IT Support: A primer on Virtual Servers

/0 Comments/in /by

KT82YXSFXPRJ

We were asked to give a brief overview of virtual servers and their benefits today. Just though we’d share it here.

Here are the Benefits:

First of all with the latest hardware a virtual server runs with almost as well in a virtual environment as if it were installed directly.

Ease of provisioning

If you have a handful of virtual computers and you need to create another server. It is much easier and quick to setup a new virtual in your farm than to order a new server and wait for it then finally set it up. You can even just have a master image that you use to spin up the server and go from there.

Optimization

Traditionally if you have several servers they will all be sitting around running at 10-30% utilization.

When you provision a virtual server you can give it as much memory, storage, and processors as you have available. This allows you to provision more servers with less waste. Read more →

Virus Removal: Initial reaction to the cryptolocker virus

/0 Comments/in /by

Earlier this year, a new type of virus came onto the scene. Unlike others, however, this new one’s bite was every bit as bad as its bark.

‘Cryptolocker’ as it’s known sniffs out your personal files and wraps them in strong encryption before demanding money.
I’ve collected some details about this new and highly unpleasant threat.

  • Firstly, it really encrypts. It can jump across network shares and encrypt anything with write access, and infection isn’t dependent on being a local administrator.
  • Secondly, most anti-viruses do not catch it until the damage is done.
  • Thirdly, the timer is real and your opportunity to pay them goes away when it lapses. Read more →

Web design: domain registration and hosting types explained

/0 Comments/in /by

We received a question from one of our clients earlier about the difference between domain names and hosting. Might as well share it here…

  • Your Domain – Registering a domain is similar to registering your address with the Post Office or Phone Company; you’re telling people that you exist as a certain name/entity and where they can find you. They find you by using the…
  •     Domain Name Service – The Domain Name Service is a system of computers that is similar to a large, shared address or phone book. When you register a domain name, you tell the DNS where to find you, usually via a numeric IP address. When people look up your site, their computer automatically finds the IP address, which is assigned to your host.
  •     Web Host – Your Host is where the files for your website actually “live”. This is usually a computer of some type, running special software called a Web Server, which takes your files and “serves” them up to a browser (or whatever device). Read more →