Quickbooks is slow over a network

Often users may complain that QuickBooks is slow on their network.   In order to resolve these issues, make sure that you follow their recommendations and then you can try the following solution:

Modify the hosts and lmhosts files in the Windows folder.  Open the files using Notepad when asked how you want to open them.   The files are found in the following path:

C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

Modify the hosts file and save as the Administrator (You must log with the administrator account) and add your QuickBooks server to the bottom of this file (IP address and NetBIOS name)-

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1       localhost
# ::1             localhost

172.16.0.34  OurQuickbooksServer

Also modify the lmhosts file and save as the Administrator (You must log with the administrator account) and add your QuickBooks server to the bottom of this file (IP address and NetBIOS name)-

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample LMHOSTS file used by the Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to computernames
# (NetBIOS) names.  Each entry should be kept on an individual line.
# The IP address should be placed in the first column followed by the
# corresponding computername. The address and the computername
# should be separated by at least one space or tab. The “#” character
# is generally used to denote the start of a comment (see the exceptions
# below).
#
# This file is compatible with Microsoft LAN Manager 2.x TCP/IP lmhosts
# files and offers the following extensions:
#
#      #PRE
#      #DOM:<domain>
#      #INCLUDE <filename>
#      #BEGIN_ALTERNATE
#      #END_ALTERNATE
#      xnn (non-printing character support)
#
# Following any entry in the file with the characters “#PRE” will cause
# the entry to be preloaded into the name cache. By default, entries are
# not preloaded, but are parsed only after dynamic name resolution fails.
#
# Following an entry with the “#DOM:<domain>” tag will associate the
# entry with the domain specified by <domain>. This affects how the
# browser and logon services behave in TCP/IP environments. To preload
# the host name associated with #DOM entry, it is necessary to also add a
# #PRE to the line. The <domain> is always preloaded although it will not
# be shown when the name cache is viewed.
#
# Specifying “#INCLUDE <filename>” will force the RFC NetBIOS (NBT)
# software to seek the specified <filename> and parse it as if it were
# local. <filename> is generally a UNC-based name, allowing a
# centralized lmhosts file to be maintained on a server.
# It is ALWAYS necessary to provide a mapping for the IP address of the
# server prior to the #INCLUDE. This mapping must use the #PRE directive.
# In addtion the share “public” in the example below must be in the
# LanManServer list of “NullSessionShares” in order for client machines to
# be able to read the lmhosts file successfully. This key is under
# \machine\system\currentcontrolset\services\lanmanserver\parameters\nullsessionshares
# in the registry. Simply add “public” to the list found there.
#
# The #BEGIN_ and #END_ALTERNATE keywords allow multiple #INCLUDE
# statements to be grouped together. Any single successful include
# will cause the group to succeed.
#
# Finally, non-printing characters can be embedded in mappings by
# first surrounding the NetBIOS name in quotations, then using the
# xnn notation to specify a hex value for a non-printing character.
#
# The following example illustrates all of these extensions:
#
# 102.54.94.97     rhino         #PRE #DOM:networking  #net group’s DC
# 102.54.94.102    “appname  x14″                    #special app server
# 102.54.94.123    popular            #PRE             #source server
# 102.54.94.117    localsrv           #PRE             #needed for the include
#
# #BEGIN_ALTERNATE
# #INCLUDE \\localsrv\public\lmhosts
# #INCLUDE \\rhino\public\lmhosts
# #END_ALTERNATE
#
# In the above example, the “appname” server contains a special
# character in its name, the “popular” and “localsrv” server names are
# preloaded, and the “rhino” server name is specified so it can be used
# to later #INCLUDE a centrally maintained lmhosts file if the “localsrv”
# system is unavailable.
#
# Note that the whole file is parsed including comments on each lookup,
# so keeping the number of comments to a minimum will improve performance.
# Therefore it is not advisable to simply add lmhosts file entries onto the
# end of this file.

 172.16.0.34  OurQuickbooksServer

How to Build a Bulletproof Cloud Backup System Without Spending a Dime

“There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who have lost critical data, and those who will.”

How to Build a Bulletproof Cloud Backup System Without Spending a Dime.

(Shared – CIO)

Unseen, All-Out Cyber War on the U.S. has Begun

“There’s a war going on, and it’s raging here at home — not in the streets or the fields, but on the Internet. You can think of it as a war on the digital homeland. If you work for a power company, bank, defense contractor, transportation provider, or other critical infrastructure type of operation, your organization might be in the direct line of fire. And everyone can become collateral damage”

Unseen, All-Out Cyber War on the U.S. has Begun.

(Shared from CIO)

A Search Engine that shows devices on the web

Secure your devices.  Bottom-line, there are malicious users on the web that can find your device (webcams, IP cameras, routers, SCADA and other devices).  Change the default passwords and update software/firmware when it is available.  Disable UPNP and look for vulnerabilities that may affect your device.

 

CNN’s Money on “Hacking anything connected to the internet“

 

 

Windows System Control Center – An all in one tool for IT professionals

The Windows System Control Center is an all in one tool that offers a ton (hundreds) of features.  These features are compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

The installation can be made to a portable drive or installed on a computer.  During the installation, new software can be installed allowing features to be added or updated.

 

 

 

During this installation process, you may get virus alerts but the software is safe.  These alerts are false positives (the software accesses key areas that control Windows).

 

Click Allow or Safe in your anti-virus control panel.

 

 

Initially you will have 264 software installs.

 

Once the features are installed (This can initially take a few minutes),  The control center opens to dozens of categories and hundreds of features allowing you to tweak Windows or to correct problems.

 

 

Windows 8 won’t shut down

After I upgraded my laptop to Windows 8, it would not shut down.

I would click on the power button icon and the screen would go black but as soon as I moved the mouse, I was back at the login screen.  Restart worked fine.  So I would click restart, wait till it got to the BIOS screen and then hold the power button down until my laptop shut off.

I’ve been looking for a solution to the problem. I’ve tried a registry setting to change (I didn’t have to change it – the value was already set as recommended in the change), tweaking different things and finally today I found this simple fix!

 

http://www.askvg.com/fix-windows-8-restart-and-shutdown-problems-by-disabling-hybrid-shutdown-feature/

~D. Babian

How long will it take to crack your password?

Mickey found a great site that gives the approximate time it will take to break your password.  The site, howsecureismypassword.net gives the  approximate time and a background color that indicates how secure your password is.  There are other things to worry about.  One of the things people don’t realize is that the code in your website may reveal even the most complex passwords.  It is up to the webmaster of your site to keep you secure.

Free library for IT Professionals and the everyday user

I’ve featured Microsoft’s Technet before; but now Microsoft has even more to offer at their TechNet site.  And 99% of it is free.  The how-tos and downloads are unreal.   You can’t possibly read all of the material but it is the best resource for Microsoft products.

With thousands of articles, Technet is broken into categories where you can narrow down your search for what you need.

Articles are added daily along with scripting and every operating system you can imagine.  Visit the gallery here or visit on-line learning, virtual labs and the learning center and certification information.

Can’t get enough information?  Here’s the Microsoft Wiki which has an unbelievable amount of resources and links.  Need drivers, service packs or other downloads including evaluations?  Visit there download center.

Below is a tiny portion of their resources.

 

Do you know about decimal formats and websites?

Over the years, you have learned that you can go to a website by simply typing the name of the website.  Such as -

http://www.wordpress.com

Did you know if you ping it, it will return the webserver’s address and you can use it to surf the web?

http://76.74.254.120

You can use this to troubleshoot your ISP.  How?  If your internet appears to be down, simple ping one of you favorite sites and then put the IP address into a browser.  If you can get to the website by doing this, more than likely your ISP’s DNS is down.

Now, did you know you can convert it to a decimal format and go to the website by typing the decimal value?

HTTP://1279983224

As mysterious as this may seem, networking gets even more complex.  DNS entries determine the name resolution to IP address.   Webservers can be clustered and have different entries for the hundreds or even thousands of variations of naming conventions.

The network command NSLookup can be used to see these servers.   Example:  Go to a command prompt – type
NSLookup http://www.wordpress.com and you’ll see multiple servers.

C:\Users\raven>nslookup http://www.wordpress.com

Server: google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address: 8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: lb.wordpress.com
Addresses: 76.74.254.123
72.233.69.6
66.155.11.238
66.155.9.238
76.74.254.120
72.233.2.58
Aliases: http://www.wordpress.com

If you ever get a decimal format in an email header and you wish to report the address as spam or as an abusive email, you can decoded it here.

To convert an IP address to a decimal format, use this site.

Here’s another small lesson using NSLookup.  Did you know you can find the email server’s information for more troubleshooting?  How?

First type nslookup and hit enter, then set the type by typing set type=mx and enter again.  Next type the website address and hit enter.

C:\Users\itisme>nslookup
Default Server: google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address: 8.8.8.8

> set type=mx
> ttcshelbyville.edu
Server: google-public-dns-a.google.com
Address: 8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
ttcshelbyville.edu MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = mail.ttcshelbyvill.edu
>

 

For more information on set type, visit Microsoft’s TechNet Library.

Router Emulators

Need to practice setting up routers or adjust a router before adjusting your own?  Here’s a few links to different router emulators.

 

Linksys (Cisco) – Soon to be Belkin?

Netgear

Trendnet

D-Link

Test your ISP’s Quality

Almost everyone is familiar with testing their internet for speed.  With sites such as   Testmy.net, a true internet speed test and Speedtest.net, you can see how fast your internet is (download and upload speeds) performing.

But what about quality?   Here’s a site that will test your ping response time and jitter. Pingtest.net

Five Ways To Better Hunt The Zebras In Your Network – Dark Reading

“For the cybercriminal lions out on the Internet, your company is full of zebras. Defenders should not just protect the herd, but pay attention to those who stray, experts argue” 

Five Ways To Better Hunt The Zebras In Your Network – Dark Reading.