FAQs
- My Millennium client is very slow. What's going on?
- How can I connect through telnet to the Millennium server?
- What do I do when I get a prompt from Millennium server saying "All ports
- What is a pid and where can I find it?
- My Millennium session is frozen. Can I cancel it myself?
- Since upgrading to Phase III, we've had a problem with Millennium sometimes freezing when we try to save a Media file. We have to end the task and free the record before trying again. What's going on?
- Is the keyword search option, in Millennium, by words or by phrases?
- Why is it that sometime I can not connect to Millennium even though my connection and Millennium server are OK?
- Are there any free security software that would protect us from hackers, virus, spyware?
- How can a router enhance my library's network performance?
- Can the way my computers are networked and routed affect my network performance?
- What are the latest requirements for a computer to run Millennium efficiently?
- IS TECH SUPPORT AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY'S?
Topic: My Millennium client is not connecting to the Millennium gigcat server.
Tip: Check to see if you can connect to the internet. You can do this by opening your web browser and going to any website such as yahoo.com. You can also do a ping test. You can do this by going to the start menu and choosing run. In the box type in cmd and hit enter. A black window will open. At the cursor type ping gigcat.midhudson.org. If you do not get a reply or you receive a message such as unknown host namethen most likely you do not have a connection. You can call your Internet Service Provider or wait a minute and try again. If you have no problem getting to the internet, but still can't access the Millennium gigcat server, contact MHLS Tech Support.
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Topic: My Millennium client is very slow. What's going on?
Tip: This is due to high volume over the network, like getting caught in a traffic jam. It takes time for the information to travel.
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Topic: How can I connect through telnet to the Millennium server?
Tip: Double-click on the NetTerm icon on your desktop. The Host/IP must be set to gigcat.midhudson.org. If you are not sure click on the Phone Directory button ( it has a picture of a rolodex). Make sure that the Host/IP field is correct, then click on the Connect button. If you are sure you have the correct ip address, then you can simply press Enter when you bring up your NetTerm window. You will be given a login prompt. Type in your userid and press Enter. Next is a prompt for your password. When you type this in, the cursor will not move. Some people find this disconcerning, but it is normal. Press Enter and you are in.
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Topic: What do I do when I get a prompt from Millennium server saying "All ports
Tip: All of your licenses are in use. Check with the other users at your library to see how many sessions you have open. If your count is less than your number of licences, contact MHLS Tech Support. There may be some sessions that did not log off successfully and Tech Support will have to cancel them. Please have the pid's of your valid open sessions ready before you call.
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Topic: What is a pid and where can I find it?
Tip: Pid stands for process id. This id number identifies your Millennium session from the rest of the sessions that are running. You can find the pid in your Millennium session by clicking on help from the top menu bar and then choose about. The pid number can be found towards the bottom of the listing.
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Topic: My Millennium session is frozen. Can I cancel it myself?
Tip: This option is not currently available for library staff members. Contact MHLS Tech Support and they will unfreeze the session for you.
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Topic: Since upgrading to Phase III, we've had a problem with Millennium sometimes freezing when we try to save a Media file. We have to end the task and free the record before trying again. What's going on?
Tip: Your session disconnected from the host but continued working on your end. When you tried to save your work, your session tries to communicate with a server that's no longer there so it freezes. This problem has not yet been resolved, but if you experience this frequently, you should contact MHLS Tech Support so we can document the extent of its occurance.
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Topic: Is the keyword search option, in Millennium, by words or by phrases?
Tip: Our Keyword search is set up to search a "phrase". What that means is that when you search "Thomas Mann" The system is looking for that string of words in that order and not "Thomas" and/or "Mann" in any order. The reason behind that configuration is that the number of irrelevant hits would go up exponentially if you were searching on any words in the search string. Imagine the number of hits on "Thomas". Also, keyword searches all fields,so if "Thomas" appeared anywhere in the record, you would get a hit.
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Topic: Why is it that sometime I can not connect to Millennium even though my connection and Millennium server are OK?
Tip: A connection to an application through the Internet can be influenced – among others- by many factors. 1. Your bandwidth 2. The traffic in your route 3. How busy is your router (that connects you to the Internet) 4. Your switch/hub and network cables 5. Your computer 6. The server … etc. Last week we noticed that a library network could not connect to Millennium because it was under an attack that kept their router busy responding to it. Since Millennium was not getting fast responses it thought that the connection was closed and therefore stopped responding. So without knowing that, It is possible that the router was busy temporarily responding to an attack from the Internet and not letting take care of Millennium transactions.
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Topic: Are there any free security software that would protect us from hackers, virus, spyware?
Tip: - The issue of security is coming up all the time recently. Libraries should be concerned also and take it seriuosly to better defend against viruses, worms, and hackers. Libraries should have installed in their computer network three types of protection. 1. Firewall 2. Anti virus and 3. Antispyware. All these are available for free to download from the Internet. 1. You need a Firewall to protect you from intruders and hackers that want to take over your Netwrok. A free one is available at http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp 2. You need an Antivirus program to search, stop and get rid of viruses that can damage your computer. A free one can be found at http://www.grisoft.com 3. You need an Antispyware program so you can search, stop and clean your computers from Trojan Horses and Pop-ups. You can find one free at http://www.lavasoftusa.com In addition to these programs you need to update all the time your Windows Operating System and maintain your computers to perform better.
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Topic: How can a router enhance my library's network performance?
Tip: You have seen the pictures of the networking closet that has colored cables running everywhere
-- cables interconnecting mysterious boxes and then disappearing into the walls. It looks more like
a high tech spider web than your high performance network. And exactly what are these cables interconnecting?
You know one end terminates at your workstation but where does it go from there? It is time to start
learning about your network and one key device in it - your router. A router is a device that connects
two or more networks together. These networks can consist of local area networks (LANs),
wide area networks (WANs) or a combination of the two, such as a non-profit LAN connecting
to a service provider. Routers have two or more interfaces that each connect to a network.
When data is sent from your computer to a different network, the router receives that data on its
interface (which is also the default gateway). The router then determines the best
route to reach the destination address and forwards it out from a different
interface. So the router determines how to get traffic from source to destination.
A router is analogous to your local post office. For example, when writing an e-mail
to your colleague across the county, the e-mail is addressed to her IP address,
similar to a street address on a letter. Once you hit “send” the e-mail goes
to your router, which determines from the IP address the best route to your
colleague (or which post office will deliver the mail). The e-mail is passed along to
several routers until it reaches the recipient's inbox.
So how does the router make these decisions? Routers build tables that list all
of the networks that they are connected to and which interface those
networks are on. These tables are shared with other routers, allowing
the calculation of the best path to a destination. Routers can be programmed
with a predetermined route or they can learn routes dynamically through routing protocols.
If your library currently has a network and intends to connect that network
to a service provider, than you will need a router. In the case of DSL and
cable, some modems have the router functionality built into them. However,
when choosing a router, the functionality and cost factors can be
daunting. Basically routers can be broken down into three categories:
enterprise, SOHO, and home-use.
Enterprise refers to large organizations, corporations, or library systems.
Enterprise routers can connect several networks to high-speed backbones
over different media types, connect remote users to the headquarters LAN,
or connect an entire corporation to the Internet. These are very functional,
high powered, extremely expensive routers that take a large amount of
configuration and management.
SOHO is the acronym for Small Office/Home Office. A router for this environment
typically connects a small to medium size network to the Internet.
For most small or mid-sized libraries, a single network is sufficient,
so the main role of a router should be to connect the LAN to the service
provider. The router should provide security through firewall features and
network address translation (NAT) as well as a connection to the Internet.
A SOHO router should not run more than $1,000. SOHO router vendors
include 3COM, Cisco, D-LINK, NETGEAR, and Linksys, to name a few.
Finally, the home-use router is a simple router that provides a small network
with shared access to the Internet and some basic security features.
These inexpensive routers, usually around $200, are used in conjunction with
a DSL or cable connection. Most home-type installations of DSL or
cable only provide for one IP address. For libraries that have more than one
computer it is necessary to share the IP address using a router running NAT.
Furthermore, there are some basic security features that can help
to secure this kind of network.
So where exactly does a router fit into your network? For most small networks
you will only need one router, and it will be the last device on your
network before you connect to your service provider (or another network).
This is defined as a gateway. The other interface of the router will
connect to the Internet through a Telco circuit. Generally this circuit
will leave the building at this point.
of the router as well as device upgrades can prove to be an effective way
to keep the information flowing. So plug in and join the information expressway!!
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Topic: Can the way my computers are networked and routed affect my network performance?
Tip: A quick look at Computer Networking and routing: A computer network is a group of computers that communicate between them through cables, switches, routers and protocols or rules. There are two type of computer networks: LAN (local area network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). Connecting The LAN's through powerful routers that pass information to other LAN creates a WAN. The Internet is a WAN. Like many other type of devices, because of its complexity, computer networks need maintenance and constant monitoring by an expert in networking. Currently, access to other networks and servers is done Through fast connections to the Internet like DSL and Cable (broadband or fast connection). The hook up to these connections is done with a modem and a router. Routers are like traffic police or traffic light that help put order in a busy highway with cars and trucks. The simplest type of router is one that only passes packets in and out. However most of them have some kind of filtering and a firewall. If these routers are not correctly configured or their software is not updated (to fix some glitches) this might result in problems in your local network.(slowness, discontinuance etc). There are ready made routers that you can just install yourself to connect you computer network. However, it is recommended that this is done with a help of or by a professional. The best routers are the one that you can configure yourself. Most routers have a routing application on top of a Linux or Unix operating system that you can manipulate. But others have a proprietary software that does not allow you to make changes in the configurations filest. If you have a small network and no budget for an network expert services, use a simple router like Linksys or Netgear to connect to the Internet. You need to read the installation instructions and familiarize yourself with some procedires about this. Always be ready to get help when is needed. About Bandwidth Internet bandwidth is, in simple terms, the transmission speed or throughput of your connection to the Internet. However, measuring bandwidth can be tricky, since the lowest bandwidth point between your computer and the site you're looking at determines the effective transmission speed at any moment. Three factors outside of your computer control how quickly you can view Web pages: 1. The Internet bandwidth between your computer and the site you're viewing. 2. The round-trip time between your computer and the site you're viewing. 3. The response time of the site you're viewing. The tests referenced on this page address the first issue, and measure the Internet bandwidth between your computer and PC Pitstop's servers. We also have tests that can measure the round-trip time between your computer and seven different sites on the Internet, here. Of course, the response time of our site will always be wonderful...:) (If not, we'll tell you on the home page.) Tests: Download vs. Upload The differences between our Download and Upload tests aren't as obvious as they may initially seem. Yes, the basic difference is the direction of the data transfer: Simply put, the Download test measures your connection speed for viewing Web pages; the upload test measures the speed for maintaining them--or sending data over your connection. However, the rated upload and download speeds may not be the same for your connection. Some connections, such as 33K and lower, are "symmetric," meaning the rated upload and download times should be the same. Other connections, such as cable modems and ADSL, are "asymmetric" (the "A" in ADSL stands for asymmetric). This means the upload and download times won't necessarily be the same; upload times are generally not as fast as download times. For instance, the rated speeds for ADSL are 1.4Mbps down, and 400Kbps up. Cable modems are typically rated at 1.5 to 3Mbps down, and 400 to 600Kbps up. Occasionally, you may even see opposite results, especially on cable modems during the evening hours. If your connection has a heavy user load, the download times may suffer, while the upload times remain unchanged. This is because the majority of Internet users download data instead of uploading it. In addition, the ways we actually conduct the tests aren't quite comparable. Our Download test uses the http protocol and grabs one big stream of data. Our upload test uses the ftp protocol, which involves a lot of handshaking across Internet servers. As a result, the test is more susceptible to interruptions because of bad ping times on a server or servers. Bottom line: You should regularly run both tests to make sure you're getting the rated upload and download speeds from your connection. About throughput and reproducibility The Internet changes from one moment to the next in ways that are impossible to predict. You cannot expect to see the same bandwidth value every time you measure it. Furthermore, you cannot expect to see the full nominal speed of your connection for your bandwidth measurement: There are always delays somewhere. As a rule of thumb, if you can measure throughput that is 85% of your nominal bandwidth, more often than not your connection is performing at par. (You may need to contact your service provider or modem manufacturer to determine the rated speed of your connection and/or modem.) This is especially true with modems. Most 56Kbps modems connect at a speed less than 46Kbps, because of the limitations of analog phone lines and telephone company switches. To get the best picture of your Internet bandwidth, test several times. Also test at different times of the day: Your bandwidth measurement at 7 AM may be much better than your bandwidth measurement at 10 PM. About bandwidth units You will often see bandwidth and transfer speed quoted in two different units: kilobits per second, abbreviated kbps or Kb/s, and kilobytes per second, abbreviated KB/s. The difference between the two units is the number of bits in a byte, which is 8. The small 'b' stands for bits, and the big 'B' stands for bytes. Transfer speeds are often shown in KB/s, and connect speeds are usually quoted in Kb/s. So, for instance, if a progress dialog for a modem shows you a download speed of 4.3 KB/s, it is the same as 34.4 Kb/s. If a progress dialog for a cable modem shows you a transfer speed of 100 KB/s, it is the same as 800 Kb/s. We display our measured transfer speeds in Kb/s, to make them easier to compare with your rated line speed. About bandwidth and modems Bandwidth over a modem connection can sometimes be difficult to understand. There are two connections to a modem: one from your computer to its modem, and one from the computer's modem to the ISP's modem. The connection speed between the computer and its modem (called the Maximum speed under Control Panel/Modem/General tab/Properties) should be set as high as possible without causing errors. On most computers this is 115200, also written as 115.2 Kb/s. The connection speed between your modem and the ISP's, and the compression and error checking, are negotiated between the two modems when they establish the call. In the very best possible case, which is rarely seen, two V.90 (56 Kb/s) modems will be able to connect at 53 Kb/s with compression, and the compression on normal text transfer will average 50%, giving an effective transmission rate of 106 Kb/s. Very highly compressible material could be transferred at the maximum rate of 115.2 Kb/s. Incompressible material like ZIP files could be transferred at a maximum rate of 53 Kb/s. Our download test transmits an incompressible block of random text. The theoretical maximum transfer speed for this over a V.90 modem is 53 Kb/s, if there was no latency at all on the line--that is, if there was no delay between the times your computer asked for a packet, our computer sent it, and your computer received it. With normal latency, however, transfer speeds are reduced to roughly 85% of the maximum, which for a V.90 modem would be about 45 Kb/s. If your modem connects to your ISP at the more typical 44 Kb/s, then you can expect our test to report about 37 Kb/s on a connection with normal latency.
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Topic: What are the latest requirements for a computer to run Millennium efficiently?
Tip: Computer requirements to run III application Millennium keeps coming up every time there is a problem with a computer. As Millennium gets patched or updated the requirements might change and as a subsequent you must upgrade your computer to run Millennium trouble free. - A Pentium 4 or equivalent with 2.0 GHz or better processor. - At least 512 MB of memory ( if you plan to run other programs in this machine you need to increase or double this memory ) - Windows 2000 or Windows XP patched and with latest Windows updates - At least 1 G of free space available just for Millennium in the Hard drive ( this might not look as a problem but if you save pictures or sound files, this will take quickly over the space available in the hard drive) - A fast graphic card with at least 800 x 600 (SVGA) resolution or better. - A web browser capable of support web standards like IE6, Firefox and Opera6. Please note also that besides major upgrades, computers need to have regular maintenance (Windows and security updates, defragmentation, check and clean hard drive) You can learn more about this on the III.com csdirect or http://support.midhudson.org If you need help or further details on this please contact the tech support line at 471-3440.
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Topic: IS TECH SUPPORT AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY'S?
Tip: THERE IS NO TECH SUPPORT ON SUNDAY'S What we recommend is: 1st. - If you can not start Millennium on-line, use the Off-line Millennium application and call first thing early Monday morning to process your transactions. 2d. - Make sure that your computer is working correctly (no Windows updates going on, no other applications running on your pc and taking process time etc..), Make sure that your Internet access is available (you might have to call your ISP ) and that Your library computer network is not having security and access problems. ( I would suggest you contact your computer expert or network administrator if you are not sure about these tests). 3d.- The Tech support staff automatically receive a text message from the system if the Network or any server goes down.
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