CiscoRefurb

Are your PC group policies not being applied correctly?

Cisco Refurb — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:34:56 +0000

When Group Policy objects don’t apply on a PC that running Gigabit network adapters – theres a problem! If you receive “Event ID: 1054 – Windows cannot obtain the domain controller name for your computer network” and “Event ID: 1000 – Could not execute the following script” then this can be caused by a Window based computer with a Gigabit NIC.

When you see those errors, here is what’s really happening “behind the scenes”. Basically the link status of the NIC fluctuates as the driver initializes, and the NIC then negotiates a link with the network. However before the link is negotiated, the group policy application stack executes and subsequently fails because there is not a valid link. A workaround is to disable media sensing!

To prevent your network adapter from detecting the link state:

1. Open Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe)

2. Go to the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

3. Add the following registry value:

Value Name: DisableDHCPMediaSense

Data Type: REG_DWORD -Boolean

Value: 1 (True/disabled)

And you’re done! That should be all you need to solve the problem so you won’t have the same issue popping up on you again to deal with later!

Written By: ‘Grandpa Grumps’ @ Halski Systems, Gainesville GA

Do your apps eat up your smartphone battery?

Cisco Refurb — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:01:04 +0000

Are you struggling to make your smartphone battery last for an entire day? Paying for your apps might help. Up to 75% of the energy used by free versions of Android apps is spent sending ads or tracking and uploading user data. Therefore running just one app could drain your battery in around 90 minutes!

Abhinav Pathak, a computer scientist at Purdue University, Indiana, and colleagues made the discovery after developing software to analyze an apps’ energy usage. When they looked at popular apps such as Angry Birds, Free Chess, and NYTimes they found that only 10 to 30% of the energy was spent powering the app’s core function.

For example, in Angry Birds only 20% is used to display and run the game, while a whopping 45% is spent finding and uploading the user’s location with GPS then downloading location-appropriate ads over a 3G connection. The 3G connection stays open for around 10 seconds, even if data transmission is complete, and this “tail energy” consumes another 28% of the app’s energy. Pathak blames the energy leakage on inefficiencies in the third-party code that developers use to generate profit on free apps. He will present the research at the EuroSys conference in Bern, Switzerland, next month.

Written by: ‘trout fishermen’ @ Halski Systems, Gainesville GA

Testing 911 with VOIP

Cisco Refurb — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:05:46 +0000

An important step when setting up a VOIP is testing emergency service numbers. The ramifications of a misconfigured system during an emergency could be unthinkable. But how does one test 911 without summoning the police, or tying up a line that might be needed for a true emergency?

The first step is finding your local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/services/911-services/enhanced911/psapregistry.html

These sites will have a non-emergency number that you can call to let them know that you intend to test your system. If they are too busy at the moment, they can recommend a time of day to plan for a test call.

When you do call 911 (deliberately or accidently) DO NOT hang up; the police will always respond to a dropped 911 call. Annoyed police officers may also give citations to businesses that accidently and repeatedly call 911…

Be safe!

Written By: “Splashypants” @ Halski Systems in Gainesville, GA

Cisco Aironet 1131AG – wireless access point

Cisco Refurb — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:32:10 +0000

Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series IEEE 802.11a/b/g access points provide high-capacity, high-security, enterprise-class features in an unobtrusive, office-class design, delivering WLAN access with the lowest total cost of ownership. With high-performing dual IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g radios, the Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series provides a combined capacity of up to 108 Mbps to meet the needs of growing WLANs. Hardware-assisted Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) or temporal key integrity protocol (TKIP) encryption provides uncompromised support for interoperable IEEE 802.11i, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) or WPA security. The Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series uses radio and network management features for simplified deployment, along with built-in omnidirectional antennas that provide robust and predictable WLAN coverage for offices and similar RF environments. The competitively priced Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series is ready to install and easy to manage, reducing the cost of deployment and ongoing maintenance. The Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series is available in two versions: unified or autonomous. Unified access points operate with the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP) and work in conjunction with Cisco wireless LAN controllers and the Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS). When configured with LWAPP, the Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series can automatically detect the best-available Cisco wireless LAN controller and download appropriate policies and configuration information with no manual intervention. Autonomous access points are based on Cisco IOS Software and may optionally operate with the CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE). Autonomous access points, along with the CiscoWorks WLSE, deliver a core set of features and may be field-upgraded to take advantage of the full benefits of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network as requirements evolve. The Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series delivers optimal value for offices and similar environments. Built-in antennas provide omnidirectional coverage specifically designed for today’s open workspaces. A multipurpose mounting bracket easily secures Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series access points to ceilings and walls. With an unobtrusive design, Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series access points are aesthetically pleasing and blend into their environments. For maximum concealment, the access point may be placed above ceilings or suspended ceilings. The UL 2043 rating of the Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series allows the access point to be placed above ceilings in plenum areas regulated by municipal fire codes. Offered at a competitive price, and optimized for easy installation and operation, the Cisco Aironet 1130AG Series helps organizations attain a lower total cost of ownership.

Cisco ASA 5510 Security Plus Firewall Edition – security appliance

Cisco Refurb — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:20:17 +0000

The Cisco ASA 5510 Adaptive Security Appliance delivers a wealth of advanced security and networking services for small-to-medium businesses and enterprise remote/branch offices in an easy-to-deploy, cost-effective appliance. These services can be easily managed and monitored by the integrated, Web-based management application, Cisco Adaptive Security Device Manager, thus reducing the overall deployment and operations costs associated with providing this high level of security. The Cisco ASA 5510 Adaptive Security Appliance provides high performance firewall and VPN services, three integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet interfaces, and optional high-performance intrusion prevention and anti-x services via a Security Services Module making it an excellent choice for businesses requiring a cost-effective, extensible, DMZ-enabled security solution. As business needs grow, the Cisco ASA 5510 Adaptive Security Appliance can also scale to higher interface density and integrate into switched network environments through VLAN support by installing a Security Plus upgrade license. Furthermore, this upgrade license maximizes business continuity by enabling Active/Standby high availability services and expands VPN capacity by supporting a greater number of concurrent VPN connections for mobile users, remote sites, and business partners.

Cisco ASA 5505 Firewall Edition Bundle – security appliance

Cisco Refurb — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:17:01 +0000

Cisco ASA 5500 Series adaptive security appliances are purpose-built solutions that combine best-of-breed security and VPN services with the innovative Cisco Adaptive Identification and Mitigation (AIM) architecture. Designed as a core component of the Cisco Self-Defending Network, the Cisco ASA 5500 Series provides proactive threat defense that stops attacks before they spread through the network, controls network activity and application traffic, and delivers flexible VPN connectivity. The result is a powerful multifunction network security appliance family that provides the security breadth and depth for protecting home office, branch office, small and medium-sized business, and enterprise networks while reducing the overall deployment and operations costs and complexities associated with providing this new level of security.

Group policy not applying?

Cisco Refurb — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:40:22 +0000

You ever have issues with your ‘Group Policy Objects’ not being applied on PC that’s running Gigabit network adapters? I may be able to help!

First of all you need to know how to detect it to know if this will solve your problem or not. If you receive the following errors “Event ID: 1054 – Windows cannot obtain the domain controller name for your computer network….” and/or ”Event ID: 1000 – Could not execute the following script…” then this information may be helpful to you!

Those errors are usually caused by Windows based computers with a Gigabit NIC. What’s happening is basically the link status of the NIC fluctuates as the driver initializes and the NIC negotiates a link with the network. Before the link is negotiated the group policy application stack executes and fails because there is not a valid link. To work around this you need to disable the media sensing.

To prevent your network adapter from detecting the link state:

1. Open Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

2. Go to the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters

3. Add the following registry value:

Value Name: DisableDHCPMediaSense

Data Type: REG_DWORD -Boolean

Value: 1 (True/disabled)

That should correct the issue right away for you!

Written by: ‘Grandpa Grumps’ @ Halski Systems in Gainesville, GA

NumLock at Logon Prompt for Windows XP

Cisco Refurb — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:20:21 +0000

There are multiple user issues that are present to IT personnel on a daily basis when working in an enterprise environment. Sometimes the smallest issues will slow down production and cause delay in work flows.

One such issue is the numlock key not being enabled through Windows XP at the logon prompt. Once a user logs into Windows, and they turn on their numeric pad, this writes a value to the registry through the HKEY_CurrentUser string. However before a user logs on to Windows the numeric pad is disabled by default.

To change this on a computer that has multiple users that log on to the machine throughout the day is to access the Registry Editor and edit “HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard\InitialKeyboardIndicators” from 0 to 2. This will allow the user to use the numeric pad to enter numbers that are in their username and/or passwords.

If multiple machines need this change it would be beneficial to add this change to the company’s Default Domain Group Policy.

Written By: “JFlan” @ Halski Systems in Gainesville, GA

2011 Rotary of Gainesville

Cisco Refurb — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:39:26 +0000

Halski participated in the Gainesville Rotary for the first time in 2011, and so excited to see how many great things they accomplished! We are looking forward to another great year with them in 2012!

http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?accountid=3145

NEWS: Microsoft will do a “silent” update for Internet Explorer

Cisco Refurb — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:47:09 +0000

“Microsoft announced that in 2012 Internet Explorer will be updated “silently” to its newest possible version. This new silent update will eliminate the pop-up window that currently allows users to opt-out or postpone the update…”

This is a good reason why you should have your Windows Server Update Services in an environment where you are tied to a particular version of Internet Explorer for compatibility reasons!

For more information on the update, go to: http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=12114

Written/Submitted by: “CO” @ Halski Systems in Gainesville, GA