IronLogix Happenings

Brown-outs versus Black-outs

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:14:00 -0400

So, I'm sitting in my office with half the lights on. By choice, my computer is off and so are my servers. Why? Because a brown-out is much worse than a black-out.

Okay, so now you are wondering what the heck is the difference between a brown-out and black-out? A black-out is a complete loss of power which almost everyone has experienced at some time or other. A brown-out is simply a partial loss of power to your site. While some of the lights may be on, others may not and worse, the same thing may be happening with the wall outlets that power up your electronics.

Your PC works sure, but there is no telling how the electrical folks wired your circuits. Partial power to your building may mean that some outlets are getting the full 120 volts in which you are okay to work if the servers are also fully powered (probably not). It may also mean those outlets are getting half of that voltage. If that is the case, your PC or server may be seriously damaged if you continually operate them in that state.

Each machine has a power supply that is responsible for delivering the proper amount of power to the electrical components within the computer. Those components are extremely sensitive and could be damaged with partial power.

Now, in most cases you will be okay and so will your machines but why risk it - just shut every PC and server down until the situation clears. Break out the Twister, have some fun, do some "spring cleaning" or something else productive while the systems are down. There isn't much you can do to make the power come back so make the most of it and play it safe with your systems. It's better to go without for a few hours than to be down a few days when a PC or server needs to be repaired.

Congress: Take your own medicine!

Thu, 13 May 2010 08:37:00 -0400

Just about everyone has heard about the congressional hearings involving Goldman Sachs and what is now being called "The Great Recession". Yes, I actually did watch some of the testimony and one thing certainly caught my eye - the size of those binders with all the relative documentation was astounding.

Now, I know what you are probably thinking: of all the things to focus on, this is what I pick? Well, I am sure that the substance of the hearings will be written about ad-nauseum so hang in there with me because there is a message in my madness.

For those of you that aren't familiar with the 2009 bill, ARRA set forth a major initiative to "digitize" our healthcare system. While I won't go into all the why's and how's, one of the major reasons behind the push was cost savings and broad access to information. Maybe I am just a bit sensitive to the subject, but when I looked at those five inch binders, it struck a nerve.

During those exhaustive hearings, Goldman Sachs officers all utilized a particular stalling tactic of requiring extra time to find pages referenced in the hearings. Well played or not, the time spent actually paging through the binders was a complete waste of productivity which brings me to my actual point: I use dual screens in my office and it has resulted in a substantial increase in productivity - isn't it time congress did the same?

Why not bring up the articles needed on some kind of large video screen with corresponding monitors on the desks of the panel members and those giving testimony? How much does it cost taxpayers to print, assemble, and disseminate those documents? Taking this further, how often have you seen members of the house and senate holding up their copy of thousand page bills? Our legislative system is inundated by paper - everything is printed. I can tell you that I have seen pallets stacked with budgets, legislation and supporting documentation all brought in to the capital building via forklift.

If it is good enough for our legislators to mandate it in healthcare, it is good enough for them to adopt as well and "go digital" with their documents. It's a fact: cutting print means saving time, energy, and real money.

I know that it will be more challenging for our media-hungry legislators to dramatize their outrage when they can't hold up thousands of pages and cry foul, but I am sure they will figure something else out to drive their various points home. Since they seem to be so keen on reducing everyone else's carbon footprint and creating green jobs for our economy, how about starting in your own house and doing the same? It's called leading by example.

Wait, what happened to ASI?

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:23:00 -0400

No military coup, no fights or bad blood - not even drama (well aside from the daily norm that is). The ASI gang is still a part of this company and vice-versa and those folks are still located right down the hall from us here in our building. In fact, making the checks out to ASI is still acceptable and acutally encouraged as it makes it more difficult on Shannon which, according to her, is why I have been put on the planet.

IronLogix is simply a rebranding of the IT Division of Accounting Systems, Inc. We all just felt that if we were going to continue to grow and meet new people, we should eliminate the confusion associated with "Accounting" not really being associated with Information Technology. Yes it has been several years but it wasn't until I tried playing word association with my 5-year old son, Colby, that it really sunk in. I would say Accounting Systems, or Information Technology, and he would respond "Huh?!? Dadda, what's that?" and that is when I knew we had to make a change.

So after much strife, we eventually chose a new name and IronLogix was born. For those of you hungry for a "struggle and rise from the ashes" type of story, I am sorry to let you down. However, in all seriousness, we are still the same bunch of dedicated people with the same goal: delivering the highest quality support and leveraging technology to make your life as easy as possible.

Do you guys have any fun?

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:08:00 -0400

Yes! When we arent doing IT work for our clients and actually have some downtime, we race! Click the title to see a picture of our current circuit champion Alex "El Presidente" Aranda on his El Diablo Special...