Compu Mech's Corner

How Managed Services Can Help Your Company Go Green

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:47:35 GMT

For years, Managed Services Providers, including Compu Mech, have sold their model based solely on the ability to keep IT costs down for provider and client alike, in addition to transforming the delivery of IT services from a remedial to preventative endeavor. Bur as energy costs rise, we have identified pre-existing benefits of Managed Services that not only save your company money, but can help you go green.

Our remote support and web-based tools, the fundamental base of our services, allow us to remotely turn on and shut down systems, thus providing a way to reduce energy use. In addition, the remote element of our services reduces carbon emissions from the vehicles that technicians use to visit customer sites by reducing the amount of onsite visits.

“Less transportation use translates into increased savings on the total carbon footprint of the IT implementation and business utilization,” according to a white paper released by one of our Managed Services Providers, Kaseya.

Along with providing our “green” services, Compu Mech can help further reduce your energy consumption by providing technologies that are earth friendly. These are newer PC’s with built-in energy management technologies- and we don’t mean the tools that are built-in to Microsoft Operating System. These are power supplies that dynamically reduce energy use based on your computer usage, chips that internally manage your computer in order to minimize overall energy use, and graphics cards from NVIDIA that also dynamically reduce power usage.

With an industry now focused on engineering technologies that will help conserve energy, reduce footprints, and build more efficiency, now is a great time to transform your business into a lean, green machine. Compu Mech can help get it done. Give us a call today and learn how Compu Mech can help transform your business.

This month we are celebrating our 5^th anniversary by providing 20% off all our managed services for 5 months! There has not been a better time to try out our services, so take advantage today!

Regards,

___________________________
David Beltran, Owner

Compu Mech

www.compumech.net
dbeltran@compumech.net
Connecticut: 203-672-5928

Toll Free: 800-893-5807

Florida: 954-317-3683

Microsoft Scheduled to Expire Windows XP

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:51:38 GMT

There are many jokes going around about the impending death of Windows XP, but this is not an issue your business should take lightly.

If your company still relies on Windows XP as the Operating System of choice, you may be sitting on a ticking time bomb. Starting June 30, Microsoft will officially pull XP off the shelves and out of the hands of OEM distributors, meaning that any new PC's you purchase will have neither the option of coming with XP nor the downgrade rights should you purchase one with Windows Vista.

It is only a matter of time until XP reaches end-of-life and updates no longer become available via automatic updates. This will leave you with a functioning computer that will eventually be as vulnerable to attack as Windows 98. Where does this leave you? Pondering what to do next?

Vista has received a great deal of slack over the last year and rightfully so. Our senior engineers tested and followed the development of Windows Vista (formerly known as “Longhorn”) since November of 2004. They experienced firsthand the triumphs, failures, fixes and breaks as they happened in real time. When Vista was released to manufacturing last year, they knew it wasn’t ready.

I personally use and have used Vista at home for nearly two years now exclusively. As a home user, I experienced a few negative effects, such as games that refuse to function, some hardware/software combinations that wouldn’t work, along with a great deal of unnecessary research and time needed to make things work the way they should.

This year, Microsoft finally worked out many of the kinks that were holding the system back. With the release of Service Pack 1, Vista is now not only more compatible with a myriad of hardware and software, but it is also far more stable than it has ever been.

It is time for businesses to begin the long and painful process of finally letting go of XP. What’s the best way to do it? There are many different methods, but we prefer the beta test method. Isolate individual users in different departments who use different software/hardware configurations that are as a whole representative of your entire company. Then follow their progress over 30 days. If, during the span of 30 days, no issues are encountered, or if issues are minimal and can easily be mitigated, then contemplate a full rollout.

Don’t forget during your beta period to have a PC running XP available for the individual to use, just in case. Hopefully, you’ll find rolling out Vista to be a painless and rewarding process.

Always ensure that you are using the latest version of any software required for your business, and that your hardware is up to snuff. In some cases, you may need to purchase new hardware to ensure compatibility, but this is becoming quite rare.

Good luck. Please feel free to contact us should you need any assistance with your project- we would be glad to assist you in any way we can.

Thank you!

Compu Mech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Regards,

___________________________
David Beltran, Owner

Compu Mech
dbeltran@compumech.net
Connecticut: 203-672-5928

Toll Free: 800-893-5807

Florida: 954-317-3683

www.compumech.net

Have You Reviewed Your Disaster Recovery Plan?

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:34:55 GMT

Is your data safe? Are you sure your backups really work? Would your business survive a fire, flood, or even a simple server hardware failure?

If you are relying upon tape backup options for your servers, you may be putting your business at risk. Due to the volatility of tapes and associated drives, failure rates for magnetic backup tapes have been reported to be as high as 20 to 50 percent, making it an unreliable form of data backup compared to disk-based backup systems.

Compu Mech offers a solution to this dilemma with Enhanced Disaster Recovery. This service is a comprehensive Backup and Disaster Recovery Solution for Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 Servers. This affordable, all-encompassing solution provides Small to Medium size businesses with near real-time backups that also includes seamless off-site data storage along with multi-year archiving and standby server capabilities.

There are advanced restoration options like file and folder level restorations, with Exchange message and mailbox recovery and bare metal restorations to dissimilar hardware. Typically in less than an hour, the unique Network Attached Storage (NAS) device can also be configured to function as a standby server if needed. This solution will replace management intensive, error-prone tape backups while providing much more.

Enhanced Disaster Recovery includes:

Fast Recovery for files and email
Virtualization of failed servers decreasing downtime from days to hours
50 GB of offsite storage insuring data security and meeting regulations
Built-in archiving to rid yourself of costly tapes, offsite storage facilities and downtime while waiting on restores.
24X7x365 Monitoring and Management insuring data integrity
Our service is a business continuity plan
Includes our Basic Ad-Hoc Server Plan (Valued at $40/mo.)
Fix errors before server failure occurs
24X7 Support
Ensure Email and Database Health and stability

For more details about our Enhanced Disaster Recovery solution, including pricing information, please download the following pdf document:

Compu Mech Enhanced Disaster Recovery (PDF)

Compu Mech offers affordable IT Managed Services, Voice over IP, Consulting, Wireless, 24x7 Client/Server Support, and Security services for small-to-medium businesses. Our steady growth has been achieved through our dedication to hard work and client satisfaction. We never could have done it without you.

If you would like to join our team or simply want more information, please visit www.compumech.net, call (203) 672-5928, or simply email me at dbeltran@compumech.net. We will do our best to ensure your continued success even through these tough economic times.

Compu Mech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Regards,

___________________________
David Beltran, Owner

Compu Mech
dbeltran@compumech.net
Connecticut: 203-672-5928

Toll Free: 800-893-5807

Florida: 954-317-3683

How can Compu Mech help transform your business?

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:27:33 GMT

In today's tough economy, it is important to remain afloat while still continuing to reach out to as many customers as possible. These uncertain times have made it difficult for us to invest in the tools and services necessary for us to fight against the rising tide.

Every day, businesses are throwing away hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on antiquated, overpriced phone and computer equipment that fails to properly serve their needs. Some business owners would rather purchase new computer equipment than face the costs associated with repair and maintenance.

It does not need to be this way. My mission for the state of Connecticut is to help businesses succeed by lowering the costs associated with not only their computer infrastructure, but their phone service as well.

How is this done?

Cut costs.

The first step is to look at your phone system. If you're paying thousands a month for an old PBX, or are paying through the nose for multiple lines, then it is time to look somewhere else. Compu Mech's affordable VoIP phone service is an all-in-one solution that features business class PBX features, such as Auto Attendant, Call Forwarding, Hunt Groups, Mailboxes, Extensions, and much more provided at rates starting as low as $40 a month.

All it takes is an initial up-front investment in equipment, which is yours for life, and you will immediately start seeing the savings after only a few months, in some cases after the first month. Imagine being able to have unlimited local and long distance service, multiple telephone numbers, and even virtual telephone numbers in other states where customers can contact you as if they are placing a local call? Soon we will introduce the ability to set up virtual phone numbers in international locations, bringing even greater savings to businesses that trade on the international market. For more information, you may contact us or visit www.compumech.net/voip-ad.html for more information about our Voice service.

Reign IT in

For far too long, businesses have gotten away with overcharging customers for computer service and support. This trend has led business owners away from relying upon services they need to ensure their time is not wasted on dealing with computer issues. This also has led many frustrated business owners to purchase new computers instead of dealing with the repair costs.

Compu Mech has found a solution to this issue via the introduction of Enhanced Managed Services. These low cost services help businesses leverage the cost of IT by constantly (24x7) monitoring their systems at every level. The services help us provide proactive maintenance which means that we'll work to resolve issues before they begin to affect your productivity

.
In the current economic climate, we cannot afford to be derailed by a computer, network, or server malfunction- our time is far too precious to waste. In light of such, we provide our Enhanced Managed Services in two distinct tiers – Standard and Ad-Hoc.

Our Ad-Hoc service delivers monitoring, maintenance, and support at an affordable rate, with basic plans starting as low as $27/month. To learn more, contact us or visit www.compumech.net/adhocad.html.

Our Standard service goes a step beyond by providing monthly onsite visits by highly qualified IT personnel. For more information regarding our standard services, visit www.compumech.net/cladwpb.html. For pricing information, visit www.compumech.net and click on CHOOSE YOUR PLAN.

Compu Mech offers these and other valuable services your business should not be without. Our mission is to help you make it through these uncertain times, and help you grow in the years beyond. So give us a call today! We're here to assist you, 24x7.

Regards,
David Beltran - Owner
Compu Mech - Bethel, CT Office
www.compumech.net - 24/7 IT Service and Support!
Connecticut - (203) 672-5928
Toll Free - (800) 893-5807
sales@compumech.net

What are Managed Services, and Why Should You Use Them?

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:18:44 GMT

Nowadays, more and more companies are shifting into the Managed Services role. What that means for businesses is a highly competitive landscape dominated with confusing offers and wildly varying price ranges.

To begin sifting through the fray, we must first understand what managed services are. Dr. Gerard Macioce defines managed services as the practice of transferring day-to-day related management responsibility as a strategic method for improved effective and efficient operations. The person or organization who owns or has direct oversight of the organization or system being managed is referred to as the offerer, client, or customer. The person or organization that accepts and provides the managed service is regarded as the service provider.

Managed Service Providers, such as Compu Mech, offer continuous outsourcing of an IT function. They monitor and fix things proactively and perform it all over the internet, rather than having to work hands-on at a client’s site, though on-site work is not out of the question. Common services provided by MSP’s include remote network, desktop, and security monitoring, patch management and remote data back-up, as well as technical assistance.

The advantages of using such a service, especially for small-to-medium businesses, is that it effectively lowers the cost of supporting your IT infrastructure (computers, network, servers, etc..) while providing a central point of contact for all your IT needs. With fixed monthly costs, it’s easier for you to set budget requirements on a yearly or even monthly basis. Typically these services cost less per year than it would to hire a full time IT support individual, but if you do have someone on staff, the services can further support or enhance the individual’s effectiveness and back him or her up with experienced engineers.

With the array of operating system choices, security patches, vulnerabilities, and the overall complexity of running a computer network, it’s good to know that you have a competent, effective service on hand to rely upon 24/7.

For more information about Compu Mech’s managed services, please visit www.compumech.net, and click on the “Learn More” link under Managed Services.

Exceeding Requirements: The Basics.

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:09:05 GMT

Exceeding Requirements: The Basics.

As I discussed in my last blog, many people tend to buy PC’s that either barely meet, or barely exceed Microsoft’s recommendations. Out of the box, the computer may operate quite fast compared to your last PC, but over time this speed may eventually wane.

With older PC’s, such as Dell’s 2400 series and up, there is untapped potential that should be explored prior to putting it in the dumpster. With the 2400-3000 series in particular and similar models, the main issue tends to be memory related.

Compaq’s tend to suffer from the same issue, but from my observation it is far worse. For Windows XP, the minimum memory requirement is 64 Megabytes (MB), with 128 MB being the recommended minimum. I’ve seen Compaq’s meet the recommended minimum, and Dells exceed it by twice this amount (256 MB.)

To be fair, both recommended minimums are good enough for the Operating system to function (I’m using Windows XP as an example here,) but that’s just about it. When you add software, games, peripherals, security updates, etc., the end result is eventually something that runs as if it were manufactured circa 1996.

The first and foremost solution to this conundrum is to add more memory. To many this might seem easier said than done, and if you are not experienced or are nervous about opening up your computer, you should definitely seek professional help (of the computer variety ).

If you are up to the task, you will find that it is actually much easier than you might think. Personally, I recommend running these PC’s with a minimum of 512MB of memory. For the series of PC’s I’ve highlighted in this article, the memory is actually quite cheap. Shop around and you’ll find some good deals out there.

Before you go hunting for more memory, there are some things you need to do first. The first is to determine how much memory you have. You can do this by right-clicking on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop (or in your start menu) and choosing properties. The initial screen will give you detailed information pertaining to the processor speed, operating system, and installed memory in your machine.

If you have less than 256MB of memory (also known as RAM,) then you can move on to the next step in the process. This involves finding out what type of memory your system takes. Generally, the aforementioned generation of PC’s use what is called “DDR” RAM, but some exceptions (notably some Celerons) take the old style SDRAM.

So how can you find out?

Crucial (www.crucial.com) has a great tool to help you figure this out. The front page of their website has the “Crucial Memory Advisor tool” which you can use to determine the correct memory type for your machine. Simply select the manufacturer (Dell, Compaq, HP, etc..) the product line (Dimension, Presario, Pavilion, etc..) and the model. Click “Find it,” and the tool does the rest, even allow you to purchase the recommended memory type for your machine. You can purchase your memory here, or shop for it elsewhere if you’d like. I’ve personally never had any problems with Crucial, but shopping around for other manufacturer’s products can sometimes lead to greater cost savings. The brands I’ve used and recommend are Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, and PNY.

If you choose not to buy from crucial, you simply have to make a note of the memory speed type and perform your search. For DDR, the speed is indicated as “PCXXXX” (eg PC3200) and for older SDRAM modules, the speed is indicated as PCXXX (eg PC 133.) For late-model machines, the following guidelines apply: DDR2: “PC2 XXXX” (eg PC2 5400.) DDR3: “PC3 XXXX” (eg PC3 8500.)

Once you have this information in hand, then you’re ready to perform your upgrade. If you decide to do it yourself, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as to opening up your computer and installing the memory modules. Adding memory to your computer can be a rewarding project that can alleviate headaches and save you time. If you seek to have the memory installed by a pro, look us up if you’re in the Danbury, CT area, otherwise contact your local PC specialist for assistance.

I hope you have found this blog educational. Thank you.

Next time: Advanced improvement methods for advanced PC’s.

Do not toss that old PC!

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:20:23 GMT

One of the biggest complaints we get from clients looking for service is that their PC’s are slow. Though spyware and viruses may be a large factor in turning a pc from a rocket into a wreck, most people don’t realize that their pc’s may simply be suffering from simple wear and tear.

In my experience, I have noticed that many people, looking to pay lower prices for their PC’s, usually go with a manufacturer’s default recommendations at the time of purchase. In many cases, these recommendations only tend to meet, not exceed Microsoft’s requirements.

Aside from the fact that many large manufacturers tend to bog down their machines with tons of useless software, the act of installing, uninstalling, surfing the web, and neglect of standard maintenance procedures will eventually slow your PC down to a crawl.

So what can you do?

Following standard routine maintenance procedures can extend the life of your machine and keep it running quite well. Also, If you can put up with the hassle, reformatting the PC every few years will also keep things in ship shape, especially if you decide not to install the junk that comes from the factory.

Standard maintenance includes, but is not limited to, defragging hard drives, cleaning out temporary internet files, and routine virus/spyware scans. A good registry cleaner can be quite a boon as well.

Purchasing the right software to perform the functions outside the scope of the operating system can be a difficult choice. I’ll discuss this at a later date.

What I would like to focus on here is what I stated in the outset: Meeting Microsoft’s requirements. I will also discuss this at a later date. I will try to keep this blog updated as often as time will allow, so stay tuned!

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Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:50:26 GMT

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