Backing up: save the data, save the day

All hardware fails – and backup is seen as boring and unreliable. That combination is the perfect opportunity for you to provide a service that provides business continuity and ongoing revenue. But how do you design the right backup system?

Setting up SANmelody to create your own Storage Fabric

Setting up SANmelody to create your own storage fabric

When you install the operating system on the storage server do not format the disks you will use for storage, just initialise them. The storage software will take care of everything else.

Raid 6 Storage

If two drives fail in a RAID 5 array, you lose data. RAID 6 promises more protection and better performance.

A smart approach to IP-based video surveillance

The trend towards converged security requires companies to keep their eye on physical premises. Here's how to specify and deploy an IP-based video surveillance solution for your small business clients.

Deploying and supporting XP SP3: use our expert tips to resolve incompatibility and installation issues

The third service pack (SP3) for Windows XP was released in May this year and while it’s a relatively stable and straightforward cumulative upgrade, there are some minor installation issues that you’ll want to be aware of before you roll it out — and if SP3 is already there, they might already be generating support calls.

Network monitoring is good for business

What you need to keep customer networks running; free network management tools perform basic tasks on smaller networks but pay-for tools give you more data and customisation options.

Setting rates: should you charge the same rates to all IT clients?

Replicating Active Directory

This is one of the easiest systems to add redundancy to. Active Directory contains all the information about your customer’s users and machines. If this fails, and you have no backup, they have a problem.

Selling White Label Services

Reselling services represent a significant – and growing – part of the business for many IT consultants. Margins on IT hardware, and to a lesser extent, software, have fallen steadily. The fees that can be charged for higher-value work, such as code customisation and application testing, have also come under pressure, not least because of competition from suppliers in markets such as India or Eastern Europe and Russia.

Is Windows 7 Ready for Small Business

The Service Pack 1 rule is a good one for most operating systems, and not because a new version of Windows usually has as many bugs as benefits.