Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Router?
A router enables you to connect more than one PC to the internet at the same time. Depending on the internet connection you are using (ADSL e.g. BT, Tiscali, TalkTalk & Cable e.g Virgin, NTL/Telewest.) will depend on which router you want to buy as most routers support one or the other. Some routers however will support both and some even offer support for 3G Mobile connections such as the USB adapters you can get from Vodafone, 3, Orange etc.
To enable multiple PCs to connect to the one internet connection at the same time, the router has to be fairly intelligent. Think about the router like an internal mail system on a block of flats. All post is delivered to the Main Address of the block of flats e.g. 1 Nottingham Road. There are maybe 20 flats within the block all with separate internal numbers 1 - 20. It is the job of the internal mail system to deliver the correct mail to the correct flat.
This is like the job the router does. There are lots of internet requests that go out from the internal PCs which require a reply. The reply from the internet comes back to the Main Address which the router sorts out and passes to the Local Computer which requested it.
What does ADSL mean?
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It is the most commonly used type of broadband for businesses in the UK. Asymmetric basically means that the upload and download speeds differ. DSL is a connection which uses an existing telephone line as opposed to Cable connections such as Virgin Media (Formerly NTL/Telewest).
So what is SDSL then?
SDSL which stands for Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is only different to ADSL in that the upload speeds and download speeds are the same. Also SDSL is more expensive. This might be considered if you heavily rely on uploading data.
What is SPAM e-mail?
SPAM e-mail has been progressively on the increase over the last few years. Generally SPAM is unsolicited or unwanted e-mail. It is the electronic equivalent to getting things like fast food flyers through your mailbox at home. However SPAM e-mail has become far more offensive and irrelevant causing many people within businesses to waste a lot of time every day sieving through to find genuine business e-mail. This is why many businesses today incorporate a SPAM filter to save their staff time.
How does a SPAM filter work?
Different SPAM filters work in different ways. However most work using a combination of the following techniques:
RBL (Relay Blacklists) - These are databases of IP addresses which have been found to have been sending SPAM e-mail and as such is recorded as a Spammer. Mail filter servers can check these databases to see whether people who are sending e-mail in are actually listed as a known spammer. It would of course block these senders from being allowed to send mail.
Botnet Analysis - This checks common things which a genuine mail server should have done to be setup properly. If a mailserver shows characteristics of being very temporary or not setup properly then it is more likely that it could be a scanner. This is then taken into consideration when the filter is deciding whether or not to let the mail through.
Bayes Database - This keeps a record of analytical information regarding the content of e-mails which pass through the filter. It learns by determining what is SPAM and what isn't the likelyhood of newer e-mail being SPAM. This is an ever growing and ever learning system.
What is Microsoft Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange is an e-mail server package. It is one of the most advanced e-mail server software packages available and is chosen by many businesses to run their e-mail. Exchange has a host of features which make it unique and it works hand in hand with Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft Exchange is typically found as an included feature of the Microsoft Small Business server packages.