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    360col

    @360col

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    Best posts made by 360col

    • ScreenConnect tips

      I posted this in another thread and someone suggested I make a separate topic. So here it is!

      Below applies to ScreenConenct "Cloud" hosted version (should be the same for self hosted version).

      If you are using ScreenConenct and needs to run command-line using either windows CMD or PowerShell commands that are multi-lines or take more than a second or two to finish. Then try the below:

      For Poweshell commands:

      Paste below into ScreenConnect cmd windows / tab

      #!ps
      #maxlength=50000
      #timeout=300000
      ping 127.0.0.1
      dir 😄
      etc

      Line #1 is to use Powershell (to use plain Windows cmd see below)
      Line #2 & #3 are to allow long running commands.

      #!cmd
      #maxlength=50000
      #timeout=300000
      dir 😄
      etc

      You can use this to launch batch files from network share etc.

      Below example download and install an app (after activating / installing .Net framework 3) after downloading it from a url.

      #!ps
      #maxlength=50000
      #timeout=300000
      DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFx3
      Start-Sleep -s 120
      $url = "http://<url to executable goes here>"
      $filename = "<name to give to downloaded executable/file>.exe"
      $client = New-Object System.Net.WebClient
      $client.DownloadFile($url, "$env:temp$filename")
      Start-Process -FilePath "$env:temp$filename" <some argument to the executablegoes here>"

      Using the above you can do quite a lot! Something along a poor man's RMM.

      Some usage scenarios:

      • Mass roll out software (tick relevant hosts then past cmd into cmd prompt windows)
      • Trigger specific taks
      • Antying that can be made to run silently via cmd line

      Keep in mind that the cmd line context (that all the cmd will run under) is by default the <WINDIR>\systems32. So you will need to issue CD to change into the directory you want before running the cmd.

      Everything runs under the [ScreenConnect] service account with Full rights to the OS.

      I will post about implementing ACL (user access control) via Custom fields so it is possible to restrict users / tech to specific hosts in a manageable manner. I will post more when I get a bit more time.

      posted in IT Discussion screenconnect
      3
      360col
    • RE: Port - What server OS to use

      @mike-davis said in Port - What server OS to use:

      I'm not sure how effective Screen Connect would be. With my install commands that don't run within a few seconds time out. So I can't launch a .msi install unless it finishes in 2 seconds.

      It is possible to run command that take a long time to finish. See example below. The first 2nd & 3rd line line is what you need. firs line is to say its powershell.

      --------- paste below into ScreenConnect cmd windows ---
      #!ps
      #maxlength=50000
      #timeout=300000
      ping 127.0.0.1
      etc

      You can use this to launch batch files from network share etc.

      BTW my first post ever on here 🙂

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: E-mail and file storage services for Non-Profit entities

      @dbeato said in E-mail and file storage services for Non-Profit entities:

      G-Suite for Non Profit

      Unfortunately they are not offering the unlimited storage option that Education accounts are getting 😞

      I moved our non profit over to them recently (users were more familiar with it) and that is the only sticking point.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • schedule time per client not possible

      Re: Unifi Time Schedule

      I don't believe this is possible. It will switch on the wifi (for all to access) only at schedule time.

      posted in IT Discussion unifi ubiquiti networking
      3
      360col
    • RE: VoIP service in Australia

      Some ping times from my home Australian NBN connection

      ping sip.telecube.com.au
      Pinging sip.telecube.com.au [103.193.167.44] with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 103.193.167.44: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=59
      Reply from 103.193.167.44: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=59
      Reply from 103.193.167.44: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=59
      Reply from 103.193.167.44: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=59

      ping SIP.COMVERGENCE.COM.AU
      Pinging SIP.COMVERGENCE.COM.AU [203.176.185.10] with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 203.176.185.10: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=55
      Reply from 203.176.185.10: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=55
      Reply from 203.176.185.10: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=55
      Reply from 203.176.185.10: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=55

      ping sip.faktortel.com.au
      Pinging sip.faktortel.com.au [202.43.66.3] with 32 bytes of data:
      Reply from 202.43.66.3: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=56
      Reply from 202.43.66.3: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=56
      Reply from 202.43.66.3: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=56
      Reply from 202.43.66.3: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=56

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: Monitoring low level server hardware health

      I would just setup something like Zabbix and then install the Zabbix agent on each host to monitor relevant sensors and alert as things come up.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • push "Local Directory" to Yealink handsets from FreePBX

      On the yealink handsets there is the "Local" phone directory which users can add numbers themselves. However if the phone get factory rested / auto provisioned. It gets blown away.

      Is it possible to push this out from FreePBX? Basically we want the user to give us a list of names & numbers and we can add for them. That will keep reloaded if the phone needs to be factory reset etc (when trouble shooting etc).

      I'm referring to the individual handsets Local Directory and not the shared one. I know that you can manually export it as an XML then re import it after reseting the phone. Can this be automated.

      This is part of if any issue config gets blown away and re-provioned from FreePBX to a known state.

      Thanks.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: ScreenConnect tips

      @jaredbusch said in ScreenConnect tips:

      Everything runs as the service the software is running under. By defualt this should be local system and you have fiull admin rights to do whatever you need here.

      Yes, forgot to mention that.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: ScreenConnect tips

      Glad you found it useful :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_smiling_eyes:

      I haven't found the time to write out details steps to make ACL (control host acess) using filters.

      Below is an example I used to install various things with download and install all in one step.

      #!ps 
      #maxlength=50000 
      #timeout=300000 
      If (Test-Path "C:\windows\temp\myapp.exe"){Remove-Item "C:\windows\temp\myapp.exe"}
      (new-object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('http://www.domain.com/myapp.exe','C:\windows\temp\myapp.exe') 
      C:\windows\temp\myapp.exe /quiet /norestart
      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: 365 migration tools?

      Re: 365 migration tools?

      Whats your budget? No budget and have to do manually or do you need minimal downtime and can pay. Are you planning to do it your self or get someone in to do it. How much down time can you afford.?

      If you have a budget there are tools like SkyKick, Migration Wiz and its many competitor etc to automated and simply the migration / reduce down time re-config outlook all al workstation etc.

      There is another tool that has a once off cost (the name escape me at the moment) where you install in on a local desktop / server and it can transfer your Exchange mailboxes & contacts to Office365. It not as spiffy as the others however is more affordable.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col

    Latest posts made by 360col

    • RE: Tactical RMM

      User of RMM here, some days I spent more time fighting with labtech then needed.

      @scottalanmiller said in Tactical RMM:

      Has anyone looked at the demo? Just fired it up, but so far, it seems quite impressive.

      Definitely agree. Feels very responsive. Whilst many of the the other RMM haven't managed to move into the current century with their half baked baked web interface.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      I bet we can find them there for way, way less.

      I just had a look at Maxotel's price. We definitely get if for way less. My previous point Australian general have to pay much more due to location / size of market.

      Price search engine I frequently use for Aus https://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=yealink+T46S

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @taurex said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      no one does it better here than Maxotel

      This I agree. I spoke to them previously a while ago and they did impress me at the time. On another form I frequent they consistently get good feedback.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      their handset prices are significantly higher than any market we've seen and we work all over the world.

      Welcome to Australian pricing / tax.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      Only people trying to sabotage their own businesses. I guarantee you can do it for a tiny fraction of that

      I'm never paying Telstra price. It was just a reference for discussion. Most telco here will give you a all you can eat for much less. Their obvious selling point is 'we beat Telstra'. To most average SMB its a saving to them.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @JaredBusch said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      In the 1000 user range I would expect RC to be $10/user or less.

      We are not putting everything in initially. So would only be a small deployment. pricing seems ok-ish on the quote.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      I wonder if that remains true in Australia where the underlying telephony costs are so much higher.

      If you have a high enough volume than pricing is reasonable enough. Telstra here charges approx $35 - $40 a month for a 'landline / PSTN' so that's what everyone trying to price to.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @JaredBusch said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      Ring central requires you to buy or lease the phones. They are not included in the advertised price. Since you have Yealinks, you should be fine.

      Yes I know. I have put in my 2 cents about recommending we keep using Yealinks from a performance & price angle. We currently use the T46S as our standard.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      How did we get ruled out, but not RingCentral?

      I was asked to review the Ringcentral quote and give my opinion. It seems it has been very much decided to trial RingCentral before it got to me (without me realizing). I did suggest some providers to look at but it doesn't seem like those will be entertained so I gave my 2 cents and left it at that for now.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      UC is a scam,...

      Yeah I know. Higher up are drinking the cool aid with the whole 'presence' thing. Office365 integrated calling (via Telstra) were looked at and discarded due to cost and wasn't going to work for our use case.

      Let not even go into the 'magic quadrant' crap! (hint it was brought up).

      Feel free to continue the discussions. However my original purpose is concluded. Aka I wouldn't have bothered had I known what I know now of the 'requirements'. Dam its frustrating at times trying to do your best and get hampered by arbitrary things.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      Thanks for all the replies.

      The FreePBX instant are provided & "managed" by a telco we use and we are potentially moving away from them so that won't stay. We do not currently have access to End Point Manager due to its being a managed FreePBX platform.

      Also looking at the next level that involve muti-country and all that "UC" stuff (to some degree, more like using a VOIP App).

      I'm just arming myself with as much info as I can as I won't be the one making the call on this. Other non technical factors has also come into play so looks like we are going to trial RingCentral.

      We are Australian based so Scott's company won't fit into the equation. I also now found out that another of our little subsidiary have been using RingCentral so that gave them some bonus points just because.

      I'll report back here if we do go with RingCentral and how things goes.

      BTW: It turns out that we don't actually need SSO for any technical reasons at present and it was just thrown in there just because we are on the train to auth everything with Azure AD.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RE: RingCentral and Vonage

      Thanks for the reply Scott.

      I know some of the things I listed are standard features. However just want to be complete just in case either don't have (not the 1st time I have seen such things happened!).

      For context I currently manage a some what "managed cloud PBX" (aka FreePBX) for one of our sub business which is near ~1000 handsets. We are merging with our sister business which has different set of requirements and more fancy features.

      I currently do most things day to day admin of the the FreePBX setup (minus keeping the serer running). This allows us to quickly respond to our "customers" needs (rapid extension changes, update routing etc at short notice).

      I did not know and take RingCentral as being consumer/SMB target and level. Hence asking here.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      being able to break down charges per department / site etc
      Chances are, you'd do this in your own reports.

      Currently doing this and its not fun or accurate.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      24/7 support
      Define support. Both have good support (in my experience), but limited. They don't support end to end so unless you need support only within what they handle, you might need a second support vendor to fill in the gaps.

      As in if their system (or things under their control) shit themselves we can talk to someone on their end and not have to wait for days... to get things fixed up in a reasonable amount of time.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      self management for basic things (add ext, change routing, IVR, queues, enable disable accounts etc)
      Do you really want that? Or do you only want it because you assume that their support can't be good enough and you'll have to take it on to work around their problems? Not that anyone doesn't offer this, just in theory, why would you need to have it if you have a good vendor that handles it for you and you know knows what they are doing?

      As I mentioned. Its more of we can handle things ourselves and in a timely manner without needing to lodge a ticket and wait each time. We have very rapid changes due to business requirement. Lodging a tick to quickly activate a call forward or change the routing is not going to work too well.

      @scottalanmiller said in RingCentral and Vonage:

      Having to learn how to manage the system themselves because RC doesn't manage it for you. For simple things, like a quick recording of a message, this can be trivial. But for reprogramming an IVR, it can get pretty complex. I've seen customers spend more money paying an MSP to handle the gaps in RC's support than it would have cost to completely replace RC entirely!

      We have internal resources that are more than capable of doing these things ourselves and changes as business needed it.

      Who else would you recommend we look into at our level?

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col
    • RingCentral and Vonage

      I can't seem to find anything recent on both RingCentral and Vonage on here.

      We are looking for something that meets the below requirements plus the usual. I've been given a quote from RingCentral (tens of pages of marketing crap with no tech details) and got asked to look at it. What do people on here have to say on either of the above or similar competitors.

      For reference we have a few hundreds sites. Looking to go on something initially for a subset of them with a view to put it all there eventually.

      Need:

      • multi country support (currently Australia & NZ) needs numbers for both country
      • Cloud based. Don't want an internal PBX as to not reply on a single site.
      • 1000+ handsets / extensions overall. Initial rollout will be a subset.
      • Single solution for voice & contact / call centre (smaller component)
      • SSO with MS Azure / AD
      • 24/7 support
      • someone who has been around for more than 2 seconds and who will (likely) be around in a couple of years
      • Sofphone / smart phone apps
      • usual remote provisioning (has very large fleet of Yealinks)
      • usual IVR / queues etc
      • WAN IP based security (ideally)
      • API to tie into internal things / analytics ?
      • being able to break down charges per department / site etc
      • mix match plans / concurrent calls to be cost effective
      • fax support (yes!)
      • self management for basic things (add ext, change routing, IVR, queues, enable disable accounts etc)

      Anything else we might want.

      RingCentral:

      • "hidden fees" is the killer (out of date?)
      • 3rd party integration looks impressive

      Vonage

      • can't see too much 3rd party integration
      • seems expensive (25 cents per minutes calls to mobile (unless on most expensive plan)! come on, any random provider charges 12 cents here..)

      I know both are America based so wondering if their support level is acceptable for non American customers.

      Thanks.

      posted in IT Discussion
      3
      360col