Recently we had the opportunity to setup a Multipoint server for a new business. This was an exciting case study to see how we could put great new technology into a small business and help them get off to a great start. I hope to answer a few questions for my colleagues and others who might be considering Multipoint.
It sounds more complex than it really is – You can set this up, even if you have very little experience.
Your first consideration needs to be about hardware. There are preconfigured models available from HP for the tower but I found that you can start with a configuration that you might select for a “power user” and max out the ram to 6 or 8gb. Next you need to think about how the stations will connect to the tower. If you are looking to minimize hardware purchases and the workstations can be physically close to each other, just select the direct connect method and put in multihead video cards. That way, each station will directly connect via monitor, keyboard and mouse right to the back of the tower. Your limitations become simply the length of the video cable and a maximum of 15 feet for the USB hub. Each “station” has a keyboard, mouse and monitor. The server knows which monitor is which when you plug in the usb hub. It’s really that easy.
Do not select Multipoint server to save money on initial hardware purchase
We find that customers are saying they could have bought 4 individual “cheap” computers for the cost of the initial setup. This is true. The cost savings of Multipoint server are not to be found in the initial setup, rather its in the maintenance and repair of just one physical box rather than 4. Additionally, 4 users can really wreak havok with viruses and downloads. When we put those same users on a Multipoint server, they have no administrative rights and we can really lock down the environment. If you really need to save, think about the model where you re-purpose old hardware.
Licensing
If you have access to distribution, it is very easy to order the volume licenses, for example, we literally called Ingram Micro and ordered 1 copy of Multipoint server for $330 and 4 CALS at $110 a piece. Your prices may vary, and can be significantly cheaper if it’s for academic or charity.
Multipoint server should be thought of as a way to deliver the Windows 7 desktop experience to multiple users (up to 10 in fact on the standard edition) with just one physical box. Amazing opportunities to deliver Windows 7 to a business who could not previously consider it. In fact, if they have old hardware, you can simply RDP into the server thereby re-purposing those old XP boxes.
Here at ÜberGeekGirl, we are incredibly fond of our clients in the music business. We constantly have a soundtrack to our work varying between Frank Sinatra all the way to Audioslave and Florence+ the Machine. Today I wanted to introduce you to the incredible history and talents of Mr. Joe Smith, author of Off The Record and retired CEO of Capitol Records. In the past 6 years, we’ve had the pleasure of working with Mr. Smith and his family as they are big fans of the latest technology. When I first met Joe, he was still on AOL and had a pretty crusty Sony Vaio that was badly in need of some TLC. Once that crisis was solved, Joe decided to give Apple a try and he’s been very happy with his iMac and Macbook Pro. Along the way, he’s now converted to the iPad and iPhone. For keeping all of his devices in sync, Joe is setup on hosted exchange from Lanlogic, and all of his information stays perfectly in sync. It’s an honor to be of service to such an industry legend.
Here’s a few Youtube clips of Joe talking about the Grateful Dead and Mickey Hart:
We just finished setting up a network printer in a car! One of our clients is a busy executive that spends a lot of time in the car during a regular work-day. His assistant needed a way to get hard-copies of documents to him while he was away from the office, so we came up with a plan to make this possible using some cool technology.
The printer we chose was an HP ENVY 100 because it had two features we needed: built-in WiFi for networking and it’s ePrint-enabled, so print jobs can be emailed directly to the printer. To allow remote printing on-the-go, we used an Autonet Mobile modem to turn the car into a rolling WiFi hotspot. Autonet Mobile specializes in 3G modems that are designed to be installed in your car; they’re being factory-installed by GM, Chrysler, Subaru, Volkswagen, and other manufacturers. The CarFi modem that we used includes a docking station that allows the modem to be transferred between different vehicles.
The printer is powered by an inverter hidden in the trunk and as soon as the car starts, the printer and modem both come online automatically. The modem connects to the internet via a 3G data network the same as many cellular providers use; it then creates a WiFi network that the printer automatically recognizes and connects to. Once connected, documents can be emailed directly to the printer from anywhere and from any device. HP also provides an ePrint Center that allows the printer and print jobs to be monitored in real time from a web browser. These two devices work beautifully in conjunction.
The entire solution can be purchased on Amazon and installed in just a few days. Click to see the items you’ll need. “>
Today a client called me in a panic. She had inadvertently removed the category from several hundred contacts. Of course this couldn’t have happened at a more inopportune moment – she was preparing an important mailing about a very important event!
She asked if her Crashplan backup would save her. Unfortunately, the answer was no. Crashplan and other services only backup data such as Microsoft Word documents and photos. Categories in Outlook are a funny thing, there is no easy way to back them up. Next she wondered if her hosted exchange provider could restore her Outlook. Sadly, again the answer was no. Most hosted exchange providers do not provide brick level, individual mailbox restores. They really should offer it, IMHO (even as an optional upgrade, if not a standard feature).
I sat with this for a minute and an idea came to me. What if I could sort the contacts by category, then use the Field Chooser to find a “recently modified” field and then add it to the Outlook column bar? I discovered the “modified” field in the “All Appointments” drop down. Now she could sort by that field, and quickly identify the 130 some odd contacts for whom she had removed the category! It didn’t take long for her to add back the missing information so she could take care of the important mailing.
Going the extra mile and getting creative when many consultants would have said tough luck really made all the difference in the world for this client.
I have a client who has been happily using hosted exchange for several years now. I configured his assistant’s computers to access his calendar and contacts. His Blackberry is wirelessly synced using BES so any entries his assistant makes are immediately available on his device. Recently this client took a high level city position. With less than a day’s notice, we needed to find a way to get his contacts over to the city, but stripped of confidential information.
Recently we had the opportunity to setup a Multipoint server for a new business. This was an exciting case study to see how we could put great new technology into a small business and help them get off to a great start. I hope to answer a few questions for my colleagues and others who might be considering Multipoint.
Here at ÜberGeekGirl, we are incredibly fond of our clients in the music business. We constantly have a soundtrack to our work varying between Frank Sinatra all the way to Audioslave and Florence+ the Machine. Today I wanted to introduce you to the incredible history and talents of Mr. Joe Smith, author of 
ot. Autonet Mobile specializes in 3G modems that are designed to be installed in your car; they’re being factory-installed by GM, Chrysler, Subaru, Volkswagen, and other manufacturers. The CarFi modem that we used includes a docking station that allows the modem to be transferred between different vehicles.
