James Brown’s Technology Blog

Ok, here is my problem.  I bought this Netgear FVX538 last week.  It worked great for the first 24 hours.   After that 24 hours, the router shutdown, locked up. The light on the router seem to keep moving like nothing had happened. I got this router to remove the Linux server that was acting up.  It was acting up because a heat sink needs to be replaced.  Yes, you would have replaced the heat sink.  Well, being an older IBM server the heat sink was $150 - $210.  It was cheaper to order a new router and fix that server later.

AVOID USING THESE ROUTERS AT ALL COSTS!!! The current (2.0) firmware has a memory leak that Netgear refuses to fix. Their solution is for me to reboot my router every 24 hrs. (I have FVX 538’s, v1 and v.2 hardware, 338 and 318. All exhibit the memory leak behavior and if you use VPN tunnels between routers, you have to reboot every 24 hours. (about 3-4 days w/o using the VPN). The tech support is possibly the worst on the planet. They refuse to pass information up the channel and constantly try and solve the problem with the same idiotic canned answers. 3rd tier support simply refuses to call back, never keeps appointments for trouble shooting and lies about the extent of the problem (everyone who upgrades has this problem). FYI, if you don’t upgrade there are multiple other issues (such as hung static routes and vpn incompatibility). I’ve been a system admin for 20 years, I’m very proficient at networking and routing; and this has been the worst piece of tech I’ve used.

I cannot believe that Netgear would let a product like this to sit there and be a hunk of junk.  I have other consults come up and tell me that Netgear is some of the better equipment out there.  Well this was my experience with this company and probably my last (At least for business use).

I hope they fix this problem, before is takes them right out of the business market.

So in other words I’m going to send that router back.  I’m going to get my new eSoft InstaGate firewall ordered.

I don’t know how many of you know this, I’m starting a committee that is looking/planning to develop a Community Technology Center in Audubon, IA. 

This Technology Center will:

Provide technology to all of Audubon County. This includes all school districts, city and county organizations, businesses, etc. Provide technology to Audubon county to learn and grow. Help the county gain technology skill and experience to create a great computer savvy workforce. Provide businesses with resources that they need to grow their business. Business would be provided with access to software, computer, web conferencing, high speed internet, web presence(web site), etc. Provide reliable and rock solid computer for business and public internet access. Provide a great place to learn. This might also be used in job training, and business training. In time this might also create jobs in and around Audubon County.

The Technology Center will be and funded by:

The Technology Center will be a non-profit organization, which is owned and operated by people of Audubon County. All funding will be from in-kind donations and grants. If the city and county would like to donate to this center, that would also be accepted. I do not want this center/program to be run on only tax money.

Things we are in process of doing:

We are looking at what, you as the community, want from this technology center. The Steering Committee at this time is really looking for a great place to have the Community Technology Center. This Committee is also looking at grants and other funding options.

Anyone from the community is welcomed to these meetings.

Ok here goes my first blog post…..

Well not to much to talk about yet,  but time will allow me to get into writing more blogs.

Here is the wiki definition of myspace:

Ok here is my thoughts on the myspace.com:

My wife loves myspace.  I would say that she spends at least 1-2 hours on myspace a day.   Me on the other hand would rather just design a website and put all  the same information in to that website.  That is just me.

The new problem is, all these sexual predators that are on myspace. If I remember right from the evening new last night that myspace has removed 1000 sexual predator from their website so far.   That make me kind of scared. I’m not looking forward to my kids following in my footsteps of technology.

On that subject,  your kids are not protected from these things.  You need to keep track of their internet habits.  Online chats and IM’s are a really big social tools today. Myspace and blogging like I’m doing now, can leave an open door to people that can hurt or mistreat your kids.

What you should do:

    Keep the computer in a room that the family is always in.
            (Not the kid’s room)

    Ask questions (this is always a great idea)

    Do not put any private information out there (age,
             address, phone, SSN#, etc.)

Remember that you the parents are the first line of defense for your children.