The subnet calculator will assist
you in managing IP addresses.
To let you into a secret, this utilities is fun to use, even if you
don't have a pressing need to calculate your IP address space.
Get your free advanced
Subnet calculator
Ezine 131 - BgInfo
This week's tip is short and sweet; get your free copy of BgInfo (Background Information). What this utility does is provide interesting, even crucial information about your machine, and then displays it as a desktop wallpaper.
It was Paul DeBrino who drew my attention to this handy utility. There are over 20 fields to choose from, for example, OS Version, DNS server, Network Speed, and my favorite, Logon Server. Neat is
an overused word, but it describes this utility perfectly. The configuration is intuitive, the display versatile, and the resulting information is attention-grabbing. Where BgInfo is particularly useful is
where you have
multiple servers, and wonder which one you have logged onto, especially if you are coming in via Terminal Services or Remote Desktop.
More good news, BgInfo is free. The one surprise is that BgInfo works on
every Microsoft operating system from Windows 95 to Vista. After you have installed BgInfo take a minute to examine the command line switches, the /taskbar option interested me the most.
Command Line Switches
 Bryce
Cogswell is the author of BgInfo and publishes it on the Systinternals website. Hardly a week goes by without one of my readers mentioning a utility on this site, so when you download your free copy of
BgInfo have a look around for other promising programs. Download BgInfo BgInfo Screen Shots
 Readers CommentsDave Heller wrote in saying:
Hi
We use bginfo to display the computer name on the users desktop so when they call for support it's easy to see their system name and tell us. It works regardless of the their personal background pics
they like to load. Michael wrote in with these observations The benefit of BgInfo is the following: Each and every computer in the office has a number and as well the name of the person
sitting at that computer at all times which give us the administrators quick response time because we rather know where the people are sitting but not the computer 123456, meaning, you can go through the DB
overview quickly. If however, the person logging onto that machine is not corresponding to the name of the computer, we need to check what is the "problem" We also see instantly if we have problems with
that specific computer, i.e.
- If it is getting old
- If the free disk space is getting too low
- If the network card is of wrong type.
- We see the IE version and which service pack has been
installed as well.
Of course there are other tools on the market that can extract this, however, so far, this BgInfo the easiest way for us.
If you are looking for handy network utilities, try some of the free downloads at
Tools4Ever
Create your own Gadget?As I enjoyed using BgInfo I thought to myself, 'This utility cannot have been too
difficult to create'. What I want to do next is plant the seed of an idea that you may be able to create a utility yourself. I really believe that you don't have to have great programming experience, just the
perception to see a niche, coupled with the flare to employ existing technology. One place to start would be with Vista's Gadgets. Microsoft even provide a development center for budding Gadget men
to create a mini-application dedicated to one particular task.
Guy Recommends: A Free Trial of the Orion Network Configuration Monitor
(NCM) v6
Config management of routers, switches and firewalls is fun with
NCM (Network Configuration Manager.
Furthermore, it can help to
achieve your compliance policy, for example, pinpoint devices not backed
up and discover access infringements or even weak passwords. This Solarwinds NCM suite can not only detect violations, but also upload
scripts to correct the problem.
Most computer problems arise from configuration changes. Thus it makes
sense to get a proper monitoring system so that you can double-check that that
all the settings confirm to your security policy.
Download your free trial of Orion's Network Configuration Monitor. Will and Guy's Humour
This week Will and Guy have been working on a handy desktop gadget. See here if you would like to order one for free. |
