| Written by Alek Patsouris | | Jul 27, 2008 at 04:15 AM | Some frequent visitors to The Attic Network may have noticed we were offline for about 24 hours.
This was due to the excessive amount of traffic to The Attic Network, we suffered some hardware malfunction, and our host, RHWebhosting, was quick to upgrade us to a brand new server!
During this downtime we also took the chance to redevelop some of the code on The Attic Network, to make the pages quicker to load and decrease the bandwidth usage of you the viewer.
We also take this chance to apologize for any inconvenience to you, and in future we hope to an announce when maintenance will occur. | | Last Updated ( Jul 27, 2008 at 04:16 AM ) |
| | The Attic Network: Innovative thinking to make the hard things simple. |
| Written by The Attic Network Developers | | Jul 15, 2008 at 10:53 AM | Being online and connected ourselves, we have faced the same problems that you have, which is why we aim to make the hard things simple. In the past year, we've been very busy, working on not only our flagship service, Project Dakota, but a collection of other projects - many of which we use ourselves. With over 20 years of IT experience between the core staff, and nearly 40 years overall, we've put our heads together over the last year to produce our new services, which we are now very proud to share with you. Some of the services have been in the alpha or beta stage since March, and the feedback offered has helped those services become more robust and stable.
Instant Messaging: More Than Just Text
The developers, in multiple time zones, often find it hard to sit down together and share ideas, but when we do, we use Instant Messaging applications. We feel the IM services currently on offer have much greater potential than simple text based chat. So The Attic Network is throwing its hat in the ring and we are walking the walk by developing services to integrate with existing IM applications that will make your life easier.
With our staff being subject to the tyranny of distance, across multiple time zones, we started looking at ways to keep us all up to date. We first tried a conventional RSS reader, but it was too slow for our liking. Someone then asked "why not deliver them over IM?" This set us looking for a way to hook in to MSN Messenger.
It's Instant Messaging, Jim, But Not As We Know It
Trying to hook directly into the client itself failed in one way, but taught us enough about how to do it right. One of our developers created an interface and trialled it on two of their favourite RSS feeds. It didn't take long for us to realise other people might also be interested - thus http://im.theatticnetwork.net was born.
We have since added further IM services:
* Reminders (Remembering special times with that special someone
* Mailing lists (Keep up to date with your mailing lists ? real handy when you're not at home and your saved email is)
* Block Checking (Find out why that person went offline mid conversation)
All these services are offered free at http://www.im.theatticnetwork.net where you can sign up and change your service selection.
Backup: All SQL, All The Time
The Attic Network knows and understands that databases can hold the most important information in your company and thus are quite valuable. Having backups can mean saving hundreds of hours of work, your job, a major contract or even your business.
In light of that, The Attic Network has developed a service simply called Backup. Backup is designed to backup your MySQL databases to the FTP server you choose. What's more costly? Your time and effort keeping your databases backed up, or having to rebuild your crucial databases from the ground up?.
We've currently only tested Backup with MySQL databases ? on our own databases between our own offices - but we're working on other SQL engines. Sign up for free at http://www.backup.theatticnetwork.net and start securing your data today.
Do You Know What Your Server Did Last Night?
To work alongside Backup, The Attic Network has added server monitoring. We are proud to release Server-Up. Monitoring your servers for uptime, free space, bandwidth usage and vital stats, to name three, in real time, with summaries and alerts over IM, has never been easier.
We are also extending the old uptime competition to other metrics, where you can compete with friends or rival companies for who has the best, for example, uptime or response time! Sign up at http://www.server-up.theatticnetwork.net to start monitoring your servers today.
Project Dakota: Easy Updates For All
With bugs squashed, suggestions implemented and now a Windows Server 2003 version available, Project Dakota is still the easiest way to apply bulk updates to a late model Microsoft Windows XP or Server 2003 computer. We have had a few legal issues over the last few months leading up to this release, but we have come out on top and are still developing, stronger than ever.
The new version includes an auto-update module to get the latest updates right before running - our users clamoured for this and we have delivered. As an added bonus, we will be releasing more frequently. With the auto-login issues fixed, log in yourself or let the new and improved Project Dakota do the driving, the choice is yours.
Project Dakota now comes in two packages
* Self extracting archive ? perfect for flash drives!
* The humble DVD image ? we tried our best, but Dakota has outgrown a single CD.
Project Dakota for Windows XP comes as:
* Full. Bells, whistles, kitchen sink, but Windows XP Service Pack 2, not 3.
* Lite: Bells, whistles, but no service packs. The one for you if you have Service Pack 2 installed and don't want or see a need to upgrade to SP3.
* SP3. As the Full version, but with Windows XP Service Pack 3. Requires at least Windows XP Service Pack 1 installed.
Thanks to near-overwhelming popular demand, we are proud to introduce Project Dakota for Windows Server 2003. Our users demanded Project Dakota for Server 2003 with Server 2003 Service Pack 2 ahead of Project Dakota for Vista, and again, we deliver. Three solid months testing didn't manage to turn up any problems. The 64-bit edition is under development, with its 32 bit partner currently available.
Other versions of Dakota for Microsoft Windows versions since Windows 2000 are entering development, and our goal remains the same: Make Project Dakota the easiest, and simplest, way to bulk update a Windows NT-based computer, in the order Microsoft specifies.
The new version of Project Dakota has so many improvements made that we are not offering a transitional version. Download Project Dakota now at http://www.projectdakota.net to bring your systems up to date today.
But Wait, There's More!
We are always developing new projects and services. You can check out the latest beta test versions, upcoming projects, and make suggestions at our projects homepage, http://www.node3.theatticnetwork.net
As always you can obtain help or chat about any of the services offered by The Attic Network on our forums at http://www.forums.theatticnetwork.net
The Attic Network is proudly hosted by RHWebhosting - Globalizing Small Business http://www.rhwebhosting.com | | Last Updated ( Jul 27, 2008 at 04:17 AM ) | | Read more... |
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