Newsletter March 2008
Black-box Maintenance…and How You Can Help
Have you ever heard the term “black-box?” Well, aside from the reference to an airliner’s monitoring unit that records all the in-flight communications, logs, and navigation data, the term can also refer to any system that exists into which input goes, something happens in the system, and then output comes out. It’s called a black-box because you don’t see what goes on inside it, but the black-box changes what you put into it and outputs something different. In today’s article, the black-box we’re talking about is the system by which Convergence completes maintenance on your computers. I call it a black-box because, most of the time, users don’t see inside it, but they do see the end result, and that is well-tuned, effective, system.
Convergence Networks has remote access to your computers. You see this all the time when our techs “dial-in” and fix problems for you. We can troubleshoot error messages, correct application errors, review hardware status messages, and even access and edit your system’s configuration files. We’re always just a few mouse-clicks away when you need us. But, there is a lot that needs to get done on your computers behind the scenes to keep them running as efficiently and effectively as possible. Installing Windows updates and security patches, updating virus definitions, performing maintenance tasks like disk de-fragmentation or disk health assessments are just a few of the tasks that will help keep your machine running during the day when you need it. But, we don’t want to interrupt your work during business hours to accomplish these vital tasks, so we typically schedule them overnight. The problem is we can’t run these tune-up items if your computer is turned off.
We have several options available to us when maintenance is not completed due to computers being unavailable. The first option is to simply skip the maintenance. However, since the maintenance tasks are so vital, this isn’t really an option at all. Computers will slow and then die a painful and work-stopping death. Our second option is to do these maintenance tasks during the business day, usually by forcing the skipped maintenance routine to fire off the first time the computer is powered up after the scheduled window. Again, this isn’t really an option because users need to actually use their computers to be productive and do the job they’re supposed to do. Having computer maintenance running slows down the computers, prevents some tasks from working, and generally hampers productivity. That leaves our third option, which as you might have guessed, is really the only option. We need to do the maintenance off-hours. Since these are some pretty standardized tasks, we can schedule this maintenance. So, while you’re home with family, watching television, or maybe sleeping, your computer is happily humming along at work, getting patches, updates, and general upkeep. It’s almost like spa time for your computers. It keeps them running along much happier and more productive.
Now, we all know that computers require power to operate, so leaving your computers on overnight does mean there is a cost. However, the computer doesn’t have to have all its modules running in order for maintenance to occur. The tower or box of the computer is really all that needs to be turned on overnight, and this doesn’t draw a great deal of power. The monitors are the biggest energy consumers, but these can all be powered down. In this way, your computer gets its spa time, we still minimize the electrical requirements (and get to be Green), and in the morning, the computers are faster, more responsive, and you, our users, can be happier and more productive.
So, the next time you’re getting ready to go home for some much-needed rest and relaxation, remember our black-box example. Leave your computer to get its own R&R. We’ll handle the maintenance overnight behind the scenes, your computer gets its spa time, and you don’t have to wait for a slow computer in the morning. Simple action goes in, and excellent output comes out. That’s the Convergence maintenance black-box.
If you would like to receive more information simply contact us.
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