious program. If this is a frequent occurence at your business, then inquire with our Business Computer Network Support professionals to come up with a protection strategy for your business network.

Facts about Drive-by Downloads

Almost 3 billion vulnerable applications are installed on PCs in the U.S.
80% of all “drive-by downloads" are from legitimate sites like MLB.com, FOXNews.com, CBS.com and others.
More and more of these viruses are now coming from social media web sites like Facebook, My Space, Twitter and others.

The best offence against these threats is a good defense. It always good to make sure that your computer has ran all its updates and that your antvirus is fully updated. If you do not have a good antivirus program installed, then there are several programs to chose from like Kaspersky AntiVirus, Symantec, and many others. We mainly recommend the Kaspersky product to our clients. Remain mindful of what you open when your are on the Internet, even on familiar websites. If there is a pop-up that appears and you are not sure of its origins, then do not let it run.

If you are concerned about your business computer network, then contact one of our Computer Support Indianapolis professional to help assist you in implementing the correct security strategy for your network.

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What is A Drive-By Download?

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 by Brett Neal

There has been a recent outbreak in people getting antivirus warnings on their computer. A program that looks strikingly similar to a Windows Security Alert Window alarms you to a "infection" that has occurred on your computer. If you attempt to remove it as instructed by the program, it tells you that you need to upgrade to the full copy and it will asks for your credit card number. Does this sound familiar? I hope not, because if so your computer security has been compromised!

In Computer Support Indiana, I have helped many clients that have lived through this in part or in full. The real infection is this software that is telling you that you have the infection. People who have been experiencing this issue ask me "how did I get this virus?" This type of virus is referred to as a drive-by virus.

A drive-by virus is a virus or any malicious software program that is downloaded without the user's consent. For example, you could go to www.facebook.com and get a virus just from visiting the site. They are really hard to track down, and remove. Just because a site is infected does not mean that the owner of the site is the person responsible. Hackers are now able to stick their virus on a site without any knowledge of the owner of said website. Sometimes the malicious bits of code are distributed through ads and are constantly varying.

In Virus Removal Indiana, it is very hard to pinpoint exactly where you picked it up, but we can definitely help you get rid of it. The removal process of these types of viruses can be difficult, so it takes an experienced person to clean it up. The only way to minimize your chance of getting infected is to have an up to date antivirus software. We recommend the Kaspersky Internet Security product for most home users. Antivirus software does not guarantee that you will not pick up a virus somewhere, but it does typically minimize the impact which results in a smaller computer repair Mooresville bill.

If you would like assistance with purchasing the correct antivirus software product for your computers, then please contact your local Computer Sales and Services technician.

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What is a PCI Compliant Router?

Monday, April 5, 2010 by Chad Whaley

Is there such a thing as a PCI Compliant Router? No, not in the out of the box model sense of the question. The validity of how "PCI Compliant" a router is relates to the programming of the individual router as it pertains to securing the network.

First off, who needs to worry about having a PCI Compliant router? A good place to start is to ask yourself if your business accepts and/or stores credit card information. PCI stands for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), but most people just say "PCI" for short. To read more about the actual standard, I'll refer the readers to the Wikipedia article on "PCI Compliance".

If your business does accept credit cards or stores credit card information of clients, then the next stop would be to speak to your specific credit card processing company to see what they require. Some require compliance even if you only utilize a credit card swipe machine in the premise where others require it only if you are storing credit card information on a server or in a database application.

Once you have determined that your business location(s) is required to pass PCI Compliance testing, then your next step is to make sure you have a good business level router in place. I prefer using an ADTRAN router for this need, but as mentioned in the beginning, the level of PCI Compliance rests in programming of the router which most people will require a qualified Indianapolis IT Support professional to do.

In general, the router programming consists of closing open ports typically utilized by hackers to exploit the security of a network. Shutting down unnecessary and insecure services are also required. Making sure the router is running the most updated firmware and service version can also be a requirement. For instance during one PCI compliance project I worked on recently, the client utilized a router and firewall that was based on a Linux OS distribution. The testing agency hired by the credit card company kept failing the security test, because the version of the telnet service was outdated and considered a security risk. Unfortunately we were not able to update the telnet service version on this particular router, but we did manage to utilize more secure remote access methods which allowed us to shut down the externally facing telnet service, hence ultimately passing the security test. Eventhough access control lists (ACL) were utilized to protect the telnet service on the router, the testing agency required adding their tesing server to the ACL which forced a greater level of security in the end on the router.

The Interconnect Group - Is Your Network PCI Compliant?

Making a network PCI Compliant is a good step no matter if your particular credit card processor requires it or not. It is a sound, secure practice of making sure your particular network, servers, and devices are not vulnerable to know security risks. Good network security goes far beyond PCI Compliance, but it is always a good place to start.

Please contact us if you have been told by your credit card processing company that your network is required to be PCI Compliant. Our Indianapolis IT Support professionals can help your business achieve its PCI Compliance Indiana approval through proper router selection and programming.

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How To Choose Between A Desktop And Laptop

Monday, April 5, 2010 by Brett Neal

People often have trouble deciding between a new laptop or desktop. The answer depends on what you need to do on the new computer. How much performance you need versus the budget you have to spend. Everyone wants to get the fastest computer they can in their price range, but speed is not always the primary concern.

Desktop computers are great for speed and reliability. One typically gets more "bang for your buck." The problem with desktops is that they are big, cannot travel well, and you always need a power source. Laptops are great for people on the go allowing for access to the computer anywhere that you might need one. Laptops take a beating and typically don't last as long as desktops. It is recommend to plan for some extra visits to the Computer Repair Mooresville store when looking at the total cost of ownership of a laptop versus a desktop. Today it is very common for us to see people that own both a laptop and a desktops in our Computer Sales Indiana practice.

The deciding factor simply lies in where you would use it the most. If you don't really have a use for the mobility aspect of a laptop, then go with the desktop which will gain you higher performance per price. If you are frequently out with friends or at a coffee shop working, then go with the laptop. If you would like further help deciding which is the best option for you, then please contact your Computer Support Indiana specialist for further help. They can help you decided what will be best for you and even show you various makes and models of each that meet your budget.

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How To Connect To A Wireless Network, Windows 7/Vista/XP

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by Brett Neal

Wireless networks are increasingly becoming the norm for home networking. The driving force behind this is the growing popularity of laptops, WiFi enabled smart phones along with the basic increase of number of computers found in a single home. Working in computer sales Indiana, I get multiple calls from people who need help connecting their new computer or laptop to the Internet via a wireless router. The operating system of the computer dictates the best way to get a given device connected. Some manufacturers have their own software to control your wireless connection where others may just choose to have Windows control it. If you are unsure how your computer is setup, then I would recommend contacting your local computer support Indiana technician to get help with your specific machine. The following are general guidelines to get a computer connected to the Internet while using Windows to control the wireless adapter/card.

You will need to know the SSID of your wireless router and the encryption key/pass phrase before continuing. The SSID is how you identify your wireless router from your neighbors. We recommend making this something you will recognize without using something too noticeable such as your family name. We also recommend that you do not use any special characters and spaces in the SSID. We also strongly recommend that you secure your router using a secured pass phrase that isn't something obvious such as your family name or phone number.

In a Windows XP computer your start menu will be green, and it will say start. Down on the right hand side just to the left of the time of your desktop you will see a little computer with what looks like 3 ))) and a red x. If you single left click on the computer it will show you what connections you have available. Just select yours from the list and type the password if you have one. Then you should be ready to browse the Internet.

Windows Vista is very similar to Windows XP. The icon and location to connect are the same. The color scheme of Vista and the visual changes from XP to Vista make it look more intimidating than it really is.

Windows 7 looks like Vista, but instead of having the ))) next computer. It looks like a small computer and only has one computer. Windows Vista and Windows XP have two small computers one for a wireless connection and one for a wired connection. Windows 7 only uses one icon to manage all connection types.

If you still have an issue connecting with your wireless router, then consult the wireless router manual, your ISP's technical support, or call your local computer support Indiana technician. We often offer to our clients that if they have a laptop and purchase the wireless router from us, we'll setup the laptop to connect to the wireless router while they wait in our shop.

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The Insurance Claim Process Can Be A Real Pain...We Can Help!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010 by Chad Whaley

The Interconnect Group Blog - Computer Repair Mooresville

I just finished speaking with a client who has gone several rounds with an insurance company in regards to damages sustained during an automobile accident last year. During the wreck, her laptop was damaged and she's been going round and round with the insurance company to get them to replace her laptop. Our computer repair Mooresville shop routinely writes letters to insurance companies for our clients verifying damaged sustained to computers and related computer hardware.

The typical process varies across insurance agencies, but typically your insurance agency will request that you have a computer professional diagnosis the problem. Our computer repair Mooresville store most frequently gets insurance claim requests during Indiana's storm season. Damaged sustained to a laptop caught up in a car hitting a semi truck that just pulled out in front of it was fairly easy to diagnosis as being bad. If one of your computers finds itself to be on the receiving end of a natural disaster, freak of nature, or motorist not paying attention, then you'll most likely need to following these steps when making a computer related insurance claim:

Check with your insurance agent to verify their specific process first.
When an examination is required, then bring all of the damage computer/laptop/hardware to us.
Our computer repair Mooresville technicians will examine the damaged hardware and produce a write up on our corporate letterhead stating our findings.
Submit the letter to your insurance agent.
You may need to send the damage hardware to your insurance company.
Some insurance companies require to have their own computer professional verify our findings.
Typically, there are a few calls back and fourth between us and them.
Once everyone agrees on the findings, the normal claims process resumes.

One word of caution, don't try to scam your insurance agency and even more important don't try to involve us in it! We will play no part in it! When people try to scam the insurance companies it makes it harder on clients like the one that I spoke with today who have a justified claim and just want some resolution without being hassled.

If we can help you with a computer related insurance claim, please stop by our computer repair Mooresville store. We are open M-F 9AM-6PM W 9AM-4PM and Closed on Weekends and Holidays. Or you can call our main number (317) 831-0704 Option 1 and mention this blog to get a $20 Discount on your next computer repair.

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