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The Bulletin - September/October 2004 Edition
Technical Tips
By Tom Snyder Ph.D.
Computer Systems Are Like Cars – Perform Proper, Regular Maintenance and
they’ll Run Smoothly with Modest Investments
Last week a graphic design firm called us because one of their computers wouldn't start. On
top of that, this particular computer had a nearly finished proposal for a major new client on
it and the proposal presentation was the next day. So, they not only needed to get the
computer going again, they needed it fast. Fortunately, the computer was recoverable.
If they had properly configured their virus protection and performed regular hard disk
inspections, they could have prevented the problem. The preventative work would have also
been less expensive than the emergency recovery we had to perform. So, I encourage you to
do your nerves and your pocket book a favor. Maintain your computer systems the same
way you maintain your car. Have knowledgeable, reputable individuals take care of them
and perform maintenance on a regular basis!
To get you started down the prevention path, the following is a list of items I recommend
you check on a regular basis to minimize emergency situations:
Backup Systems
Ensure the right information is backed up and that the backups can be restored.
System Events
Look for and correct errors and warnings revealed by server event logs.
Virus Protection
Ensure virus definitions are up to date and that the software is correctly configured. Test
functionality with the Eicar test virus file, which can be found via a Google search engine
search.
Internet Performance
Ensure the promised speed is being delivered and monitor how bandwidth is being used.
You may need to limit team member audio and video downloads and viewing during certain
hours.
E-mail
Manage mail-box size, delete old mailboxes and manage server load to maximize e-mail
reliability. Ensure e-mail antivirus software is working and up-to-date. Test the functionality
of special addresses such as customersupport or contactus.
Desktop Hardware
Open computers to clean away dust, listen for noisy hard drives (indicative of impending
failure), and ensure fans are working. A dysfunctional fan can ruin your hard drive.
Power Supply and UPS
Test un-interruptible power supply (UPS) functionality to ensure your systems will continue
working, even during a power outage.
Disk Storage
Monitor space availability and usage to prevent system shutdowns and slow downs as a
result of full drives and memory shortages which end up taxing your disk.
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If you have questions or concerns about your particular situation, please e-mail me at tpsynder@xantrion.com.
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