New Laptop Computer Information for SEsI am in the process of getting my new computer up and running. In the spirit of sharing some key points/gotchas with those of you who may be getting a new machine soon...and if I recall I was on the bow wave of a few new SEs joining (Bill Worley, Pete H., Olivia, Nate) the team, you too will soon be coming up on your 3 year hardware renewal cycle...here you go with 'things I've learned'. For point of reference my new machine is a Dell Latitude E7470.
For starters it took 3.5 hours to load JMP Pro version 13 from the SAS Global Software Download Portal on the machine via my wireless home network. I've changed nothing in my home network in the last few years. Historically downloading was measured in low double digit minutes...not low hours. The Microsoft Update downloads that I was hit with on first connection to the SAS network took overnight to download.
Some random gotchas with these new machines…maybe you already knew these?
1. As a remote employee, on initial power up of the new machine make sure you are hardwired/cabled into the internet…not connected via wifi. We’re not told this in the deployment instructions…but apparently it’s needed…at least according to the SAS IT technical support agent who helped me get up and running. Connected wirelessly I couldn’t even log onto the computer…it just told me no domains existed.
2. There is NO VGA port. Only an HDMI connector in the box, on the backside of the frame. So I’ll be ordering a dongle or two for the times I leave it behind at a customer site…so we can connect to customer’s AV equipment when all they have is VGA…seems like EVERYBODY has VGA…but NOT everybody has an HDMI interface.
3. There is ONE USB port on the side (right side) of the machine…two on the backside. Problem with the backside positions is when you use the supplied block fixture to provide a cushion and support for the unit to the docking station I use, the backside USB ports are inaccessible, blocked by the fixture. You can remove the docking station fixture block, but my computer is less stable on the docking station. Guess I’ll get used to a wobbly machine since I need to connect my mouse, headset, and usually my iPhone via USB during any one session from home.
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsGreat idea Martin...I'm embarrased I didn't think of it. Indeed, I've got 4 USB ports on my docking station. All accessible and easy to get too. So I can connect my mouse, headset, iPhone, printer, and LBR backup drive, all through either the computer box, or the docking station at one time. Plus I can now use the plastic fixture block supplied with the new computer to provide additional bracing for the computer on the docking station.
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsHi Peter,
usually there are USB ports at the side of the docking station so you do not need to put them directly into your machine. Is your docking station different?
Martin
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsHi Peter,
Your speculations are correct. Since the DB instance is referencing the old machine name (open Options when getting the SQL Server Login screen, it's in the WorkStation ID section, for example or look at Eric note's on setup). You add the DB again as per Eric's instruction to get it to work since it is probably not there after you reinstalled SQL Express. All your old Query Builder scripts will reference the old connection as well which is the old machine name. However, you should get a prompt that allows you to choose a new DB/Connection in its place.
Chris
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsThe more I thought about the issue of my Query Builder demo not working...I don't think it might have been so much an instance of missing files from the new machine backup restore, but with my limited knowledge of the inner workings of SQLExpress maybe the root causes are:
1. SQLExpress 'points' to the specific machine name/number on which it's installed. So while I may have had SQLExpress on the machine it's not gonna work because it was configured on initial installation to the specific 'old' machine name. So SQLExpress is kind of blind to the current machine.
2. The ODBC connection is also specific to the machine name...so you'd have to re-establish that connection specific to the new machine.
Of course all of the above is purely speculation on my part...bottom line is, if you go all the way back to step one with Eric's instructions and reinstall all files, re-establish the ODBC connection you can get back up and running.
Good luck!
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsTo add to the list of potential gotchas:
1. I'm running Windows OS, and I use a LBR backup system each day. Apparently the files required for us SEs to demo Query Builder as we were taught by Eric Hill and others at KickOff 2015 at launch of version 12 do NOT carry over to the new box. If I was you, I'd double check your ability to demo Query Builder when you download your virgin JMP/JMP Pro 13 from the Global Software download portal on to your new machine. I would NOT assume your Query Builder demo capability will work just fine. The remedy was I had to go back to the JMP12 Training Starter and find Eric's document (which I've attached here for reference if you don't have the JMP12 Training Starter on your machine) and re-execute ALL of these instructions. I ran into a few small roadblocks along the way...but I'm not sure if they were unique to me and my machine...but I contacted Eric and he was able to set me straight after a few emails back and forth for each minor failure mode. Kudos to Eric for his kind and patient assistance. Again it took several hours to download some of the files over my home network wirelessly...both from the Microsoft site (for SQL Server 2014 Express) and \\jmpdev2 to grab that SQBTest.bak file. Maybe your download speed will be faster?
Re: New Laptop Computer Information for SEsI always keep the JMP installers and per files saved on my laptop - sooner or later a re-install will be necessary! It could save you hours of trying to redownload on the road (says the voice of experience)!
