Delta Blog

Adobe Contribute CS5

We have a client that uses Adobe Contribute to edit their website.  Since they are also a support client of ours and our current preference for Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware is ESET NOD32, she had that installed on her machine as well.  As it happens, there is an, as yet, undocumented issue in that ESET NOD32 blocks SFTP traffic from Contribute.

ESET NOD32 blocks SFTP traffic from Adobe Contribute

To resolve the issue and allow secure FTP communication:

1. Open ESET NOD32
2. Click “Entire Advanced Setup Tree”
3. Navigate to “Web Access Protection” -> “Web Browsers”
4. In the list of apps, locate any checkboxes for the Contribute.exe
5. Uncheck the box(es)
6. Retry the connection in Contribute

More information can be found in the Adobe User Forums, specifically Contribute CS5 won’t connect to SFTP

With help from Delta Systems, private donors, and tax credits from the State of Missouri, the Central Missouri Food Bank recently completed a complete network upgrade.

This network upgrade included replacing close to 30 workstations and a new server running Microsoft’s Windows 2008 with Hyper-V technology.  This technology allows CMFB to run several “servers” while really only having 1 physical server.  By taking advantage of virtualization technology CMFB will save on on-going maintenance costs not to mention storage space, electricity and heating/cooling for their server room equipment.

Peggy Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of the Central Missouri Food Bank, was heard to say that upgrade went “Great!” that Delta’s service was “Great!” and the network is running “Great!”

That’s GREAT to hear! We didn’t expect a long, drawn out comment from Peggy as she is running an organization that is busy distributing millions of pounds of food to people in need around Missouri.

About the Central Missouri Food Bank

The Central Missouri Food Bank (CMFB) is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of pounds of donated food annually. CMFB distributes food to people in need through a network of 145 agencies in 32 Missouri counties. CMFB provides free food to soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, shelters for the abused and homeless, programs for low income children and senior citizens, and rehabilitation centers.

To donate or learn more, visit http://www.centralmofoodbank.org

About Delta Systems Network Support

If your company is in the Mid-Missouri area, call Delta Systems for all your hardware support needs. We specialize in Windows network support and have helped several companies migrate to Windows from Novell Netware.

D. Roe’s has a back room that anyone can use for gatherings of probably up to 40 people I would guess.

We enjoy the food at D. Roe’s restaurant on the south side of Columbia, MO at the corner of Forum and Nifong.

They have a projector and a screen for presentations. Delta Systems was giving a demo of a new system to some folks and we learned that D. Roe’s didn’t have wireless Internet. They already have DSL, but not to that room and there is no wireless option – CenturyTel is cheap . Shame on us for not asking. There are 15 wireless access points we detected and all but one was secured (yeah, we were surprised too).

Anyhoo, the insecure one is Hoss’s Market, but the signal is too weak to keep a connection. So Steve talked with David Roe and Delta agreed to donate installation services if David would pay for the wireless access point hardware. So he agreed, and we installed it and now we can be online at our next presentation. It seemed fair since he doesn’t charge to use the back room and the capabilities now help both of us and anyone that follows us. You’re welcome, Columbia. Enjoy.

We have instantiated “Virtual Tuesdays” here at Delta Systems. No, we do not agree that going completely virtual is the wave of the future.  However, we do agree that gas prices are too high and that working from home (or out and about) affords some focused time to crank out some work or provide some fresh perspective.

One of our developers happened to be in Lakota this morning and sent in this report. . .

So, I went into Lakota as I normally do on Tuesday mornings and fired up my laptop to find that their Internet was offline. Then, I overhear the owner on the phone with CenturyTel exclaiming: “2 days! This is killing us! No one will stay here without Internet!”

Not wanting to abandon my favorite coffee shop, I suggested that we ask Leigh from Main Squeeze if he could piggy-back on her wireless signal for a few days. About 45 minutes and 2 DD-WRT routers later, they’re back online and I have free coffee. Sweet.

Sweet indeed.

Network Admin asked. . .

I find more and more occasions where remote support would be VERY useful to assist some of our employees at remote locations. Has Delta Systems run across a free or very low cost alternative to WebEx? Most of the sites I work with are on DSL circuits or on a state government network somewhere, thus making remote desktop access pretty well useless. Some free or inexpensive, easy to access remote support option would be very useful for me.

Delta Answered. . .

crossloop.com is probably the best bet; it uses a TightVNC protocol and installs via a simple javascript applet. It only works on 2000, XP, Vista and 2003 though. Not any of the 95, 98, Me variants are supported and we’re not sure about 2007 at this point.

It’s VNC, so it pulls hard on the host CPU, but installs cleanly and with a minimum of fuss – and may be easier to talk an end user through it than either GoToMeeting or Microsoft Live Meeting.

There may be other/better options out there – if so, please let us know!

Don’t be confused, AVG v8.0 is still free for home users

You can download it fromhttp://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

Your current install of AVG may be complaining that you MUST download an update and get onto version 8 before June 1, 2008.  However, the good people at Grisoft make it appear that v8.0 is $54.99. “AVG Internet Security” is what costs $54.99. It adds anti-spam protection, a firewall, file download protection, and website surfing protection. Some of these are redundant to what is included with your Windows XP or Vista installation as well as protections built in to Internet Explorer 7.0.

They make a great product and we highly recommend their entire suite of applications. However, we thought we’d blog about the free version still being out there since they did a very good job of burying it.

So, if you just want virus protection, then get the free version.

Recently, the Columbia Daily Tribune ran a story on our friends over at Photo Gliff. Delta Systems has been advising and incubating Photo Gliff since they opened their doors in January 2008.

Photo Gliff offers event and on-site photography services. From action shots at sporting and cultural events to portraits for school yearbooks and business directories, owners Scott Smith and Ric Wilborn provide digital photography and printing services for a variety of clients and occasions. Using the latest digital technology and graphic designing software, Photo Gliff also offers on-the-spot photos, which allow customers to review and purchase photos the day of an event. Photographs also are available for purchase online.

You can read the full story in the Columbia Daily Tribune

Client calls and is having issues with a PC getting online. Delta Tech Guy goes through all our usual steps and nothing works. Tech figures it must be the router so he has a staff person walk him down to where their equipment is located.
Here is what he sees:

This is a textbook example of how NOT to run wires on a server rack.
Oh, by the way, this is the FRONT.

Delta Tech Guy now begins to play the game: Where’s the Cisco router?

Turns out, the Cisco and DSL modem are hanging off the back/side of this monstrosity. They would have hit the floor, but the cable mess is just as bad in back as it is in front. Also, see that black panel to the right there? That is another rack jammed sideways so you can’t really get behind the rack unless you are a gymnast or have a pole vault handy.

Delta Tech Guy has to pull things up to the front by their cables, praying that things don’t disconnect in the process because he’ll never get that cable back in the right place. It turns out he didn’t have to worry much because they have zip ties about every inch. After what seemed like several hours of cutting cable ties Delta Tech Guy can finally arrange the Cisco router, DSL modem and 5 port switch. Now, he can actually do what he went into this room to do – reboot the router. Good times.

Does your computer network have you tied up in knots? Does your current network support company think its OK to have a squirrel’s nest in your server room?

We can help straighten things out. Give Delta Systems a call at 573-442-9855

On Tuesday, Delta finished helping Neurology, Inc. move from the Keene Medical Building to new offices at 1705 East Broadway, Suite 280, Columbia, MO 65201.

“I am very happy to say that Jason has us up and running.”

- Teresa Burbridge, Office Manager

Learn more about Neurology, Inc. at http://www.neurologyinc.com

Delta Systems can help almost any sized company move their technology from one location to another. Delta can help coordinate phone and data vendors as well as computer wiring specialists and the people that will be physically moving the equipment. Delta strives to make every move as painless as possible by working quickly and overcommunicating when unexpected issues arise. Moving network circuits can be a nightmare; Delta can help streamline that process by leaning on our experience and strong ties with Socket, CenturyTel, iZones, and Tranquility.

Delta also consults businesses during the design phase of new buildings to make sure network drops, electrical outlets, server rack space, and ventilation are considered for current and future needs.

“Great job Steve, we really do appreciate all you guys do over there for us!! We would not be here if it wasn’t for you guys!!”

Pam Ingles, Agency Coordinator
Farmers National Title Insurance Company
www.farmerstitle.com

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Farmers National Title Insurance looks to Delta Systems for all of their technology needs. Delta provides network support, custom application development, business continuity services, and a whole lot more to Missouri’s only title insurance company.