New Year 2015

Wishing a new year 2015.

 

Lesson 9 : Some fun

1729 is known as Hardy Ramanujam Number.  (There is a wiki article here). Reading the article all the way down, I read an interesting part that the Japanese Scientist Masahiki Fujiwara found out.

1729 –> add the numbers and you get 1+7+2+9=19

Reverse 19 and you get 91. 19x91=1729. According to him only 2 more numbers other than 1729 show this property. One is 81 and other is 1458. I decided to write a small piece of code to verify this.

for x=10 to 9999 ' find the sum of numbers first ' reverse this number ' multiply it and you should get the original number     n=x     s=0     while (n>0)         s=s+(n mod 10)         n=int(n/10)     wend 'reverse s, call it rs     if s<10 then         rs=s     else         rs=(s mod 10) * 10 + int(s/10)     end if     if (s*rs = x) then         wscript.echo x     end if    next

 

C:\scripts>nos.vbs //nologo 81 1458 1729 C:\scripts>

And yes there are only 3 numbers.

Lesson 8 : Solution to the question

Question was to modify the code in the last lesson, where

- the comma could be replaced by tab, for making it easy to read

- to add the columns and show the total.

In  the following code, it takes two parameters, first is csv file, and second is col. The same old file is used. The csv file first

C:\scripts\file-io>type sample.csv abcd,12,E_123,300 bcde,13,E_124,301 cdef,14,E_125,302 efgh,15,E_126,303 ghij,16,E_127,304 hijk,17,E_128,305 lmno,18,E_129,306 C:\scripts\file-io>

The output of the program

C:\scripts\file-io>03-addcols-csv.vbs sample.csv 4 //nologo abcd    12      E_123   300 bcde    13      E_124   301 cdef    14      E_125   302 efgh    15      E_126   303 ghij    16      E_127   304 hijk    17      E_128   305 lmno    18      E_129   306 Sum of Col 4 is 2121

And finally the code

Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline dim lines, words dim strword dim Oput dim sums oput=int(wscript.arguments(1)) set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) sums=0 do until fstext.AtEndOfStream         txtline=fstext.ReadLine         strword=split(txtline,",")         sums=sums+int(strword(oput-1))         txtline= Replace(txtline,",", vbTab)         wscript.echo txtline loop wscript.echo " " wscript.echo "Sum of Col " & oput & " is " & sums

What more can be done.

a. You can validate if the column selected exists and if it does exists is it a numeric value.

b. You can check if the csv file passed as a parameter exists in the first place.

Lesson 8 : Working with CSV files

The fun starts working with CSV files.  CSV files are comma separated value, files. Basically that means there are commas between the columns. So who creates them? Almost every application that creates logs, dumps performance data, configuration, etc. Before XML files became the craze CSV ruled the administrator’s world.

Below is a sample CSV file

abcd,12,E_123,300 bcde,13,E_124,301 cdef,14,E_125,302 efgh,15,E_126,303 ghij,16,E_127,304 hijk,17,E_128,305 lmno,18,E_129,306

Let us write a code that can display any column we like. If we pass the parameter 0 (zero) we get the entire file. If we pass a specific number we get that column. If we pass a number more than the columns we show the entire file.

First the code

'Show the selected coloumn Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline dim lines, words dim strword dim Oput oput=int(wscript.arguments(1)) set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) do until fstext.AtEndOfStream     txtline=fstext.ReadLine     strword=split(txtline,",")     if oput=0 or oput>(ubound(strword)+1) then         wscript.echo txtline     else         wscript.echo strword(oput-1)     end if loop

And now the output

C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 0 //nologo abcd,12,E_123,300 bcde,13,E_124,301 cdef,14,E_125,302 efgh,15,E_126,303 ghij,16,E_127,304 hijk,17,E_128,305 lmno,18,E_129,306 C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 1 //nologo abcd bcde cdef efgh ghij hijk lmno C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 2 //nologo 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 3 //nologo E_123 E_124 E_125 E_126 E_127 E_128 E_129 C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 4 //nologo 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 C:\scripts\file-io>02-show-contents.vbs sample.csv 5 //nologo abcd,12,E_123,300 bcde,13,E_124,301 cdef,14,E_125,302 efgh,15,E_126,303 ghij,16,E_127,304 hijk,17,E_128,305 lmno,18,E_129,306 C:\scripts\file-io>

Some exercises for you to try.

1. Suppose we need the sum of a column (like column 2 or 4) then modify the above code so that it works in the following way.

c:\>progname csvfile col

The output should a tab between the cols and not a csv and a sum below.

Lesson 7 : Working with Text files

In our routine as an administrator, we routinely work with text files. Let us try to understand how to work with them.

A usual logic would be

- Open the file, Loop line by line, display the contents (or process them)

Example 1:

In this example, we try to display the contents of the file that is passed as a parameter at the command line. I have not done validations and assume that a file name is already there. You can add three validations, first check if there is an argument. Second check if the file exists. Third check if it is a text file.  I have a sample file called “sample.txt” in the same folder as the program.

Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) do until fstext.AtEndOfStream     txtline=fstext.ReadLine     wscript.echo txtline loop

Let us check the output

C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt //nologo The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. The hare and the turtle were friends in the forest. Early bird gets the worm. C:\scripts\file-io>

Let us make it more useful. At the end, let us say we want to display the total lines in this file.

Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline dim lines lines=0 set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) do until fstext.AtEndOfStream     txtline=fstext.ReadLine     wscript.echo txtline     lines=lines+1 loop wscript.echo "--------------------------------------end of file" wscript.echo "Lines in the file " & lines

C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt //nologo The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. The hare and the turtle were friends in the forest. Early bird gets the worm. --------------------------------------end of file Lines in the file 4 C:\scripts\file-io>

What if we needed the lines and words.

a. Use the split function, it splits a string and returns an array

b. use the ubound function to check how many elements are there in the array, and add 1

Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline dim lines, words dim strword lines=0 words=0 set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) do until fstext.AtEndOfStream     txtline=fstext.ReadLine     strword=split(txtline)     words=words+ubound(strword) +1     wscript.echo txtline     lines=lines+1 loop wscript.echo "--------------------------------------end of file" wscript.echo "Lines in the file " & lines wscript.echo "Number of words   " & words

Sample Output of the same file

C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt //nologo The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. The hare and the turtle were friends in the forest. Early bird gets the worm. --------------------------------------end of file Lines in the file 4 Number of words   23 C:\scripts\file-io>

Let us make it more complete. We do the following changes, we pass the parameter filename with a number, 1=show file, 2=show lines, 3=show words, 4=show all

Code

Const ReadMode=1 dim fso dim fstext dim txtline dim lines, words dim strword lines=0 words=0 dim Oput oput=int(wscript.arguments(1)) set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set fstext=fso.OpenTextFile(wscript.arguments(0),ReadMode) do until fstext.AtEndOfStream     txtline=fstext.ReadLine     strword=split(txtline)     words=words+ubound(strword) +1     if oput=1 or oput=4 then         wscript.echo txtline     end if     lines=lines+1 loop if oput=1 or oput=4 then     wscript.echo "--------------------------------------end of file" end if if oput=2 or oput=3 or oput=4 then     wscript.echo "Lines in the file " & lines end if if oput=3 or oput=4 then     wscript.echo "Number of words   " & words end if

Various Runs

C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt 1 //nologo The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. The hare and the turtle were friends in the forest. Early bird gets the worm. --------------------------------------end of file C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt 2 //nologo Lines in the file 4 C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt 3 //nologo Lines in the file 4 Number of words   23 C:\scripts\file-io>01-show-contents.vbs sample.txt 4 //nologo The quick fox jumped over the lazy dog. The hare and the turtle were friends in the forest. Early bird gets the worm. --------------------------------------end of file Lines in the file 4 Number of words   23 C:\scripts\file-io>

We build more on this in the subsequent chapters.

Lesson 6: Functions and Procedures (vbscript)

Functions and Procedures make your code modular. They help you to keep repeated statements as blocks of code that can be reused. Both functions and procedures do the same thing, except, Functions can return value. So as a good practice never let your functions have any statements to print(display) or get input from keyboard.

Let your functions take parameters and return the value. How does a function return a value? Function_name=value you want to return. Enough of theory.

This program finds the value of (a+b) squared.

(a+b)² =a² +2ab+b²

‘File-0105-1.vbs (this is file name I have) Function Sq_ab(a,b)     sq_ab=a*a + 2*a*b + b*b End Function Sub Print(str)     wscript.echo str End Sub 'Main program starts here a=int(wscript.arguments(0)) b=int(wscript.arguments(1)) Print("The Square of (a+b) is " & Sq_ab(a,b))

Sample Output

C:\scripts>0105-1.vbs 2 3 //nologo The Square of (a+b) is 25 C:\scripts>0105-1.vbs 7 9 //nologo The Square of (a+b) is 256 C:\scripts>

Exercises for you.

1. Write functions for (a-b)², a²-b², (a+b)³ and so on

Windows Scripting. Lesson 5. Magic Square

A magic square is one where the total of rows, columns and diagonals is the same.

Take a 3x3 magic square.

The Rules are pretty simple. The rule is called top-left rule.

1. Start with 1. Put it in the centre of the 1st row. So 1 is in (1,2) Row 1, Col 2.

2. Goto top left. In this case top is row 0, so top comes to the 3rd row. Left is row 1. So the next number is (3,1).

3. Continue with top left. Top of 3 is 2, left of 1 is 3rd column. So we are in (2,3).

4. Now the top left from 2,3 is 1,2. This place is occupied, you have a 1 there. So you need to go back to original location (2,3). Then come a place down but same column. So from 2,3 we come to 3,3. Put a 4 here. Continue this way.

5. In this case the totals of rows, col and diagonal is 15. Why 15?

6. We use the natural numbers 1 to 9. Sum of 1 to 9 is n(n+1)/2. In this example we have 9x10/2=45. We have 3 rows. So we get 45/3 or 15.

sub Print(str)     wscript.echo str end sub ' Main Program starts from here dim x(3,3) dim y for a=1 to 3     for b=1 to 3         x(a,b)=0     next next x(1,2)=1 a=1 b=2 for y=2 to 9     olda=a     oldb=b     a=a-1     b=b-1     if a=0 then         a=3     end if     if b=0 then         b=3     end if     if x(a,b)>0 then         a=olda         b=oldb         a=a+1     end if     x(a,b)=y next for a=1 to 3     for b=1 to 3         str=str & chr(9) & x(a,b)     next     wscript.echo str     str=" " next

- print procedure makes the printing easy.

- dim, defines an array. In this case it is an array 3 rows x 3 cols. Each value in the array is defined as 0. 1 is put then in the first row and second column.

- for loop rotates eight times for the eight numbers. a and b are the locations needed. We try top left, and if it is occupied (>0), then we go back to the original location and come one col down.

- the for loop then prints the 3 coloumns. Each row is formatted is by adding a tab (chr(9). When you compile and run this program, (magic3.vbs)

C:\scripts>magic3 //nologo         6       1       8         7       5       3         2       9       4 C:\scripts>

 

Can we make a generic version of this program.  Where we can print for any odd number. Since vbscript does not allow to define an array with a variable, I have defined a large array (20,20) and allow to print a magic square. The beauty is you can pass the number as a parameter. If the parameter is even, then we add 1 and make it a odd number. The program is very similar to the previous program.

sub Print(str)     wscript.echo str end sub sz=int(wscript.arguments(0)) if sz mod 2 = 0 then     print "Argument Should be Odd"     print "Changing to odd"     sz=sz+1 end if 'sz=3 dim x(20,20) dim y for a=1 to sz     for b=1 to sz         x(a,b)=0     next next x(1,(sz+1)/2)=1 a=1 b=(sz+1)/2 for y=2 to (sz * sz)     olda=a     oldb=b     a=a-1     b=b-1     if a=0 then         a=sz     end if     if b=0 then         b=sz     end if     if x(a,b)>0 then         a=olda         b=oldb         a=a+1     end if     x(a,b)=y next for a=1 to sz     for b=1 to sz         str=str & chr(9) & x(a,b)     next     wscript.echo str     str=" " next

Sample output.

C:\scripts>magicgen 5 //nologo         15      8       1       24      17         16      14      7       5       23         22      20      13      6       4         3       21      19      12      10         9       2       25      18      11 C:\scripts>magicgen 7 //nologo         28      19      10      1       48      39      30         29      27      18      9       7       47      38         37      35      26      17      8       6       46         45      36      34      25      16      14      5         4       44      42      33      24      15      13         12      3       43      41      32      23      21         20      11      2       49      40      31      22

An exercise for you. Can you use the n(n+1)/2 formula as mentioned earlier and print one line at the end of the program.

Sum of Rows/Col is _______

Like this

C:\scripts>magicgen 5 //nologo         15      8       1       24      17         16      14      7       5       23         22      20      13      6       4         3       21      19      12      10         9       2       25      18      11 Sum of rows/col is      65

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 4–FileSystemObject Contd..

Continuing on FileSystemObject, Let us look at and example to extract the properties of a file. There are some new things introduced in this example

1. SUB. This is for a procedure. you can pass parameteres just like functions but just that you cannot return any values. I have put a simple procedure called Print, that takes a string as a parameter.

2. Parameteres.  You can pass parameteres to a vbscript. Wscript.argument, is where you can see the list.

Sub Print(x)     wscript.echo x end sub set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") set f=fso.GetFile(wscript.arguments(0)) print "Path               " & f.path print "Date Created       " & f.datecreated print "Date Last Accessed " & f.datelastaccessed print "Date last modified " & f.datelastmodified print "Drive              " & f.drivedir print "Parent Folder      " & f.parentfolder print "Size (Bytes)       " & f.size print "Type of File       " & f.type

A few examples

C:\scripts>folder.vbs c:\53-Photos\ar-1.jpg Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Path                       C:\53-Photos\ar-1.jpg Date Created          09/03/2014 19:50:08 Date Last Accessed  09/03/2014 19:50:08 Date last modified  09/03/2014 19:50:08 Drive                      c: Parent Folder          C:\53-Photos Size (Bytes)             66089 Type of File            JPEG Image C:\scripts>folder folder.vbs Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Path               C:\scripts\folder.vbs Date Created       18/04/2014 00:01:02 Date Last Accessed 18/04/2014 00:01:02 Date last modified 18/04/2014 01:06:49 Drive              C: Parent Folder      C:\scripts Size (Bytes)       491 Type of File       VBScript Script File C:\scripts>

You can try an example to show the file size in MB or GB depending on the size of the file. Or may be list an output like the DIR command.

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 3–Objects

After the basics of variables, Selection and Iteration statements, let us do something useful in real life. We start with the first object FileSystemObject. This gives us access to the filesystem. An essential part of scripting. We may need to create files, modify content, look for their existence. The idea is to make you familiar with using objects as well.

Let us take an example

Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set dc = fs.Drives For Each d in dc     wscript.echo d.driveletter Next

Save this script as fsdrives.vbs

Run it

C:\scripts>cscript fsdrives.vbs //nologo C D F C:\scripts>

I have three drives on my laptop. Your machine may have more or less. Let us understand the code.

Line 1 is creating an object of FileSystemObject type. Without this you cannot use what is in this object. An object is contains methods (functions) and variables. The variables may be simple variables or may be collections. Collections are more like an array, you can use a for loop to go through each of the items, and then access the properties of each.

fs is an instance of the FileSystemObject

fs.drives is referencing a property of the FileSystemObject

fs.drives returns a collection of drives.

To loop through it we need a for loop. dc is the drive collections we have used. You have a collections of drives. For each drive there are many properties. We are referencing one of the property called driveletter.

Let us make the above program more richer. We not only need the drive, but also want to know the capacity and free space.

' Main Code Starts here Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") Set dc = fs.Drives s=chr(10) & "Number of Drives " & dc.count wscript.echo s s=string(65,"-") wscript.echo s For Each d in dc     s=d.driveletter & chr(9) & d.path & chr(9) & d.isready     if d.isready then         s=s & chr(9) & d.volumename         s=s & chr(9) & d.filesystem         ts=int(int(int(d.totalsize/1024)/1024)/1024) & " GB"         s=s & chr(9) & ts           ts=int(int(int(d.freespace/1024)/1024)/1024) & " GB"         s=s & chr(9) & ts           ts=int(int(int(d.availablespace/1024)/1024)/1024) & " GB"         s=s & chr(9) & ts            end if     wscript.echo s Next ' We have explored, volumename, filesystem, totalsize, freespace ' availablespace, driveletter, path and isready properties from ' the drives collection. These values are for each drive. ' chr(9) is for tab and chr(10) is for new line ' Anything typed after single quote is a comment. ' space is shown in bytes. change to KB, MB, GB by dividing 1024

Copy and paste the code. Run it.

C:\scripts>cscript fsdrives.vbs //nologo Number of Drives 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------- C       C:      True                  NTFS    421 GB  195 GB  195 GB D       D:      True    LENOVO  NTFS    28 GB    19 GB    19 GB F       F:      False C:\scripts>

That is the output I get. Your challenge would be to fine tune the code further so that the numbers are aligned below each other. On your machine you may see more or less drives and the numbers different.

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 2–Solution Part 2

Fibonacci Series Solution

wscript.echo "Fibonacci Series" x=1 y=1 wscript.echo 1 wscript.echo 1 for a=3 to 15     z=x+y     x=y     y=z     wscript.echo z next

 

Output

C:\scripts>cscript fibo.vbs //nologo Fibonacci Series 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89 144 233 377 610

 

An interesting video on Fibonacci Series can be viewed here.

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 2–Solution

The following is the solution of the question in the last post. Printing the prime numbers between 1 and 100. This may not be the best logic, yet it gets what to be done. It is more important to develop a timely solution than an untimely one.

wscript.echo "1" wscript.echo "2" wscript.echo "3" for x=5 to 100 step 2     isprime=0     for z=2 to x-1         if x mod z = 0 then             isprime=1         end if     next     if isprime=0 then         wscript.echo x     end if next

and the output

C:\scripts>cscript prime.vbs //nologo 1 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 29 31 37 41 43 47 53 59 61 67 71 73 79 83 89 97

Some more examples that you should try

1. List the Fibonacci series – first 15 numbers

2. Find the Square root of any number correct to 4 decimal places. (use Newton’s method)

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 2

In any programming language there are three things we need to learn at the earliest.

1. Types of variable

2. Selection Statements

3. Iteration or Loops

Since ours is a “get ready quick” course. We will only try what we think is essential.

1. Variable.

There are no types of variables. What ever you assign the variable takes that values. Unlike in other programming languages you have int, char, fload, date etc. There is nothing here. You can just put any value in any variable. The upside is variable usage is easy. Same variables can be recycled. The downside is explicit conversions are needed everytime a variable of a specific type is needed.

Assume you have a program with the following

i=5 wscript.echo i i="Programs" wscript.echo i

When you run it there is no error.

 

2. Selection statements.

Keeping it simple.

if <condn> then

<statements>

else

<statements>

randomize i=int(rnd * 10) wscript.echo i if i mod 2 =0 then     wscript.echo "Even Number" else     wscript.echo "Odd Number" end if

randomize – resets the seed, so that you get a real random numbers all the time. rnd generates a random number between 0 and 0.999xxx. The int function converts the output to an integer (we don’t need the decimals). The mod is a operation to find the remainder.

The above program prints either even or odd depending on the random number. In the example the program is saved as third.vbs

C:\scripts>cscript third.vbs Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. 7 Odd Number C:\scripts> C:\scripts>cscript third.vbs Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. 1 Odd Number C:\scripts>third Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. 0 Even Number C:\scripts>cscript third.vbs Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. 6 Even Number C:\scripts>

3. Iteration or Loops

The most convenient loop is the for – next.

An example

wscript.echo "Program 2" for i=1 to 5         wscript.echo i next wscript.echo "Random Numbers" for i = 5 to 1 step -1         randomize         intnum=rnd         wscript.echo int(intnum*10) next

 

A simple program the prints, from 1 to 5. And then random numbers between 0 and 9.

Program 2 1 2 3 4 5 Random Numbers 1 0 8 2 0

Try this exercise.

Print the first 100 prime numbers.

use the concepts learnt.

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 1

Windows Scripting (the normal shell) for Ex VB Programmers - Lesson 1

Good if you know the old Visual Basic

1. How to write your first script. (lets call this as first.vbs)

1. run cmd.exe

2. create a folder called c:\scripts

3. run notepad first.vbs

4. Save and run this file as follows

5. Try to run the file without using cscript and see what you get

6. This is because by default vbs files are executed using wscript

7. what if you wanted to change the default. Do the following

8. What if you wanted to change back the default to wscript

wscript //H:wscript

-----------------------------------------------------------------end of lesson

Even Browsers can give your location

Yes. If you are on facebook, or for the matter on any web site,  and worry about your privacy, which you should then what to do?.

The first thing that you can or should do is, disable your location. Let your browser not know your location. How do get this done on three main browsers.

1. Firefox. (works on Ver 26)

a. Open a window and type about:config

b. Agree to the warning.

c. Search for geo.enabled and Set it as false. Look in the image.

2. Google Chrome

a. Open a windows and type chrome://settings

b. Click on Advanced Settings

c. Under Privacy click on “Content Settings”

d. Scroll down and choose “Location Setting” and select

3. Internet Explorer

a. goto Tools->Internet Options

Select the “Privacy Tab”

And check the box as shown above.

 

And now surf the internet atleast not worrying about your location is tracked. What next?

Lessons : The honest truth about dishonesty.

On my recent travel I read this book. Very relevant and lots of research gone into it.

 

You can click on the book to goto Amazon.

Dishonesty, that we hardly think about in our daily lives is sometimes very subtle. I look back and find that in my life as well there are cases where it can be seen. For instance taking more than an hour for lunch, or sometimes taking a long tea break. Also the research done in the book gives insights on how we can ensure practices that can reduce dishonesty in our work place.

A worth read.

Cloud Storage. What to look for.

Every one talks cloud. Let us look at Cloud Storage. What it means? You store your data at a third party place. Why? May be lower cost, administration simplification, security, protection etc. All these things encourage us.

Where are the risks? Like all business a cloud business can fail too. What if your cloud company is the single point of failure. What happens then?

a. Your data sits on the cloud. Your cloud provider closes shop. Do you have enough time to get it back? Even you have that time, do you have enough space to get it back. Even if you can get it back will the provider have enough bandwidth for all those who want their data?

b. Suppose you got back the data, you also somehow managed to secure some storage, will your applications work? Who will make changed to them? Can you keep your RPO?

So then what is the solution? May be in a next post.

Bye Bye Altavista

Come 8th July and another search engine altavista is going to leave cyberspace. Altavista has been one of the first search engines, indexing millions of pages. It was a product that too ahead of its time. Some how through companies buying each other, it came with Yahoo. Now Yahoo has decided to stop this product.

Surprising but in my two decades in IT I have started to see even good products reaching their end of life. Have a look at this page as of today.

From 8th July the domain name www.altavista.com will redirect to yahoo.com.

Source : BBC

Google Reader

After all the requests, signatures, announcements, one of the very good service from Google, the Google Reader will be retiring tonight. When I logged in today I got this message,

Felt sad to see this. I had been a regular of this since many years. So finally I logged in today and deleted all my feeds. Make the life of Google a bit easier.

I hope Google changes its mind. And hope that other of my favorite services like GMail, Search Engine, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Documents also do not face the same fate as the Reader.

Get Start Button in Windows 8

One of the notably sad omission in windows 8 is the start button. The 8.1 version had lots of promise. Bloggers got greatly impressed with it when they saw the preview. The actual working was never published. What happened when 8.1 was released? The magical start button never came. The one put is practically of no use.

So how do we get the start button back. A genuine start button. One that works the same way it worked in Windows 7 and earlier versions. The best and free among the pack is Classic Shell.

So what happens after you install the Classic Shell. It should look something like this.

Where do you download it from?

a. From here

A normal setup.exe, next, next, finish. And you have the shell.

A thanks to the developers of classic shell.

Get back productive, and get back fast.

Allway sync

The amount of data that we are storing is on the rise. A normal household owning a computer easily has a TB of data. You just add up the hard disks, USB sticks, DVDs and CDs. Loss of data can mean a great loss.

What is the easiest way to sync your data. Say for instance you want to sync your internal disk to an external USB hard disk.

Of the many software one I like is AllwaySync. Easy to use. Download and within minutes you are on the go.

Some pieces of advice.

1. Keep your hard disk organized. I mean decide a directory structure and maintain it. For instance you can have folders like the following that I have on my disk.

I always like to begin with numbers. That way the organization is well and easy to understand. Alphabetical order is just a waste.

2. Keep the same structure on all your hard disks. So you need to thus create one plan

3. Keep atleast sync to two USB disks. This way you keep three copies. One on your local hard drive, two external copies. Sync them say every Friday. Since they have the same structure, It is just a single click.

 

So next time there should be no way to lose data.

Happy Syncing.