Software Essentials

I have a few, not sure how they will help in HA or IT reality, but they make my life alot easier.

YamiPod (Mac, PC or Linux)
http://www.yamipod.com/main/modules/home/
Allows you to easily move all of your iPod files to another location. I use this to keep my office computer mp3 files current with my iPod and my home machine. It also makes it easy to share mp3s with other computers, laptops etc.

Music Brainz
http://musicbrainz.org/
I used this to re-label all of my mp3s so they are properly formatted for iTunes and they don't wind up becoming mystery files with poor naming schemes. I was able to automate most of the process, with only about 10% actual personal intervention to get my whole 40g collection re-done. I have more which needs to be done, but it's on a remote drive and I don't want to clog my network with this traffic right now.

This is the site where I got YamiPod from, it has a ton of apps designed to fit on a thumb drive.
http://www.snapfiles.com/features/ed_usb_software.html
 
Tony;

I glanced at that website. Can you give an abridged reason why RadMin would be better than something like LogMeIn.com for users wanting to access their HA computers from work/remote locations?

Thanks,

BSR
 
In my experience, RAdmin is a business-targetted solution for managing multiple PCs. I consider that purpose and the purpose of accessing one's home PC from outside the home two very different purposes. Each product is probably well suited to its purpose.
 
BSR: My only problem with LogMeIn.com is that you need to trust them. I trust no one, especially since the service they provide is "free"! :p

gregoryx: I don't consider a $35 lifetime-licensed app to be business-class. :blink: I do, however, manage five PC's at home, so there is my multiple-PC angle.
 
I like free software that are:

1) Free without any strings attached
2) does not require install so you can be sure you're not installing spyware
3) Is lite and portable so you can run it off of a USB memory stick
4) is open sourced so it has been inspected by others to be free of malware

With that said, here are the software that I cannot live without:

1) TrueCrypt is a powerful encryption software that you can use to safely store your personal data. I have made believers in TC out of all my family, friends, and co-workers.

2) KeePass is a lite and ultra robust password manager with a highly secure encrypted database. It is very rich in functionality and yet requires no install and runs on all Windows platforms.

3) MyToDo is a very cool, lite, and easy to use TO DO list manager with a lot of cool features. Again it requires no install so you can download and try it out without any risk.

4) Darik's Nuke & Boot Disc is a utility that securely wipes out data on a hard drive. Use this utility with care!! Once you use it your data is lost.

All of these software require no install so you can try it out without risking changing your OS state.

Enjoy. :p
 
synergy - http://synergy2.sourceforge.net

sort of like a KVM but not really

"Synergy lets you easily share a single mouse and keyboard between multiple computers with different operating systems, each with its own display, without special hardware. It's intended for users with multiple computers on their desk since each system uses its own monitor(s).

Redirecting the mouse and keyboard is as simple as moving the mouse off the edge of your screen. Synergy also merges the clipboards of all the systems into one, allowing cut-and-paste between systems. Furthermore, it synchronizes screen savers so they all start and stop together and, if screen locking is enabled, only one screen requires a password to unlock them all. Learn more about how it works. "
 
Now that is really cool.

I could have used that a while ago when I was an IT and had 4 servers to monitor (all in the same room).

--Dan
 
How could I forget the tool I use everyday...

Remote Administration

Radmin
http://www.radmin.com/

I've tried the VNC variants, but, this beats them all at response time. It also has modes for viewing the screen (no mouse/keyboard interraction), Telnet, and supports file transfer.

$35


I've used RAdmin for many years. I've also used gotomypc, logmein, vnc, and others but seem to always gravitate back to Radmin. It is solid, easy to install and easy to use but maybe it is just because I am so familiar with it.
 
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