DROP-ing offline for a WHILE;

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To start this post, let me give you a little test.

(Cue groans)

Try to answer as many of these questions as you can (in your head, aloud or on paper) in the next ten seconds:

Ready? Set? Go!

1. 42 + 9 = ?

2. Which of these words has the most vowels: Blue, Green, Orange, White

3. What is the letter than comes before P in the alphabet?

4. What is the 5th and 2nd last letters of your name?

5. When did you last eat breakfast?

Stop!

If you managed to answer all of these, you’ve just performed 5 ‘queries’ in 10 seconds.. or roughly 30 queries per minute.

Now compare that to the database system that runs your AccessPlus account, as it’s just finished performing 1000 much more detailed queries in that same 10 seconds.

Continue reading →

Wrinkly skinned web-browsers and you!

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In the next few days, some users will begin to notice the included message appearing at the top of their login pages.

The idea of this is that (as shown) we wish to inform users that we won’t be continuing to support some older browsers any longer.

!! You are using an outdated browser !! We recommend you upgrade it to the newest version.

We have a number of new features in our development path that are planned for the user facing hotspot interface, unfortunately a large part of what is holding them back from being released is the small number of users (most probably unknowingly) using older insecure and unsupported web browsers (or versions of web browsers). These browsers not only require entire page styles to be re-written, but simply won’t work with some newer features. Some are simply insecure and should not be used on the internet.

Given that upgrades for most all browsers are free, along with there being a large number of free alternatives available, we feel it’s only fair that we roll out new features to those who are using current versions of software available rather than waiting on the slow adopters and spending hours upon hours building compatibility features into every new page.

Note however, these older browsers will still continue to be able to login and get online as they always have been, but may not work correctly with newer features we add.

At this time the plan is to notify:

- users of browsers that are no longer supported by the creator.
- users of browsers versions released more than 3 years ago.

You can download current copies of the following (supported) browsers from the links here:

Mozilla Firefox

Google Chrome

Safari

Opera

Internet Explorer

I would welcome any questions, comments or thoughts on this decision.

For those who are interested, some of the older browsers currently being used are listed on the image to the left.

Update (07/07/2010): We ended up implementing some handy notifications from http://browser-update.org/ which allow users to receive a single update prompt linking them to the Browser-Update website. These guys keep an updated list of browser versions to help notify thousands of website visitors worldwide.

Traffic Prioritisation, QoS and Skype

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I’d like to share some information about how the AccessPlus network divides and prioritises traffic.

This is known as QoS (Quality of Service)

All traffic on our networks (fibre and wireless) is prioritised by type. Low latency and critical applications have first priority in peak use periods.

Traffic higher up in the QoS tree will always get access to bandwidth before traffic in lower branches, meaning that shared bandwidth is divided more effectively between multiple users.

Imagine the connection as a highway into your local accommodation area / village. At 4am when traffic is light, all vehicles move faster and there is overall a lot of unused road available.

When reaching peak periods, all traffic moves slower. Some vehicles (buses, ambulances, firetrucks) receive different treatment over other sorts of traffic. They have priority that guarantees them better access to the highway or parts of it.

Look ma, it's the Internets!

Without some sort of traffic management, download and P2P would fill the network bandwidth and all services would end up running slowly while fighting for available bandwidth. Continue reading →

Live support!

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Wow has it been that long since our last update on here :-O

*brushes away cobwebs* Ok I’ll be posting here a couple of times in the next few weeks so lookout for some proper activity.

Anyway, without further ado. We’ve recently been toying with the issue that a number of students report back to us each month.

You’re trying to:
a) login
b) purchase items
c) other

and for whatever reason you just can’t figure it out, or you’re encountering an error.

Sure, you *could* call the support number.. but maybe its after-hours or maybe your mobile is out of credit etc. In some locations we service they simply don’t allow calls to 1300 numbers..

So a solution was needed and stefan came up with the idea of integrating a live-chat support system, similar to those you see on sales websites etc.

Example of the stardevelop live-chat window

Example of the stardevelop live-chat window

We’ve chosen to go with a system from stardevelop.com which we will be integrating into all login pages over the next couple of days, meaning during office hours we can deliver instant support without a user ever needing to call us.

This ends up saving both sides money (you on the phone call and as on the reduced rate number) and its a method of conversation that most every student is familiar with.

Please feel free to try it out, even if only to say hello and feel free to let us know if you have any suggestions!

- Andrew Cox
AccessPlus Head Network Administrator

Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) – AccessPlus joint project: Maroochy Library

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AccessPlus has provided internet services at the 6 SCRC caravan parks for the last couple of years. The success of these services saw AccessPlus approached by the Council to install a wireless hotspot for the Maroochy library, and potentially the Council’s other libraries on the Sunshine Coast.

Management software was custom-designed and built by AccessPlus to the Council’s specs – including KPI reporting facilities such as users online, data user, peak usage times etc.

The benefits for the library and the SCRC include monthly reports, and all management of the system and support looked after by AccessPlus.

The setup?

2 wireless Access Points were set up to provide coverage to all areas of the library as well as the front courtyard.

Users connect to the library’s network. Once they open a browser they are redirected to a page with the Library’s homepage and from there they are free to access the internet.