Scenario:
Brand new Dell Optiplex 990 PCs, new cat5e wiring, and a new Dell PowerConnect 5548P switch. Connected any Optiplex 990 PC to the Dell switch and the ethernet port does not light up.
Solution:
Connect to the Dell PowerConnect 5548P switch through the console and run the following commands to turn OFF Energy Efficient Ethernet:
Now on the Dell Optiplex 990, uncheck the Energy Efficient Ethernet.
Done!
I am working on setting up a new PC on our Small Business Server 2003 network ( SBS 2003.) When I go to logon with an account that will add the computer to the domain, I would get an Event ID: 529 in the security log on the SBS server. I began to investigate and tried different logins, changed DHCP to static, changed work groups, changed computer names, changed keyboards, re-imaged the PC, all with the same results. I checked Microsoft’s website and they stated a possible hotfix for the issue. It didn’t seem to be the exact problem so I didn’t install the hotfix. Finally I figured possibly I have a nic card issue. So I first go into the BIOS of the PC and what do I notice? The time was off by one year. I’m thinking… hmm this could be something here. I correct the time, start the PC, re-adjust the time again there and check the time zone, try to login to my domain and bingo! I got right in.
So I am writing this blog post to help those that get the Event ID: 529 to look FIRST at the PC clock to ensure it is within five minutes of the server. Now I’ve always known this was mandatory for servers to be within five minutes of each other but I’ve never heard of time issues with PCs.
Rick
I have a client utilizing SharePoint Foundation 2010 with the out-of-the-box SQLExpress 2008R2. A SharePoint Farm backup is scheduled to run daily but having a SQL backup of the WSS_Content database is also critical. Typically in most production environments there is a full blown SQL Server running and a backup job can easily be created. With SQLExpress this isn’t an option unless either a Transact SQL script or Powershell script is created and then scheduled. For me, I don’t work everyday in the scripting world and instead found this fantastic application that can backup and compress any SQLExpress database. This program is called ‘SQLBackupandFTP.’ It is FREE to use for up to two databases but otherwise is only $59. What I love about this app is it only took a few minutes to install, setup, and schedule the WSS_Content database to be backed up daily to a network shared location. It actually will build the backup in a temp location first then transfer it over to the location of choice. There is also an option to keep a set number months of backups, which it will automatically remove older backups. Should you want to perform any SQL tasks, it has the option to run SQL commands before or after the backup.
As much as we might like to think that most SharePoint Foundation installations are going into SQL Server, we all know that many installations are starting off out-of-the-box with SQLExpress in development environments, departments, and small businesses, and this tool will at least give them no excuse to not backup the critical WSS_Content database on a schedule. Between this and a scheduled SharePoint Farm backup, the basics are covered.
Let’s say you have a list of clients, an HVAC contractor has a customer list of service dates of furnace repair, or dates that you have serviced your car, or a Dentist’s clients list of teeth cleanings, or the example we’ll use, orders purchased by customers. We’ll focus on the orders by customer where we need to determine their last order date. But basically, any records that may have multiple entries for the same key field where you need to filter the maximum date for that key. In the case of the HVAC contractor who serviced many customers - many times over the years, they need to be able to determine the last date the customer was serviced. Of course this information could be sorted in decending order and quickly filtered by client, but what if you need to look-up all of your clients that have not had service within the past year? In order to do this the records need to be first filtered down to the maximum date for each key field, in this case, the customer, THEN those records filtered greater than one year. This then would be an accurate list of customers who have not had service within the past year. The same for determining the last order date of a customer’s many orders. When was the last time customers purchased something, and show me those that haven’t purchased anything in the past year!
Well jeez, that should be easy enough if your data is in Excel right? Wrong! Give it a go, try that pivot table (which there is a way to do it in a pivot, but still, it isn’t the best way), or try to filter or to group. Go ahead. Good luck. Let me know if you find an easier way than what I have below.
Many Excel users have no idea of an import feature called MS Query. If you utlize ODBC at all then you probably have seen this utility. And even if you have used it, did you know that you can point MS Query right back to the exact same workbook you are working on to filter data?
That is what I will show you here. We are going to assume that you already have the data in Excel. And if you don’t, you can still use MS Query to connect to many different sources. Here though, I’ll focus and demonstrate accessing the Excel data within the same workbook.
If you want to recreate this, I am using the Northwind database Orders table.
Reminder, when using your own data, this needs to be a table with column headings that should be in the first row. So first let me show you how there are multiple records for the same customer within this Orders table.
I’ll filter by customer ID 4 by clicking the filtered drop down of Customer ID in this example. This is just to show you the multiple records for this customer.
Notice I have five records for this customer ID. Now imagine trying to determine their last order dates of hundreds of customers with hundreds of transactions, and then trying to filter those greater than one year. Normally it would be a nightmare in Excel. But I’ll show you an easy way to do this.
To get started, first SAVE YOUR SPREADSHEET. Then create a new worksheet, in this case I have one called MSQueryResults, and click on Import, Data, From Microsoft Query.
Select Excel Files, Un-Check the box as shown. Click ok.
Locate your spreadsheet, the one you are in right now that you just saved, and select it. Click OK.
Select the sheet name of your data. IF you do not see any sheet names, click on Options and be sure the System Tables box is checked. Click Add.
Notice how it adds the table to the query screen. Click Close.
Here I’ve added the Customer ID (unique ID), and the Order Date. I did this by double clicking on them.
Now, where Order Date is listed in the result pane, double click on Order Date and select Total of Max. This is assuming the Order Date is truly a date value. If not then the Order Date fields needs to be wrapped with DATEVALUE(Order Date). However, here the date is a true date so that is not necessary.
Now click ! to refresh the screen and your customers are now filtered by Max date!
At this point there are a lot of options. A query filter could be created, the date could be formatted, a parameter query could be created to prompt for date, the same table could be added and linked if more fields are required, etc. To keep this simple, we’ll return this to Excel and then use Excel to format and filter.
Click the Return to Excel button.
Click OK and return the data to Excel.
At this point the Date field can be formatted and a filter created. As you can see, because this is a date field, there are many options now to filter further the returned result set from MS Query.
So there you have it. I took a large volume of data with multiple records with the same customer ID, used MS Query to generate a new filtered result-set by Max Date, returned it to the same Excel spreadsheet, and filtered those results. The great thing is the result set can be refreshed any time it is needed.
The next time you have a filter challenge within Excel, remember the MS Query option of looking at your same spreadsheet to return a filtered result set.
The very first thing I did after opening the iPad box and activating it was to connect to my work Exchange server. That was incredibly easy to do and within a minute I had all of my contacts, calendar, and emails.
Reading emails is an absolute pleasure. I would say a big win in that department. However, replying to an email with any lengthy typing is combersome. When I type with the full virtual keyboard I go in streaks of really fast to what the hell! I’m sure I’ll get a little better as time goes on but without that physical positioning of a normal keyboard, it will always be difficult to write long emails. Quick responses are just fine though. Going back to reading emails for a moment, this device is almost worth the price just for the reading experience. Attachments and photos are seemless and natural.
Web
Next up I went right to the web, and in response to an email I received, I tried to connect to a vendor’s B2B site. Unfortunately, this B2B uses some lame Java dropdown menu that does not work at all on the iPad. FAIL. I can’t work on my number one website at work. That kills our salesmen using it. I will email the vendor to make them aware.
Reading most websites that I visited, again, is worth the price. It is like you are touching the internet. Basically the iPhone but at a size that you can actually read comfortably. Ironically, I think the screen could have been cut down in size. It seems almost too big oddly enough. Of course a few sites I went to had flash and didn’t work at all. I tried out my work SharePoint site and it renders beautifully. Two issues I had was entering information in an online form didn’t allow me to scroll within a memo field, and drop down selection boxes do not allow you to enter text to find a selection; You are forced to scroll and select. One of our forms loads 2,000 customers in a drop down list which makes the use of the iPad useless on this form. Within IE8 you can type the start of a customer name and displays it immediately. Another big work FAIL.
eBooks
Actually the main reason I’ve been waiting for the iPad is to store ebooks. I debated on the Kindle and Nook, and decided that the iPad would offer the best of all worlds. Apple’s iBook application I find useless at this point. For me at least. There isn’t a single technical title available. I’m sure that will change in the near future but as of today, I can’t see using iBook. Fortunately, Amazon has the Kindle app for the iPad which I downloaded right off. I loaded up my Windows 7 book I had purchased on the iPhone Kindle app and it is fantastic. I can actually read this thing and feel like I can move forward with my studies of Windows 7 using this device. Big win for Amazon making this app!
I have no idea about trying to get ePub books on here and reading .pdf files. I know .pdfs should be a snap through iDisk or the Good Reader app. So I am sure that will work just fine. I’ll find out soon enough.
Apps
For me, having access to applications are a bonus. I’ve already used LogMeIn to connect to a friends computer and it worked great. IMDB is awesome along with ABC streaming shows. Will I actually watch a show on this thing, I doubt it. But it is cool! The weather channel is nice. Tweetdeck has some bugs and Twitterific is very nice.
I think the apps on this thing will be incredible. What will I actually use, at this point, I just don’t know. I REALLY want to use this device as a productivity tool for work with tasks, note taking, and all of that good stuff. If Microsoft would only create Office for the iPad and iPhone…
After this first day of the iPad I find myself a bit confused by the experience. I don’t know yet how this will fit into my life. I know it will be my eBook reader. So mission accomplished there. I feel like I’ll read emails on this a lot more than any other device, and I believe it will be nice to have around the house. For work I am quite dissappointed right now. I’m seeing very little practical use for it in my work environment, and that makes me sad. If HP can get Apple’s mastered interface down, and give us Windows 7, I have a feeling my future iPad will be an HP slate.
In the mean time I’ll keep playing with this very cool machine and keep you posted on how this is encorporated into my life. I know one thing, this would be the perfect device for my inlaws. Simple, clear, easy to read, fine for short emails, and the best experience yet for reading and surfing the web.
