Archive for July, 2007

July 31st, 2007

Watch Your Domain’s Expiration Date

It’s easy to lose your domain name if you don’t pay attention to the renewal notices that come in your inbox. Usually, web host companies start sending these notices about 90 days from the date that the domain name is to expire. It’s a bad feeling to go to your site and all you see is a 404 page.
So how do we avoid this problem?

First of all, most people don’t keep their domain registrar in the loop concerning emails and contact information that changed during the course of the registration period. For most domain name owners, they have the attitude that they will get to it someday. The last time that the domain registrar hears from the person that owns the domain is the first day that they purchased the domain. How unfortunate!

When your web site stops working, that’s when reality hits. You haven’t paid your hosting fees or haven’t renewed your domain name. Renewing your domain name is the hardest deal because there is nothing written in stone saying that you might get that name back.

Some registrars honor a 30 day "redemption period" allowing expired domains to be redeemed. It may be possible to save the registration within 30 days following expiration by contacting registrars during 30 day domain redemption periods but you have to act quickly. If there is a problem, check out this link at the ICANN organization on redeeming domain names.

www.icann.org/bucharest/redemption-topic.htm

So how does a domain owner find out who their registrar is if they’ve forgotten? Simple WHOIS inquiries will tell you everything the registrar knows about your domain. Public WHOIS records show the owner’s contact email, street address, phone and fax numbers. But that’s not all; it also shows the current registrar, DNS servers, and the creation and expiration dates of the domain name.

Keep track of what’s going on with your domain name so you won’t have headaches as far as trying to redeem your URL name down the road.

July 29th, 2007

Feasting on Web Cookies

A “cookie” obtains information sent by a web server to be stored on a web browser so that it can later be read back from that browser. This becomes useful for having the browser remember specific information about a visitor to a particular website. The cookie is a text file that is saved in the browser’s directory and is stored in RAM while the browser is running. The cookie may also be stored on the computer’s hard drive once a user logs off from that website or web server.

Cookies can tell a web server if you have been there before and can pass short bits of information (such as a user number) from the web server back to itself the next time you visit. Most cookies last only until you exit your browser and then are destroyed. A second type of cookie known as a persistent cookie has an expiration date and is stored on your disk until that date. A persistent cookie can be used to track a user’s browsing habits by identifying him whenever he returns to your web site.

Persistent cookies are stored in different places on your system depending on which web browser and browser version you are using. Netscape stores all its persistent cookies in a single file named cookies.txt on your computer. You can open and edit this file with a text editor and delete any cookies that you don’t want to keep or delete the file itself to get rid of all of your cookies. Internet Explorer stores persistent cookies in separate files named with the user’s name and the domain name of the site that sent the cookie.

One use of cookies is for storing passwords and user ID’s for specific websites. On sites with personalized viewing, your web browser will be requested to utilize a small amount of space on your computer’s hard drive to store these preferences. That way, each time you log on to that website, your browser will check to see if you have any pre-defined preferences (a cookie) for that unique server. If you do, the browser will send the cookie to the server along with your request for a web page. Common uses for which companies utilize cookies include: on-line ordering systems, site personalization, and website tracking.

Cookies have some beneficial things. Site personalization is one of the most beneficial uses for cookies. You must have also seen in some websites that when you log in (using a User ID & Password), there is an option for ‘remember me when I visit next time’; that’s possible because it stored your password and id on your machine in a cookie.

July 27th, 2007

The Continued Usefulness of FTP

Many people use FTP to load files to their web servers but it can be used for much more than that. It can be used to transfer large files across the Internet.

The letters FTP stand for File Transfer Protocol. It allows you to transfer files from place to place. In fact, FTP is the fastest way to copy large files across the Internet. There are many sophisticated FTP client that you can use to get files to and from site hosts. There are several benefits to this method of FTP transferring.

FTP programs like Cute FTP are straightforward in using and highly effective. There are upload programs in FrontPage and Dreamweaver but they are basically used for loading up web-sites. Do yourself a favor and use FTP client software that specializes in moving files without the headache of trying to find out where your uploaded files went to.

Most of the modern FTP clients are very simple to use. You just launch the program, enter some basic information (such as the site address, account name and password) and connect. Once you are connected, you can usually just drag and drop files from your own hard drive to the site. Cute FTP is great for having a drag and drop menu.

You can also load documents, audio files, pictures and various programs without missing a beat. It also depends on how much space that you have in your host account. Many people are starting to store their basic files on their web hosting server instead of on their computer.

FTP is fast and efficient – It’s a great way to transfer data and store files. Also, many FTP clients are freeware. If you go to a search engine, just type in FTP Freeware and browse through some sites to see what they have.

July 25th, 2007

Certifications for Internet Programming Languages

Programming languages in computers are designed to communicate with the computer in order to define what is needed.  From this communication, the computer will then be able to perform a variety of functions.  This will help to manipulate the computer into doing what it needs to for your business or personal purposes.  Programming languages will usually use codes that are set into the computer.  They will also vary depending on the type of PC you have as well as other electronic devices that you may be familiar with.  They are also known to differ with websites that can be used.  This is important to keep in mind before you decide on the particular IT Certification.  It will also be important to determine when deciding which is most widely used and understood.

The first type of computer language that you may want to learn is known as server side applications.  These are various types of languages that can be used for a variety of purposes.  These are especially good for helping to add to your website.  If you want to add servers to your website, as well as hypertext or a Java server, then finding a server side language will help in making this an easier process.  The main purpose of server side applications is to offer a language for web based pages that are functioning by data and special images.  Server-side applications include active server pages, also known as ASP, hypertext processor, or PHP, and JSP.  You may also be able to find other types of applicable servers.

IT Certification may also involve you becoming familiar with the language of Java or Java Script.  This is a fairly popular programming tool that is used for application of various types of computer programs.  Java is known for being able to perform on Web areas as well as on regular technology platforms.  If you move into Java script, then you can expect to have more complex available computer applications.  This includes things for the internet, such as sounds, forms, images and other creative applications.  You can also use it to enable what is known as cookies.

There are other kinds of certifications but if want just an Internet Programming certification, then this is the way to go.

July 23rd, 2007

Get Rid of Spyware

No matter where you go on the web, someone is trying to infiltrate your system. From web sites placing simple logon cookies, to paid advertising tracking your movements on the web, to malicious software that is designed to record your keystrokes and discover passwords, Spyware and Adware have together become a big problem.

Many of these programs are simply dangerous and seriously threaten your online privacy and identity. Even the simple and supposedly benign Adware programs can cause you serious problems.

Spyware is any program that installs itself onto your computer with the intent to spy on your activity. This can be recording your online searching habits, or whatever you type on your keyboard. Adware is not much better. It is designed to watch what you do online, where you go, which terms you search for and then report this to the ad agency that runs the program.

Many, if not most, advertisers on the internet will try and place a cookie or other small program on your computer. Many will add code that will track that cookie as it hits different pages. The code may be designed simply to gather anonymous data, or it may be trying to send ads to your browser that the advertising company thinks you will be more likely to respond to.

Whatever the case, the Adware or Spyware is using your computer to do its tracking. This means that part of your computer’s power and CPU cycles are being diverted away from the activity you are trying to perform. Your computer is being used by someone else instead to track your movements. These programs can literally slow your computer down to a crawl, or make it crash altogether. They can fill your computer up with trash files, open unwanted popup windows, use up the space in your internet cache and generally just make working on your computer a nightmare.

Luckily there are several easy solutions to the problem. Spyware and Adware are not the same thing as a computer virus or Trojan Horse. Although a computer virus can install spyware on a computer, you will need different tools to remove a computer virus and to keep your system clean from Spyware and Adware. There are several good Spyware/adware programs on the market.

Good programs are Ad-aware from Lavasoft and Spy Sweeper from Webroot Software although there are several others. You can easily find both of these by doing an internet search for Ad-aware and Spy Sweeper or simply do a search for spyware.

July 21st, 2007

You Can Handle a Hard Drive Crash

The hard drive in our computers stores all data, and our computer could not function without it. Since hard drives are so important, a hard drive crash is without a doubt is a major crisis problem that someone could face on their computer.

Hard drive crashes can happen for a lot of reasons, and usually the owner is not to blame. Your hard drive is a magnetic disc that spins and has an extended arm hovering over it, to access any area, and collect the data. If the motor overheats and stops spinning or the arm fails to function, then your hard drive will crash and not be accessible.

Another way for your hard drive to crash is from corrupt files and viruses. Viruses come in many forms as spy ware, ad ware, in emails and many other places all over the web. I recommend a good virus protection program from McAfee or Norton to stop those viruses and prevent your hard drive from crashing.

Now let’s say your hard drive has crashed, how do you determine the problem and can it be fixed? Well determining whether the hard drive crash is mechanical of software related is actually pretty easy. The flashing light on front of your computer case, that blinks when the computer is busy, is a good tool to determine the problem. If you see the LED light flashing, but the computer will not start, then most likely it is a software related problem, which means an operating system glitch or a virus of some sort. Lucky for you this usually can be fixed and all of your files can be saved.

Worst case scenario is if you don’t see the LED light flashing in the front of your computer case, this means your hard drive has not activity which basically means it is a mechanical problem. A mechanical problem in your hard drive can be fixed, but it can get pretty expensive. It is cheaper to get a new hard drive then to fix it, but of course if you have important data stored on the broken hard drive that you must get back, then you really have no choice but to have a professional fix it. Your local computer store should have the expertise to repair it, but if not just ask them who can.

Overall, the best way to stop your hard drive from crashing is to not neglect it and take care of it.

July 19th, 2007

IT Certifications Can Boost Business

Businesses are always trying to find new ways that they can expand and allow their company to grow.  This is not only to provide the best customers to service, but also to allow an easier work load for the employees and add more innovation to your business.  If you are debating whether you should begin IT Certification processes for your business or employees, then you may want to consider how it can help you to progress against your competition.

One of the abilities that IT Certification will give you is the ability to provide a different type of frame work for your internal structure.  Most companies are learning how to do most of the tasks more effectively and quickly through the use of technology.  IT Certification can help you to do this by providing you with the ability to create new databases and communicate with the use of technology.  By beginning to change this internal structure, it will allow for the employees to get more work done in a shorter amount of time.  Working smarter in the office is one of the benefits that IT Certification can provide you with.

The next benefit to having those in your business that have IT Certification is that you can build security networks.  This will allow for your areas on the Internet as well as the office areas to have the necessary encrypted codes.  Providing security to your business will benefit you not only in being able to protect yourself from losses, but will also enable customers to feel safe when they are working with you.  Making sure that you understand technology as it relates to security is important for your business to remain secure and to continue to flourish.

If you have a business that is beginning to grow, it is also important to have IT Certification.  There are several applications that can be used in technology that will allow you to integrate and consolidate your business services effectively.  This will give you the ability to use technology to your benefit, instead of allowing it to be less supportive of your business needs. As every business will have individual differences in their needs, by having IT Certification, you can use the flexibility as a tool to combine different methods as well as to build databases.

Several will also use IT Certification in order to find the target markets that best fit them.  This is especially beneficial to those who are becoming more familiar with the Internet as a way to reach customers.  There are certain ways to design, plan and implement technology in order to attract a person that will want to buy your product.  It is easier for customers to find you if you know how to use the technology efficiently.  If you are a beginning company, having IT Certification can be beneficial in allowing you to grow quickly with the use of technology skills.

July 17th, 2007

IBM Hardware and Business Certifications

If you are interested in getting IT Certification so you can understand how the computers of IBM work, then there are also several options that are available for you.  IBM offers several levels of hardware certification, each which can help you to become more proficient in understanding how the technology and computer programs work from their internal drive.  This will allow you to problem solve, maintain or develop hardware programs that can be used.  It offers hardware systems that are not only located externally, but also that are located as areas on the Internet.  There are also storage IT Certification courses that you can take in order to understand how to more effectively use space with the hardware that is available.

Other IT Certifications

IBM also has several other programs that they will offer IT Certification in.  One of the programs that they offer is known as the infrastructure systems architect.  This will allow someone who is getting the certification to understand the technical areas that are related to IBM.  Things such as sales and skills for business can be developed through this certification.  This will also help those getting the certification to understand how infrastructure of a computer program and design can help to sell to customers, either through the Internet or through a different type of technological display.

The other part of these miscellaneous IT Certifications is related to getting on demand business as well as learning how to use technology for retail stores.  Certain types of technology can help to not only boost business, either on the web or locally, but will also help in the maintenance and organization of that business.  If you have a business and are looking for solutions to organize, maintain or increase your business size, then you can look into these types of IT Certifications to give you the necessary technology background in order to help with sales.

IT Certification Levels

After you have decided the area that you would like to get the IT Certification in, you will need to look into the degree that you will want to get.  Beginning courses will be offered, but there are also several levels above this.  By setting this goal, you will know how much training you will get in each area.  IBM begins with offering an IT Certification as a specialist, which understands the specifics of each program.  From here, you can grow into becoming an associate, which allows you to understand the universal database that is part of IBM.  After this point, IBM offers different levels of developers that move into understanding the specific details that are associated with databases, web development, and hardware development.  Depending on your interests, you can get as detailed as you want with the IT Certification from IBM.

July 15th, 2007

Choosing an IT Certification

If you are looking into information and security technology certification, or IT, there are several vendors that are available for you to get the right training.  Each of these will have different applications and possibilities for you to get the training that you need.  Some will focus on a specific type of training program, while others will give you a larger spectrum that will relate to the types of software that they have.  When looking into IT Certification, it is important to know which vendors are available and what they will offer you.

Borland Certifications

Borland Product Certification, also known as BPC, can provide you with a variety of technology information that is focused on certain computer and technology products.  This is also sometimes referred to as Delphi.  This particular company has a wide variety of IT training.  This includes things that will teach you about certain computer languages as well as how to use the Internet and different types of programs you can use in relation to this.  From here, they focus on a variety of companies and computer programs that offer specific software programs.

Cisco

This program will offer seven different types of certification programs.  This will allow you to use the Internet more efficiently, create and maintain databases, and use different computer languages.  Cisco will also offer a variety of levels that you can use in order to gain a more thorough amount of knowledge towards the information technology that you are using.  Through the several levels of Cisco training, you will be able to stay on the cutting edge of technology in the business area.

CompTIA

CompTIA offers a variety of certification programs that are becoming better known.  CompTIA is known to be associated with other programs, such as Microsoft, HP, Cisco, Novell and Certiport.  By being linked to these other vendors, CompTIA has the ability of offering a wide variety of IT Certification programs.  When learning CompTIA information technology, you can expect to get a variety of knowledge that includes security, computer language and other types of certifications.

Microsoft

With the emergence of computers, has come the wide variety of Microsoft tools that you can use.  Microsoft offers training in their several varieties of software, in both beginning and advanced techniques.  If you are looking for ways to learn professional software or need training in how to use Microsoft programs that relate to security or databases for the Internet, then you can go to their IT Certification program to get the direct answers that you need.

Linux

This particular information technology program will focus on learning the computer language of Linux.  This is used frequently in Internet building as well as in software programs.  Through Linux training, you will be able to expand your knowledge in information technology by understanding how the computer languages are linked to the computer.  You will then be able to use this language to understand security, as well as other types of computer links to Linux programs.

IECA / ECA

The main uses for these types of certificates are to enable one in different security methods.  These are involved with encryption in order to add security to e-mail, having a secure identity attached over the Internet, a component certificate, which deals with security over web browsers, and mobile codes, which can also be used for the Internet.  By looking into IT Certificates from ECA, you can expect to be able to make sure that you have security for your Internet, e-mail and other web purposes.

Apple

If you use a MAC computer, or want to be familiar with the different techniques associated with MACs, than going through Apple to get IT Certification is one of the options you can consider.  This vendor will provide you with various classes that will focus on the security, computer language, and other techniques that are associated with MAC computers.  From here, you will be able to learn the various software programs and the different associations with them, such as soundtrack, final cut, DVD and other types of software programs that are prominent with this company.  You will also be able to learn about Adobe software through the Apple program, allowing you to use the programs on the Internet as well.

IBM

IBM is another company that will offer a variety of IT Certification programs for you to learn from.  They will teach computer languages such as Lotus and XML and also will offer courses in databases on other important types of technology that are associated with the business and personal world of technology.  IBM will focus on their specific IBM systems as well in order to provide you with information that is specialized with their products.

Skill Soft

Not only does this company focus on a wide variety of IT Certification programs for technology, but also teaches courses with management and employee skills that are important in today’s business world.  Things such as total quality management skills and project management are part of the program.  They also offer communication and leadership skills for the certification.  From here, they are also able to offer programs that relate to bringing technology programs into the office.

Universities

If you don’t want to go to a specific vendor, you can always look into a community or four year college that will offer a variety of training programs for your IT Certification.  These will be able to focus on one or more types of computer language programming, data and software that is used for personal or business endeavors.  If you want another option, looking into a credited school will give you an option for expanding your knowledge in the IT field.

If you are looking for a particular place to expand your skills and gain IT Certification, there are a variety of vendors that you can turn to.  These are a few of several IT vendors that are available for your learning.  Looking and researching for the options that are open to you will offer you the best options available to you.  This will then provide you with the right types of knowledge and certification in order to advance with your personal and business goals.

July 13th, 2007

IT Certifications from Microsoft

Considering an IT Certification program also includes knowing what is available to you and what the specialization will allow you to do as well as limit you to do.  There are several providers that will offer specialized programs that can affect the qualifications that you have.  One of the providers that offer these specialized programs is Microsoft.  By knowing what programs they use, you can determine if it is the right program for your IT Certification and specialization in technology. 

The first type of training that Microsoft provides is the Microsoft Office Specialist.  This will give you the basics about different Microsoft databases that are frequently used.  The latest versions of Microsoft word applications, such as Microsoft Office will be studied.  You will learn about Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Access with the Office Specialist Certification.

The second type of IT Certification that you can get from Microsoft is the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, or MCSD.  This particular certification will give you knowledge about how to develop different technology programs used by Microsoft.  If you are interested in this particular certification, you will be taking four exams to get the entire credit.  This will be used to develop visual studios, using the Internet, and how to use Microsoft’s software of ADO.  From here, you will learn how the infrastructure of Microsoft works, especially in relation to databases, e-commerce and different maintenance structures.

Another type of training that you can get from Microsoft is known as the Microsoft Certified Trainer.  These are the people that will be training you to teach the technology and troubleshooting areas that are related to Microsoft.  If you get this type of training, you will be able to provide online or in the classroom training to others who wish to become IT Certified.

A Certified Database Administrator is another option for those interested in IT Certification.  This will allow you to work with the infrastructure of a company as well as to implement certain software when needed into a company.  This specific IT Certification will require for you to take three exams.  One will be based on your understanding of the server that you will be using, known as SQL.  You will also learn about the environment that is related to this server, and how it affects the various databases.  Learning the other software, how to maintain and develop the different software and applying the right technology into the right areas will also be part of this certification training.

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