Some Attention to The Infrastructure
One of the concepts that often gets people interested in my work at SureTech.com is "The Cloud." Usually people are interested in what it is and how to understand it.
I usually draw a fluffy cloud shape and outline a couple computers and servers on a napkin and explain how the cloud describes the almost infinite wires and connections between computers that is called the internet. And I describe how servers are designed to answer requests from thousands of clients.
In any case, people tend to like pen and napkins when explaining things and usually I get an aha or two.
The NY Times magazine today goes into some more detail, and goes so far as to call datacenters, the cloud, which is a slightly different focus I'll keep in mind on my next napkin session.
June 14, 2009 - via The New York Times
Much of the daily material of our lives is now dematerialized and outsourced to a far-flung, unseen network. The tilting CD tower gives way to the MP3-laden hard drive which itself yields to a service like Pandora, music that is always “there,” waiting to be heard.
But where is “there,” and what does it look like?
“There” is nowadays likely to be increasingly large, powerful, energy-intensive, always-on and essentially out-of-sight data centers.
One of the concepts that often gets people interested in my work at SureTech.com is "The Cloud." Usually people are interested in what it is and how to understand it.
I usually draw a fluffy cloud shape and outline a couple computers and servers on a napkin and explain how the cloud describes the almost infinite wires and connections between computers that is called the internet. And I describe how servers are designed to answer requests from thousands of clients.
In any case, people tend to like pen and napkins when explaining things and usually I get an aha or two.
The NY Times magazine today goes into some more detail, and goes so far as to call datacenters, the cloud, which is a slightly different focus I'll keep in mind on my next napkin session...
Sharing workspaces with others
Sure, using Office Live Workspace beta to create project workspaces and add documents is convenient. But to share your workspaces with others—now that’s just plain smart.
Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
What if I am having problems getting my login to work from a new machine?
It is most likely that you need a browser add-on installed. To fix this, look towards the top of the browser and find a bar that says: "This website wants to run the following add-on: 'Provision Networks Load and License Manager Client from 'Provision Networks'..." All you need to do is click ...How do I load SureDesk™ from a new computer?
To use your SureDesk™ you must log in using Internet Explorer version 6 or better. Type https://my.suretech.com in the Address bar. Enter your user name and password in the SureDesk™ login screen and you will have access to your files.How do I set up a printer on SureDesk™?
If you open an application (e.g. Word) and click print you can print from the printer in your office—all printers should be configured on your SureDesk™ automatically. To select a printer, when you click print you can select from the available list of printers. Note: The printers ...What drive do I use and how do I move files between drives while on my SureDesk™?
Local Disk (C:) is the local disk to each SureDesk™ and where “My Documents” are stored. We encourage you to save large files on the Network Drive rather than local disk. Network Drives (S:) The SureFiles™ Shared Disk Storage (S:) is the file server drive or SureFiles that everyone ...What do I do if I’m getting disconnected from my SureDesk™?
SureDesk™ is dependent on your internet connection. If you keep getting disconnected from SureDesk™ it is likely that your internet connection may be having hiccups. Please contact us at This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript to let us know right away if you are having any connection problems. Also, if available, ...What should I do when I am stepping away from my desk while my SureDesk™ is running?
If you are stepping away from your desk, be sure to save any open files. (This is a good idea whether you are on SureDesk™ or not!) We have enabled autosave for all MS Office files for added file safety.How do I load SureDesk™ On a New Computer?
To use your SureDesk™ you must log in using Internet Explorer version 6 or better.
Start Internet Explorer and type https://my.suretech.com in the Address bar.
You will see the SureDesk login screen.
If you see the text in red above that indicates you need to install the Virtual Acecss ...How do you change your Windows password?
To change your computer password follow these steps (the proccess is the same for Windows Vista and XP): Go to the Control Panel. You can access the Control Panel through the Start Menu. Open up User Accounts. Select Change your password. You will need to put in your old password ...How do you change your SureDesk™ password?
Changing your password on your Suredesk™ desktop is fairly easy.
1. First you need to select Ctrl -> Alt -> End at the same time.
Note: Hitting Ctrl -> Alt -> Delete will bring up the options for the computer your accessing the remote desktop on.
2. Select the Change ...Windows Domain and Workgroup Definition
A Windows Server domain is a logical group of computers running versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system that share a central directory database. This central database (known as Active Directory starting with Windows 2000[1], also referred to as NT Directory Services on Windows NT Server operating systems, or NTDS) ...How do you install ViceVersa?
ViceVersa is a program that allows you to back up or synchronize (restore missing files) files on a computer. Installation is fairly easy.
1. First you need to go to ViceVersa website to download the ViceVersa program.
2. Next run the install program and ...How do I set up my BlackBerry to use Microsoft Exchange?
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Correct Service | Backing Up | Security Wipe | Enterprise Activation
If your Blackberry is activated on a Blackberry Enterprise Server, it has the ability to wirelessly synchronize the contents of your main Outlook folders, including any mail-enabled folders (like your Inbox or Sent Items folders), your Contacts folder ...Caching the calendar in Outlook
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When you want to cache your calendar in Outlook 2007, follow these steps,
1. Select the Tools → Account Settings... menu.
2. Double click on Microsoft Exchange.
3. Click on More Settings ...
4. Select the Advanced tab, then check the Download shared folders (excludes ...How do I change my SureFiles™ Password?
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You can now automatically submit a request to change your SureFiles™ password. Your password is not changed automatically. We will send you an email when your password has been successfully changed.
1. To change your password, connect to at least one of your shared drives.
2. Then click this ...Mapping your SureFiles Drives
After successfully configuring your secure conection to SureFiles™, you may now map your shared drives. You accomplish by following the steps below.
I. Ensure that you are securly connected to SureFiles™
Before you begin insure your Secure Connection to SureFiles is connected. To determine your connection is ...How does my web browser connect to a website?
When you type in somedomain.com your internet service sends a message to a machine called a name server owned by your internet service and asks this machine “hey, where do I find the website for somedomain.com?” - view comments
Getting Started With SureFiles
I. Setting up you secure connection to SureFiles
1. Click this link to download the Citrix VPN plugin.
2. Enter your User Name and Password* and clck the "Log On".
3. On the next page select click the lock icon. This will begin the installiation process.
...How Do I Change My SMTP Port
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Many ISPs, including America Online, EarthLink, and MSN, will not allow access to an external SMTP server. This is most commonly implemented by blocking traffic to port 25, the SMTP port. If your e-mail reader supports it, you may work around this restriction by using port 2525 instead.
Outlook ...How do I set up my IMAP Email Configuration?
The following are steps to configure your IMAP email account with SureTech.com.
Attention Payment Management Employees and Sales Reps. We have decided to roll back the IMAP mail migration to our origional Exchange. Please do not make any changes to your current configuration.
I. ...What do I do with this email warning me of a virus?
Any mail that has obviously been forwarded as a chain letter warning of just about anything, even if the warning is true is almost guaranteed to be some specie of SPAM. Sometimes messages like this refer to partially true threats, but the goal of the originator of the message ...Configure iPhone for SureMail
Setting up the iPhone using Exchange ActiveSync (iPhone firmware v. 2.0 only) Introduction This procedure walks through configuring an iPhone for synchronization with your SureMail mailbox via Exchange ActiveSync. ActiveSync will wirelessly synchronize your mail folders, your contacts, and your calendar with your iPhone. Note that ...Configure Outlook 2007 with SureMail
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Note: Screenshots are from Windows Vista, but the procedure is the same for Vista and XP
Part 1 - Creating a new Profile
1. Click the Start button choose “Control Panel”, and on the left-hand pane, click “Classic View”. Then choose “Mail” from the list of ...