Eng. Alessandro Mazzanti: Freeware

Showing posts with label Freeware. Show all posts

Vianova #Remote support tool for free

Today I would like to mention free software that permit Remote support features for free

https://www.vianova.it/supporto/desk/download-vianova-desk-pc/

Tips #Text to Speech & to mp3 for free

PROBLEM: How to listen any day by day articles/news/books while doing other tasks.
SOLUTION: Speech articles/text (and/or save them in .mp3 file to listen them later) using a free website... (and many other features)...

This is a free website that I discovered (but I think that thre might me several others and, probably, better)

https://www.textfromtospeech.com/en/text-to-voice/

BTW Recently Google Chrome implemented text to speech feature too (you have only simple to right click on text and ask chrome to speech it for you)

Use Listen to this page mode in Chrome

Considering the huge amount of article availble on internet this could be helpful to listen them when you doing other things

Same concept it could be in other direction (speech to text)
Do you have other tips/solutions to suggest?

Freeware #Outlook alternative Mozilla Thunderbird

Here it is an Outlook Alternative that I would like to take note and mention on blog:

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/

Office - Google Slides, free Powerpoint alternative

Google Slides, free Powerpoint alternative

https://www.google.com/slides/about/

Website - Radio Frequence website and SATSAGEN Windows application that allows you to use an SDR device as a Spectrum Analyzer.

Today I would like to share this website mainly for radio-amateur

https://www.albfer.com/

On website you can find SATSAGEN software mention. Consider that it is a Windows application that allows you to use an SDR device as a Spectrum Analyzer.

SATSAGEN is provided free of charge to the HAM Radio community, with the hope that SATSAGEN can be appreciated as a useful tool for our radio experimentation.

This is a latter post about SATSAGEN version 0.5.3.4

https://www.albfer.com/en/2021/04/27/satsagen-0-5-3-4/

Here it is software overview

SATSAGEN news:

https://www.albfer.com/en/satsagen-news/

Download SATSAGEN from this link:

https://www.albfer.com/satsagen-download-page/#content

There is a latter interesting video that give you a software overview

Freeware - Adobe connect

Today I would like to indicate Abobe connect, software suite for web conferencing, presentation, desktop sharing and remote training.

Meeting rooms are organized into "pods" with a specific role (note, whiteboard and so on)

Here they are major capabilities:

VOIP
Mobile app
HTML 5 clients.
Meeting recording.

Here it is video presentation and official Adobe link

https://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

https://video.tv.adobe.com/v/27698?autoplay=true

And Wikipedia explanation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Connect

Network - Iperf tool & Speed test

During this time period I had necessity to stress and measure MPLS network connectivity without using internet connectivity available on line.

In this case speed test or any other internet web site tool was not useful.

Solution was using Iperf in command line mode launching a server session in remote site and a client session on another site.

In this way there was possibility to stress network and measure relative performances.

Here they are some video examples:

http://www.iperfwindows.com/screencasts.html

Meanwhile I am taking note about a good website dedicated to test internet performances.

https://fast.com/

[update 2022.08.31]

https://4sysops.com/archives/free-network-speed-test-tools/

Tuning - Patch My PC

In previously years I used several tools to check no O.S. software updates.

Unfortunately FileHippo App Manager is no longer working fine as in the past.

So I found that Patch My Pc Updater is working excellently, user interface is not so easy but, after you configured properly it work very fine.

About Enterprise companies easily extend Microsoft Configuration Manager to deploy and patch an extensive list of third-party applications.

About SCCM here they are old blog articles

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/search/label/SCCM%202012

Here it is lifewire article where are indicated similar software.

11 Best Free Software Updater Programs

https://www.lifewire.com/free-software-updater-programs-2625200

Freeware - ebook Reader - Adobe Digital Editions

If you need to open ebook using computer, Apple and Android devices Adobe Digital Editions is freeware and it work fine.

Here it is relative link

https://www.adobe.com/it/solutions/ebook/digital-editions/download.html

Freeware - Micrsoft Visio Alternative for free

Microsoft Visio is an excellent tool but is quite expensive.

Indeed is free and can work both online and as local installed software.

I hope that this information could be useful for someone:

https://www.draw.io

Software - Ultra VNC with acknowledgement

During these years I tested and configured Ultra VNC software version (UltraVNC_1_2_09) that permit you to connect to other client prompting for remote access, permissions grants and acknowledgement.

Consider that usually standard VNC installation permit you to connect to remote host with or without password

End user is not aware that someone is viewing his desktop raising a big privacy issue.

https://www.uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc.html

Freeware - Microsoft Project Free Alternative

Today I would like to mention this useful software that is similar to Microsoft Project but it is free at all:

https://www.ganttproject.biz/

This software permit to easily create Gant Charts as well

I hope that this information could be useful for someone.

Wifi - NetSpot FREE edition #Tool

I am taking note about a free tool that usually I utilize to understand any problem on WiFi coverage, a.e. overlapping, rouges WiFi e....

This is a free version (NetSpot FREE edition) with very limited features but it is enough for minimal WiFi troubleshooting. If you need more features (survey) tool payment version exist as well.

https://www.netspotapp.com/it/downloads.html

Have fun ;)

Security - Chrome automatically delete history Extention - History Cleaning

Internet is an important opportunity but it is surely used to collect data, track usage and advertise users based on their tastes, web sites visited and cookies as well.

Taking note about this considerations I was searching about automatically history deletion when chrome is going to be closed.

Unfortunately Chrome does not support this feature as officially indicated here.

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/2125707?hl=en

Workaround is reached using History Cleaning Extension that permit to choose precisely what must be deleted at browser shutting down.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/history-eraser/gjieilkfnnjoihjjonajndjldjoagffm

https://www.hotcleaner.com/history-eraser-chrome-extension-app.html

USB - Usb deview Tool

It might happen that an USB device is no longer recognized and driver reinstall procedure end with error.

There is an interesting tool, in my experience, that permit you to clean any driver reference and permitting you to start a clean driver installation.

Tool name is USBDeview provided by Nirsoft

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usb_devices_view.html

Other tool features are:

All USB devices that are and was connected/used on your device are show with full devices information.
USB devices uninstallation, disconnection and driver cleanup (both used and old connected devices as well)

Here they are two blog articles that mentioned USBDeview.

Tips - Problema Windows 7 64 Bit vs HUAWEI E172

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/05/tips-problema-windows-7-64-bit-vs.html

Manutenzione - Programmi utili da Hiren's Boot CD

https://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/01/manutenzione-programmi-utili-da-hirens.html

Backup - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows/Linux 3.0

During previously years I already wrote some blogs posts about Veeam Agent for Windows/Linux.

Veeam - Veeam Endpoint Backup Free - Free version released
Backup - Veeam Backup for free v.2.0 for Client/Laptop

It is a very interesting backup software that permit to schedule bare metal backups for physical clients and Servers.
Backups can be done to external Hard Drives, NAS, shares, cloud or to Veeam B&R repositories.

There are 3 versions (Windows Product Edition Comparison - Linux Product Edition Comparison):

Free. (no VSS, limitations about scheduling &Targets repositories, retention, Veeam B&R integration and technical support)
Workstation. (no VSS, limitations about scheduling, retention, B&R integration)
Server: that permit centralized Endpoint backup managements from Veeam B&R console (excellent feature)

Here it is Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 3.0 home page , Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 3.0 help center and all related guides/pdf.

Here they are some applicative aspects with relative hyperlinks:

Backup & Restore features.
Bare-metal restore & Bootable recovery media creation.
Backups with passwords.
Additional features:

Password Reset about built-in Administrator account.
Startup repair.
Memory diagnostics.

Here it is Veeam Agent For Microsoft Windows Datasheet for which I highlight some interesting features:

Transaction log backup for databases.
Full support for Microsoft Windows Server 2019 and Microsoft Windows 10.
Instant recovery to Microsoft Hyper-V VM.
Back up directly to Veeam Cloud Connect.
Veeam Restore to Microsoft Azure.
https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/vaw_automate.html?ver=30
Source-side encryption.
Email notifications.
Centralized Endpoint backup managements from Veeam B&R console with Veeam B&R Server License.
Restricting Network Connections Usage
Endpoint protection for mobile users: Back up to a local cache when the target is not available and sync with your cached backups once the connection has been re-established, for this point here it is an interesting screenshot:

TIPS - rotated drives with Veeam Agent Windows - Free mode

Latter part of this article is dedicated to feature that is available with free edition:

Backup on rotated drives is performed in the following way:

1. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows creates a backup chain on an external drive that you use as a backup target. The backup chain consists of the first full backup and a set of subsequent incremental backups.

2. When you swap drives and attach a new external drive, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows creates a separate backup chain on the new drive.

3. After you swap drives again, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows detects if there is a backup chain on the currently attached drive. If the backup chain exists, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows continues the existing chain: it creates a new incremental backup file and adds it to the existing backup files."

Here it is Veeam article and few screenshots for configuration:

Backup to Rotated Drives

[APPENDIX]

Here it is an interesting Veeam Article that explains differences between Synthetic vs Full backup

https://helpcenter.veeam.com/archive/backup/95/vsphere/synthetic_full_backup.html

"In free mode you can create only a single scheduling but you can use rotated drives as a target location for backups. This scenario can be helpful if you want to store backups on several external hard drives (for example, USB or FireWire) and plan to swap these drives between different locations regularly.

Mobile - Some useful apps

Technology has given us several benefits and disadvanges at the same time.

About mobile phones some apps, using image & audio recognization, GPS and internet connectivity, have very interesting features and are mentioned below. This is not intended to be a full list, but just to give an idea about techonology great opportunities:

1.) Flowers, Plants, Animals and trees identification through simple camera photos
Flora Incognita - Android/Apple
Flowerchecker - Apple/Android
Inaturalist - Apple/Android
PictureThis - Android/Iphone
PlantNet - Android / Iphone
PlantSnap - Android/Iphone
What’s that flower? - Android

2.) Wine app that scans wine labels and provides details about that wine such history, prices, quality etc. etc.

Vivino - Android/Mac
Wine-Searcher - Android/Mac

3.) Mushrooms identification in conjunction with mobile photo camera:

Mushrooms - Android/Apple
Mushroom Identify - Android/Apple
Champignouf - Apple/Android

4.) Music identification in conjunction with internet and mobile audio recorder:

SoundHound - Apple/Android
Shazam - Apple/Android

5.) Birds sound identification in conjunction with internet and mobile audio recorder:

BirdNET - Android
Merlin Bird ID - Apple

6.) Astronomy and Stars identification in conjunction with mobile photo camera, GPS and internet connectivity:

Mappa Stellare - Android
NASA app - Apple/Android
Night Sky Lite - Apple/Android
Sky Safari - Apple/Android
Sky View Lite - Apple/Android
Star Walk 2 - Apple/Android
Star Tracker - Android
Stellarium - PC
Stellarium Mobile Sky Map - Apple/Android

7.) Recognize monuments, paintings and artworks in conjunction with mobile photo camera, GPS and internet connectivity:

Ciceros - Android
Magnus - Apple/Android
Mereasy - Apple/Android
Smartify - Apple/Android
ViaggiArt - Cultura e Turismo Android

Linkedin link:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mobile-some-useful-apps-alessandro-mazzanti/

Freeware - HEIC Freeware tool converter

Apple with new iOS releases store images with a new format HEIC that use less space than .JPG but converting free tool for Windows is not so easy to be found.

I share and take note about correct tool that I succesfully identified.

iMazing HEIC Converter, free tool to convert HEIC to JPG

If you would like to disable your iphone/ipad device storing in HEIC and mantaining it when transferring foto to your pc below pictures are enough clear about necessary settings.

Freeware - SolarWinds All Free Network/System/Security/DB/clients monitoring tools

Today I would like to mention several SolarWinds Free tools.

They have limited options against full versions but have interesting features useful for day by day System and Network administration tasks/monitoring/troubleshooting.

System Administrations tools

Solar-PuTTY Connect to any server or device in your network with Solar-PuTTY for Windows. This is an interesting Putty or PuttyCM alternative.
VM Monitor Hyper-V: monitors your VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V host and associated virtual machines in real-time.
Server Health Monitor Monitor the health, status, and availability of server hardware.
Exchange Monitor Monitor and alert on performance, availability, and capacity of your Microsoft Exchange servers.
Remote Execution Enabler for PowerShell Streamline PowerShell tasks across all of your servers.
Admin Bundle for Active Directory Keep your Active Directory tidy with this trio of management tools
Permissions Analyzer for Active Directory Get instant visibility into user and group permissions.
VM Monitor Continuously monitor a VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V host and associated virtual machines.
Diagnostic Tool for the WSUS Agent Test WSUS connections and validate Windows Update Agent configuration.
Web Transaction Watcher Easily record and capture the results of a single web transaction.
WMI Monitor Monitor real-time performance metrics on Windows servers and applications.
SNMP Enabler for Windows Remotely configure SNMP on Windows servers and workstations.
VM Console Bounce problematic VMs without ever logging into VMware vCenter.
Storage Response Time Monitor Track your sluggish VMs and pinpoint exactly where you have high storage latency.

Security and various tools

Free IT Security Tools: Manage all end-user trouble tickets and track service request lifecycle, from ticket creation to resolution, from one centralized help desk management web interface.
Event Log Forwarder for Windows Forward Windows events based on event source, event ID, users, computers, and keywords in the event to your syslog server in order to take further action.
Firewall Browser Verify firewall rule changes and perform unlimited configuration searches.
Event Log Consolidator Consolidate logs from up to five Windows servers or workstations Graph events over time to find patterns and troubleshoot issues Send desktop alerts for specific events or export events to CSV.
Free IT Help Desk Tools Manage all end-user trouble tickets and track service request lifecycle, from ticket creation to resolution, from one centralized help desk management web interface.
Database Performance Analyzer Free Reveal performance bottlenecks deep inside your SQL Server, Oracle, DB2 and SAP ASE instances. No other database monitoring tool focuses on response time and Multi-Dimensional Performance Analysis™ like DPA does.

Network Management Tools

Traceroute NG Perform accurate network path analysis.
Port Scanner Scan available IP addresses and their corresponding TCP and UDP ports to identify network vulnerabilities.
Network Device Monitor: it work on any devieces with snmp credentials enabled there
NetFlow Configurator Quickly and easily activate NetFlow on your network devices with NetFlow Configurator.
GNS3 Network Emulator Construct and test your network in a risk-free virtual environment.
Real Time AppFlow Analyzer Investigate, troubleshoot, and quickly resolve application and network slowdowns.
Response Time Viewer for Wireshark Quickly analyze Wireshark® packet capture files to troubleshoot performance issues.
Network Analyzer & Bandwidth Monitoring Bundle Monitor network bandwidth usage with our free network analyzer and bandwidth monitor.
TFTP Server Free TFTP server for reliable and secure network file transfers.
IP Address Tracker Scan, track, and manage IP addresses and obtain detailed IP histories and event logs.
Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor Keep a close eye on bandwidth usage with this free bandwidth monitor from SolarWinds.
Real-Time NetFlow Analyzer See what types of traffic are on your network with SolarWinds free netflow analyzer.
Call Detail Record Tracker The free SolarWinds tool that lets you monitor VoIP performance.
Network Configuration Generator Automatically create template-based configuration scripts for network devices.
IP SLA Monitor Analyze IP service levels for network-based apps and services with our free IP SLA Monitor.
Advanced Subnet Calculator Help ensure that your IP addresses don’t conflict with one another, and save time managing DHCP, DNS, and IP addresses.
Wake-On-LAN Power up your network PC remotely.
Kiwi Syslog Server Free Edition View and archive syslog messages and SNMP traps in real time.
FTP Voyager FTP Client for Windows FTP, FTPS, and SFTP secure file transfer and automation with a full-featured scheduler.
SFTP/SCP Server Free SFTP server for reliable and secure network file transfers.

Networking - Packet Tracer Free Cisco tool to have all network simulation done

There is an interesting free Cisco tools that permit you to have all sort of tests and simulations done using different Cisco devices.

An interesting part is that simulation and configuration setting up could be useful in production deployment environment as well withouth having all physical devices.:

You should register here:

https://www.netacad.com/

You might download packet tracer from below link and with several video and training on line:

https://www.netacad.com/courses/packet-tracer

Consider athat Packet Tracer is an exciting network design, simulation and modelling tool that allows you to develop your skill set in networking, cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT). It allows you to model complex systems without the need for dedicated equipment.

Here it is Cisco Acadamy link as well.

I hope to have time to publish more information and article related to this fantastic tool.

https://www.netacad.com/courses/all-courses

Eng. Alessandro Mazzanti

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