Volume 5 Issue 11

June, 2000

New Account Management System

We will be implementing a new account management system over the next few months.
This management system will allow us to create several databases for tracking tech support issues, subscriber account information (e.g., username and password), and automate our billing process.
The management software package is part of the extensive server and services upgrades we began several months ago.
We will implement the new system in several phases. The first phase will establish the subscriber account information database, the second will enable the tech support features and the third will automate billing.
One of the features this upgrade will provide is the ability to send subscriber invoices/statements via email instead of postal mail.
We will soon be sending an email asking if you would prefer to receive your invoice/statement via email.

Mail Server Improvements

The new mail server is handling its tasks very well!
During the month of May, this server received 140,203 messages totaling over 3,909 Mb and sent 131,689 messages totaling over 3,095 Mb. Best of all, our new mail server rejected 12,141 spam messages!
We have been fine-tuning the server to reject spam from spam sites as they are identified.
Please continue to send any spam to abuse@cove.com, so we can block those spammers!

Virus Advice

Is there anyone who hasn't heard of the "I Love You" virus?
This virus, as with many others roaming around lately, can be easily avoided by using a bit of common sense.
These viruses enter a computer as email attachments and need to be "run" in order to do any damage. You can quickly identify a potential virus by its filename extension (e.g., .vbs or .exe). We do not recommend opening any attachment ending with .vbs or .exe.
Simply deleting the message and attachment will prevent a potential virus from harming your computer.

Help Desk Notes

Some subscribers are still trying to log into the network using their real name.
You can only login using your username and password. Your username is your email address without the "@cove.com" part.
Also, please remember that usernames and passwords are all lowercase and that there can be no spaces, including before and after the username and password.
Please call us if you have trouble connecting. We're here to help you!

SysAdmin's Corner

Our new secure web server was officially registered in May and is now ready to provide e-commerce solutions!
Uunet experienced intermittent network outages in May at several locations which occasionally affected our connectivity. Those issues have apparently been resolved.
Our new Windows NT server is now being built and will be put into operation by the end of this month.
Development has also begun on a new network monitoring server.

Subscriber Referral Program

Are you pleased with our service? Do you know someone who is unhappy with their current Internet/On-line service?
Why not do them and yourself a favor?
Just recommend our service. If they subscribe, we'll give you a free month of access!
They will appreciate your advice and you'll save a little money.
Again this month, over a dozen subscribers are getting their access in June for free - by referring new subscribers.

Everybody wins!

Internet Training

Have you seen our new web-based training packages?
They are convenient, up-to-date, and very inexpensive.
Visit this website at:
www.courses.cove.com
You can now even take introductory Internet and general computer use courses for free! Just visit our Help Page for access.

What's New at the Cove is a monthly publication of Cove Communications.

Publisher/Editor, Bill Ostaski

27 Congress Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-5300
(978) 282-3399
office@cove.com

Newsletter Archive