Internet Connectivity Solutions

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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In a recent post, I wrote on how to set up a Ventrilo Server.  In this follow-up post, I will discuss how to set up a service that allows users to connect to the Vent server automatically event though your Public IP address changed.  I currently use a program called DynDNS.  In network support services, this is a set up where you create a dns name that is directed to your public IP of your Vent server.  For example, your dns name could be owner.yourname.net.  What this dynamic dns service does is that anyone who goes to owner.yourname.net will be directed to connect to your most currently public IP address. It works basically like when you move and you tell the post office that your address has changed.  The dynamic dns provider is the post office.

The service that I use, as well as many others, requires you to download a program.  This program runs on your computer at all times.  For most home Internet connections, your IP address changes because you haven't paid for a static or sticky public IP address.  It could change every few hours to every few months.  This is called a Dynamic IP Address.  The dynamic dns program sends information from your computer to the service every few seconds.  So if your IP address is 74.125.95.103 and it changes to 74.125.93.120, the software will notify your service of this change.  Even though your address keeps changing, it updates the dns name owner.yourname.net to 74.125.93.120.

This program has many uses.  I have been using it to keep my own voice server the same no matter how many times my ip address changes.  This can also be used for people who want to host their own website, or if you set up a connection to your computer from another and you require the address not to change.  However, a word of caution is to check the acceptable terms and conditions of use for your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

If you need help, please contact your Internet connectivity solutions provider to see if there are any settings that may need to be changed for dynamic DNS to work.  In my example, I installed the DynDNS program on my computer, but I also know of situations where it is possible to install the updating service on your actual router.

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I was talking to my father the other day. He was having problems trying to grasp how high speed internet is faster than slower connections.  In Internet Connectivity Solutions, a faster speed does not mean that it gets somewhere faster per say.  Think of it like this,  lets say that you currently live in Indiana.  You are looking at a website that the people who own that website are in Califorina.  When you go to that page, lets say www.onlinestore.com, your computer requests and recieves infromation from California server.  If you have DSL or if you have dial up, it takes the same amount of time for that information to travel the distance from California.

So how exatly is your connection faster?  If you have a straw and a paper towl tube the exact same length setting side by side.  If you drop a tiny marble in the top of each at the same time, both marbles will hit the bottem at the same time.  If you have the same straw and paper towl tube, and you want to put 20 marbles through both of them each,  you can drop all 20 tiny marbles through the paper towl tube at once, but you're limited to one marble at a time through the straw.  This is how your internet connection works.  The higher the speed, the wider the tube which we often refer to as bandwidth.   So if you have two different computers at the same time loading a webpage that has two pictures on it and one computer is on dial-up and the other is on xDSL. The dial up computer is limited to receiving a fraction of one picture at one time, where the dsl computer can fit both pictures at the same time.  This is a simple analogy of how to visualize "faster" when talking about how Internet connectivity solutions works.

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My guild in my online MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) asked me to set up a Ventrilo Server.  Working in computer repair Mooresville and having some experence in Internet connectivity solutions, I agreed to take on the task.  I will be showing you how to set up a Ventrillo Server on your home computer that can be connected to by your friends.

First you need to download the Server Client.  Select for what opperating system you are using.


After you download and install the client you need open the "Edit INI File".  To Find That click "start" then "Programs"  The find the folder "VentSrv",  then click the "Edit INI File" shortcut.

Now that you have opend the "Edit INI File" shortcut we are ready to configure the vent server. 

• The "Name=" is what your server will be named.  It will be shown as the first channel when somone is logged into your server.  This is known as the "Lobby".  After the = sign you need to type the name that you want to use.
• At the "Phonetic="  This is a robotic voice that will say your server name.  you can leave this blank or you can re-type your server name.
• "Auth=" is where you can set if you want to have a password for the user to input to gain access to your server.  If you have a 0 here then in means there is no password.  If you want to have a password change this to 1.
• "Duplicates=" lets you set if two people can use the same user name.  If you want eveyone to have an their own usernames and restrict people having the same name set this to 0.  If you don't want to set specific usernames set this to 1.
• "AdminPassword=" Sets an administrator password to be able to add channels and edit how the client looks when somone is connected to your server.  If you do not wish anyone to be able to edit this other than yourself, I reccomend setting a password.
• "Password="  If you set Auth=1 (Which means you have a password)  then set this password here.
• "SendBuffer=" and "RecvBuffer="  are to set a voice buffer to make the audio quality better or worse.  The default is 0, I would suggest not changing this setting since the quality is good enough already.
• "Diag="  This is for developers to see diagnostics with the server itself.  I recommend leaving this set at 0.
• "LogonTimeout=" This sets the time a user has to logon to the server.  The default setting is more than long enough for most users.
• "CloseStd=" This is to make the server run in the background.  It's default is set at 1.  If you want the server to run in the background set this to 0.
• "TimeStamp="  Timestamp is so you can see time and date of any message that happens on your server.  0 means it will not report time and date.  1 will report time and date.
• "PingRate=" Sets how often the server pings the client.  The number following the = sign is the number of seconds in between each ping.   The default will do you fine unless you are having connection probelms.
• "ExtraBuffer="  Sets the buffer area to outgoing data.  Do not change the default setting.  Doing so can potentually cause problems.
• "ChanWidth="  Sets how many sub channels you can have.  The default 0 means you can have unlimted channels.  Then 1 means you can only have 1. 2 means you can have 2, and so on.
• "ChanClients=" Sets how many clients can be connected at one time.  The numbers follow the same pattern as the ChanWidth paramaters.
• "SilentLobby="  This will enable voice in the Lobby channel. If you wish to deny access in the Lobby you can change this setting to 1.
• "AutoKick="  Automatic kicks uses that are not talking for an amount of time.  0 means it will not kick a user from the server.  Any other number sets how many seconds somone can remain connected while they are idle.

SAMPLE CONFIG FILE



Now that you have the vent server created click "File", then "Save".  Launch the vent server by going to "Start", "All Programs"  and "VentSrv, then click "Ventrilo Server".  Your vent server is now online and ready to use.  Just give people your public IP address or your local IP address if it only going to be used inside your own network.

If this helps you out or if you need some follow-up clarification, please post a follow-up comment below on my computer repair Mooresville blog.

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

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Due to the nature of my business, I need to have the ability to stay constantly connected via a barrage of remote worker solutions.  Although my Blackberry fills a lot of the gaps, there are many times when a 3G/Broadband card is required.  I've had a Verizon Wireless 3G card for a few years and always travel with it no matter if I'm traveling for business or pleasure.  One of the drawbacks to using a broadband card is the inability to easily share it or have multiple devices connected to the Internet at the same time.

A wireless router would fit the bill because it would allow me to share my broadband Internet connection as well as plug in a computer via the Ethernet port.  Until just recently the only options I had found were over priced and highly unreliable, not to mention bulky for a road warrior traveling.

If you own almost ANY carrier or almost ANY model of cellular broadband card, then the NexConnect 3G Wireless Router is a MUST HAVE remote worker solutions!  For most business or home users, the consumer line will suffice.  They also offer a Business Class version which offers some advance VPN features for the more stringent remote worker solutions.

Both models accept USB and PCMCIA style broadband cards (PCMCIA card plugs into the side of the unit not shown in attached pictures).  Unlike some of the more expensive competitive products, the NexConnect router works with with broadband cards from multiple carrier networks.

The product has a very easy to use GUI interface.  An auto configuration wizard basically makes the router as easy as plug in play with the broadband card.  This makes it nice because most remote worker solutions users can configure this on your their own.

Have you ever thought about using your broadband card as a fail-over to your main Internet connection?  This router comes equipped with a fail-over mode which senses when the main Internet connection goes down and then switches over to the broadband card Internet connection.  One of the two Ethernet ports on the back are for this purpose.

This router also ranks highly on my affordable router solutions list.  The consumer version retails for $119 and the business class version retails for $189.  We are selling both options at a discount from the retail pricing and can drop ship right to your home or business.  In my opinion, most remote worker solutions business users will do just fine with the consumer version.

NexConnect 3G Wireless Router Spec Sheet

Business Class 3G/4G Broadband Router Spec Sheet

If you would like to learn more about these remote worker solutions products or how they can benefit you or your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com or call (317) 831-0704 to place your order.  I look forward to working with you.

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I am amazed by all the options available to today's business community as long as you are located in a somewhat populated community.  Being an Internet connectivity solutions provider, I've been able to design and implement several Internet solutions that meet client's business needs.  Internet connectivity has developed for many businesses to be more and require more than just choosing the best rate for the greatest connection speeds.  I recommend considering the following:

• Reliability
• Redundancy
• Efficient Utilization
• Remote Office Connectivity
• Scalability

Reliability is a major concern because Internet connectivity is the lifeline to clients and productivity for most of today's businesses.  If your business can't afford to be down, then you may require an Internet connection that has defined Service Level Agreement (SLA) terms as found in T1 circuits.

Redundancy may go hand in hand with your reliability requirements.  Depending on the size of your business, redundancy may be met by having a Cellular 3G Card on hand at all times.  For larger organizations, a backup broadband connection or T1 might be required to offer the necessary redundancy that is required.  If redundancy is important, then I recommend Internet connectivity solutions that implement a dual carrier, dual delivery approach when possible.  For example, two T1s from different carriers may still ride over the same Local Loop network which still offers a single point of failure.  Where as a T1 and a Cable broadband connection offers two separate paths and two separate carriers.

Efficient Utilization means that I recommend leveraging both your voice and data connectivity requirements in one common connection.  Through the use of Voice Over IP (VoIP) deliver strategies found in many new small business telecommunications implementations, PRI T1s and Internet T1s can be combined.  The combined connection can be programmed to meet peak demands of both types of use.

Remote Office Connectivity requirements should be considered simultaneously with the main HQ location.  Advance Internet connectivity solutions such as MPLS networks can be utilized to connect multiple facilities (typically more than 3-5 locations).  I have worked with clients that have over thirty geographically diverse locations all over the United States that implemented an MPLS Network that carried both their voice and data at a highly reduced reoccurring monthly costs over their previous data only interconnection strategy.  As with all complex implementations, it requires proper design and implementation to be successful.

Scalability is often overlooked.  All good Internet connectivity solutions should take into consideration a communication growth projection analysis.  Depending on the company size, growth projections might dictate the need for greater bandwidth over the next few years.  If so, look into adjustable bandwidth products such as DS3 Circuit, Ethernet Over Copper or Fiber Connectivity.  These products typically allow for easy bandwidth increases.  I also recommend that all good Internet connectivity solutions should also review equipment scalability as well as circuit scalability.  For instance, it might be cheaper to purchase a larger router up front with the ability to add extra T1 cards than to purchase a lower model limited expansion model.

The next time you are in the market to get one or many of your facilities connected to the Internet, allow some time to review the greater connectivity strategy.  Hopefully, these five points will allow you to select the correct Internet connectivity solutions for your business.

If you liked this Blog Post, then check out other IT Related Posts:

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An article in the September 2009 Inc. magazine offered 10 free software programs worth checking out.  The author had the following to say in the opening comments of the article:

As an Indianapolis IT Support Firm, we've consulted with clients worried about current economic times.  The common reaction is to cut spending, but we're suggesting that our clients implement a cost savings strategy versus an outright cutting strategy.  The following are a few areas we recommend focusing on.

Review Monthly Phone and Internet Service Fees

Look into consolidation of voice and data traffic onto a single Internet connection.  Our strategic partner, an Indiana Telecommunications Provider, offers blended circuits which are more efficient use of Internet resources.  If your company requires multiple facilities to be interconnected, then look into MPLS network connectivity through a single carrier.  Be sure to review the contract deadlines on your existing T1, PRI, or Centrex contracts.  If there are 3-6 months left before your contract renewal, start shopping around now to find more affordable pricing or consolidated product options that meet your needs.  READ THE FINE PRINT!  Many carriers have automatic renewal clauses in their circuit contracts and require written notification of your non-renewal.

Use Technology To Increase Productivity and Efficiency

If your budget requires the reduction in headcount, then look into utilizing technology to make your business operations more efficient for the remaining staff.  The following are a few solutions that our Indianapolis IT Support Firm customers have found helpful.

• Workflow Automation (ie. Microsoft Sharepoint Services)
• Remote Worker Solutions - Flexibilty can save on overhead costs
• Hosted Services - Reduce upfront costs and Cap-X spending
• Exchange Server - Shared Calenders, Contacts and Control
• Virtual Meeting Solutions (ie. Microsoft Live Meeting)

Take Advantage of Great Offers

Many equipment and software vendors are offering great deals to entice IT spending now.  One can find offers from deferred montly payments (ie. 3-6 months same as cash) to great leasing incentives.  Leasing companies sometimes allow for the inclusion of the installation services in with the equipment lease which eases cash flow.

Volume Licensing and Software Assurance

Microsoft and other software vendors offer volume licensing discounts for most major products.  Generally speaking, it is cheaper to purchase licenses in this way for quantities as small as 3-5 licenses, depending on the specific product.  In addition, Microsoft Software Assurance can be purchased.  Microsoft's Sotware Assurance (SA) allows for the spreading of license payments over several years while also including free upgrades to newer versions.

Centralized Printing Resources

Although multiple printers are convienant for employees, it is very costly to have "personalized" printers strung throughout the office.  Multiple printers use more ink cartridges, power consumption and support spending.  As an Indianapolis IT Support Firm, we encourage our clients to centralize printing to a few heavier duty printers/copiers and save money.

Virtual Servers

Studies show that standard multiple server deployments typically include under utilized equipment while consuming full power and rack space.  Virtualization of some servers onto a single server typically increases hardware utilization while decreasing power consumption, cooling costs and often support costs.  Our Indianapolis IT Support Firm recently migrated a client from five standalone servers down to two servers, one which was using a Hyper-V deployment that allowed for four virtural servers to be running on one machine.  This new hardware signficantly increased performance across the board while reducing power consumption, cooling requirements and rack space.  Virtualization technology is one that every business with multiple servers should be exploring.

Discover New, Low Cost Marketing Channels

With the growing popularity of Twitter, Facebook and other social media websites, a new affordable marketing channel has emerged.  If you haven't started venturing down this road, then we would suggest starting with your own personal Linked-In page and Face Book (FB) page.  Once you get your feet wet, then create a Fan Page for your company.  Twitter is also very easy to start, but it can get a bit overwhelming for someone new to social media sites.  The pay-off really starts to happen when you utilize the social media sites to notify customers and clients of new content, products and services that can be found on your static website or blog.  If all of this is way too much for you, then ask one of your younger employees to help, becuase most likely they are updating their status on Facebook as you read this.  Be aware that it takes time to reach a critical mass with these new social media marketing endevors, so start now!

The days of being stuck with an antiquated business phone system is becoming a thing of the past.  As recent as three to five years ago, call routing options and advanced call features were only found in larger corporate phone systems.  This is not the case in today's market.  The Small to Medium sized Business (SMB) market now has plenty of options and affordable telephone system solutions, thanks largerly in part to the commercialization of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones systems.

Several Indiana Telecommunications Providers offer their own varieties of both premise based and non-premise based solutions.  Both options have their place and the following factors should be evaluated with your VoIP Specialists when looking into purchasing a new business phone system:

• Number of physical locations serving
• Quantity of users and stations per location
• Are remote worker solutions required
• Are call center features required
• Business Phone Support options

There are several affordable premise based phone systems available.  Microsoft's Unified Communication has been getting a lot of publicity, but we prefer ADTRAN's NetVanta 7100 solution for systems serving less than 50 users.  There are also some great Open Source solutions, but again it must be the right fit for your organization.

As VoIP Specialists, we've been integrating a Hosted PBX VoIP solution since 2005 which is based on the Broadsoft Softswitch platform.  Although the Hosted PBX platform lends itself very well to multiple premise companies, it also provides these key benefits:

• Lowered Total Cost of Ownership
• Feature Enriched Call Routing Options
• Superior Business Continuity Features
• Remote Web Based Administration

If your company is in the process of moving to a new location or perhaps your old phone system is working against you versus with you, then now is the perfect time for you to review the options available in today's business phone systems.  I would recommend working with a VoIP Specialist to determine the right solution for your company.

Since business phone systems are no longer separate from your IT network, I would recommend engaging your IT Department from the beginning of the process.  Significant cost reduction may be realized if the new business phone system allows for blended voice and data Internet connectivity.