When a disrupted software upgrade cruelled his office network, JOHN HARRIS discovered that his notebook developed a mind of its own.

“Hello John, it’s Dean, would you mind not using this computer for a while?”

I was a little taken aback, not least because I didn’t even know my computer had a name.

I hadn’t managed to type “what the #!@*?” when the ghost in my machine continued: “Your other computer is working fine, so why you use that instead?”

Compliantly, I swivelled my chair around and began typing on my old PC – with an occasional sideways glance to watch what was happening on my new notebook.

Programs and browser windows popped open and closed and text typed itself into dialogue boxes before a Notepad window appeared to announce that the cyber-spectre was “all done”.

Before I could summon Max von Sydow for a little exorcise, an email arrived from my mate Dean Calvert. “You shouldn’t have any more problems with your network now,” it read. “But try not to reboot the server until I get back to Australia.”

The ghost in the machine had been Dean, using remote access technology to log into my network and fix my computers from a Microsoft seminar – 15,000km away in Dallas, Texas.

Now that’s what I call proactive tech support.

Problems had started a couple of nights before when I arranged an overnight upgrade of my ACT! contact management database – also by remote access.

Unfortunately, the peccadillos of my ageing HP server mean that this plan failed with the first reboot – at which point the machine cut off all Internet access.

Several hours patching up the server next day gave me two blinding flashes of the obvious.

The first is that my work did not stop without access to the server. Although the breakdown interrupted my ADSL service, I could both send and receive emails by plugging my iPhone into the notebook to use its “data tethering” function for 3G Internet access.

I could also access my Gmail and Hotmail accounts, along with other online business systems, from both my iPhone and iPad.

The second realisation is I must get rid of my old server which is a big, power-hungry and complex beast – and an ominous single point of failure.

While a few years ago, I had no choice but to buy a replacement server – always more expensive and complex than its predecessor – other options are now available.

Online storage and email systems have a relatively low monthly cost while more pricey virtual servers offer all the benefits of an in-house computer, without the hassle of managing hardware.

Conveniently, the technical ghosts delivered by remote access can ensure such systems are tightly secured so that they present no greater risk than if they ran on a computer in my storeroom.

John Harris is managing director of Impress Media Australia. Email jharris@impress.com.au.

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