The timefleas have been hopping around the web in search of an elegant, open and attractive solution for charting reports for our eventengine product.
There were many options which used jscript to create charts that we landed on, but most of them presented challenges in integration like the ability to only show a single chart or complexities when combined with the CSS and AJAX code we use. They usually also came with an additional cost if you wanted the full functionality.
The Google chart api allows you to request up to 50,000 charts via their api per 24hour period. In an eggshell, it provides a method to send your data in the form of a simple chart definition and it returns a JPG image. The JPG chart can have all the colours and design (Pie, 3d, stack, etc) injected into the API call, so once you have a standard method for making the request you can start to define some smart looking results.
Google PIE Chart
More details can be found here: http://code.google.com/apis/chart
Here is another sample chart, using some data from our eventengine product and a stacked bar view.
The timfleas have been setting up a new hosted application design for our eventengine product. To help us complete the setup for our servers, we put together a template design in visio. If you are building your own proposal for a virtualized architecture you may wish to use the template to inform your high level logical design. The .VSD download file is availible here, feel free to edit and re-use:
VMware Visio Template (1465)
The basic restraint we had on our design was having to make use of existing servers which were mixed brand Dell and HP, which is not ideal. However without Vmware HA switched on and with a shared ISCSI SAN hard disk pool we can use the current hardware solution and still provided a flexible and expandable platform.
Our most significant cost was the VMware licences which need to be planned well so that you achieve a clear saving on TCO compared to a hardware only solution. Our ideal platform would be HP blade based but cost and existing hardware restraints did not make the investment a viable option.
Thanks to the VIOPS web site for the Vmware icons and stencils used in this Visio 2003 VSD file. Link here: http://viops.vmware.com/home/docs/DOC-1338
Visit for the latest stencils, some used in this visio diagram.
At a recent client meeting the timefleas were asked if they had a template for an ITIL Service Management Portfolio. The client needed to define the services they provide as an IT department to their business users and required a catalogue template. To help our client we put together a free service portfolio template which they have downloaded and are starting to use as part of their service delivery. You are also welcome to use this same template and simply edit and insert the attributes you need for your business.
The template is built around each service having a defined set of similar attributes which can be applied to services like IMAC (Install, Move, Add, Change), hardware and applications. Attributes include service uptime and SLA (Service Level Agreement), availability and standard service offerings e.g. “Network Login” would provide a standard level of functions like the ability to access shared network resources. The example for email services can be cloned and repeated for all of your IT Services.
Most of the services you will define as part of your ITIL process will need a channel and department to initiate them. For new business starters, you naturally need a request mechanism and process to setup the new user. The timefleas product eventengine is the perfect solution to enabling a web portal for service requests, with end users quickly logging the service request on the web portal.
Please download our free Service Portfolio word template and also consider using our valued eventengine service desk portal, which you can read all about on our product web site. For a free 45 day evaluation of our web service, contact us at this address. For quick viewing of the document a pdf version is also available for free download. If you find it useful please do leave a comment and we would welcome a shout out, if you use it within your own organisation.
ITIL based Service Portfolio for free download in Word and PDF Format.
service portfolio v0.1 (Download in MS Word DOCX format)
service portfolio v0.1 (Download in PDF Format)
Back in the dark days of my early IT career, before I became a timeflea, I worked on three projects for Kiosk computer services. I consider Kiosk public computers to be any PC or service provided in a public or open area. Two of the projects were in public library locations at Liverpool Central Library and Walthamstow Library in London. The third project included kiosk computers in lobby and reception areas of hotels across the UK and US for a travel business.
The scope of each project was different with Liverpool Central library having a budget for touch screens and integrated desk consoles for public use. These were industrial strength, locked down units and they had a vision of offering IT services with a combination of touch screen and easy-clean keyboards.
Walthamstow Library had an approach which included using a locked down PC, rather than a special case or desk cabinet. The Hotel Lobby solution was also a PC in a box with a standard keyboard and mouse which kept the costs down. The plan was to dispose of mice and keyboards when they became dirty rather than use a more exspensive purpose built public keyboard.
The common denominator with these solutions was Windows. All three kiosk services needed Windows to run CD-ROM or other local or network application services. It is possible to lock down windows and manage remotely and these were NT and XP installations which offered a secure network login. The challenge was support and configuration of these remote services, which due to public exposure were often badly abused by earthlings and not given the kind of care and attention you would expect from an office PC. How many times have you walked passed a public service PC to discover a blue screen of death or a failure notice? This was a frequent issue, especially on remote unattended sites. I can’t accurately measure the reliability of the services delivered because I did not get long term exposure to the environments after go-live. However I do remember that remote support was time consuming and sometimes unreliable.
Linux Kiosk Computer Configuration
I have just started reviewing current options for Kiosk and public service PC’s and it looks like Linux has matured, offering some specific tools to help sys admins lock down services. There is no requirement for local application installation because the application services I am planning are served by browser, so the stability and security of using Linux for a browser only public computer is attractive.
I have started to review the Kiosk framework from KDE, built in to batten down the hatches on a public computer. You can restrict down just about everything, down to individual menu items and control updates and changes remotely. The KDE Kiosk Admin tool is a point and click GUI for restricting public SUSE desktops which makes the experience of locking down the system easier for non console users. http://extragear.kde.org/apps/kiosktool/
You can find further technical reading on the KDE Kiosk here: http://enterprise.kde.org/articles/kiosk-lp.php and there is a similar article for Ubuntu: http://users.telenet.be/mydotcom/howto/linuxkiosk/ubuntu01.htm
This diagram is a step through our eventengine.org process diagram, used during the prototype stage of our application development. Our development process including the inital workflow, followed by wireframes and final design in CSS, using Ruby on Rails. You are welcome to download the visio version of this document which you are can map and use for you own incident management service. Please do give us a link and check out the end result of this application design http://www.eventengine.org
Download the VSD visio 2003 file here: ee-event-evolution-v02
Download Visio Diagram for resillient design
This Visio diagram was used when building a concept design for our data centre for the eventengine.org applicaion. You can download the VSD file here and use for your own designs data-centre-business-continuity
Our primary concern when building a robust infrastructure is making use of a live-live environment across two data centres. With business continuity in mind our objective was to operate with minimal redundancy in technology, so all servers can provide application services without being in a warm standby. A good choice for multi site load balance is the Zeus ZXTM solution, with a heartbeat configured between the two hosted environments we were assured of continuality of service during an outage of one of the data centres.
You can find out more about the Zeus ZXTM on their website.
The Rails Guides are now operating on Textile markup. The new guides look sharp and easy to absorb have a look beta site.
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