jinnantonnixx

For DR, assume you have nothing to work with. Ideally, on an isolated network, build a new server and restore the full system to that. You can do it all virtually, if you like, creating a virtual isolated network. Tune a SIMS client to the new server and check that it works. This way you will be able to prove that you can replace your SQL server with a slot-in replacement and still function with no tweaking (changing server names, instance names, connect.ini, Docstorage file structure, etc). For a casual test (to simulate data loss, rather than server loss), you can restore a SIMS backup to a new database (e.g. TESTSIMS) using your existing SQL instance. Change the client's connect.ini to point to the new test database. Because you've effectively changed the name of the database, you'll need to do a few things to get it to work. http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/94948-cannot-login-after-sims-sql-restore.html << read this, it covers a lot of good stuff Check you can log in, check it works. Now is the time to find problems, not when you're under pressure. Oh yes, and make proper, clear instructions. The last thing you want when you're under pressure is to forget vital steps and make mistakes. And print the notes. On paper. Not left on a computer that won't start up.

Great advice from @vikpaw. His last point is important - until you perform a test restore and check that your system works, all you have at the moment are 'alleged backups'. As Vik also mentions, some SIMS tools will ruin your backups if you use incremental/differential backups, as the tools change your recovery model without asking permission or warning you.

This shouldn't be necessary but... LRO Sees Apollo 15 Rover Tracks | Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute Unless there's evidence for a conspiracy, there's no reason to believe in a conspiracy.

Reheating the thread, but it's still very much on topic, so here goes. Knock on the door this morning, large parcel at the feet the postie. "What's this?" The postie says it was returned. A vintage computer I posted to an ebay buyer was returned this morning three weeks after sending it. I checked the tracking log and two attempts were made to deliver, on the third it was refused and returned to me. It wasn't opened, my packing tape is still in place. So, if I understand this, the buyer paid for a vintage computer, I sent it, he refuses it, I keep the money and the computer? Or have I overlooked something? Why on earth would somebody buy a very collectable bit of old tech and simply refuse delivery? This makes no sense at all.

Australia. Koalas aside, everything wants to kill you. If you have a moment, search Youtube for buff kangaroo. You'll thank me for it.

It's not possible. Just logging into SIMS reads pupil data (through the home page widgets). Complete, all-user table scans are done frequently for many tasks, even if the pupil data is not displayed on screen (e.g. aggregate stats) So, in a nutshell, the answer is no. In places like the DVLA, a screen deals with a single, individual record - there are no pages of records like in SIMS. At the DVLA, every record access/view is logged. It's a different situation entirely.

If you've used the object builder in Visual Studio (i.e. dragged in a DB from SQL Explorer), and the DB changes structure (*cough*) you'll have to edit the table definitions in the auto-generated code. That's the only catch I've found.

Useful cheet sheets http://download.damieng.com/dotnet/LINQToSQLCheatSheet.pdf (VB on page 2) LINQ Cheat Sheet - BradVin's .Net Blog Linq samples 101 LINQ Samples in C# http://aspnetresources.com/downloads/linq_standard_query_operators.pdf

Something here VLE

This is interesting. 927 People Own Half Of The Bitcoins - Business Insider

Oh another thing - check your DNS is up to scratch. Busy pages cause tons of DNS lookups and a struggling DNS server will really hamper things. Is Smoothwall configured to use the same DNS servers in the same order (if you have multiple DNS) -- A good test is Firebug for Firefox. This is excellent in showing you where the bottlenecks are (from the workstation point of view) and if you have DNS timeouts. https://getfirebug.com/network

The simple test is to reduce the buffer size on the switches and see what happens. I'm assuming this is possible, it's been a while since I was involved in hardware support. (More background) HP Blogs - What you need to know about data center switching ... - The HP Blog Hub

Bufferbloat could be a cause. In a nutshell it's caused by large switch memory buffers allowing high speed, filling up, then throttling the network to zero. Rinse and repeat. It's normal behaviour for the TCP protocol (i.e. drop packets and slow down transmissions), but when you have several segments the buffer problem can be noticeable. You'll see great download speeds, but terrible general browsing speeds. The criminal mastermind: bufferbloat! | jg's Ramblings As a check, are you able to bypass some network segments and plug in near the front of the firewall/cache? http://www.squidworks.net/2013/04/buffer-bloat-a-minis-to-the-tcp-protocol/

Don't use tables directly. We've seen recently how they can be reorganised and change with upgrades. Tables come and go, and change: If you base queries on tables expect to have the rug pulled from under your feet at any upgrade, Views, however, are a safer bet. A view is a kind of virtual table, which appers like a table but can be made up of one table, or many tables joined together. These tend to change infrequently, so are a much more stable way of looking at data. As an added bonus, SIMS have named the views sensibly (by and large) so you can get the gist of what they represent from their names. Be aware that there's a lot of obsolete junk in there too. Core Integrator tables, anyone?

I used Linq to SQL for a couple of projects a while back. It doesn't seem a popular method, though, but I quite liked the way it worked as it blended SQL with native code. Introduction to LINQ http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb385100%28v=vs.100%29.aspx ADO is the more usual way. How Do I Use the Connection Object in ADO?

Amazon Trebuchet Prime. Insurance claims are a nightmare though.

I'm convinced the problem is to do with indexes and statistics. The reindex patch doesn't update the stats. Hint to make marks run faster: att_mark_normalised could do with some more indexes to stop RID/bookmark lookups. e.g. create an NCI on att_mark_normalised (session_start) INCLUDE person_id, mark, session_number. I've noticed an improvement after running the following maintenance plan. Also, if you do this regularly the 100% fill factor is less of an issue. Try setting up a maintenance plan to rebuild (not reorganise) your indexes. Usual disclaimers, at your own risk and so on. If you're not confident with this procedure, do not proceed. Start SQL Management studio Expand 'Management' Right-click 'Maintenance Plans' Click 'Maintenance Plan Wizard' Name you plan something like 'Reindex SIMS'. On the same screen, click the 'Change' button next to Schedule Set a suitable schedule (Frequency should be daily, or weekly if you prefer, at a time that fits your setup - choose a quiet time at night.) On the next screen, Under 'Select Maintenance Tasks', check the 'Reuild Indexes' box In the 'Define Reuild Index task' window, choose your SIMS database(s) to reindex. For 'object', choose 'tables and views' On the same window, check the box that says 'sort results in tempdb', keep the box that says 'keep index online...' unchecked. Optionally, choose to write a report to file. Bask in the inevitable glory of a supefast system.* *This step optional, and not guaranteed. If you try this, please post back with your results, whether successful or not.

How long do you have? Ideally, you should aim to crank one out before the start of the Universe's heat death, which is around 10^100 years, give or take a couple of days. Watch your overheads, though.

They're buying Litecoins. I crack me up. Joking aside, it's more of a speculation instrument than a currency. They seem particularly volatile at the moment.

Hurrah for Slime. That's a phrase I never thought I'd type. Another puncture this morning, second one to hit the rear wheel (that I'm aware of). Lost of bit of pressure, pumped it up and got to work OK. The trick is to keep rolling as long as you can, this gives the Slime a chance to find the puncture and your weight keeps the pressure high which helps the Slime to plug the puncture.

If you start Opensuse Live CD at this festive time, there's a pleasant little winter scene. Nice.

Measure the voltage while the engine is running, should be around 13.7v, dropping to 12.something when off. This shows it's charging, at least. I'm guessing the electronics in the modern vehicle are draining the battery over time, nothing more, so I'd suggest that a solar top-up would be beneficial. I had one for my old camper, and on a sunny day made about 18 - 19v which is ideal to trickle charge the battery.

Bitcoins down 20% today. Bitcoin crashes after China bans banks from using virtual currency - Business News - Business - The Independent

This would have suited me down to the ground, with a very low annual mileage. As it stands, I have to pay an annual tax no matter how much I economise. But you've made a fundamental error in suggesting something that's good for the populous, not the govt's tax receipts. Go to the back of the class.

Furthermore, the link between VED and pollution is tentative. I'm guessing a zero-rated runabout doing 30k/year pollutes more than my (ex-)van at 2k/year.