Remote Computer Support Solution

It is becoming very difficult for small business owners to run in this tough economic conditions because they want to expand their operations but they don,t have money for this , in such situations the cheap products are very popular for example bomgar remote support tool through this two computers can be connected through internet.

The study, conducted by Rasmussen Reports, LLC for Discover(R) Small Business Watch(SM), and published this week, showed slight improvement in the small business outlook compared to September. Nevertheless, 74% of small business owners still think the U.S. economy is on the decline.

While most are managing to survive -- only 23% have had to borrow to cover basic expenses -- 55% have suffered a loss of income over the last month.

Bomgar's appliance-based remote support solution opens the door to several avenues that may help the situation.

In addition to providing secure remote access to customers' computers and virtually eliminating the need for on-site visits, companies who deploy Bomgar's help desk support solutions can realize a reduction in total call times of up to 90%, a similar reduction in second tier escalation and a 20-85% increase in first call resolution. This improves customer satisfaction significantly while enabling the company to handle increased traffic without the need to increase staff.

With Bomgar's remote support solution, small businesses can also ensure business continuity for executives and sales people on the road so they have ready access to anything needed to close a deal or provide information for potential new customers. Bomgar can even help virtualize the office -- including remote tech support agents -- to lower the costs for premises, utilities and so on.

With Bomgar's unique licensing model, companies can also realize a savings of up to 60% over the cost of competitor solutions.

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Soulution: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Remote-Support-Solution-Gives-Small/story.aspx?guid={D2E390E1-A8BA-4FA4-A143-EF64535E76A1}

Remote Control: NASA works to repair Hubble's failed computer

NASA scientists and engineers have been working since Tuesday night to fix a computer failure on board the Hubble Space Telescope that hobbled the instrument and derailed a shuttle mission.

A spokesman for NASA said today that scientists worked overnight to switch the telescope's failed data formatter and control unit over to an onboard redundant system. He added that they expect to find out later today whether the computer support canada switchover and reboot was a success.

Late last month, the space agency announced that the computer failure was preventing data from being sent to Earth. Michael Moore, a program executive for the Hubble Space Telescope, has said in a previous interview that the computer problem is the worst the Hubble has suffered since it went into orbit more than 18 years ago.

This is the first Hubble computer malfunction that has required the installation of a replacement system. "There's nothing young in the system," said Moore.

The Science Data Formatter is designed to take information from five onboard instruments, format it into data packets, put a header on it and then send it to Earth at speeds of up to 1Mbit/sec. Without this computer, Hubble can't take on long-planned research projects.

NASA scientists are now working to switch the Hubble over to onboard redundant systems to resume services until the space shuttle arrives with another system, which then will act as the new backup. NASA postponed the space shuttle's planned October repair mission in order to get the replacement computer system ready.

As of now, John Shannon, shuttle program manager at the Johnson Space Center, said the flight will likely be rescheduled for next February or April.

According to Moore, remotely switching over to the redundant systems should take about 10 hours. The switchover will involve shutting the telescope down then commanding it to come back up running on another set of boxes.

Ed Weiler, the associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, had noted in a previous interview that the switchover and subsequent installation of new redundant systems should add another five to 10 years to the Hubble's life. "Hubble has a habit of coming back from adversity, and the Hubble team, which includes the Shuttle team, works miracles. And you know, I am not too concerned about this," said Weiler. "We will find a way to get this fixed."

source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9117259&intsrc=news_ts_head

8,000 support staff members to help teachers maintain computers

KUALA TERENGGANU: IN AN effort to help teachers focus on their jobs, 8,000 support staff members will be placed in schools to maintain their computers.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail said the staff would be sent to about 10,000 primary and secondary schools in computer support canada laboratories nationwide.

“The Public Service Department has approved the appointment of the support staff and they will commence their duties during the schooling session early next year,” he told reporters after the Puteri Umno Kuala Terengganu Divison meeting here, recently.

He said the ministry had set up computer laboratories in schools without taking maintenance into account until it became a burden to the teachers.

Now, with the support staff, teachers would be able to give their full attention to teaching, he added.

Razali said the support staff would contribute in reducing the cost of computer maintenance because previously the schools had to use the services of private companies. “The support staff will comprise those with qualifications from polytechnics and skills training institutions, who will help to maintain the computers at no extra cost.”

In another development, he said they were also studying the problem of teachers not being able to focus on teaching because they had to handle clerical work as well.

“The ministry will ask the Public Service Department to approve more support staff, especially clerks, so that teachers will no longer have to do clerical work,” he said. - BERNAMA

source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/10/14/southneast/2258414&sec=southneast

New product helps you assist other computer users from afar

Trying to help a less-knowledgeable friend or family member solve remote computer problems can be very frustrating -- especially if you cannot sit with him or her in front of the PC. It can be slow and awkward merely explaining the steps you would like the other person to perform to diagnose and solve the problem.

The best approach is to control the distant computer remotely -- with the owner's consent -- during the problem-solving session. That way, you can directly manipulate the machine while explaining what you are doing over the phone.

There are a variety of services and software that allow such remote control. Tools for doing so are even preinstalled in obscure corners of the Windows and Macintosh operating systems. But many are too complicated for average users -- even those with enough knowledge to help solve common problems. Others cost money, or require you to establish an account with a service, or are aimed mainly at folks seeking unattended access to their own remote computers.

This week, I tested a remote-control product designed specifically for collaborative help sessions solicited by the person seeking help. It is free, simple and can be used without setting up an account. And it also has an added dimension: If you have a problem and lack a tech-savvy friend or relative who can help, the company that makes the software maintains a directory of thousands of geeks who can help you, usually for a fee.

The product is called CrossLoop and can be downloaded at crossloop.com. It currently works only with Windows computers, but the company plans to release a Macintosh version in a few months.

To use CrossLoop, both you and the person you are helping must download and install the free program, a quick and simple process. When you run the program, you are invited to create a free account, which allows you to track your sessions and rate people who help you. But there is a clearly marked Skip button that permits you to use the program with all of its features even without an account.

The software has a very clear, simple interface. It consists of two large tabbed sections: a gray one labeled Share for the person whose machine is to be operated remotely, and a green one labeled Access for the remote operator, called the "helper" by the company.

For security reasons, CrossLoop doesn't allow its users to gain control of unattended machines. The process must begin with a person at the remote machine clicking the Share tab. That click generates an access code that is different for each remote session. The person seeking help then gives that code, usually over the phone, to the helper. The helper then clicks on the Access tab on his or her PC, and types in the code. The person on the other end must confirm that he or she wants to go ahead. Only then is the connection opened.

Once this process is complete, the helper sees a large window replicating the desktop of the remotely controlled machine, and can control that PC using his or her own mouse and keyboard. The helper can even transfer files to the remote machine.

On the other end, the person being helped can be passive or can share control of the computer. At any time, the person being helped can disconnect the session or limit the helper to just viewing the screen rather than controlling it.

The company says that it keeps no record of any of the sessions and that its software encrypts all communication between the two computers involved.

I tested CrossLoop in two scenarios. In one, I used it to help my friend Alan configure his new copy of Microsoft Office to save files in the older Office formats. The remote-control session worked fine, although Alan's Internet connection was so slow that there were long delays in seeing changes occur on his screen.

In the second scenario, I hired one of CrossLoop's listed consultants for $25 to clean up a Sony laptop I own that was running sluggishly. He spent over an hour deleting needless programs and removing others that were unnecessarily set to launch automatically. He carefully consulted me by phone to make sure he was not cutting anything I needed or wanted. Again, I considered the session a success.

The only problem I saw in my tests was that when helping someone with a Vista machine, you may have to temporarily disable a security-warning feature called User Account Control, which pops up frequently and cuts off the connection.

CrossLoop eventually hopes to make money by charging the paid consultants in its network a fee. But it does not guarantee that they are effective or honest, and merely relies on the ratings of others who have used them. It is theoretically possible for such a person to steal your data or plant malware on your computer.

Source: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080929/ARTICLE/809290302/2413/BUSINESS?Title=New_product_helps_you_assist_other_computer_users_from_afar