Computing

Sync Toy Discovery

I was trying to craft a back-up system over my office network while using a free file sync application such as Microsoft’s Sync Toy. Of course I’m aware that Sync Toy reportly will not sync .pst files.

Turns out it has to do with its location and not the file type. Move your .pst file to your My Documents and have your Outlook look there for the file, then sync! Damn thing worked. I’m thrilled and I hope this knowledge helps someone.

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The Price of Technology

While I am still trying to hash out my networking project, I can’t help but be impressed by the price of technology these days.  Oh yeah, a tablet can run you some big money, but look what you can get in a laptop for the same price these days…

I’m checking out an HP Pavilion for a new portable work station for my day job.  I have a pretty tight budget, but I seem to be able to get a 17.3″ screen, 4gb memory, quality AMD CPU, 640 gb hard drive, with awesome screen technology and a very decent graphics card for under $500.00.  My very first laptop didn’t cost as much and it had about one tenth the power.

Though I would like to have more memory in the unit, it is expandable up to 8GB, which I might take care of as time goes on.  However, the real question is how long will this package last?

Technology seems to keep moving faster every day.  Before you know it, graphics applications and websites are using up more and more of your computer’s CPU and memory, the files you’re working on are getting bigger, and you need more communication between your system and the web to run applications that make your world go round.

So how long would this affordable laptop be able to keep me going?  I’d like to hope for at least 4 years – including the ram upgrade.   Does anyone else have another guess?

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Sharing Across the Web

I’m on the hunt for a way to share files and folders across the internet in a secure manner.

I’ll admit that I am not great network administrator who has set up massive complex network structures, but I have been able to accomplish every little great feat that I’ve set my mind to finishing.

First thing is to brush up on my networking vocab…

virtual private network (VPN) is a network that uses primarily public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to provide remote offices or traveling users access to a central organizational network.

VPNs typically require remote users of the network to be authenticated, and often secure data with encryption technologies to prevent disclosure of private information to unauthorized parties.

VPNs may serve any network functionality that is found on any network, such as sharing of data and access to network resources, printers, databases, websites, etc. A VPN user typically experiences the central network in a manner that is identical to being connected directly to the central network.

Thank you, Wikipedia… I think I’ve found the solution I was looking for.  Now let’s talk application.

Thankfully, it seems Windows 7 comes with it’s own VPN Setup Application (simply go to the Start button and type “VPN), but I need to find out how to connect to the network at my office.  I’m familiar with the IP address we all have when visiting the web, but there has to be more to this in order to keep random hackers from establishing a VPN into our network.  That IP address might not even be what I need, but I’m going to sort this out.

It’s possible that the IP I have would work provided I make a ‘log-in’ through the security features running at my office.

Unfortunately, it’s quite possible that the network in the office is not as stable as it should be since we currently support a vareity of Windows 7 and Windows XP machines.  All seem to have issues seeing and accessing one another.  This whole project might be folly unless I can make that network more secure as well.

Oh yeah, speaking of which, I have a individual PC back up solution that I have yet to implement.  *Sigh* Life never slows down.

 

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