Category: Networking

Windows 10 Version 1803 Removes HomeGroup

According to the following Microsoft Support Post published in October 2018, the HomeGroup feature has now been removed from Windows 10. Most people won’t need to worry about this, but recently ran across a business that had relied on this feature to run their network. With HomeGroup removed from Windows 10 they were left without the ability to share properly with a new computer on the network. So here is how to fix the issue:

How to fix Windows Networking after HomeGroup Removal

  1. Turn off all sharing:
    1. Open Network & Sharing Center
    2. Click on Advanced Sharing Settings
    3. Turn off network discovery (Private & Public)
    4. Turn off file and print sharing (Private & Public)
    5. Turn off Public folder sharing (All Networks)
    6. Turn off Password Protected Sharing (All Networks)
    7. Save Changes
  2. Remove old password:
    1. Open Credentials Manager
    2. Change to Windows Credentials
    3. Remove all $HomeGroup users credentials from networked computers on all computers formerly in HomeGroup
  3. AutoStart Services
    1. Open Services
    2.  Find Function Discovery Provider Host and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
    3. Find Function Discovery Resource Publication and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
    4. Find SSDP Discovery and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
    5. Find UPnP Device Host and set to Automatic Startup then Start service
  4. Add Users
    1. Get username and password for all computers on network
    2. On each computer on the network, open command prompt
    3. For each username, use the command –  net user [username] [password] /add
  5. Turn on all sharing:
    1. Open Network & Sharing Center
    2. Click on Advanced Sharing Settings
    3. Turn on network discovery (Private)
    4. Turn on file and print sharing (Private)
    5. Turn on Public folder sharing (All Networks)
    6. Use 128-bit encryption (All Networks)
    7. Turn on Password Protected Sharing (All Networks)
    8. Save Changes
  6. Recreate Shares (if needed)
    1. Right-click on folder and choose Properties
    2. Click on Sharing tab
    3. Click on Advanced Sharing
    4. Check Share This Folder
    5. Name the share
    6. Click Permissions
    7. Click on Add
    8. Select username and add Full Control then click OK
    9. Repeat for each username
    10. Click OK to return to Properties window
    11. Click on Security Tab
    12. Click on Advanced
    13. Click on Add
    14. Select username and add Full Permissions (or appropriate level) then click OK
    15. Repeat for each username
    16. Check Replace Child Permisssions and click OK
    17. Click OK on all previous windows

Hope this post helps some other techs save the time in fixing Windows 10 networking when HomeGroup is removed.

If your company is still using HomeGroup or needs any help with advanced networking, then contact us for assistance.

Server room UPS systems protecting small business during power outage automatic backup

Is the power out again?

It seems lately that the power company in the area has not been able to offer consistent service power to the city. This has left many businesses down without the technology they need to operate properly. These power outages cause data loss and damage computer components.

My own unexpected outage

Once upon a time, about two weeks ago, the unexpected happened at our offices. A semi-truck carrying a large backhoe on a trailer drove between two buildings in the area. The landlord had wired power between buildings and the truck driver did not lower the arm of the backhoe low enough. Sure enough the wire was snagged by the backhoe’s arm and pulled from the building. Needless to say the power was out to that part of the building until the landlord took care of the matter.

What can be done?

Farmhouse Networking recommends that all business workstations, servers, and networking equipment be protected by an uninterruptible power source aka UPS or battery backup. When the power goes out the right size battery backup will keeps things running for about 15-30 minutes to allow the last touches to be added to whatever was being worked on and things to be shutdown gracefully.

If your company is looking to better protect itself against power outages, then contact us for assistance.

 

Are You in Need of Technical Help?

 

IT help desk technician resolving technical issues for accounting healthcare charity business support services
Professional help desk support resolves IT issues before they impact productivity

We have a bench of Tier 3 engineers ready that have been trained in industry best practices, compliance and are comfortable supporting your network and computers.

Put an End to Stressful Computer Support

By utilizing one of our industry trained Helpdesk Specialists, you can free your employees from wasting time on computer support tasks.

Our Helpdesk Specialists are capable – but not limited to – the following tasks:

  • Desktop operating system maintenance, troubleshooting, and diagnosis
  • Desktop connectivity troubleshooting
  • Network systems maintenance, troubleshooting, and diagnosis
  • Network connectivity troubleshooting
  • Server operating system maintenance, troubleshooting, and diagnosis
  • Server connectivity troubleshooting
  • Application installation and support
  • Client VPN installation and support
  • Microsoft Office Suite & Google G-Suite support
  • Security & access management
  • Anti-malware administration and resolution

Learn more about the benefits of our Dedicated Remote Support Solutions here.

Router settings upgrading to WPA3 enterprise wireless security with RADIUS authentication

Wireless Security Upgrade

Strange to think that the current wireless security protocol has been in use for over a decade, but with the release of WPA3 certification today the Wi-Fi Alliance has made some serious strides towards a more secure wireless security standard.

Security Improvements

Offline Password Guessing – Attackers will now only get one guess per offline packet instead of unlimited. This will force them to interact with the wireless device directly which will make their attacks easier to detect and easier to shut them out.

Forward Secrecy – Even if the attacker is able to record a data stream and crack the current password, they will not be able to read the recorded data – only new data flowing over the network.

192-bit Encryption: – Enterprise users and tech savvy small businesses will be able to take advantage of deeper encryption for more secure connections

Wi-Fi Easy Connect – Simple to use, secure way for home users to connect their devices by scanning a QR code instead of entering a complex password.

This new security protocol mixed with the latest 802.11ax (that could bring 10 Gigabit speeds to wireless) will make 2019 a banner year for wireless technology.
If your company is interested better wireless security or faster wireless speeds, then contact us for assistance.

Xerox Versalink Scan to Folder Windows 10 Home

Xerox Versalink C7000 - Grants Pass, OR

Ran into an issue with Scan to Folder on Windows 10 Home from a Xerox Versalink C7025 via SMB. Contacted support and they stated that Xerox does not support this setup. Further digging found that Windows 10 Home folder shares need passwords in a [Computername]\[Username] format that the Xerox Versalink could not provide correctly. I found another option that works well in this situation:

Scan to Folder via FTP

  1. Create a Scan folder in the Users directory
  2. Download and install Filezilla FTP Server with the defaults (I prefer to set “start user interface: to manually)
  3. Click on the Edit > Users menu item.
  4. Click on the Add button and create a username (case sensitive)
  5. Check the password box and create a password
  6. Click on the Shared Folders tab on the left then click on the Add under Shared Folders
  7. Browse to the Scan folder and click OK
  8. Check all File & Directory permissions then click OK at bottom left

With this setup on the Windows 10 Home computer an Address Book entry can be created for Scan to Folder via FTP on the Xerox Versalink. The only thing that could be a problem after that is a software firewall link Windows Firewall or McAfee LiveSafe.

 

If your company wants to utilize more functionality from your multi-function device, then contact us for assistance.

Is the internet down again?

 

Technician checking business router and network monitoring dashboard to diagnose recurring internet outages
Stop asking “Is the internet down again?” with proactive network monitoring and root-cause analysis.

If it seems like this is a typical question in your office then there is hope. The concept of internet failover has been around for years. With the advent of 4G LTE cellular networks internet failover is now within reach of the small business. If the main internet connection goes down then the 4G LTE cellular network will kick in automatically to keep your business flowing. When the main internet connection comes back online it will automatically switch back to restore full speed access.

How We Fix the Internet

Business Class Router: The Datto Networking Appliance has all the specs of true business class router including all the usual services (DHCP, DNS, VLAN, DMZ, Access Rules, etc). It also has all the features that you need to secure and expand your business with seven layer deep packet inspection, intrusion detection, traffic shaping (VoIP), client VPN, site-to-site VPN, and cloud management.

Connectivity: This router has all the connectivity you could ever need. It has 4 Gigabit LAN ports to help physically segment the network. It has the latest and most redundant wireless connectivity available. It has a fully integrated multi-band 4G LTE wireless cellular modem to keep you connected when wired internet fails.

Peace of Mind: Leave the connectivity worries to us. Our expert team will be monitoring and maintaining the Datto Networking Appliance at all times via the cloud management console and integrated alerting. We will know the internet is down before you do and will take the steps needed to get your ISP to fix things.

If your company’s internet is constantly going down, then contact us for assistance.

Xerox Scan to Folder MacOS X

Xerox WorkCentre 7225

Ran into a brick wall with a client wanting to have a Workcenter C7225 by Xexox scan to folder. What worked on one did not work on another but I eventually figured out the pattern and wanted to share it. Basically all MacOS X versions before the High Sierra build were not compatible with Xerox’s SMB protocol. (They fixed the SMB protocol in High Sierra so that Xerox Scan to SMB works perfectly.) Here is the workaround:

Xerox Scan to Folder MacOS X pre-Sierra:

The easiest way that I found to allow scanning to these systems is to enable the dormant FTP server.

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type in – sudo -s launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist
  3. Enter your administrator password
  4. Create Scans folder in Home directory
  5. Go to Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing
  6. Choose + under Shared Folders
  7. Navigate to the Scans folder and click Add
  8. Click Options
  9. Check all available sharing methods.
  10. Go to the printers IP address in the browser of your choice
  11. Click on Scan
  12. Create a template
  13. Choose FTP
  14. Enter IP address
  15. use /Scans as file path
  16. enter full username and password (MacOS takes out spaces by default)
  17. Test scanning successfully

If your company wants to utilize more functionality from your multi-function device, then contact us for assistance. And yes, we support MacOS in the business environment.

Network Drives Disconnect

Network Drive Disconnected - Grants Pass, OR

Had a client that repeatedly had troubles with network drives disconnect happening randomly. I did explain that this would happen normally if they kept their workstations logged into the server, but they did not want to change their habits. I performed the usual registry fixes on the workstations and the server, but these did not seem to work. Finally I got to look at the error and figured out the Group Policy Object that was causing the problem.

Usual Registry Fix:

The default method for this is to edit the registry as follows on both and run a command on the server to lengthen the disconnect time on the workstations and disable disconnect on the server.

Workstations:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanworkstation\parameters
  3. In the right pane, click the KeepConn value, and then on the Edit menu, click Modify. If the KeepConn value does not exist, follow these steps:
    1. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click REG_DWORD.
    2. Type KeepConn, and then press ENTER.
  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  5. Click Hexadecimal.
  6. In the Value data box, type ffff, and then click OK.

Server:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters
  3. In the right pane, click the autodisconnect value, and then on the Edit menu, click Modify. If the autodisconnect value does not exist, follow these steps:
    1. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click REG_DWORD.
    2. Type autodisconnect, and then press ENTER.
  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  5. Click Decimal.
  6. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.

Finally the following command should also be run:

net config server /autodisconnect:-1

Kerberos Policy - Maximum lifetime for user ticket

Group Policy Object Fix:

Even though I changed the systems as above, it still disconnected regularly. The clients were getting this message when disconnected -“The system has detected a possible attempt to compromise security. Please ensure that you can contact the server that authenticated you.” Some research found that Windows Small Business Server created a Group Policy Object that by default times out authentication to the server after 10 hours. Here is how I changed it:

  1. Open Group Policy Management
  2. Look for Default Domain Policy
  3. Click on the Settings tab and then Show All
  4. Under Account Policies/Kerberos Policy look for Maximum lifetime for user ticket which by default was 10 hours.
  5. Right click on the policy and choose Edit
  6. Dig down to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Kerberos Policy
  7. Change the Maximum lifetime for user ticket to 100 hours (>4 days)
  8. Change the Maximum lifetime for user ticket renewal to 4 days

This combination will keep the ticket lifetime timeout longer than the time for renewal which will cause the renewal to happen before the timeout. Problem solved.

If your company is having issues with Network Drive Disconnect, then contact us for assistance.

 

 

CyberSecurity Month – Internet of Things Tips

Internet of ThingsThe Internet of Things refers to any object or device that sends and/or receives data automatically via the Internet. This rapidly-expanding set of “things” includes tags (also known as labels or chips that automatically track objects), sensors, and devices that interact with people and share information machine to machine.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

• Cars, appliances, wearables, lighting, healthcare, and home security all contain sensing devices that can talk to another machine and trigger other actions. Examples include: devices that direct your car to an open spot in a parking lot; mechanisms that control energy use in your home; and other tools that track your eating, sleeping, and exercise habits.

• This technology provides a level of convenience to our lives, but it requires that we share more information than ever. The security of this information, and the security of these devices, is not always guaranteed.

• Though many security and resilience risks are not new, the scale of interconnectedness created by the Internet of Things increases the consequences of known risks and creates new ones.

SIMPLE TIPS

Without a doubt, the Internet of Things makes our lives easier and has many benefits; but we can only reap these benefits if our Internet-enabled devices are secure and trusted. Here are some tips to increase the security of your Internet-enabled devices:

1. Keep a clean machine.
Like your smartphone or PC, keep any device that connects to the Internet free from viruses and malware. Update the software regularly on the device itself as well as the apps you use to control the device.

2. Think twice about your device.
Have a solid understanding of how a device works, the nature of its connection to the Internet, and the type of information it stores and transmits.

3. Secure your network.
Properly secure the wireless network you use to connect Internet-enabled devices.If your company is going to use full disk encryption or has compliance requirements that you need consulting for, then contact us for assistance.

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And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - 2 Corinthians 9:8-10