Internet & Amaya

[Bill Griffin]

When I first bought my Amaya, I remember cautions about not using Internet with the computer that houses the DS/OS.

Is this a valid point? Are there those who do use Internet on same computer as Amaya?

[namingit4u]

We do use internet on the computer with our DS/OS but only when needed, and we have antivirus/spyware installed, and we sweep all the time.
I believe the information when I first got my machine was due to viruses.. That was why they said that.
I am interested to see others options

[Tatanka]

Hi Bill,

The real recommendation is that you have a dedicated Ethernet network for your AMAYA machines. That is, don't use the same Ethernet connection for both the Internet and for the machines. As long as you follow that "rule" you should be fine running Internet stuff on the same computer as DS/OS.

Most computers these days have a built-in Ethernet port and it's easy (and cheap) to add an additional Ethernet card so you can have one connection for the Internet and another for your machines. They'll work fine together this way.

-Rob
(Melco)

[Bill Griffin]

Thanks so very much for your helpful replies. I'm not sure what all of Rob's message means, but I have a friend who will be able to advise me, following this advise.

Again, thanks. Bill

[Wayne]

Computers are cheap. Just purchase one that you just use for the internet and save yourself from getting a bug that will take your embroidery computer down.

[Steve]

Ethernet cards are very cheap. This one is $18 after shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166019
Make sure you get a 1000 Mbps so if you decide to upgrade your home network to gigabit, your card will be compatible. I run a gigabit network at home and it is very fast [img]smile.gif[/img]

[The Embroidery Authority - OLD]

I agree with Wayne.
No matter what you decide to do, if you get a virus on the PC that runs your machines, you are not going to have problems with your machines, you will have problems with the PC that runs your machines.
What this boils down to is that because of some stupid virus, now your embroidery business is affected adversely to which you now have to either find another PC or get your PC fixed before you can sew another garment.
If you don't put your Amaya PC on the Internet, you will never have problems due to viruses, spam, adware, spyware, etc....
If you keep your PC separate from the Internet as well as strange CD's and Floppy disks from people you don't know, you wouldn't even need to have Virus Protection Software.

The PC that runs our machines in our shop has been running strong for years without any Internet or virus problems. The most I have to be concerned with is making sure I back up the files periodically and check to see how much dust is building up in and around. Of course, I take a vacuum and compressed air to it about every six months to a year to keep it clean. Part of the maintenance of an embroidery shop.

Ed

[signman]

Don't forget to run the 'defrag' program every 6 months-you will find that using designshop really fragments the harddrive and defragging speeds it up. Won't delete files or anything...
and for backup-most all PC 'towers' have room for a spare internal harddrive. Put one in-really cheap...and voila! you have instant storage harddrive for duplicate customer files, etc. that will never have a problem. Virus's don't affect your hard drive-they affect the 'motherboard' and stuff that RUNS the computer. So you can always have duplicate programs, windows etc. on this harddrive and if something goes wrong-reassign priority to make this backup drive your new primary and you are back in business.
But as others point out-don't hook the Amaya computer to the internet and you have effectively stalled most of your potential problems!
Computers are so cheap...have one just for internet and billing, etc.-which you will upgrade every month like PC's seem to need-and leave your AMAYA computer alone-once everything is running right on it (designshop and amaya OS) then LEAVE IT ALONE...why upgrade when it works right?
Then you won't have problems. We ran the same old computer with our Amaya Big Red for 4-5 years-forget now-and never upgraded once or put it on line. Replaced it only because DS9 and Amaya 9 wouldn't operate on it-I think it was Windows 98 or something old. New computer we bought when we got the XT last year had latest version of windows (not vista) and that's been running fine for a year now-not a single upgrade and things are going just fine. Now if we could just get some customers in here...

[jacosandy]

Ok since the internet was brought up let me ask this question. I am getting my first Amaya XT and have already talked about getting a new computer for it, is this a good idea I really don't want to use my old laptop because it is on its last leg, and hubby is not going to give up his large flat screen(lol). I have turned down the Design shop because I have decided to stay with my Embird software on the advice of a few people. Thanks everyone. Sandy in Costa Rica

[Steve]

Hook your laptop to hubby's large flat screen TV. You will have a very large monitor. Problem solved.
BTW I use my 57" TV as a monitor for my laptop and its great for playing games and web surfing! Split the screen, you can surf the web and watch football games at the same time.

[jacosandy]

Steve you misunderstood me because I wasn't clear it is his flat screen computer, and he is busy playing Diablo II on it LOL. I have looked at the specs and doesn't tell what size computer I will need. I really think I want a standard and not a laptop because then he would want to take the new laptop when he travels and he is gone for a month at a time. Sandy in Costa Rica

[Digital Stitchz / LaserWorkz]

BTW... I run every shop PC with a excellent virus/firewall protection. But, since there is always a chance that a virus could infect any PC, I always backup weekly to a removal hard drive. (I know) that still leaves me a bit exposed. In fact, I was hit by someone who took over my PC on the internet; I shut down (disabled) my network connection to the internet. Then, I went to a non-infected PC and downloaded Dr. Web CureIt from MajorGeeks.com.

It was so bad that I did not even have permission to run task manager or change security. Dr. Web CureIt found everything; cleaned up botnets, trojans and viruses...Oh my! (Shades of Wizard of OZ... Lions, tigers and bears... Oh my!)

You can run it for free for the first time, after that you have to buy it. Anyway, I pass this along because it gave me back my computer before I had to reinstall everything (ie: software and drivers) and reload all my data files.

[levelbest]

I personally recommend that anyone who wants to have their business computers (or home computers) backed up automatically, nightly and with ease look into a windows home server. PAid about $500 for ours and it's got about 3 terabytes of space... been doing it's job like a champ for more than a year now and has come in real handy restoring files that were accidentally deleted

[namingit4u]

John, I totaly agree... As we had to get a new computer, due to my spraying adhesive too close to the laptop, we a My Book Essential, esternal hard drive... 1 Terabyte... for 105.00 at Best Buy... Ok the best part about this thing... is.. It saves automaticly when you save a file any where on your hard drive... I am pretty go with computers but this is so easy I dont have to remember anything... set up took longer to get it out of the box...

[Steve]

Seagate FreeAgent GO 1tb is around $100 on Amazon. I set it up to back everything Sunday mornings at 1am so I have all my files in 2 places. I don't do anything...it's all automatic and done while I sleep.