Bryans Blog

Adapted from Fox News

Web companies including Google, Facebook and Akamai are joining forces on Wednesday to test the Internets readiness for a future in which billions more people and devices will be connected.

The pool of IPv4 Internet addresses used for most traffic today is near exhaustion.  But adopting IPv6 — a new Internet protocol with 4 billion times as many addresses — has been slow despite the fact that it is more than a decade old.

Publishers and Internet service providers have been waiting for the other to make the first move, and workarounds including translation services and address-sharing have become common.

But the prospect of large numbers of modern IPv6 networks coming online — especially in the developing world where systems based on the previous protocol, IPv4, are not widespread — is beginning to push organisations into action.

"What’s at stake is the future scalability and utility of the Internet," says Matthew Ford, technology program manager of the Internet Society, a non-profit group dedicated to the open development of the Internet, which is organizing World IPv6 Day.

"IPv6 is fundamentally about allowing the Internet to scale to meet the expectations and demands of a global population of 7 billion, coupled with increased expectations of how many devices are expected to be able to connect to the Internet," he says.

IPv4’s specifications were drawn up in 1981, when the population of the world was 4.5 billion and the personal computer age was just dawning with the launch of the IBM PC. It allowed for 4.3 billion IP addresses.

Today, more than 2 billion people are online, many with multiple computers and smartphones. By 2020, 50 billion devices may be connected as smart meters, connected TVs and remote health management proliferate.

What does this mean for you?  Right now nothing. Even when IPV6 is the standard there might not be much to do, but we will see.

If you have any system questions or concerns on IPv6, contact the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email us

-Bryan

Fake missing files problems.
 

Recently I have been called for help from customers (and friends) telling me that all of their files are gone.

After further review of their problem, it appears that this new malware is trying to trick people into "believing" that their files are gone to be able to pick their pockets to pay for "restoring" the seemingly missing files when in actuality the files have just been hidden.

If this happens to you, you will also most likely see an icon on your desktop that says something to the effect of "Windows Recovery" with a familiar looking "shield" icon.  Don’t get fooled, your files are still there.  There are a few tools available to be able to help you if you decide to try to fix this yourself.  Otherwise, turn off your PC, and unplug the power to be sure this malware does not infect other PC’s in your network and get your PC cleaned ASAP.

If you run into this problem, call the CCS Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email us.  We have the tools ready to get your PC (and files) back into operation.

-Bryan

How much Drive Space do I need?

I get asked this question quite a bit when a customer is going to upgrade hardware or software.  Although this can be an important question, it is a hard one to answer when upgrading software from say CounterPoint V7 to CPSQL, and even more difficult from migrating from a completely different application.  We can give you an estimate based on the OS requirements, the new application-ware, and work files.   It will only be an educated guess.

With the price of hard drive space at a minimum now a days, this question in my opinion is probably one of the least important.  1 TB (That’s 1 million Gigabytes or about 300,000 pictures) drives are very inexpensive these days (can be < $100).  For comparison reasons, a CCS customer with 20 different locations, runing CPSQL 8.3.9 for about 4 years has a database size of about 300GB.  This includes all the history from all 20 stores, all items, users etc. If my math is correct, they could  probably run on that same hard drive for another 4 to 8 years and still have some room left over.  Thats alot of data!!

When preparing to upgrade from one version of CounterPoint to another, or from a completely different application, I feel your processing power and amount of ram (memory) is where the concern should be.  My answers is not an exact number, when it comes to either of these resources.  My answer is usually "The more, the better".  The more processing power and ram you have in your system, the better performance you will get out of your applications, all of them. 

It is also very important to consider the Disk Drive resource on your servers.   Check the specifications on the drive before you purchase it or deploy it.   Drives have different rotational speeds and on-boad cache.   It is advisable to get a drive with a rotational speed of at least 7,200rpm, and a cache size of 64MB.   This usually means the drive will be at least 1TB to acheive this.  Manufacturers see these specifications as necessary for larger rather than smaller drives.

If you are working with CCS Retail Systems on upgrading your hardware, we always make sure that you have enough "power" and  "space" to allow your application to run smoothly, and provide for company growth.

If you are upgrading on your own, it certainly doesn’t hurt to go over the specs of your current system to make sure your application will run smoothly.  This true of a new system you planing on purchasing as well.  When it comes to hard drive space, get as big as you can, so you do not havve to worry in a couple of years that your hard drive is going to fill up.

If you have any system questions or concerns, contact the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email us.

-Bryan

Adapted from Softpedia and Microsoft

According to the software giant, Windows Explorer can crash in certain scenarios, a glitch which also seems to be impacting Windows Server 2008 R2, not just Windows 7. 

It appears that the issue is not exactly new, since it affects the RTM versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, as well as the two operating systems after their first upgrade was released.

Essentially, the release of Service Pack 1 doesn’t seem to have resolved Windows Explorer crashes. “This issue usually occurs when you perform some operations that are related to the taskbar or to the Address bar,” the Redmond company revealed.

Microsoft did not however detail the symptoms of Windows Explorer crashes further, and it does seem that the fix provided is designed more like a general stability boost more than anything else. At the bottom of this article users will be able to find the download links for the updates set up to enhance the reliability of Windows Explorer, including the refresh designed for Windows 7 SP1.

Microsoft releases SP1 RTM for Windows 7 in February 2011, even if according to the full build string of the upgrade it had been wrapped up in late 2010. Windows 7 SP1 was focused mainly on resolving bugs in Windows 7 RTM, providing security patches and hotfixes, as well as some optimizations around stability.

Since no new features were introduced in Windows 7 SP1, there are no real reasons for users to hurry up and deploy the upgrade.

As I’ve said before, I’m more interested in seeing what Windows 7 SP2 will bring to the table, especially since I expect Microsoft to backport some Windows 8 components to its predecessor. The Redmond company has yet to confirm any details on Windows 7 SP2 at this point in time.

There has been a fix issued for the affected systems.  So if you experience this problem, install the fix which can be downloaded from Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2515325

Affected Systems:

• Windows 7 Enterprise

• Windows 7 Home Basic

• Windows 7 Home Premium

• Windows 7 Professional

• Windows 7 Starter

• Windows 7 Ultimate

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise

• Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard

• Windows Web Server 2008 R2

• Windows Embedded Standard 7

As always, contact us if we can help you sort this out and update your system.  Bryan.

 

 

 

You may have read a blog or two on the CCS retail Systems website about giving as much information as possible when describing a problem with your system.  I recently troubleshot and fixed an on-going problem for a customer that proves this point.

The initial issue was that one of the registers was "Slow".  I tried to ask the actual users what the problem was, and all I got was that the register was slow compared the the other registers at the store.  I even went as far as to ask the users to start a problem log in hopes of getting more information.  With such a vague description the problem it could be anything from a virus or malware to a network problem.  I logged in to the problem register, and had the user help me by describing where things were plugged into it. I checked cables, and some of the more obvious stuff which may not have been check before.  While talking to the user, I finally got the key piece of information which led to the resolution of the problem.  Sometimes techs pickup on these key pieces while talking to the users while we are waiting for a system to reboot or while the user is logging in.

The key piece of information was that it was not the whole computer that was slow or even that the software was slow, it was that a certain task was slow depending on the type of transaction being processed.  Armed with that information (which was not disclosed or documented before) I knew exactly where to go and what to do to fix the problem.

A simple problem log could of made this issue go away in 15 minutes rather than the time it actually took.  So as you can see the Devil really is in the details.

If you have any system questions or concerns, call the CCS Retail Systems Support Department or email_us

-Bryan

Its 6:00PM, time to start closing the store, count the registers and post our sales for the day.  Most of the time this is second nature for the closing crew, they have their routine for closing.

I recently received a call from a customer that one of their drawers did not get posted.  After a couple of routine questions, I logged on to their system to see if I could figure out what went wrong.  Running a few reports showed that there were no unposted tickets for any of the drawers in question.  When asked how she came to the conclusion that one of the drawers did not get posted, she directed me to a Sales Report she runs.

In this case, she was running a Sales Analysis report that shows the sales for a certain date or date range. She was running it for 1 day and all of the totals she expected were not showing up.  After a little more research I was able to determine the problem even though the sales were posted on the correct day, the posting date was set to a week earlier.  To avoid problems like this there is an option to use the Ticket Date as the posting date.  This caused confusion, because even though the date of the ticket was correct, all the totals got lumped into the wrong day.

By taking an extra couple of seconds to verify what you have chosen to do is what you want to do could have helped all involved.  I understand we are only human and make mistakes..  Sometimes sleuthing these things out requires running a few extra reports and checking the detail.   Often problems can be solved with a little more training.  I find it is helpful to take a few extra seconds before hitting the "Post" button, also.

If you have any system questions or concerns, contact the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email_us

-Bryan

I have wrote about this topic before, but I am seeing more and more users buying a new PC for one reason or another and having problems.   Much of this is driven by Windows 7 on the desktop and new browser hype.

I was recently called to a site that replaced 2 of their PC’s.  The new PC’s had Windows 7 installed and they needed help with a few things like transferring data, setting up printers and applications.  Once on-site, I spoke to the user of the new PC they have been using it for about a week and were still dealing with a few things that would not work.

Their biggest problem was not being able to use their office printer/scanner/copier functions.  They were able to print, but nothing else.  After a little research, I determined that the copier in question did not have drivers for Windows 7 for the the full functionality of the copier.  To further complicate the problem, the version of Windows 7 (home) did not have the ability to run "XP Mode".  In this case, the options are to upgrade the copier to something that fully supports Windows 7,  or upgrade Windows 7 to a version that supports "XP Mode" (Professional and Ultimate), or use another computer that is running Windows XP that has full functionality.  This left them with the possibility of spend more money to make everything work and  the time delay involved..

As mentioned in a previous blog, BEFORE upgrading your Windows to Windows 7 or buying a new PC with Windows 7, check ALL of your hardware and software to be sure you will be able to use what you need when you need it.  It is also a good idea if you are going to Windows 7, at least get the "Professional" version that supports "XP Mode", so that the older equipment may at least have a chance of working in "XP Mode"

Also mentioned before, is that CCS can still get brand new PC’s with Windows XP that have the option to upgrade to Windows 7 when the rest of your infrastructure is ready. This is called downgrading.  By downgrading, you will have the option to install Windows 7 at a later time on the PC.

If you have any compatibility questions, or questions in general, call the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email_us.

-Bryan

Microsoft is releasing Internet Explorer 9 on Monday night.  From what I have read about, it will be a significant leap forward, but I’m not sure I’m ready to install it.  Before you decide to take the plunge to be on the bleeding edge of Internet browsers, you should check with your IT department as well as your software compatibility to make sure your software will still work, especially if you use a web based application. 

IE9 is Microsoft’s response to the new CSS3 and HTML5 standards that are the next generation for developers of websites.   They are designed to greatly enhance the ease of creating graphics in the user interface.  Present development can be very cumbersome in these areas. 

If your company uses these new standards in-house, or requires them on third-party sites, you will need IE9 or another browser like Google Chrome, that supports these standards.   Most browsers have a new version that is designed for these standards.  As in prior versions, the support in each browser is slightly different.  Not all of them may be compatible with the pages you need to browse.  Chrome is recommended as the best alternative at present. 

IE9 has compatibility modes for prior browser versions, from IE5 forward.   Most websites use techniques that are compatible with prior browser versions and may not have been retro-fitted yet.  You will be able to select compatibility mode when running IE9, as you can in IE8 now.   Your web developer can set your web pages to automatically select a compatibility mode such as IE7 by using a META TAG such as: <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="IE=EmulateIE7" /> .  Fortunately this is the same tag as IE8 used.  If the sites you visit worked with IE8 chances are that IE9 will be OK.  You should ask your Webmaster what your options are.

If IE9 is not mandatory for you right now, a good rule of thumb is to wait for the service pack 1 (sp1) release in a few months from now.

If you are going to install the new Internet Explorer 9, be sure to test all the functions of your different software.  You should also read up on how to uninstall the new version or create a restore point (if your OS supports it) BEFORE installing so you have a way to go backwards if IE9 does not work with your applications.

If you have questions about compatibility, creating a restore point, or uninstalling software, call the CCS Retail Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email us.

-Bryan

Here are some ways that may help improve the performance of your Windows Vista/7 PC.  If you have the minimum amount of RAM installed these tips should help.  Upgrading your RAM to the maximum allowed by the OS and/or motherboard will usually allow you to run some of these features as they are intended.
 
Adjust visual effects 
 Optimize performance by changing how menus and windows appear.
 
Adjust indexing options 
 Indexing options can help you find what you’re looking for quickly and easily on your computer. You can search more efficiently by narrowing your search to focus on those files and folders that you commonly use. For more information, see Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions.
 
Adjust power settings 
 Change power-related settings so that your computer resumes from power-saving settings more efficiently, and adjust battery usage for portable computers.
 
Open Disk Cleanup 
 This tool deletes unnecessary or temporary files on your hard disk so you can increase the amount of storage space you have. For more information, see Delete files using Disk Cleanup.
 
Advanced tools 
 Access advanced system tools, such as Event Viewer, Disk Defragmenter, and System Information, that system administrators and IT professionals often use to solve problems. You can also view notifications about performance-related issues and what to do about them. For example, if Windows detects that a driver is reducing performance, click the notification to learn which driver is causing the problem and view help on how to update the driver. Issues listed at the beginning of the list are impacting the system more than issues listed further down the list.

For the rest of the details and where to find these options to adjust see this link

If you are unsure of some of these tips or just have some general questions, please call the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email_us.

-Bryan

Now that Windows 7 has been out a while, and I have been using it, I have to admit that I like it.  After a year of use and abuse, it is still running strong, no problems what so ever.  It has many useful built-in tools, for example the ISO CD Image Writer without the need of a 3rd party software and a System Image creator that creates a complete image of your system when you backup your PC using the built-in backup tools.

Fortunately, I have not had to use any of my backups, but I have tested them to make they will work.  If I do need the image I found that it is a simple process to restore your system. Its as easy as booting off the original installation DVD or the a System Recovery disk that can be created with-in Windows 7.  Once in the boot environment, you would choose the "Restore from Image" option, point to where the image is, and let Windows do its thing.  Very easy to create and restore with Windows 7.

Previous versions of Windows (98,XP, 2003 Server) would not let you save a backup to a CD/DVD. It had to be to a file or a tape drive.  Starting with Vista, the built-in backup software allows you to backup to a CD or DVD among other media.  So there is no reason to not backup your system anymore.  This method is designed for recovering your OS and programs.   If you have extensive data you should consider creating a backup of that separately.

If you have backup questions or any other system questions, call the CCS Retail Systems Support Department at 800-672-4806 or email us

-Bryan