2010 winds down (or not) with a flurry of activity around here
We usually close here at Farpoint Group between Christmas and New Years – this isn’t uncommon in the business world; nothing really happens then save for a few manufacturing firms shipping everything in sight so as to prop up the end-of-the-quarter sales numbers. This year, however, we are closing today (17 December) to allow two full weeks to begin a huge number of activities that just seemed to slip though the cracks over the surprisingly busy last 12 months. The usual end-of-the-year project around here is to re-build the network, installing new core equipment. This year, however, the core is (mostly) just fine, so only minor changes are planned there. But there are a few other items on my list, as follows:
– I was actually a little surprised to discover, via a formal inventory, that we in fact have 27 computers of various forms and types in production here, plus a broad range of thin servers. It’s time to cull the herd, doing necessary upgrades in some cases and a few retirements in others. This includes getting the iPad and Fascinate into full production configurations. I’m also looking into adding a couple of Windows 7 machines to the Lab – but that’s it; no production use for W7 beyond testing projects. Isn’t SP1 due any day now? I usually wait for that before adopting any new MS OS. The biggest effort here, though, is likely to be bringing up a new Mac server and installing the latest Ubuntu server on a custom-built server platform. Almost all of the Ubuntu clients will be upgraded to 10.10, which is working really well – the best Ubuntu yet.
– I need to settle on a Web-backup strategy and provider. There are a whole bunch of possibilities here; I need both incremental backups and remote access to this cache from any browser-based device – like, for example, my handset. And, of course, security is of paramount importance here.
– I’m planning on putting up at least a minimal Farpoint Group Web page. Maybe a few more words than I have at present, but nothing huge. I want to add pointers to my content that’s scattered about the Web, but no flashy (pun intended) marketing fluff.
– I’m going to reconfigure the five (plus one new addition, bringing the total to six) wireless LANs installed here, rationalizing the channel plan and leaving just one (each) .11g and .11a network operational. There will be no .11b anymore, although the plan is to be able to bring one up quickly if needed for some obscure historical exercise. And one of the two 20 MHz. .11n networks at 2.4 GHz. (small channels only at 2.4; there will be two 40-MHz. channels at 5 GHz.) will be both reconfigurable and able to be shut down on short notice so as to allow for the testing of new products in that band.
– Comcast has offered me an upgrade to 25 Mbps at a very reasonable price. Negotiations may be in order – with them, and with Verizon as well.
– I’ve got a bunch of work to do on Salmon Run Studios, our media production facility – interfaces and software to install, and more rationalization of the wiring and interconnects. The conversion of all analog interfaces to digital will begin, but I expect this will take several years and more upgrades to complete.
– And, last but not least, Mom has been mad at me for the past, oh, I don’t know, 15 years or so because the office is such a mess. I’ve finally summoned the courage necessary to toss out a lot of paper and obsolete hardware – this motivated by, well, being out of room, and watching a couple of truly frightening episodes of Hoarders on A&E. I’m not that bad – no dead cats or anything (I think – I hope!), but it’s time.
And, of course, lots of fun with family and friends – which is what this time of year is really all about. I hope you’ll be spending the holidays with those who mean the world, mobile or otherwise, to you. Best wishes for this special time of year, and see you in January.
