40/sec to 500/sec
July 26, 2008
Introduction
Surprised, by the title? well, this is a tour of how we cracked the scalability jinx from handling a meagre 40 records per second to 500 records per second. Beware, most of the problems we faced were straight forward, so experienced people might find this superfluous. Contents
* 1.0 Where were we?
1.1 Memory hits the sky 1.2 Low processing rate 1.3 Data loss 
1.4 Mysql pulls us down 1.5 Slow Web Client
* 2.0 Road to Nirvana
2.1 Controlling memory! 2.2 Streamlining processing rate 2.3 What data loss uh-uh? 2.4 Tuning SQL Queries 2.5 Tuning database schema 2.5 Mysql helps us forge ahead! 2.6 Faster…faster Web Client
* 3.0 Bottom line
Where were we?
Initially we had a system which could scale only upto 40 records /sec. I could even recollect the discussion, about “what should be the ideal rate of records? “. Finally we decided that 40/sec was the ideal rate for a single firewall. So when we have to go out, we atleast needed to support 3 firewalls. Hence we decided that 120/sec would be the ideal rate. Based on the data from our competitor(s) we came to the conclusion that, they could support around 240/sec. We thought it was ok! as it was our first release. Because all the competitors talked about the number of firewalls he supported but not on the rate.
Antivirus Software ? Get The Bugs Before They Get You!
July 25, 2008
You turn on your computer, and it doesn’t look quite right. Maybe your icons have changed, or the background picture is wrong. Some options are disabled. Even worse, you may not be able to boot your computer up at all. Guess what ? it’s probably got a virus.
In today’s online world, protecting your computer from all the nasty things online is vital. Viruses can cause obvious issues, as described above, but they can also run silently in the background, propagating themselves across your computer and transferring on to the computers of people you know. Mostly, you only know you have a virus when substantial damage has already been done.
Some common signs of a virus include:
- Programs working erratically
- Computer locks up
- Greyed out options
- The browser home page has changed
- Icons have changed
- Difficulties starting up the computer
There is a solution! Antivirus software is readily available, and the good ones are very efficient at dealing with viruses in all their many and varied mutations. Basically, if you’re online, you need this type of software.
ERP System of the Future: Database, Business Logic and Interface
July 24, 2008
We will base our prognosis on our Microsoft Business Solutions ERP consulting practice: Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM. Also we’ve analyzed Oracle products: Oracle Financials, JD Edwards, PeopleSoft, and IBM Lotus Notes Domino. The trends could be seen in both: so-called functional consulting, dealing with overall system implementation and user training and customization ? customization tools, open vs. proprietary technologies, etc. Our ideas are addressed to large corporate business IT departments, because in our opinion these professionals are under the highest pressure to foresee the future and make proper selection decision today.
? No more new ERPs. The best time to launch software development company with the aim to create new ERP was 1980th. Those days we saw the dominance of Hardware & OS (UNIX, Solaris, DOS, Mac OS). Each platform was selfish and usually non-compatible with the others (somebody may point out to EDI interfaces ? yes, this was probably the only way of making different platforms talk to each other)
Microsoft Great Plains Payroll Module Customization Scenarios
July 23, 2008
It is now common thing when large corporation selects mid-market ERP or so-called standard functionality MRP solution as its corporate accounting system. Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good candidate. As all MBS ERPs it has MS SQL Server 2000/2005 database platform and allows you to deploy customizable and altered solution, serving large corporation HR department. If you use US / Canadian Payroll module as paycheck solution for internal employees ? you probably don’t need custom logic. In this small article we’ll show you the way of tailored integrated solution for nation-wide placement agency.
? The Market. There is huge placement market in healthcare ? registered/certified nurses, also we see growing placement market in other industries, especially looking for temporary workforce: wholesale & retail, manufacturing, agriculture, etc.
? Paychecks. Temps might work for one or several of your regional clients and they may decide to walk in to one of your regional offices to request immediate paycheck for their weekly work. Each office should be capable to issue paycheck immediately and the problem is to process and post it in Great Plains. Definitely you can use eConnect to create work checks, but eConnect doesn’t allow you to post transactions, this is why you need custom solution. If you are large company ? you may have a need to issue several thousand checks per day ? automatic posting is the must.
Free Microsoft Word Online Training Tutorial Resources
July 23, 2008
Microsoft Word is one of the most popular office applications that provide many features such as word processing, web publishing and database creation. Tapping into these Word resources, however, is not always easy and straightforward, leaving users stumped and puzzled.
So where can you find out how to perform these great features in Microsoft Word? Below I have listed some great, free resources for help with Microsoft Word.
Free Online Training Tutorials
There are a number of websites that offer free online Word training tutorials. These training tutorials range from quick tips and tricks, to step-by-step instructions with screenshots to video tutorials. To find free online training tutorials, do a Google search (or any other search engine for that matter) for [free online training tutorials].
Microsoft Corporation’s Microsoft Word Portal and Knowledge Base
It’s always good to get information first hand from the horse’s mouth, right? Well, to find out about Microsoft Word, go to the Microsoft Word portal of the Microsoft website. There they offer tips and tricks on how to use Microsoft Word, have a huge knowledgebase of frequently asked questions, any related patches to update or fix current application functionality, and even offer additional free downloads of templates and other tools to use with Microsoft Word. You can find the Microsoft Word Portal of the Microsoft website at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/FX010857991033.aspx for Windows PC users and http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/word2004/word2004.aspx?pid=word2004 for Apple Macintosh users.
The XP Firewall Isnt Enough
July 22, 2008
You might think you don’t need a firewall because windows XP has one built in, but read on for a plain-english explanation why this isn’t enough. Before broadband and cable connections were common most people didn’t need a personal firewall because they weren’t connected to the Internet for extended periods of time.
Every computer that connects to the internet has an IP address. This is like a sort of phone number, and is issued either to an individual computer or to a “gateway” that connects a private network to the ‘net.
Domestic dial-up internet connections normally use a system called Dynamic IP Addressing where people are issued with a sort of “new identity” every time they connect, so it’s difficult to find and attack an individual computer - Dynamic IP addressing is a bit like having your phone number change every time you use the phone, which makes it difficult for the bad guys to find you.
But the longer you keep a particular "phone number" the more chance there is of someone finding you and that is why high-speed always-on connections need handling with care.
Assertion in Java
July 21, 2008
Assertion facility is added in J2SE 1.4. In order to support this facility J2SE 1.4 added the keyword assert to the language, and AssertionError class. An assertion checks a boolean-typed expression that must be true during program runtime execution. The assertion facility can be enabled or disable at runtime.
Declaring Assertion
Assertion statements have two forms as given below
assert expression;
assert expression1 : expression2;
The first form is simple form of assertion, while second form takes another expression. In both of the form boolean expression represents condition that must be evaluate to true runtime.
If the condition evaluates to false and assertions are enabled, AssertionError will be thrown at runtime.
Some examples that use simple assertion form are as follows.
assert value > 5 ;
assert accontBalance > 0;
assert isStatusEnabled();
The expression that has to be asserted runtime must be boolean value. In third example isStatusEnabled() must return boolean value. If condition evaluates to true, execution continues normally, otherwise the AssertionError is thrown.
Following program uses simple form of assertion
//AssertionDemo.java
Class AssertionDemo{
Public static void main(String args[]){
System.out.println( withdrawMoney(1000,500) );
Corporate Accounting System: Microsoft Great Plains ? Overview
July 20, 2008
Corporate ERP/MRP selection might be tough one, especially considering very turbulent ERP world and fierce competition between Microsoft Business Solutions (Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM), Oracle (Oracle Financials, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards), IBM (including Lotus Domino), SAP, Microsiga (Brazil, Portugal). We recommend you, IT director of large corporation, make your home work and decide on Microsoft or Java/EJB/J2EE platform (however you should consider vendor dependence minimization, and stake on both with XML streams integration between the two). In this small article we will concentrate on Microsoft Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise/Great Plains Accounting
? Database Platform. Current trends in the IT applied science are biased toward reliable and standard database platform. If you look at such product as SAP (Abap) or Navision (C/Side native database). This is probably reflection of the future multiple OS harmony: Linux, Windows, Unix systems will coexist communicating via XML (pure text) inbound and outbound streams. We’d say you should be looking for ERP which sits in the standard database: Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, Ingress, Sybase, Unidata. SQL is the survivor and it will stay for a very long time. It should be possible to query your data via SQL queries ? this will make your life easier when you face integration, customization and reporting needs. Microsoft Great Plains uses MS SQL Sever.
Should I Use Windows Update?
July 19, 2008
Should one use Windows Update?
This topic has good and valid arguments on both sides. Some would say keeping your windows up to date is essential in keeping it free of the newest, worst viruses and the like. Others would say that updating your windows is overemphasized, unneeded and a waste of time.
In the future, Microsoft will have ways of detecting whether your version of windows is actually store-bought, or pirated. With so many copies of pirated windows on the market, such a move by Microsoft is almost required in order to continue cornering the OS market. For instance, when SP 1 (and 2) came out, you had to have an authentic windows serial code in order to download the update. There are of course ways of getting around this, but it deterred much illegal upgrading to the new service packs. Had you have had a pirated copy of windows (and the majority does), then you could have downloaded a copy of windows SP 1/2, but you would have had to completely re-install and possibly format in order to install it.
If you had an original windows serial code that came with the product, you could have just downloaded the packs from the windows update servers.
Most Common Ways to Accumulate Spyware (where It is Downloaded to Your PC)
July 18, 2008
It is possible that if one avoided all sources of spyware, ad-ware and virus infection that infection would be at minimal levels. Although I don’t recommend using only this method as a form of fighting spyware, it can be a potentially effective mean. Used in conjunction with a virus scanning program (I recommend Avast), abstaining from visiting these web sites or using these programs will help your PC to fight off infections, infestations and slower speeds due to unneeded running processes.
The most common places where your PC will pick up spyware, ad-ware and viruses will be adult websites or websites related to security. By security, I mean websites related to computer hacking and the like. If you partake in software piracy, you will notice that many of these websites that are piracy download zones have javascripts and cookies running that download software to your computer unknowingly. They usually come in the form of cookies. If you run a good virus program while you visit these sites, your virus program will most certainly warn you to “abort the connection” or “terminate the script.” This means a server-side script is running to put spyware in the form of cookies onto your hard drive.
