Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: "MWE Computers Services" <mwecomputers@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2005 21:55:34 -0400
My entire business is primarly mobile, with the chance that an SMB needs
quotes for Dell or even more graphic oriented PCs (found that Alienware
works great for these clients). The residentials have given me about a 1/3rd
of my SMB clients. One client even had me set the clock in the VCR and setup
her home answering machine. All in a hour's time. ;-)
Funny you mention the WRV -- the place I added in the SBS server is using
the WRV as their firewall/router. Did find that the WRV does disagree w/ the
DHCP part being done by the SBS server, thus blocks the VPN connections
using QuickVPN. (Linksys is aware of this issue and working on a fix.)
-- Michael
"Jamie" <bigred@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uJMvVvkkFHA.3316@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> What I've found is that those on-site calls to residential customers open
a
> lot of doors to the SMBs. We do a lot of support over the phone, but if
> someone asks or if we know the user and things are beyond them, I jump in
> the car and head to their place.
>
> And Russ is right - half the time I think I'm in for maybe half a billable
> hour, and then everyone finds out I'm there and keep coming up with more
> stuff they need help with but felt too stupid to call. The other day I
> ended up with 5 billable instead of the .5 I thought I was going to get.
>
> Another trick I worked up is when my clients want a wireless router for
the
> office, I've been getting them the Linksys WRV54G which supports Linksys's
> QuickVPN for 5 users free. I make myself one of those users. With a
quick
> little app on my desktop, I can VPN in and become part of their network,
and
> then use XP Remote Desktop support a lot easier.
>
> Jamie
>
>
>
>
>
> "MWE Computers Services" <mwecomputers@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:OGEVNkikFHA.2904@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > My 'compeditors' in the area are doing things like forcing the local
SMBs
> > to
> > purchase like several servers (i.e. 1 for file, 1 for e-mail, and so on)
> > and
> > under-qualified workstations (i.e. max of 128 mb ram, 20 gb hds, etc). I
> > just recently deployed an SBS setup and found it was just what the
client
> > needed w/o all the extra overhead that was recommended.
> >
> > I had been looking at using Tridia's Itivity product/package for total
> > remote support (mid-priced, but the demo rocks), but was planning on
> > setting
> > up a couple of service packages -- a basic one for on-site support only
> > and
> > another one w/ on-site plus remote support for those that just want
> > everything to 'work' (I get alot of request for something like this).
Ever
> > since I found that the SBS product has the remote support, I was just
> > trying
> > to look at the client's side for a good product and support package plan
I
> > could develop since I am only a one-man crew.
> >
> > As for the physical on-site support, thats primarly what I do now. Many
of
> > my customers are residental w/ a few SMB accounts. Just trying to
develop
> > some ideal package support plans to pull in the other SMBs, primarly the
> > doctor and accounting offices in the nearby area. (I am more technical
> > than
> > I am sales related, thus a bit of a challenge for me).
> >
> > -- Michael
> >
> >
> > "Russ Grover" <russ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:ex5C6BikFHA.708@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Hopefully I understand this because I'm still confused on what you are
> >> asking?
> >>
> >> if it's about Total Remote Support?
> >>
> >> Well Remote support is a viable option, because I do it.
> >> Problem is a lot of times Remote Support of Desktop is not possible.
> >> Because Desktops have network issues Video Issues and other things you
> > can't
> >> solve via Remotely.
> >>
> >> I do probably 95% of server support Remotely (Terminal Services)
> >> Heck once a SBS Server is setup you really don't need a Monitor or a
> >> Keyboard on it.
> >> (Exceptions SP1 upgrades LOL)
> >>
> >> However on Desktop, I do on-site because 9 out of 10 times three other
> >> people have the same issue or another.
> >> Once someone knows the IT guy is there they all come running.
> >>
> >> Plus with Customers they often don't know what they are saying over the
> >> phone, and being there in person you can read the customer and have a
> > better
> >> idea of what they are really saying other than what they are saying.
> >> (This
> >> comes from years of doing this.)
> >>
> >> Sure you could do Remote IT support, but There will be a time (More
often
> >> than not) you will have go to on site.
> >> Remotely you can't see that the mouse is Unplugged, Remotely you can't
> >> see
> >> if Video Glitches, and Remotely you can't hear the Hard Drive and Fans
> > make
> >> Noise.
> >>
> >> Example I had a customer who kept saying my system keeps shutting off
for
> > no
> >> reason, I checked EVERYTHING remotely Couldn't do nothing to fix it.
> >> Went
> >> on Site, She turned it on, the CPU fan was making a Awfully Noise, I
> >> said
> >> does it always do that? She said, no it Does for a while and then
> >> stops...
> >> Well what was happening is that the fan would make noise for a while
then
> >> stop, then her CPU would Thermal out and Shut down...
> >>
> >> People, also like "People", they like to see your smiling face, when
you
> >> walk in the door, it gives them a good feeling to know that there is
> > someone
> >> who cares, and is there to help... People even hate calling Dell,
> >> because
> >> you have to give your first born to get a tech to visit onsite.
> >>
> >> And you win more accounts when you visit in person, I got a new
customer
> > the
> >> other day because their Support guy never came in to work, he'd try to
> > solve
> >> all problems on the phone or remotely. Problem is, They didn't want
> >> that.
> >> So they dumped him...
> >>
> >> So Pack up the Laptop, External USB Drive with all your Util's CD's and
> >> other network test equipment and hit the road...
> >>
> >> --
> >> Russ Grover
> >> Small Business IT Support
> >> Portland\Beaverton OR USA
> >> Email: Sales at SmallBusinessITSupport.com
> >> Website: www.SmallBusinessITSupport.com
> >>
> >>
> >> "MWE Computers Services" <mwecomputers@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> news:%23JrdSQhkFHA.1412@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> > No, I mean do a deployment for each customer site... ie. ABC Shop,
ABB
> >> > Pharmacy, etc
> >> >
> >> > -- M
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Russ Grover" <russ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message
> >> > news:uaKY9NhkFHA.2852@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> >> Do You mean Share the SBS server between Multiple Customers?
> >> >> If so No you can't do that.
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Russ Grover
> >> >> Small Business IT Support
> >> >> Portland\Beaverton OR USA
> >> >> Email: Sales at SmallBusinessITSupport.com
> >> >> Website: www.SmallBusinessITSupport.com
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "MWE Computers Services" <mwecomputers@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> >> >> news:uzeaFAhkFHA.320@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> >> >I have a rather strange, but unique question:
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Could the SBS platform be utilized as a rather turn-key
application
> >> >> > service
> >> >> > and support system?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > What I mean by this is I know of several possible clients that
want
> > to
> >> >> > start
> >> >> > up a small business (ie. real estate, pharmacies, accounting
> > locations)
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > create/upgrade their current network environments by the
> >> >> > introduction
> >> >> > of
> >> > a
> >> >> > internal file/e-mail server and several XP Pro workstations hooked
> > into
> >> >> > it.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > My idea, if it is possible: setup a VPN router at each site, then
> > setup
> >> >> > SBS
> >> >> > 2003 along w/ the necessary XP Pro workstations. Then use the RWW
> >> >> > and
> >> > RDC
> >> >> > components to support these clients virtually from my home via VPN
> > when
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > need arises and only do actual physical computer cleaning when
> >> >> > needed
> >> > for
> >> >> > the support portion of the contract.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > The number of clients is around 10 to 15. Was considering using
> >> >> > standard
> >> >> > SBS
> >> >> > release as the actual cost of Premium is a bit too much for these
> >> >> > clients --
> >> >> > as they wont really be doing anything external except maybe
e-mail.
> > Web
> >> >> > hosting could be an option later on, but primarly hosted on
another
> >> > server
> >> >> > for security and performance reasons.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > From a small business support and service provider -- is such a
plan
> >> >> > really
> >> >> > viable at least for long-term retention possibilites?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Thanks.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > -- Michael
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
.
- References:
- SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: MWE Computers Services
- Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: Russ Grover
- Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: MWE Computers Services
- Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: Russ Grover
- Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: MWE Computers Services
- Re: SBS Turn-Key Operation
- From: Jamie
- SBS Turn-Key Operation
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