Super Service – UK iPod Repairs

These days it’s not very often we see a company or service praised for such high standards, and it’s not very often we get high standard of customer care, communication and delivery of service all in one package. Well I am pleased to announce, there are still companies out there who pay attention to the needs of their customers to be informed, and to receive a high quality service that is good value.

One such company that I have come across recently is UK iPod Repairs. With the growing number of isomething devices in the home and business these days, it’s very often a week doesn’t go by when someone says “do you know a good place where I can get this fixed?” Well, the answer is yes, I cannot recommend this company more.

I placed an order online for the repair of a cracked iPhone 3GS screen. I’d seen the replacement screens you can buy online and fit yourself, but UK iPod Repairs were offering this service for £40 including return postage and packaging. They were boasting same day repairs and next day return delivery, of course, with any such claims there is always reticense as to whether they can deliver.

Well, I am very pleased to announce that they did deliver on every aspact of their service. The timeline is illustrated below.

• Saturday, I posted my iPhone, special delivery guaranteed before 1pm on Monday, I wanted it insured having had some bad experiences with damaged goods recently.
• Monday morning at 10:02 I receive an email confirming my phone had been received by UK iPod Repairs
• Monday afternoon at 13:27 I received an email confirming my iPhone screen had been repaired and that I will be informed when it has been dispatched.
• Monday afternoon at 17:02 I received a final email confirming my iPhone had been dispatched
• Tuesday morning the postman knocks on the door with my iPhone, screen fully replaced with a very high standard of workmanship and fully working.

UK iPod Repairs, I thank you, for delivering a service that is lacking these days, and the service we all crave. Speedy, well communicated, and cost effective. I will certainly, no doubt, use you again in the future, especially as we have at least 5 idevices in our household and my customers have numerous themselves.

UK iPod Repairs full list of services can be found at http://www.ukipodrepairs.co.uk

Migration Tip #5 – The Aftermath ( SBS 2011 migration )

Welcome to my series of short tips on migrations. Whilst based on Microsoft migrations the same principles can be applied to any type of migration.

My first tip Migration Tip #1 – Source Server Health can be found here: https://demazter.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/migration-tip-1-source-server-health/

My second tip Migration Tip #2 – The Practice Run can be found here: https://demazter.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/migration-tip-2-%e2%80%93-the-practice-run/

My third tip Migration Tip #3 – Preparing for Live Migration can be found here: https://demazter.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/migration-tip-3-preparing-for-live-migration/

My fourth top Migration Tip #4 – The Migration can be found here: https://demazter.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/migration-tip-4-the-migration/

My fifth tip is based around testing and clearing up after the migration.  You’ve done all the hardwork, it would be a real shame to get this far and to encounter problems when you start to remove the old system.

Check over your work, do some test shutdowns of the old system.  Making sure that all users, data and systems are all operational during the shutdown.  Even go as far as to turn the system off for a week before you actually remove it from the network.  Making sure you tell your users that you are doing this and that any glitches you want to know about.  Believe me, all too often they will put up with a glitch and won’t tell you about it, until it’s too late.  You need to make it very clear that no matter how small you need to know about it during this “down” time.  It’s easier to resolve when the system is available than it is when it’s no longer part of your network.

There may be additional tasks you will need to perform once the old system is decomissioned.  These could include (but are not limited to):

• Backups, check you are backing up the data/system in it’s new location.
• Data flow, check that any dataflow in, out and around your network/systems have been updated to accomodate the changes you have made.  for example if it’s an Exchange migration, make sure that the firewall rules that control mailflow have been updated.  If it’s a SQL Database, make sure that any scripts/log shipping/etc have been modified. 
• Check any internal/external DNS entries have been modified if required.  If migrating to the cloud these will be external changes, if internal migrations then they will be internal changes.
• Check that any systems that interact with what has been migrated are still functioning, MFD’s, Fax Machines, NAS  devices etc etc.  The list is endless and only you will know what devices/systems you have in place.  Check them all.
• Check with your users that they are happy that all of what they need access to is working and functioning as they expect it to.
• Update your network documentation, do this now, whilst it’s still fresh in your mind.

Finally, once all that has been completed and you are happy that everything is working, decomission the old system.  Making sure of course you take a final backup before you do so.  Make sure you follow the correct procedure for removing the system you are migrating away from.  Don’t just turn it off and take it away.  Not following the correct procedure, can and will effect your network and any future migrations.

This is my final migration tip, I hope you have found them useful.  Please watch out for my next migration guide which will be available in the next few weeks which is Migrating Small Business Server 2008 to Small Business Server 2011.

If you are planning on a migration and are not comfortable with the process then Demazter IT Services can assist you. Please contact me on glen@demazter.co.uk.

All versions of Microsoft Exchange and Small Business Server require the use of an SSL Certificate. Whilst they will quite happily use a self-signed certificate a commercial certificate can save a lot of time and hassle, purchase Exchange/SBS SSL Certificates at an excellent price from: http://www.exchangecertificates.com