Category Archives: General

Key Success Factors of a Data Centre Relocation

Data Centre Relocation (DCR), Data Center Migration (DCM), Data Migration, and Data Centre Consolidation (DCC) are essentially the same thing, and represent the logical or physical relocation of IT services and infrastructure from one hosting location to another. The nature of this relocation varies, as it may involve no movement of physical infrastructure, or comprise loading everything into a truck and moving it to the new premises, or anything in between.

The idea of moving a data centre, with all possible risks of hardware issues and loss of data, can be a rather trying moment for many web hosting companies. Besides the logistical considerations one has to account for in the physical relocation process, you must also reduce the risk of service interruption to ensure normal running of your operations.

For a successful DCR, and the associated transportation of IT infrastructure, you can trust Sunspeed Transport Services to get the job done. Sunspeed has years of experience in the industry, backed with their own polished processes and procedures to ensure that their client’s physical and technological investments are in safe hands throughout the moving process.

The following are some key success factors for relocating a data centre to a new facility:

Project planning and logistics

A data centre is a complex entity, and its relocation will impact your business users and customers, as well as your staff, partners, and vendors. So, a proper migration endeavour should push for the involvement of all stakeholders. You should not underestimate the number of servers the new premises will have to accommodate, or the amount of time it will take, the hardware required, and the skills needed to complete the job, when it comes to migration and consolidation. This is particularly important when assessing account application dependencies. Since there is no single software that can see all interdependencies, knowledge has to be gathered from all personnel managing the applications.

Checking power requirements 

Data centres built for modern equipment have a typical square foot wattage of between 150 and 300 watts, so you should find out whether the new facility has adequate electrical power. IT professionals often underestimate power requirements and costs, especially in cases where the facilities management pays the bills. A recent survey revealed that 68 percent of IT managers are not accountable for power costs pertaining to their data centre’s infrastructure. So, it is essential that IT and facilities staff communicate about their respective issues, as per their areas of expertise, in order to avoid any problems that may result in data centre migration and consolidation upheaval.

Upgrading infrastructure during the migration 

Generally, any changes undertaken during a migration increase risks and complicate the project. So, it is important that hosting companies address issues relating to standards, licensing, and the underling architecture, before consolidating their facilities. This is particularly important whereby a move or consolidation is aimed at drive server virtualization. While virtualization is a worthwhile project, it is very involving, and attempting to implement it during a migration would mean tackling two challenging tasks at the same time, which increases the likelihood of disaster. In short, you should try to limit any changes to a minimal during the move, unless they will make it easier to reinstall new gear in the new premises.

While the mentioned factors are critical for a successful data centre relocation, one other thing to consider is that there is no substitute for experience. A migration will probably happen one in the career of many IT professionals, so companies generally have no on-hand expertise. Unfortunately, IT knowledge is not enough to oversee a data centre relocation successfully, so you need professionals like Sunspeed to make the entire process successful.

PAC Web Hosting Summer VPS Hosting Offer

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) offers many advantages to the mobile business of today, but there are many considerations to bear in mind when choosing your hosting provider.

The first is the physical location of the servers. All communication with the server will have to go over the internet, and even a small reduction in the quality of the signal will lead to significant slowdown for you as a user. For this reason look for UK VPS hosting as a priority as hosting in other countries has the biggest slowdown on response speeds. For example a UK VPS hosting provider may have a ping (response time) of 30ms, a European VPS hosting provider 36ms, a USA VPS hosting provider 140ms and an Indian VPS hosting provider 200ms. Since every single character typed and mouse click needs to be transmitted to the VPS, even a small increase in the ping to Europe can present a noticeable degradation in performance compared to a UK VPS hosting provider, and the much larger increases in response time for the USA and rest of the world mean that while costs may be cheaper they represent a false economy, and the performance of the VPS will be significantly negatively impacted.

With that in mind, there is still a wide range of UK VPS hosting providers to choose from, and while there may be small increases in responsiveness to be gained by choosing one geographically closer to your main location generally your considerations at this point become the server technology available and the cost. Not all servers are created equal, so it is important to check the servers being used by the VPS provider to ensure that they meet the requirements for your business, and bear in mind that if your load demands are relatively low an old server will still be able to meet your needs without any degradation of service, while if you have high load demands the capacity and capability of the server will become a more dominant feature.

Once price becomes the deciding factor, check for any seasonal offers or similar relating to your chosen UK VPS hosting providers. For example, PAC Web Hosting (www.pacwebhosting.co.uk/offers) currently has a summer VPS hosting offer of 25% off your monthly payments for the next 6 months, or 15% off annual hosting, on top of their normal discounts for paying annually (currently 12 months for the price of 11). Seasonal special offers can make a big difference in the affordability of your chosen servers, and move a server that better suits your requirements into your affordable price bracket. Knowing your favourite UK VPS hosting providers previous offers can help you make a decision on the length of time you want to agree to a contract for so you are in a position to take advantage of any offers which they repeat in future years, to let you get the UK VPS hosting solution that best suits your needs at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

HCR Racing Can Am Commander parts

HCR Racing has made their bones designing some of the highest quality UTV suspension parts in the world.  Their long travel suspensions often push $5000 and they’re worth every penny, with years of UTV Racing experience under their belt.  HCR Racing’s Can Am Commander has been proven on the track, with a case full of trophies to prove it.  Low quality lift kits and suspension systems leave a trail of parts and components all over the track regularly.  HCR’s heavy duty systems are built to endure the demanding  environment of off-road racing.

HCR Boxed TIG-welded A-arms with 4130 mounting points are the foundation for the HCR Can Am Commander long travel suspension.  Four piece  King 2.0 Shocks Reservoir Shocks are top of the line units just like the legendary blue and silver shocks that can be seen on about 90% of trucks at the Baja 500.  The King shocks are fitted with Eibach springs, and

compression adjusters come standard with a 30% adjustment range.  King 2.0 shocks are available with Black Bodies/silver springs or Traditional Blue and silver.  A full set of

Summers Bros 4340 Axles are included, and they reuse the Commander’s factory CVs.  This long travel suspension adds 6 inches of width PER SIDE and increases the wheel base 3 inches.  This suspension offers an impressive 16 inches of travel in the front and 14 inches travel in the rear.

HCR also carries lighter accessories like aluminum roofs.  Their low profile aluminum roof for the Commander. The Commander 800/1000 roof is made from .125 aircraft aluminum, providing passenger protection from the elements while adding virtually no height to the vehicle, so you can still transport your Commander in a toy hauler.  The roof is finished in black powdercoat for corrosion resistance and provides coverage from the front to the rear of the cage.  The roof also does not have a deep front apron, so it can be used in conjunction with most full windshields for the Commander. For the widest range of Can Am Commander accessories online, visit www.sbsparts.com.

Finding the Best Web Applications

One thing I like about the Internet is that it is full of various useful Web applications that every Internet user can enjoy for sure. I have been surfing the Internet long enough to know that there are some great things that can make my life as well as the lives of others more enjoyable.

As a creative person, I always strive to devise, design, and then make things happen. I guess my life is a lot more fun the more creative I am. I also use various applications at work. For example, every time I deliver a presentation I make sure that it is as visual as possible. I use all sorts of visual aids like programs that allow me to engage my audience that otherwise wouldn’t be so easy to engage.

Now let me tell you something about various software deals and Cloudswave. Whenever you need a Web application either for your professional or personal use, you should head directly to their website. You will find there currently around 179 Web applications that will transform your life and make it better. For example, one of the Web applications that caught my eye immediately was GoAnimate. This is a brilliant application that allows you to create a professional video in a matter of minutes. I already signed up for their free account and I am ready to get started with them soon. I also like it that the whole process of creating a professionally-looking video takes place in the cloud. Thanks to Cloudswave, I gain access to promotions that allow me to enjoy the video creator at a reduced price, something that is important in a difficult economy when everybody wants to save as much money as possible.

I am going to keep looking at other software deals on the website of Cloudswave later today and I am sure that I am going to find something that will strike my fancy and prove to be very useful in my professional as well as in my personal life. If something would allow me to deliver a presentation in a better way, I am definitely going to try it out.

Kindle Cases

E-Readers and Amazon Kindle’s in particular are becoming an increasingly popular way to read your books on the go, with many people even preferring them to traditional books. However, despite their ability to hold up to several hundred books at once, Kindle’s do have one major drawback – they are not as durable or robust as a traditional book. One way to overcome this issue is to invest in a good quality Kindle case, which will help to protect your Kindle from any knocks or bumps it may pick up (there are even waterproof Kindle cases out there – perfect for reading a book whilst floating around the pool!).

Kindle cases come in a huge variety of designs and styles to suit all needs and budgets. At the lower end of the market there are cheaper silicone based cases which will protect against scuff marks and scratches, but won’t really protect you should you drop your Kindle or do anything which could cause the screen to crack. Some cases are much more durable and high end cases; such as the AceGuarder Shockproof Case which can protect your Kindle from just about anything you could throw at it – from sand and rain to heavy vibrations and even being dropped from several hundred feet!

When looking for the best Kindle case to buy, you will want to consider what you need it to do and how you regularly use your Kindle. For example, if you are often outdoors then look for high quality, durable cases that protect against the elements (dust, sand, wind, rain and will protect against drops and vibrations). If you use your Kindle around the house only then these cases are not really needed and you should look for features such as comfort when holding, appearance and the quality of the materials used (it is still recommended though to buy a case which will protect against dropping your Kindle to avoid damaging it).

If you want a case just to change the appearance of your Kindle then there are also plenty of options available to you. One popular trend in Kindle cases are those which make your Kindle look like an old book. These cases offer a lower level of protection to the actual device than those previously mentioned and act more as an attractive dust cover, but are something you may consider if you don’t really use your Kindle in situations where it may get damaged.

One feature available on many more recent Kindle cases is the sleep/wake functionality. This works in a similar way to the Apple Smart Cover seen on iPads, in that opening the case automatically wakes the Kindle and turns on the screen. This is usually found on higher-end Kindle Cases, but is definitely a useful feature you should look out for.

Overall, finding the best Kindle case depends on your circumstances and how you use your Kindle. Whilst cases such as the aforementioned AceGuarder Shockproof are great if taking your Kindle round the great outdoors, features such as sleep/wake and appearance may be more important to you if you prefer to use your Kindle lounging by the pool or lying in bed.

Something about Antrax

Have you ever heard about Antrax? In case you haven’t, I would like to shed some light on the topic by writing a few words about various Antrax products. In a nutshell, Antrax is nothing else but a very complex hardware and software designed to be able to terminate voice traffic from any VoIP. For a full description of the product, you might want to go directly to en.antrax.mobi/products/gsmgateway/ where you can read everything that the program offers.

My Word and Excel Files

I work in all kinds of documents on a daily basis like Word and Excel files. Recently, I have had a lot of opportunities to work in my Excel files and was very happy with the possibilities Excel offers to me in general.

From time to time, I need to convert my Excel files to PDF format. Such a simple task can be easily accomplished with the help of a program called Docufreezer, which is free for non-commercial use. Everybody can Download Docufreezer from here and start using it today without any hesitation. Ever since I started using the program, I never looked back and I can count all the benefits of using a program like this one.

Now, why would I want to convert my Excel documents into PDF format? There are several reasons I am going to want to do that. I never know when I am going to buy a new computer. It might happen a lot earlier than I think. For this reason, I want to be prepared in case I need to archive all the important Excel files right now by uploading them on my backup storage. It is only possible if I convert them to PDF documents first.

Finding the best Website Designing Firm – that builds on your vision!

In the prevailing times where every potential client first wants to refer to your website before they decide to be your client, having a website for your business becomes a matter of paramount importance. Another matter of concern that comes attached to this is how to choose a website designing firm that would help you build exactly what you have visualized or even better! Consider the following before you choose to spend on your company website:

1. Products & Services of the web design firm Vs. YOUR NEEDS

From the short list of firm names you have, evaluate the services offered, for each firm & how much do they relate to your needs of a website. Check for add-on services provided by the firm that could be any or all of the following:

    • Internet Marketing and Web site promotion?
    • Email campaigns or Newsletters?
    • Database and software development
    • Various types of website design E.g.: static HTML, responsive, database, website with your own CMS, interactive FLASH, etc.

2. Analyse the firm’s portfolio

Analyse the portfolio of the firm whose services are relevant to the kind of website you need. Look for similar websites they have developed in the past and analyse how well has that been executed. Look for relevant industry experience in the web design firm’s portfolio. You can also request them to provide you with their performance data, testimonials from clients or a case study if they measure their results too. Evaluate the potential and quality of the firm. It is advisable to select a web design firm that understands your industry well to deliver proper results. Also, a company having clients globally will have better exposure towards building global websites.

3. Cost Vs. Results

Cost is an important element of this activity and is the deal breaking or making element for a lot of us! With a little research on your past few year’s marketing & advertising expenditures you can analyse the effectiveness of the spending you are about to get your company into. Was the amount spent in the last few years able to reap you enough results and brought you the expected ROI?  The same can be helped by requesting the website design firm if they would be able to provide any evidence of the value delivered, probably with tangible results. Also sometimes, a little more expenditure on choosing the type of design can help reap great results in the future. Hence all of it must be analysed first & then delved into!

4. Contract & its Documentation:

The website design company you finally choose must agree to submit a proposal along with your website design contract. The contract must precisely outline what the web designer is supposed to so and the duration it would take them to deliver the same. The price and what has been agreed upon to be delivered must also be clearly mentioned in the contract. Such a formal contract is a way to stay clear of any disagreements between the two parties at a later stage. Please beware of companies who do not provide you with a formal contract.

5. ALSO CONSIDER:

      • If the web design company have an updating package or not!
      • If not, prices of updates and initial design
      • If the web design company offers a guarantee or not!
      • If the company has a phone number that can be contacted on.
      • If the company has set goals that are realistic as per the timeline.
      •  If the website design company shares its work
      • The billing procedure of the company
      • Technology used for development

Avoid freelancers:

Most if not all, Freelancers promise one project at a time & undivided attention. However, it is difficult & rare to find only one individual to handle visual, development, technical & web marketing elements for your website. Hence avoid hiring freelancers, as they come with a huge risk of losing time and money in the event of any mishaps with that individual.

Remember, good & efficient website designers communicate very well!

We hope this article was of help to you, Good Luck finding “the one”!

Author Bio:

Orsome Welles is a professional blogger and a regular contributor to many blogs. On behalf of Optimise Online, a leading web design company. He loves sharing and exchanging thoughts on the latest design trends in his blogs.

 

Using SharePoint Technology

Many businesses out there use SharePoint technology on a regular basis, but did you know that in order to be able to use SharePoint technology the right way a company needs to manage, plan and then govern the technology on regular basis for example by taking advantage of the latest SharePoint apps?

There are definitely many reasons why businesses should consider frequent technology updates to be their top priority. SharePoint technology changes all the time, and it is very important to make sure that you stay up to date with the latest changes to fully benefit from them. For example, a useful SharePoint app was released just recently and it is up to business owners to realize the potential that is hidden in it and take fully advantage of it.

A lot of companies consider taking advantage of upgrades simply because such upgrades provide some very useful and efficient ways of doing the same task such as sharing links in emails for example. In the past, it wasn’t that rare for the recipients of emails to receive a broken link, but lately thanks to the latest updates it became possible to avoid such situations thanks to ShortUrl App that was released just recently. and that offers a lot in terms of how useful it can be to business owners and employees.

I am sure that you realize that as a technology becomes old and outdated (which it often does due to the nature of technologies in general that tend to get outdated all the time), the resources for supporting it also become rare and scarce. This is when it becomes extremely difficult for the organization or the business to get experienced professionals who know to operate and manage that particular technology. What is more, very often upgrades to existing technologies provide new and useful functions that weren’t possible in the past together with features as well as support for newer technologies.

Live Concerts Can be So Much Fun

Attending live concerts is one of my hobbies. I usually like to invite some of my friends for this type of event so that we can enjoy the experience together doing something that we find pleasure participating in. I also appreciate it when a concert I attend has some cool lighting effects similar to this cool lighting from guitarcenter. Attending this type of concert can be so much fun when the effects already take place.