Church IT RoundTable

September 02, 2010

Tony Dye

SOHO Backup, Part 8 - Search Awareness

Continuing on ideas for the "Perfect" SOHO Backup System.

Previously:
1. Local Backup
2. 3-2-1 Rule
3. Off-Site doesn't have to be instant
4. Reporting
5. Backup Set Selection
6. Cloud Resources
7. Delete and Overwrite Protection
8. Archiving
9. Dedupe

Today:
9. Search Awareness
At first, this may seem to have nothing to do with backup, so let me try to explain. We back files up because they're important (or we think they might be), right? And if they're important, that means we might want to look at them again someday, right? Well, to look at them again, we have to be able to find them, and over time, most of us tend to lose track of all the things we've ever created. So, hopefully, we have some good form of search implemented that let's us find all that stuff that we're so careful to keep in backing up.

Often, however, we're inundated with search results because of the glut of files. If backup and search knew about each other, maybe we could have some ways to help clean-up on the fly. A few ideas:

  1. If search was aware of archive storage, but could differentiate it, then it would be possible to search active storage without searching the archives. A search option (checkbox?) would allow for "also searching archives"
  2. What if the search result screen had an archiving component. If a search results shows a bunch of old / inactive files, right there tag them for archive and let the backup system move them off prime storage at the next opportunity
  3. Taking the above two together, the search screen could quickly become a key file-management tool. When searching the archives, the alternative "move back to prime storage" would be a nice option to have
  4. For archiving purposes, one of the easy solutions is to be able to recognize files that haven't been accesses in a long time (and how long is "a long time" is probably a debatable subject). One of the ironies is that backing up a file touches it, so the date of last access is the same as the date of the last backup. Backup needs to leave the date of last access alone. As does search! Finding a file in a search result should not actually touch the file. This is probably true of most search solutions. Can we force the archive and dearchiving to leave access date alone as well?

I'm looking forward to the day of self-cleaning storage and easy retrieval of important information and auto-archiving of less-important information. Until then, an search-aware backup and a backup-aware search are good steps in the right direction.

Next: Referrals

by TonyDye at September 02, 2010 09:27 PM

September 01, 2010

Jason Powell

Church Techies Biggest Loser #6 Signup

image

That’s right! It’s time for installment #6 of our Church Techies Biggest Loser contest!  Here are our guidelines/rules based off our prior BL1 , BL2 , BL3 , BL4 and BL5 contests.

Would you believe to date participants have lost a combined weight of over 1600 pounds!  Wow!

Eligibility

Any church IT, Web, AV, Tech/Production Arts staff (full, part-time, or volunteer role).  Church ChMS peeps and other Church tech consultants are encouraged to join as well.

Don't fit the above roles, but want to join too? Shoot me an email and we can discuss.

Reduced price from $25 down to $15 to register ... no refunds … period!

Dates

  • Starts Friday Sept 3rd... but you can join ANY TIME after too. Just means you have less time to burn off the flab.
  • Ends Nov 23rd (just in time to enjoy Thanksgiving)
  • Winners get a split of the total registration pot less paypal transaction fees (~2.5%) ... breakdown of 75%, 20%, 5% ... if any vendors kick in prizes too then those well be in the mix to choose from as well.

Weigh Ins

  • Weigh ins should occur each Friday at the same time of day. It's OK if you have to weigh in a day or so late periodically.  Sometimes travel or life just interferes.  No problem.  Just make sure you get your weight recorded each week.  You can only miss a weigh in or 2 before you'll start getting nasty emails from me!
    • Missing 2 weeks in a row IS BAD!! and will most likely get you booted from the contest (no refund). It's not fair to others who are keeping their stats updated, especially once the contest is getting down the wire.
  • Participants will record their weekly weight each Friday in our online Zoho Spreadsheet (you'll get an email after you register).
  • The same scale must be used for each weigh in.
  • The same clothes or lack thereof must be worn at each weigh in.
  • Weigh ins will be recorded in whole pounds. If your scale reports partial pounds just drop the fraction...no rounding up or down
  • In the final 2 weeks there will be a cap on how much weight you can drop in a given week period ... to keep away from crazy dehydration techniques ;-)

Winning

It's not very fancy, but whoever has the largest weight loss % wins. (max weight - min weight) / max weight

Honor System

The contest assumes that all participants will follow the teachings of the Bible ... you know ... don't lie, don't cheat! If you are dishonest God will deal with you justly.

If you're in ... hit this link to register. If you prefer to send $ another way just shoot me an email (gccjason at gmail) and we'll discuss.

Check out the prior Church Techie Biggest Losers: BL1 results and BL2 results and BL3 results and BL4 results and BL5 results

by Jason Powell at September 01, 2010 05:06 AM

Tony Dye

SOHO Backup, Part 7 - Dedupe?

Continuing on ideas for the "Perfect" SOHO Backup System.

Previously:
1. Local Backup
2. 3-2-1 Rule
3. Off-Site doesn't have to be instant
4. Reporting
5. Backup Set Selection
6. Cloud Resources
7. Delete and Overwrite Protection
8. Archiving

Today:
9. Dedupe?
Dedupe probably means different things, and I want to address at least two of them.

First, saving space on the backup media.
This is probably the most common form of dedupe, and in it's simplest form, it means not backing up the same file twice. If the backup system can detect that the same file exists more than once, it only backs it up once and keeps pointers to the additional copies.

More sophisticated dedupe systems go beyond this by looking within files, at logical "chunks" (defined many different ways, and not saving that duplicated data but once. A common situation is to image a block of text that is used over and over in documents or email messages. A sophisticated backup system can save this chunk of text only once, and then re-reference it in all other places.

Reducing the size of the backup set by this sort of deduplication is certainly a good thing, and the manufacturers of these products have some impressive statistics on how valuable they are. I have trouble getting terribly excited about this sort of dedupe, because, IMHO, it's solving the wrong problem.

Second, eliminating duplicate source data.
To me, this is the real problem. Primary (expensive) storage often has lots of duplicated files. for instance, an "interesting" document that was distributed to a large audience may be saved multiple times. It's the same file, but it exists a bunch of times. The dedupe solution above would save it from taking up lots of backup space, but it still takes lots of *primary* space, which is the problem! A really good dedupe would attack the source, not the destination. I've seen a few, expensive, not-well-known, systems that touch into this area, but none that seem to have caught on big-time. Microsoft Exchange used to tout it's "single store" method for handling attachments that had been sent to multiple people, but in recent versions even that has been removed. Too much effort for not enough gain.

Sometimes I miss my Unix (and derivatives) days that used links to solve a part of this problem. But even that wasn't a solution. The underlying problem is that we have fallible systems (often called humans) who have a propensity to save things multiple times. It would take another system (also probably fallible) to look at all the redundancy and reduce it down on the source side. It's not hard to write software to find such duplicates (I did it many years ago in a very simple Bourne shell script), but the problem is what to do with the duplicates. People are reluctant to let systems programatically clean up for them, so the file glut continues.

Worth a quick mention: There is probably a third common case of duplication caused through emailing of attachments. This isn't a backup issue, per se, but it's an issue that's worthy of some creative solutions. Dropbox, Google Docs, etc., are some pretty good solutions, but only if people choose to use them. Some get it, some don't. How can we make this so much easier that it's automatic and the email/attachment glut self-destructs?

My opinion, unsubstantiated, is that a solution that archives "not recently used" files would tend to also solve the duplicate file problem. So, where are the products that handle this? So far, they are very expensive. That's a shame.

Next: Search Issues

by TonyDye at September 01, 2010 03:31 AM

August 30, 2010

Scott Fillmer

Monday Morning Photos of a Sunrise Surprise

This morning just when I opened my eyes this is what I saw above. My face just happens to face east right out a window, and this morning these low clouds turned into a beautiful sunrise. The colors fade so quickly but the brilliance produced in a matter of five minutes is just amazing. As I write this there are virtually no colors in the sky and the sun has retreated behind the thick clouds but what a great surprise to wake up and see the colors of a sunrise.

I was only able to take a few shots and by the time I got over to the pond (last photo) the colors were already just about gone, (time sequence of the shots was about 2-3 minutes). You can click on each photo to see a larger image, hope you enjoy them as much as I did when I ran out in the grass in my bare feet.

Other Posts Related to this Topic

by Scott Fillmer at August 30, 2010 11:56 AM

Watermark Geeks

Twitter updates for the week of 2010-08-30

  • Dear kidzbop, what part of "10 year old kids singing sexy lyrics about shaking things they haven't even developed yet" isn't creepy to you? #
  • You know you live in a house of girls when this is the only option. http://twitpic.com/2jficv #
  • Impromptu serving in childrens ministry means you wear this sweet shirt. As seen in Vogue and GQ. :) http://twitpic.com/2jdbuh #
  • @benjordan dang… in reply to benjordan #
  • @clintmiller Or it could just be because they are Promise Arrays and like to fail for fun. =) in reply to clintmiller #
  • 72 degrees this a.m. in Dallas… diggin' this cold front. (via @JeffPelletier) A….MEN! #
  • Texas CITRT fall event will be in Dallas, October 25th or 26th. More details to come. Get this date on your calendar and be there! #citrt #
  • Bit off more that I can chew for sure. Now to find out if I'm going to choke on it and die. #
  • I hate red light cameras. Big Brother at it's finest. #
  • You know school is back in session because my commute time to the office is now twice what it should be. #
  • @dszp I usually just cover them with warm marshmallows and chocolate, but you know, whatever works for you. in reply to dszp #

by watermarkgeek at August 30, 2010 10:45 AM

August 28, 2010

Tim Golden

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:28 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Portsmouth Air show [Flickr]

Golden ~Eye~ posted a photo:

Portsmouth Air show

Portsmouht ( Boston ) Air show at Pease AFB in Newington, NH

by Golden ~Eye~ at August 28, 2010 09:27 PM

Scott Fillmer

Jesus, I need Your Love (I Need Your Love)

Do we recognize how much we need God’s love in our life, or put a different way, how much do we desire that love that only God can fulfill? Our lives are so busy, we tend to just push away this desire or we may not even think about it at all. But even when we do contemplate God’s love, we can only express it in terms that a limited human mind can do (like below), in terms of things that are familiar, but it’s so much more than that.

I came across a familiar poem today that expressed, in worldly terms, how much one can desire the love of another, and it reminded me more of whether we desire God at least like this, or is it only this powerfully expressed for the things of this world? If we can express worldly love “like the hot needs the sun, like honey on her tongue, like oxygen, I need your love”, how much greater is the love God has for us? Without the desire for God’s love, and for His Glory, we are just about in the same shape as my widow pictured above, broken.

I have gone over the words below about twenty times now, it’s pretty powerful (even more when put to music), but how much more should we desire God’s love… probably more than we need to take our next breath.

I Need Your Love

Like a desert needs rain
Like a town needs a name
I need your love
Like a drifter needs a room
Hawkmoon
I need your love

Like a rhythm unbroken
Like drums in the night
Like sweet soul music
Like sunlight
I need your love

Like coming home
And you don’t know where you’ve been
Like black coffee
Like nicotine
I need your love (I need your love)

When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your love

Like a Phoenix rising needs a holy tree
Like the sweet revenge of a bitter enemy
I need your love

Like the hot needs the sun
Like honey on her tongue
Like the muzzle of a gun
Like oxygen
I need your love (I need your love)

When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your love

Like thunder needs rain
Like a preacher needs pain
Like tongues of flame
Like a sheet stained
I need your love

Like a needle needs a vein
Like someone to blame
Like a thought unchained
Like a runaway train
I need your love

Like faith needs a doubt
Like a freeway out
I need your love

Like powder needs a spark
Like lies need the dark
I need your love

I need all the love in your heart… and I need all the love in your heart…

~ Hawkmoon 269, U2

Other Posts Related to this Topic

by Scott Fillmer at August 28, 2010 07:54 PM

August 27, 2010

Scott Fillmer

Edwards Resolved and Acres of Grass to Cut :: Friday Feet

I thought I would post something a little more lighthearted than my last few posts, and I have wanted to get back into doing my weekly series called Friday Feet, so here it is. My last Friday Feet post was one year ago, almost to the weekend, so I think it is about time to pick it back up again. Seeing that this is the last weekend before football season starts, the push is on over at our place to get as much grass cut as we possibly can so we can skip the process over the football weekend when Auburn plays Arkansas State.

Too bad it doesn’t feel like football season outside… it still seems to be hovering around 100*F every day but I know colder weather is on the way. We do have quite a bit of grass to cut out here so I thought I would get a head start and go out and start cutting today. Some people hate cutting grass but I really don’t mind at all, it gives me time to transfer my studies from in front of the computer to my headphones. Of course I am sitting on various sizes of John Deere tractors that propel me ahead, otherwise I probably wouldn’t like it.

I really find that changing your routine and environment are as important to study, contemplation, and worship, as going to church on Sunday morning. Jonathan Edwards often got on his horse (literally) and went out into greener pastures for several hours at a time to refresh his mind. I know the connection between cutting grass and Edwards’ contemplation is a stretch, but it clears the mind as much as running or cycling does for some.

Jonathan Edwards Resolved #1

Edwards wrote two types of pieces that are now referred to as Miscellanies and Resolutions. His resolutions are one of the most fascinating short pieces he ever wrote. These are not your ordinary resolutions, and today, I am reminded of Edwards’ first “resolved”.

#1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

I think I will chew on that over a few hours and a few acres of grass. Have a great weekend.

Other Posts Related to this Topic

by Scott Fillmer at August 27, 2010 05:18 PM