November 2009 – Unified Network Services

Want To Start A Big Rumor

Marketing

I ran across this item today in the comments to a news item. You gotta email, share or retweet this… could be the beginning of the next viral Internet revolution of over 50s.

From ViewPoint News:

The Council On Economic Common Sense, a Main Street think tank, issued a brief press release earlier today highlighting recommendations it said it has submitted to the Obama Administration for review and implementation. The CECS said it is convinced the economy would make a full recovery within thirty days after complete implementation of its recommendations. Thus far, the Obama Administration has refused to say if it has reviewed or even received anything from the CECS.

The following is summary of the economic actions the CECS is recommending;

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings – Unemployment fixed.

2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered – Auto Industry fixed.

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis fixed.

Could it really be this easy? Would these recommendations, if implemented, provide the rapid and enduring economic recovery America is desperate for? Would the banksters and Wall Street permit the Congress to act decisively and in the best interest of Main Street?

Stay tuned to Viewpoint News for updates to this developing story.

In my fervent quest for knowledge, I search "Council On Economic Common Sense" to learn more!

Isn’t Internet comedy a hoot. On another note, I would like to introduce you to Google Scholar.

Marketing

When Is Backup Really Backup

Backup Business Systems Support

I find myself easily drawn to new and better technology, but when does a product not quite get you there?

The Seagate® Replica™ 500-GB System bills itself as a "complete PC backup system, Effortless, automatic backup for everything on your PC, including the operating system, programs, and settings." This sounds easy and the device looks pretty nifty. But, the devil is in the details.

Seagate tells me that the Replica will automatically backup my entire hard drive without my having to configure anything. I’m almost sold. So what pushes me over the edge?

This thing is so cool looking. It will look great sitting on my desk quietly backing up all of my data. So I make the purchase, plug and play, automatically backing up my stuff so that I am completely protected from any data loss, right?

Wrong… The Replica has it’s place, like it’s ability to save the file you accidently deleted on Friday but knew it was correct on Tuesday. So, just restore Tuesday’s copy of the file. You can also restore a complete snapshot of your computer’s drive in the event you are wiped out by a virus. But what about the really big catastrophes?

The big ones prove the need for a bullet proof backup and recovery system for not only your pc but your entire business. It’s not out of the question that when your computer is destroyed in a disaster, your cute little Seagate Replica will also be destroyed at the same time.

I would like to see this Seagate Replica device not only backup your computer automatically but also push a backup to the cloud, an off site out of region data center. Imagine loosing both your computer and Replica in a fire, but having the ability to restore your files from the cloud back to your new replacement computer.

Then you would have a true backup. Combine frequent file restores with testing of those restored files and you then have a bullet proof backup and recovery system.

QuickBooks PCI Compliant

Business Systems Support Cyber Security QuickBooks

Beginning in 2004, the single most important question that merchants need to ask about their business software has to do with PCI Compliance. “The Payment Card Industry (PCI) has created the Data Security Standards (DSS) in order to support merchants. Credit Card companies now require merchants to be aware of and compliant with the Data Security Standards… Merchants, Is Your POS System PCI Compliant?”

Point of Sale or POS systems bear the brunt of the load when it comes to credit card transactions in the modern retail sales business establishment. It’s nice to know that according to VISA’s List of Validated Payment Applications , Intuit’s QuickBooks ranks as a fully PCI compliant software. I consistently recommend QuickBooks Merchant Services to clients mostly because it mitigates PCI risk.

I also recommend that people use the old style dial out or dual ip-dial out credit card terminal that uses a standard telephone line whenever possible because it shifts PCI compliance back to the merchant service provider. Avoid the newer network type terminals because no typical small business network can pass PCI’s muster without the business spending a great deal of money on special firewalls and logging software.

I’m simply amazed that since 2004, credit card companies and banks have successfully shifted the risk of data breach to merchants that use their services all while building inherently less secure transactional hardware and software APIs simply because of the need to connect through the Internet.

Merchants are in a terrible position. Check out this video.

The bankers birthed an entire new business model on unloading credit card risk to merchants. Kind of reminds you of the ridiculous fees and interest rates we are paying to the same banks.

QuickBooks Multi User Server Uses Up A License

Business Systems Support QuickBooks

Question: I recently set up the XP Pro QuickBooks server and have a couple of questions.

The only way for all users to have access to files is to keep QuickBooks open on the server. This, in turn is using up one of my licenses. I have tried the server manager, but it is not allowing users to access the files.

Is this the way it has to be setup? How can I fix this?

Answer: No, this is not the way it has to be set up. The entire version of QuickBooks should be installed on your server and hosting company files does not require QuickBooks to stay open or use up a user license.

The only time a user license comes into play on the server is when QuickBooks is open and has a company file open on the server for those times that you might be configuring automation or performing file maintenance.

These steps will clear up your installation:

1 – Restart your server then access the server’s desktop.

2 – Open QuickBooks with the Admin user and confirm that the server is hosting multi user access. From file, select Utilities. The drop out menu will show "Stop Hosting Multi-User Access…" (see below) The server is the only QuickBooks installation that should show "Stop Hosting Multi-User Access…"

3 – Select the F2 key to pop out the "Product Information" screen (see below). Print the screen or take note of these items. At the top, the "Product" "License Number", "Product number" and "User Licenses" needs to match on each computer that has QuickBooks installed. The "File Information" "Location" needs to be the network location and match on each computer accessing QuickBooks including the server.

4 – Confirm that you have unique users set up in QuickBooks. Select "Company" then "Set Up Users And Passwords" then "Set Up Users…" (see below) Every unique logon to QuickBooks requires a unique user.

5 – Close QuickBooks on the server

6 – Open QuickBooks on each client computer confirm that the server is hosting multi user access. From file, select Utilities. The drop out menu will show "Host Multi-User Access…" (see below)

7 – On each client computer, select the F2 key to pop out the "Product Information" screen and confirm that each item in step 3 matches.

Update your clients to the latest version if the "Product" does not match. Contact QuickBooks support if the "License Number", "Product number" and "User Licenses" do not match. Browse to open company files from the correct network location if "File Information" "Location" does not match.

8 – Confirm that no firewall software is turned on or running on either the server or any of the clients. Firewalls belong on your Internet gateway device, not on your business desktop computer. If you use a laptop, you need to learn how to disable and enable the firewall software.

No Third Rate Computer Backups Here

Backup Business Systems Support

Opps… Sunday afternoon and I’ve just discovered that I damaged three files on my home PC. Not to fear… I have these files backed up. Mozy allows me to get the versions I know were there two weeks ago… just like on TV, right?

Unfortunately, Mozy didn’t work as advertised this time.

Here’s a picture of mozy.com when I needed it the most.

And a picture of the the Mozy blog where I went for a status update.

I gave up recovering the three text files I needed after about a half hour. I will stop trying and look at Mozy later.

Looks like I need to regroup on the backup strategy for this particular computer. Except, I’ve recovery tested random files every month on this computer. I’ve confirmed that they will open after I recover them. I’ve chosen a well known home pc backup solution from Mozy. I made the right decision. Time to back off and wait.

One hour and thirty-five minutes into this, suddenly three text files restore and I finally have my files. Guess this will serve as this month’s recovery testing. I also noticed Mozy’s website bounced back. I guess I’m not the only one with occasional systems problems.

Mozy has a great no charge to home users 2GB Online Backup plan. Give it a try. It’s never let me down, even this time. And, please use referral code F2YX90 when you sign up so I can get some more space on my account..