Over the years, India has become very important to the world. It has emerged as the key location, offering world-class talent. The software designers and developers (read: Rightway solution’s designers and developers) are at par with the best in the world. This core competence is built on back of merit.

Currently in the software world, ASP.NET is the in thing, and the developers at Rightway Solution are quite well-equipped for the same.

ASP.NET is a web application framework that grew and developed in the Microsoft’s laboratory. The framework is billed to build lively websites, web applications and XML web services. Interestingly, ASP.NET is part of Microsoft’s .NET platform, and is a different version of Microsoft’s Active Server Pages (ASP) technology and not an upgraded or revised version. Built on Common Language Runtime, ASP.Net allows programmers to write ASP.NET code using any Microsoft .NET language.

Fuctioning: ASP.NET offered by Rightway Solution, aids users gain from early binding, automatic resource optimization, just-in-time compilation, automatic memory management, runtime profiling, enhanced exception handling, and caching services, as well as right out-of-the-box services. All this facilitates helps in improving the performance before the coding starts.

Web site’s performance is directly related to data-access. For instance, a database table spends majority of its execution time, in connecting to the database, so to gather relevant information. With ASP.Net data-caching module it is easy to identify what data on an ASP page to cache and on what on circumstances to empty the cache and re-query the data-store.

Furthermore, ASP.NET developed by Rightway Solution, is loaded with Performance Counters which can be used by administrators to gather application metrics. This can be used to calculate the performance of either single instance of an ASP.NET application or all ASP.NET applications shared on a computer Tool Back-up’s: Dragging-and-dropping of web controls, like the VB controls, as well as double-click and writing the server code for the control is also possible with ASP.NET.

Adaptability: Since the application is built on the Common Language Runtime, web application developers can revel in the power and flexibility of the entire platform. The Common Language Runtime’s Base Class libraries, Messaging, and Data Access solutions are all easily accessible from the web. Besides the freedom to use different languages, aids developers select a language that suits their application, or divide the application across many languages.

ASP.NET at present is supported by three languages, C# (pronounced “C Sharp”), Visual Basic, and JScript.

ASP.NET differs from ASP in two major ways:

ASP.NET is endowed with several benefits in comparison to ASP, such as, Compiled ASP.NET Scripts, Caching: Post-Back Forms: Server Controls, and Deployment. ASP.NET also offers change in programming essentials.

ASP follows procedural pattern of creating pages. Normally we take a form which takes user information and then confirms the user. Here, in ASP.NET we would generally create a form, which receives the user information in the first page, and then in the second page we would process the user collection for authentication in ASP By far, you must be convinced that ASP.NET has all the elements to propel your website to newer heights. So look no further, just grab the services of Rightway Solution ASP.NET developers.

In this article the term Web 2.0 programming is defined as well as the difference between Web 2.0 programming and Web 1.0 programming. The advantages and disadvantages of Web 2.0 programming are explained. Finally an opinion on Web 2.0 programmingis given.

The term Web 2.0 was coined by O’Reilly Media back in 2004 to mean a network to span across all network devices. It delivers software on a continually updating basis, where unique users can go in and post information on the fly and it is updated automatically to the web.

The following list is a general comparison of between Web 2.0 and Web 1.0 this will be broken down into specific comparisons.Web 2.0 and Web 1.0.

The first comparison will be with Double Click and Google Adsense.

Double Click was the pioneer of the Internet ad service, where the users profile was created by their activity on the web. Consequently banner ads where generated this way as well. A major disadvantage was that Double click required the use to have a former sales contact with the company which limited this technology to larger companies. Overture and Google saw a need and improved upon an existing product thus Overture and Adsense was born. It was a format in which virtually any site could be catered to in terms of having a banner ad on it, which in turn offered consumer friendly text advertising. The lesson here is to create a customer self-service management system that reaches out to the entire web and not just the core. Other companies that have used this technology are eBay and Napster.

The second comparison is between Akamai and BitTorrent.

Akamai provided global Internet caching meaning a client browser requesting a specific file when is then sent to another website which gives you the index page of the source site of the file. From the source code you can parse it into your site as an image, video or audio file. The disadvantage here was the hoops one had to go through in order to get a file, plus the fact that they could only use the servers provided to them. Now take BitTorrent, every client is also a server, hence the more popular a file is the faster it can be downloaded because more clients or servers in this case that host the give file. Again the lesson here is to give the power to the people.

The next comparison is between personal website and blogs.

Now one should know what a personal website and what a blog is, but what classifies a blog as a Web 2.0 technology? One is the use of RSS feeds, what RSS stands for is “Real Simple Syndication” or “Rich Site Summary” depending on whom you ask. Basically you can put a remote blog or syndication on your site using an RSS feed for example the following RSS Feed, which is referencing another website’s syndication. Another factor that separates a blog from a personal website is the use of permalinks. A permalink is the specific URL for a given blog and/or syndication. Thus referencing this URL to another blog and/or syndication will automatically create a link to that blog or syndication, which in turn built reputation between bloging communities.

The difference between static and dynamic generated web sites.

With Web 1.0 technology the term WYSIWYG or What You See Is What You Get becomes very apparent. Then JavaScript came along and became the breaking scripting code to bridge the gap between Static and dynamic pages. Web 2.0 uses Ajax programming or (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) meaning JavaScript and XML coding work in unison with each other to create rich, dynamic web pages, CSS is also thrown into the mix.

The 7 Core Competencies of Web 2.0

The 7 core competencies according to O’Reilly Media are:

• Services, not packaged software, with cost-effective scalability
• Control over unique, hard-to-recreate data sources that get richer as more people use them
• Trusting users as co-developers
• Harnessing collective intelligence
• Leveraging the long tail through customer self-service
• Software above the level of a single device
• Lightweight user interfaces, development models, AND business models

Companies that are considered to be Web 2.0 are shown in the following list.

It is safe to say that many sites now days use a combination of both Web 1.0 and 2.0 technologies. A perfect example is gameznstuff.com that has a combination of both static and dynamic pages that use a content management system of Joomla that is considered to be more Web 2.0 based then Web 1.0. Connected to gameznstuff.com is the blog site as well as RSS feeds and a separate forum site as well.

So Web 2.0 based technology is gradually making its way as the prefered mainstrean tools to produce rich, dynamic generated web pages and online content.

To see more articles like this one go to http://www.gameznstuff.com/blog

Those description is given by Microsoft as the overview of SQL Server 2005 in their official website. Although it’s already launched, it’s still interesting to discussed the main a features of this product which distinguished it with their competitors in the market.

By: Adam Sturo

1. Reporting services : In SQL Server Reporting Services increase there benefit to customers. These include centralized report storage and management, control over how reports are processed or administered, and also have ability to fastest changing reports formats (HTML, Excel, PDF, etc.). This entire capabilities make reporting Services is valuable. So Web-based reporting has ability to make up-to-date information available to a distributed group of users. Reporting Services provides a impressive way to find and view reports, the Reporting Services interface may not be the most appropriate one for all report users.
2. Partitioned Tables and Indexes : Sql Server 2005 has ability to partition tables and indexes have always been a design to improve performance and manageability in larger databases. Microsoft SQL Server 2005 has many new features that simplify the design of using this feature.
3. Xml Web services : SQL Server 2005 provides a standard method for getting the database engine by using SOAP via HTTP. With the help of this methods, we can send SOAP/HTTP requests to SQL Server to execute stored procedures, extended stored procedures, T-SQL batch statements and scalar-valued user-defined functions which can have with or without parameters .When we use SQL Server as a Web Service that can for HTTP SOAP requests requires must create an HTTP endpoint and defining the methods that the endpoint exposes. When we create HTTP endpoint, that endpoint must be created with a unique URL that we uses to listen for incoming HTTP requests.
4. Database Mirroring : Database mirroring provides solution to provide high availability at the database level where all things depends upon the database. In Sql Server we can maintained synchronized copies of a database on two separate servers allows switching between them. And its plays its role on failure of primary server.
5. CLR Integration : Microsoft SQL Server 2005 has adopt the database programming model hosting by the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Common Language Runtime (CLR). .Net CLR hosted inside SQL Server to improve performance, security and reliability. This helps developers to write procedures, triggers, and functions in any of the CLR languages.

To know more about Sql Server Interview Questions visit dotnetquestion.info and learn all interview questions related to sql server which is very helpful in interviews for you.

Time tracking and billing software solutions are cost-effective and time-saving tools which provide an invaluable assistance in billing and managing time-sheets. Advertising, Accounting, IT and Project Management companies can benefit tremendously by deploying a proven solution. The avant-garde of these applications have both web-based and desktop-based interfaces for superior performance. The web-based interface is used to provide the staff, clients and management access to time-sheets, management reports and client information. On the other hand, the desktop interface gives the administration staff an efficient tool to manage processes such as client and job management, invoicing and the many other components.

These applications offer a wide array of business processes, the following are a few of their key features which make them, a must.

• These solutions can efficiently bill the resources at varied rates for different portions of a project or they can also bill the whole project at a single rate. They also help in the flexible management of resource allocation.
• With user modifiable reporting system, the reporting, budgeting and ongoing management of projects become simple and easier. The reporting system is accessible by the web and the desktop as well.
• The applications also simplify the billing, debt collection and cash flow management of a company with the wizards, reports and simple management screens.
• An easy solution to resource management commission models and performance targets is achieved through the wizards, reports and easy to use screens.
• On a web interface the clients can easily review bills and work performed against selected projects.
• Security: Most applications feature different login permission levels, so as to give a limited and secure access based on user discretion.
• User management: With these applications the user accounts can also be linked to the Operating System user accounts and thus he/she can login with the OS username and password.
• With the smart billing rate structure, one can create different billing rates per client or per staff member or even per project.
• They provide an effective expense tracking solution, pre-set cost and billing rates for expenses such as photocopying, stationery, travel can be easily set.
• The best of these software come with timer function, which very efficiently tracks the time spent on a project or component of a project such as a task.
• The applications with a web based time sheet approval, can be employed in organizations where line mangers or workflow style requirements exist. Time sheets can be submitted by any staff member for approval by their managers.
• These applications provide a transparent billing solution, as with an efficient management tool one can easily provide the client with all bills and invoices via a secure web access. Thus, a lot of unnecessary wastage of time is avoided.

These solutions are built on innovative and high performance oriented technologies such as AJAX, SQL Server, Web Services and ASP.NET. Also, what gives these applications an edge, is the number of users it can support, which is infinite. As the number of people it can support is only limited by the hardware’s capacity. Moreover these applications, if they are based on SQL Server and Web services make the integration with a third party application a very easy task especially if they employ interfaces based on standards such as XML and XSLT.

Now with this tool, sky is the limit for a company which aims for a high standard of efficient service and success. This high-end application will certainly remove a significant amount of manual work which affect your business growth, your billing and internal efficiencies. Thus enabling you to give only the best to your clients. After all, working smart and efficiently is crucial for one’s success.

WordPress 2.3 was released Monday 24th September, bringing major advances to the engine that powers many millions of blogs. Slated as a release candidate, this version has been thoroughly tested and is already featured as the latest stable download.

This release isn’t just an incremental update with security patches, it includes a host of new features such as native tags, core and plugin update notifications, enhanced entry management and improved handling of draft entries, native support for canonical redirection, atom feeds, and a bunch of other updates too numerous to mention here.

Tagging Your Posts

With the explosion of sites using tags to search for content, Technorati and Flickr being two obvious examples, it was only ever a matter of time until WordPress joined the club. Version 2.3 sees the first implementation of tags by the development team, although in true WP style, they tell us they haven’t implemented tag management yet, so no editing or deleting, they want to assess the need for this before committing extra code to the base.

Inexperienced users might grumble about this, but one of the strengths of WordPress is the range of plugins available, and several tag plugins already exist, it won’t be long until v2.3 management of tags is accomplished. The plugin route may be preferred by many users anyway given the range of customization options that are a typical feature of third party plugins. The tag functionality built into 2.3 works well, tags are displayed along with the entry and clicking the tag link displays all entries with the same tag.

Webmasters with existing tags using ‘Simple Tagging’, ‘Jerome’s Keywords’, ‘Bunny’s Technorati Tags’, or ‘Ultimate Tag Warrior’ are able to convert their tags to v2.3 using the Import function found under the Manage tab in Dashboard. Converting your existing WordPress categories to tags is also possible for user’s who want to remove categories altogether.

Update Notification in Dashboard

A significant addition to v2.3 is the core and plugin update notifications that have been added to the Dashboard. Long overdue, this feature, not without controversy over privacy issues, is likely to become the main selling feature of WordPress 2.3 as users realize they no longer have to search for plugin homepages or latest versions to ensure their installation is uptodate.

Here’s how it works. WordPress is configured to automatically contact the WordPress servers, api.wordpress.org and query for updates to core files or plugins registered in the WP plugins repository hosted on wordpress.org. When new updates are available, these will be displayed in Dashboard with a direct link to the files or download page. A notable absence is the ability to automatically install the update, although rumors abound this may be included in future versions.

A criticism of the update notification service has been leveled at the ‘always on’ nature of the feature. Privacy and potential hacking scenarios have been raised, along with request that the service be patched to allow an opt in/opt out mode. It will be interesting to see how the developers deal with this issue in future releases given their rationale that it is better to reduce the volume of support queries and insecure installations by providing the notification service.

Enhanced Post Filtering and Improved Draft Entry Management

This is a welcome addition for any blogger with more than a handful of posts. WordPress aficionados should immediately notice the enhanced filters in the manage posts page. Posts are now filterable by status, month and category making it much easier to find specific posts to edit.

The status dropdown is particularly welcome with options for selecting published, draft, scheduled, or pending review. Managing unpublished entries has never been easier in WordPress.

Native Canonical Redirection

Any WordPress webmaster familiar with the duplicate content penalty arising from www or no www, will be delighted with v2.3′s native support for canonical redirection. Simply enable this from within wp-admin, under Options to experience seemless redirection, most users will never even know that they’ve been redirected unless they look at the address bar. This should make it easier to track SERPs on WordPress powered sites.

This article was written by DynamicAds, DynamicAds is an Ad Placements Rotator plugin for WordPress that is fully compatible with WordPress 2.3, it allows you to control how you want to rotate your ads at various locations on your site. Visit us at http://www.articleecho.com/.

Microsoft Business Solutions – Navision is an integrated solution for small and midsize companies looking to expand their business operations without much interruption to its existing processes. Microsoft Navision enables businesses to alter as much or as little of its existing system, integrate add-ons and vertical segments of its development. It integrates every aspect of your organization, from customers to suppliers, from accounting to supply chain,increasing your productivity and competitive edge. Microsoft Navision has an open environment architecture making it fully customizable and easy to use and maintain. It can also be implemented rapidly so that there is only a minimal disruption to business operations.

Microsoft Navision was originally written by Denmark-based Navision Software in its own proprietary language C/SIDE (Client/Server Integrated Development Environment). Both European and North American markets have benefited from its use. Its launch in the global market will help organizations scale up their development and add value to their business.

One of the primary reporting tools used today is Crystal Reports. With its ability to call up information from SQL commands, using Crystal Reports adds extensive functionality in your reporting procedure. The following is an overview of Crystal Reports as it relates to Microsoft Navision:

C/SIDE

C/SIDE is Microsoft Navision’s graphical integrated development environment that provides customization tools for developing customer specific solutions to be applied to a business process.

Inside Crystal Reports, use C/ODBC to create a connection to the database needed for report generation. Links are done inside Crystal Reports. However, this connection technique tends to be inflexible if you want to modify your database mapping or links inside the report. You may want to redo the database mapping of that report or use a Crystal Report query.

Microsoft SQL Server

Using Microsoft SQL Server in Microsoft Navision will help a great deal since SQL has the ability to integrate Navision to third-party products. SQL Server has a virtual table that you can access to minimize the complexity of looking at links in Crystal Reports itself. By referencing the view name in a Transact-SQL statement, a user can access this virtual table and retrieve the data for future selection to be applied into Crystal Reports. You also have the option of creating Stored Procedures to execute a number of Transact-SQL statements into a single command. Furthermore, SQL Query Analyzer can copy existing database objects and locate, view or work with these objects within the database.

Reports on Heterogeneous Database

If Microsoft Navision sits in an SQL Server, you have the ability to create a link from your database server to another third party database (Oracle, DB2, Unidata, Ingress, Sybase, Pervasive, Ctree, MS Access) for report creation in Crystal Reports. For example, if you are on a C/SIDE Database, create a link server to it with C/ODBC. You then create additional linked servers to your legacy database. These links will serve as your pool for creating one Crystal Report using a number of databases. Knowledge about OPENROWSET keyword in SQL Server is useful for this kind of execution.

Microsoft Navision is a powerful analytical tool for your business performance. Adding Crystal Reports to its functionalities will provide a more systematic way of measuring your organization’s competence.

Need more information?
Contact us: 1-866-528-0577
help@albaspectrum.com

For customization work and advice, please contact Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Chief Technology Officer. His works include development of applications with the use of Dexterity, SQL, C# .NET, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK.

Java is considered as the most powerful and secure high-level programming language and a platform. It is commonly used for object oriented programming in mobile application development, web applications, and etc. Java provides a software platform that runs only on top of other hardware based platforms.

The Java platform has two components: The Java Virtual Machine (JVM), and The Java Application Programming Interface (API).

The API is a collection of ready-made software components that provide many useful features. It contains the libraries of related classes called packages and interfaces.

The first requirement of Java Application Development is the tool setup. Most of the Java editors have a “Preferences” page where a programmer can setup the tools according to requirement. This helps reduce problems during programming and increase the efficiency of the developers. The coding standards depend on the programmer, but it is wise to follow the coding conventions provided by Sun Microsystems.

The most important criteria in Java development are the naming standards. Any item having a name should be extended by its corresponding naming standard. In Java names are required for classes, methods, variables, interfaces, packages, .jsp and .html files, style sheets, script files, configuration files, etc. Java applications use a database; so naming standards should also cover names for databases, tables, views, stored procedures, etc. the various reasons for deploying naming standards are:

1. Naming Standards makes the application less complicated and simpler to maintain.
2. It makes the application easier to pick the name for a new item.
3. It deduces a name during search of an item.
4. It simplifies the abstracts.

The crucial part of a Java application is the error handling. It is very much important to handle the errors in a sensible and standardized way. The good method for handling serious technical errors is to use chained exceptions. Logging is often used for logging errors and reports the performance data and other events like startup and shutdown.

The arrangements of most application are controlled by a set of parameters. Some parameters can be taken from a database, but is not always suitable because the parameters require the database setup to be in place before using it. The Java projects require a unit test of all its methods as well as its business functionality irrespective of the involved classes and methods. Unit Testing is conducted from back-end to the front-end, including all client programs. The naming standards should be in place for the unit test programs. The final step is the bug tracking. It is implemented to verify the proper functionality of the project. The bugs can be tracked by manually operating the program or by using bug-tracking tools.

You know you need a website for yourself or your organization. Now the only question is how you are going to go about doing it without breaking the bank. But at the same time, you don’t want it to look cheap either, it needs to look professional and be easy to change when changes are needed.

Having a web site today has become a necessity for individuals and organizations alike. Your online presence matters much in the global world we live in, especially if you want to be heard, to make a difference, then having your website is essential.

Making your own website is even more important if you want to do business online, or want to promote your products or services online. An effective website can do wonders in the marketing domain and get you the sales you desperately need. What’s more is that a mere website can change you from having a local presence to having a global one.

So what do you do if you want to have a website? The first thoughts that come to mind are thoughts that will send jitters down your spine. Instantly when you think of making a professional, classy website, with a website design that is catchy, you think of hiring professional web designers, making them understand how you want your website to be, paying them hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to make the website and then paying them more, and possibly having to wait days or weeks, for every change you want in the future. That is sure to make you weary and your pocketbook thin. In the old days (a few years ago) that used to be about the only choice you had unless you wanted to grind it out on your own trying to learn HTML coding from scratch. Yuck!
Now with CSS programming, it’s even more difficult to do on your own.

Fast forward to today:Now even a rank newbie can have their own professional website in just a few minutes. There are now some great options to make your very own website yourself with hardly any knowledge of programming or HTML or any of those complicated things. You can make your own website design, choose from a range of website templates and fill out the content the way you want, and, if you get the right website builder, you can make changes any time you want, whenever you want without it costing you anything extra. Making your own website has now become an affordable, do-it-yourself and easy thing to do, if, and I say if, you choose the right one.

But beware: choose the wrong web builder, and it could be a nightmare.
What you are looking for is an affordable, workable, professional looking website building tool preferably with a reasonable monthly fee of no more than $50 (to start) and preferably no contract. If you see them ask for a long-term contract, you should step back and reconsider.

About:Other options to look for in a web page builder is a user-friendly interface that will take you right through the website designing and website publishing process from start to finish. You want to be able to choose from a range of website templates, and you want to be able to change the writing and pictures on your website anytime you desire, even at 2am in the morning, for no extra cost. With the right website builder, there is no need to buy or master expensive and difficult to learn graphics programs. Less effort, less time, less money and better results can be had with the proper website building program.

Although there are many things that can affect the performance of your computer, there are a few simply things you can do each month to help keep your computer running at maximum performance. This article will focus on two problems that impact the performance of your computer and will then explain what you can do about it.

Problem #1: Computer Hard Disk Files
Your computer is always writing information to your hard disk, no matter what you do. Your computer attempts to keep all file information in the same location on your hard drive. As you add and delete files, blank spaces are left between your files. As you add new programs or files, your computer tries to use these blank spaces.
Over time, this reading and writing of files can affect the way your computer performs. The files eventually become scattered in multiple locations on your hard disk rather than in the same location.

Your computer will still find the information. However, the more scattered the information becomes on your hard drive, the more accesses your computer has to make to find (and gather) the information. This requires your hard disk to work harder and do more reading/writing than is necessary. It will slow down your computer by as much as 200% and causes increased wear and tear on your hard drive.

Problem #2: Spyware
If you use the Internet, at some point you will download a file or software program onto your computer. Sometimes you will know something is being downloaded to your computer. Other times you will have no idea. (Although this article will not talk about small files called “cookies”, you may want to look up information on this subject. Cookies are written onto your computer from the Internet.)

Free computer programs (often referred to as Freeware) are a big hit on the Internet. Every day thousands of users download these “free programs”. Although there are some great freeware programs, these programs often have advertisements or tracking code associated with their use. The term “Spyware” refers to programs that gather information about your computer and (Internet) surfing habits without your knowledge. This information is then sold to a third party company as a means of generating revenue.

The problem with Spyware is that it also impacts the performance of your computer. It can make your computer very sluggish and unresponsive.

Three Steps to Improved Computer Performance
Now that we’ve discussed two problems that affect the performance of your computer, let’s discuss three things you can do to get your computer performance back to normal. You should do these three steps in the order presented. Ideally, you should repeat them about once a month or whenever you notice a change in your computer’s performance.

Step #1: Delete Spyware
The first thing you should do is to delete spyware files or programs from your computer. To do this, you can use a free software program such as Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition from LavaSoft. To get the program, go to www.download.com and search for “Ad-Aware SE” (without the quotes). Select “Download Now” and follow the installation instructions. Once the program is installed, you can scan your computer for spyware files. Then, you can select and delete them from your computer.
Note #1: Always be sure to use the “Check for updates now” option to keep your program current.
Note #2: You need to be aware that when you delete spyware files, some of those “free” programs you downloaded may not continue to work correctly. If you have a program you’ve downloaded and want to continue to use, check very carefully what you select to delete from the “Scanning results” once the scan has been completed.

Step #2: Clean up your Hard Disk
Once the spyware is removed, you need to clean up temporary and unwanted files from your hard disk. To do this on your windows PC, select the start option in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. Then, select the program option. Under the program option, select “Accessories”. Under the “Accessories” option, select “System Tools”. From the System Tools option, select “Disk Cleanup”.

Select the drive you want to clean from the pull-down menu and select OK. Usually, this is Drive C. If you have more than one hard drive, select one at a time. This program will then scan your computer for files that could be erased from your computer. You can safely erase all temporary and Recycle Bin files. You can also check the box of any other files you want the program to erase.

Step #3: Defrag your Hard Disk
Once all the spyware and temporary files are removed, you need to defrag your hard disk. This process simply rewrites your computer files so they are no longer scattered all over your hard disk, but are written in the same location for quick sequential access.

To defrag your hard disk on your windows PC, select the start option in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. Then, select the program option. Under the program option, select “Accessories”. Under the “Accessories” option, select “System Tools”. From the System Tools option, select “Disk Defragmenter”. First, select the hard drive from your computer. Usually, this is Drive C. However, many computers have multiple hard drives. Select one at a time.

You can select “Analyze” to have the program check out the hard drive and see if it needs to be defragged. The program will prompt you at the completion of its analysis. Use the defragment option as prompted.

Note: If you’ve never used this option before, I would recommend that you select the defragment option.

Once, you’ve completed these three steps, your computer and hard disk should be able to operate at maximum performance. Don’t forget to repeat these steps at least once a month or whenever you notice a change in your computer’s performance.

This article is also covered in a “The Sniffer Guy” podcast–available at http://www.interpathtech.com –and–through iTunes.

Software default settings are very seldom correct for YOU. For example, a device may say that a SQL server should respond in 50ms. But, if that device is across a WAN with a 200ms ping time–that is highly unlikely. This causes false SLOW SQL messages. This is only an example, but there are many such alerts and messages based on default “thresholds” within this type of software tool’s configuration.

Particulars of your environment may create false alerts or other messages. The definitions of what is an “excessive” delay–latency–broadcasts, etc, are up to you–not the tool.

It’s important for you to know the default settings driving alerts and messages. Then, ignore or alter those alerts that are not set best–for your enterprise. Altering them to make the appropriate settings for your enterprise is the best strategy. Too many false flags or alerts numb you into ignoring important ones or–cause you to make serious errors and incorrect decisions that can be Very Very expensive.

Properly used, those features can save enormous amounts of time and show things your own eye would likely miss.

2) Not understanding the Protocols used, such as TCP, HTTP, etc.

What good is a tool that tells you information about how a protocol is behaving if you do not understand the underlying technology? By this I mean the RFC’s for the protocols that are relevent to your concerns.

—What is the impact of various protocols working differently for the same application doing the same transaction–in different locations?

—What is expected according to specs–and how is your trace file showing different–or less optimal behavior?

—Why would there be 2 TCP connections from one location and 10 from another–for the same application doing the same transaction?

This short article cannot answer all these questions–but it can show you the types of information that you will need to understand in order to make sense out of the data a trace file will show you. Know the protocols well. Deep understanding of TCP is the basic price of admission. While you may consider this a matter of skill sets, my point is that attempting to troubleshooting a problem with a packet-sniffer while not understanding the protocols is a mistake–and a common one. If you add this point to the first one listed–about not believing all the standard settings on tools–you find that the tool cannot answer anything for you by itself. You need to know what you are looking at. You are the analyst–the tool is just an aid.

3) Not understanding the layer 1 and layer 2 aspects of the topology you are sniffing.

Ethernet and all other topologies have many different specifications, which are altered or outright ignored by many switch or other network device manufactures. You must know the specs and how the hardware you are working with applies those specs–or doesn’t apply them. A classic example is Spanning Tree. There are IEEE specifications for Spanning-Tree but those specifications are just a model…not a law. Each manufacturer has tweaked it in order to create some proprietary advancement to give them a competitive advantage. Sometimes, those advances become the new spec. However, you need to know what is standard and how your equipment varies on that theme. What good is seeing the BPDU’s in a trace file if you don’t understand what they contain or how it relates to the problem at hand? Again, this may be looked at as a skill set issue but–expecting to solve critical problems with a packet-sniffer while not knowing this about your network is a mistake.

4) Uni-directional SPANs or Port Mirroring & Single-sided trace files.

Often the switch port used by a server you need to monitor is incapable of providing a bi-directional SPAN (Port Mirror). If so, you cannot get answers from such a trace as it will miss critical information. It can be an oversight by the Engineer doing the trace but sometimes it is simply not understood to be such a critical concern–and ignored. Either way, when you have a situation like this you need to bite the bullet and put in a Change Order to get it moved to a fully bi-directionally mirror-able port before any serious analysis can be done.

Here is a good example of why this is so. Picture a Client and a Server. The Server wants to end a specific TCP connection and keeps sending FIN’s. Yet, we never see the Client send back a FIN ACK. We do see other traffic between them and know that there is connectivity. So, here are the questions:

–Are the FINs not arriving at the Client–or–is the Client receiving them and appropriately sending back the FIN ACK–which are not getting back successfully?

—-If so, then it is most likely a network issue.

–Are the FINs arriving successfully–but being ignored by the Client?

—If so, then it is mostly likely a Server or OS or Data Center issue.

These questions can not be answered with a trace file that only sees one side of the conversation. Two traces, sychronized, are needed to determine the answer to these questions.

5) Incorrect filters–either Capture or Display

An important concept here is that filters add nothing–they only remove–they only filter out. When you say that you are “filtering for” what you mean is that you are “filtering out” everything else. This isn’t just semantics as understanding this perspective is critical to success.

Capture Filters:

Capture Filters are irreversible. If you filtered out something that you need to see–you just aren’t going to see it. There is no second chance without running the test again.

Capture Filters determine what is allowed in the Capture Buffer. If the data is there to see–great. If you filtered what you need out–you can’t change the filter after the fact. A very experienced Protocol Analyst may notice the problem by seeing anomalies that amount to the shadow of the missing data–but most will not be able to tell. And, of course, even if you can tell–you still have to re-test.

This might lead you to think that you should not use Capture Filters–and that is half true. If you don’t really need them–don’t use them. However, if you are drinking your packets out of the Fire Hydrant–you have no choice. Under those conditions the data will fill up your Capture Buffer is less than a single second.

Another point is that they should be consistent within a Test Design. If they vary too much, they will create false differences that can easily lead the Network and Application Performance Analyst or Protocol Analyst astray.

Monitor Filters:

Monitor Filters are forgiving. They work the same way–in that they filter out, not in. However, you can change your mind. The data is in the can (trace file) and it is only a matter of changing the filter to see what was filtered out the last time. Many times I am stumped and then have an idea–go back and change my Capture Filters–and bam! There is the answer. The point is–incorrect Monitor Filters will just as easily lead you astray–but you still have the opportunity to find your way back since the data is still there.

Again, this might leave you thinking to avoid Monitor Filters. Don’t even consider it. Removing irrelevant packets is required to properly measure distinct conversations and search for anomalies. In fact, understanding proper filtering is what using the packet-sniffer software is all about.

6) Lack of understanding the Packet-Sniffer’s CURRENT settings

Monday, you created a Capture Filter and left it as the default. Friday you need to capture a trace file and click on Capture. Various people perform their roles in the test and you save the trace file. Everyone goes home, back to their main job function or to bed. Then you look at it and discover that you didn’t realize that the old Capture Filter was still in effect! Why? You altered the Default Capture File instead of creating a new one. Your Trace File is useless.

Always remember to review ALL settings before beginning a test. Additionally, run a practice test to make sure all filters and setting are as they should be.

Sometimes the error you discover is that you were given an incorrect IP address and that you never would find what you are looking for from the IP address from which you are capturing packets. That is a GOOD finding. It means someone’s diagram is incorrect. It also means you prevented a useless round of testing.

7) Lack of test controls.

Like any proper experiment, a performance or application test requires a control group and controlled data for all groups. If it was a pharmaceutical test you might have a group with a placebo. In our field we need to create a “BESTline” first. A “Bestline” is not a baseline.

Here is an example.

You have a Client in Singapore and a Server in New York City. The client is Singapore takes 40 milliseconds to execute a transaction and European clients only need 30 milliseconds. Singapore, although farther away, has a faster connection and is expected to get it done in the same time as Europe. What now? Take a BESTline. Use a client in New York City running the same transaction in the same way on similar equipment on the same server as the other two tests. You may discover that it still takes 25 milliseconds! This may due to various issues in the Data Center, Server or PC itself, 25 milliseconds is the fastest it goes!

This means that the first 25 milliseconds have nothing to do with the transport distance or speed. It DOESN’T mean that you have to accept those 25 milliseconds. There is a great deal that can be done about it. However, it is not the network and you now know you have to focus on the Server, PC, Data Center and other components.

Such controls are easy to do–yet seldom done. That common error results in many false leads and false errors as well as lost time and money.

There are many more common mistakes……but they are the topic of different articles on http://www.InterpathTech.com.