Alexander John

Thoughts, notes & the occasional opinion.

Author: Alexander John (Page 6 of 6)

I am an IT Professional and Web Developer living and working in the United Kingdom. I describe myself as an IT generalist as I have worked in a wide variety of IT and web fields and technologies. Whilst I am Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), I utilise a wide variety of technologies including Linux and Android in day-to-day work.

I am a founder and director of a SME orientated Web service company Calzada Media Limited where my daily workload varies from web development through to IT infrastructure management.

Repairing SBS Backups

12 July 2008 / / 0 Comments

In virtually all Small Business Server instances I have worked with, the chosen method of backup has invariably been that of the included SBS backup functionality. This isn’t a standalone backup system, but rather a control mechanism that utilises NTBackup to create the actual backups.

Invariably, this backup method does start to misbehave after time. Whilst some problems are easy to resolve (insufficient space on the backup media for example), there are some problems that do not appear to be easily resolved. When this happens, I fall back onto a approach where that rebuild the backup configuration from scratch.

The basic are as follows:

  1. Turn off SBS Backup through Server Management
  2. Go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows Small Business Server\Backup and rename the backup script file Small Business Backup Script.bks
  3. Return to Server Management and re-configure the Backup

That’s it. The key part here is the renaming/removal of the Small Business Backup Script.bks file. This contains the configuration data for the SBS backup, and is not removed when the SBS backup is disabled.

CBS Buys CNET

28 May 2008 / / 0 Comments

CNET, one of my favourite ports of call for tech news, is going to be acquired by the US broadcasting network CBS. I’m a little cautious about the deal, and from some of the comments posted on CNET’s site, I would appear not to be alone.

Leaving to one side the perceived outcomes of such a deal, its’ very existence is indicative of something that was inevitable: the merging of the traditional broadcast networks with the new Internet based media. The resultant organisation can then leverage their resources to deliver fully integrated media solutions. In the UK, we already have such an organisation in the BBC. Although it is limited by its’ public service remit, the BBC is a model of what can be done when the capabilities of the Internet are coupled with the power of the broadcast industry. You only have to look at the success of the BBC iPlayer and the BBC News website to see what is possible.

By acquiring CNET, CBS gains access to a whole new market along with a vastly expanded potential customer base. CNET’s sites are not limited to purely tech matters, but encompasses a whole range of other services. Whilst CNET is not the only one of its’ kind, but it is probably one of the best known. Its’ acquisition will probably not the last as the market inevitably begins to consolidate. Whether the resulting problem is better or worse, quite simply on the future will tell.

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