By David Houston on Monday, September 08, 2008 1:01 PM

If you have users that need to use Outlook Web Access for long periods of time without being logged off after being inactive for a while, you will need to make a change to the registry to accomplish this. Warning - Editing the registry can make your server unbootable -Warning

 

Exchange 2003 OWA.

Change the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeWEB\OWA\TrustedClientTimeout

This is a hex a decimal number so input your time appropriately

 

Exchange 2007 OWA.

Change the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchange OWA\PrivateTimeout

Further in ... Read More »

By David Houston on Sunday, September 07, 2008 1:07 AM

I have recently had an update the the blog post "Expansys, HTC and grey market mobile phones". I have been issued a full refund and I am awaiting the cheque before bying the HTC Touch Pro, which for those interested will not be through Expansys.

Please not that there is a Forum post over at SBS Ireland with regards to grey market stock and Expansys and it seems that I am not the only one, so please be careful.

 

Thankfully I did get the refund but others have been stuck with unsupported phones and deserve better.

Please post to the SBS Ireland forum if you have been stung.

Thank you
David

... Read More »

By David Houston on Sunday, September 07, 2008 12:44 AM

I have just spent the last hour or so going over the sessions and events for the TechED event. The lineup looks very good for those in the Enterprise, but this is what gets to me personally, is that there seems to be only one session for all WESS which would include SBS, and another for EBS. So only two sessions for products that are launching only days after the event. To add insult to injury, TechED Australia has dedicated a complete day to WESS, and there had been a dedicated session just for SBS at TechED North America.

This to me makes no sense what so ever. There is a big wish for information on both SBS and EBS, and talking to those that are enterprise IT guys they do want to know more about it.

An event that will have over 4000 attendees, and not to avail of this turn out to inform them properly about SBS and EBS is incredible and seems to show a lack of understanding by Microsoft. To get the information out about the the two biggest Microsoft products t ... Read More »

By David Houston on Saturday, August 09, 2008 11:51 PM

Vlad Mazek has coined the phrase SPF, or Single Point of Failure, for IT consultants. These are companies that have only one person on staff and have no real backup personnel, or partners that could help run their company if they were hit by a bus.

Following on from this, the most common connection with most of these businesses is the lack of documentation, this includes:

• Network Documents
• System Changes
• Network Diagrams
• Client Information
• Business Accounts
• Business Usernames and Passwords.

Why is this information important when selling your business?

If you buy a company that does not have this information, you will have to a) have to pay for the business, b) then invest your time in learning the network and then developing your own documentation.

Part B can be an investment of a ... Read More »

By David Houston on Saturday, July 19, 2008 2:04 PM

Just recently I got the new HTC Touch Diamond, and was very impressed with the look of the device.

There was a few things that got to me though:

• TouchFlo performance
• Unable to connect to a Wireless Network
• Weak Network Signal
• Other performance issues

a little research showed that newer firmware would resolved the issue. So I went to the HTC website and tried to register the phone. No luck, emailed their support, and thought a minor glitch. A week past, and I had not heard from them, so another email goes out. Another week later and I decide to call them. On the phone to a very nice lady, and she unfortunately had to give me the bad new. The phone that I was given, even though advertised for Ireland and the UK was in fact a grey market import from Asia, and HTC would not support these phones.

 

What does this mean?

It means ... Read More »

By David Houston on Sunday, July 06, 2008 4:09 PM

Are you hoping to go to an event by SMB Nation?

A big thank you out to Harry Brelsford, he has offered SBS User Group members a 10% discount on his events!

Check with your group leader for the discount code.

Not a member of a user group? Find one near by at SBSGroups.com

 

But not only that, Harry has extended the offer to include a 20% discount on the books provided by SMB Nation.

If are having trouble finding a user group, email me using the Send comment form.

Hope to see you there in Seattle this year.

David

... Read More »

By David Houston on Sunday, June 29, 2008 6:36 PM

I am a PC guy, I am familiar with them and they do what I need them to do, but recently I have seen more people buying Macintosh computers, and being the curious type that I am I ask them why a Macintosh over a PC?

The biggest reason is that there is a belief that Macintosh computers are more secure, and that there are NO viruses or malware that target the Macintosh computer, an this is false.

Even today as I read some blog posts I find that there is a new Trojan for the Macintosh.

Why is there this Myth?

The main reason behind this is due to the fact that the PC controls 90% of the computer market, and in most cases those that develop viruses and malware want to target the greater audience to have the chance of causing the most damage or mayhem possible.

But, Macintosh computers are being more prominent and so they will have more viruses and malware designed to compromise them.

So be c ... Read More »

By David Houston on Saturday, June 28, 2008 3:16 PM

Just put together the test server, a HP Proliant DL360 G5 server, a nice little 1 U Rack server.

I used the ILO (Integrated Lights Out) card to remotely install Windows 2008 Enterprise. One thing to note, if you are not familiar with Powershell avoid installing Core.

The Dl360 g5 does support Hypervisor, but not straight away, first a few changes need to be made in the bios.

To change this:

• Start the server
• Press F9 to get into the server BIOS
• Go to Advanced Options
• Go to Processor Options
• Go to Non Execute and Press Enter
• Select Enabled and press Enter
• Then go to Intel Virtual Technology
• Select Enabled and press enter

You will need to fully reboot the server for the changes to take effect, but you will now be able to use HyperVisor in Wi ... Read More »

By David Houston on Sunday, June 22, 2008 1:43 AM

This is just a quick post about security.

In today's world and computer friendly society a layered security policy is needed to ensure safety when using computers, and connecting to the Internet.

Steps to improve security:

• A robust Firewall, firmware and updates brought to the latest version.
• Up to date AntiVirus software
• Up to Date AntiSpyware software
• Regular scans of the computer
• Proper training of staff on potential security risk 
• A thorough Acceptable Computer Usage policy
• Restricted File Level access with Auditing enabled
• Intrusion Detection/Protection System to monitor network activity
• Restrict computer access, including using token based systems to ensure compliance
• Strong passwords that are changed regularly
Read More »
Comments (0)
Welcome to this world, I will be your guide!

By David Houston on Sunday, June 22, 2008 1:32 AM

If we only realised how dangerous the Internet was, we would never go on there.

There are many malicious sites, and malicious software developed to take advantage of your computers, and exploit the information or the resources to further cause malicious damage.

Firewall is a word that covers too much and has no clear definition in today's Internet. When they were first released they simply blocked ports both inwards and outwards. This is no longer enough to protect you completely.

Note: Some would say that a bad firewall is worse than not having a firewall at all, due to false beliefs in the level of protection provided.

Firewalls improved to allow more control on inbound and outbound data.

But this use to be enough to protect you, that is no longer the case, new sites with new ways of exploiting you are available, new hacking tools to exploit vulnerabilities in software and hardware.

N ... Read More »