maintenance

Winsage
May 6, 2025
AI has evolved into a transformative force for organizations, increasing the demand for secure and high-performance AI-ready Windows 11 PCs. Microsoft has introduced Copilot+ PCs, including the new 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop, both powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor with an integrated neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 45 trillion operations per second. The 13-inch Surface Laptop offers up to 23 hours of video playback and 16 hours of web browsing, with performance enhancements of up to 50% faster speeds and double the battery life compared to its predecessor. It features an AI-enhanced 1080p front camera for video conferencing and a durable design. The 12-inch Surface Pro is the thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC, providing 50% faster performance and up to 16 hours of local video playback. Both devices are designed as Secured-core PCs with advanced security features, including Windows Hello for Business and biometric authentication options. They support enhanced productivity through AI features in Windows 11 and Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling faster file searches and improved team efficiency. Microsoft emphasizes sustainability with the use of recycled materials and energy-efficient designs. The new devices will be available starting July 22 in select markets.
Tech Optimizer
April 30, 2025
PostgreSQL 18 includes significant enhancements in monitoring capabilities and new features. Key updates include: - Buffer information in EXPLAIN ANALYZE is now enabled by default, providing detailed buffer statistics for better query performance insights. - The pg_stat_io view tracks I/O statistics in bytes (read_bytes, write_bytes, extend_bytes), simplifying monitoring of I/O operations. - Enhanced monitoring of Write-Ahead Logging (WAL) statistics is introduced, allowing tracking of WAL operations and new WAL segment initialization. - The pg_stat_get_backend_io function provides I/O statistics for specific client processes, aiding in performance tuning. - The VACUUM (verbose) command now includes visibility map information, detailing all-visible pages after a vacuum operation. - The pg_stat_all_table view tracks total vacuum and analysis times per table, and users can adjust autovacuum workers without server restarts. - A new uuidv7 function generates UUIDs with a Unix-epoch timestamp for ordered identifiers. - The passwordcheck extension enforces a minimum password length for better security practices. - Improvements to the jsonb type ensure correct handling of null conversions. - The casefold function facilitates case-insensitive searches. - The RETURNING clause in DML commands now supports returning both old and new values. - The to_number function can convert Roman numerals to numeric values.
Winsage
April 28, 2025
Microsoft will launch a subscription-based hotpatching service for Windows Server 2025 on July 1, 2025, priced at [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Microsoft is set to transform the landscape of enterprise updates with the upcoming launch of its subscription-based hotpatching service for Windows Server 2025. This innovative approach marks a significant shift in how updates will be managed for businesses operating Windows Server outside of Azure. Beginning July 1, 2025, hotpatching will transition from a complimentary preview to a paid subscription model, priced at .50 per CPU core per month. This change extends a capability that was previously exclusive to Azure users, now making it accessible for on-premises servers and hybrid environments through Azure Arc integration. What Is Hotpatching? Hotpatching is a cutting-edge technology that enables the installation of security and critical updates without necessitating a system reboot. Instead of interrupting services or rebooting servers, hotpatching directly updates the in-memory code of running processes. This advancement brings Windows server deployments in line with similar technologies that Linux administrators have enjoyed for years, such as kpatch and ksplice. By allowing updates without reboots, organizations can significantly reduce disruptions while enhancing their security posture. How Does Hotpatching Work? The hotpatching mechanism follows a structured update cycle: Baseline months: In January, April, July, and October, a full cumulative update will be released, requiring a reboot to establish a new baseline. Hotpatch months: In the two months following each baseline month, critical patches will be deployed via hotpatches without requiring any server reboots. This means that servers will only need to reboot approximately four times a year, rather than monthly. On rare occasions, Microsoft may issue a critical security update that requires a reboot even during a hotpatch month, but the aim remains clear: to provide up to eight rebootless hotpatches annually. Why Is Microsoft Moving to a Paid Model? While hotpatching was available at no additional cost during its preview phase, Microsoft is now positioning it as a premium feature for customers seeking maximum uptime, operational simplicity, and rapid security response. According to the Windows Server team at Microsoft, the value of hotpatching encompasses: Reduced Downtime: Maintain operations without the need for scheduling late-night or weekend reboot windows. Faster Updates: Smaller patches facilitate quicker deployments. Enhanced Security: Address vulnerabilities swiftly without delays associated with reboot coordination. Operational Efficiency: Streamlined change management and patch orchestration. Internal teams at Microsoft, including the Xbox division, have already experienced notable efficiency improvements with hotpatching, completing tasks that previously took weeks in just days. Subscription Details Feature Details Launch Date July 1, 2025 Price .50 USD per CPU core per month Editions Supported Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter Deployment Requirement Must be connected to Azure Arc Included with Azure Editions Datacenter: Azure Edition (no extra charge) Patch Frequency 8 hotpatches/year + 4 reboot-required baseline patches Organizations currently utilizing the free preview must either opt out before June 30, 2025, or they will be automatically transitioned into the paid subscription starting in July. While hotpatching offers powerful capabilities, it does not entirely eliminate the need for traditional updates. Certain updates will still necessitate a reboot, including: Major non-security updates. .NET Framework patches. Driver and firmware updates. Emergency out-of-band security patches. As such, administrators should still anticipate occasional downtime, albeit significantly reduced. By incorporating hotpatching into their update strategies, organizations can bolster system availability and streamline their maintenance processes." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].50 per CPU core per month. Hotpatching allows security and critical updates to be installed without rebooting the system, reducing downtime and enhancing security. The update cycle includes four baseline months requiring reboots and eight hotpatches annually without reboots. The service is available for Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter editions and requires connection to Azure Arc. Organizations using the free preview must opt out by June 30, 2025, or will be transitioned to the paid model. Certain updates, such as major non-security updates and .NET Framework patches, will still require reboots.
AppWizard
April 26, 2025
EA's skateboarding simulation, Skate, is set for an early access release in 2025 and will require a constant internet connection, with no option for offline play. The game is designed as a massively multiplayer online experience that evolves over time with dynamic changes and live events. Concerns have been raised about the sustainability of this always-online model, especially if EA were to discontinue server support, potentially rendering the game unplayable.
Tech Optimizer
April 21, 2025
The AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) provides a managed solution for migrating and replicating databases to AWS, supporting both homogeneous and heterogeneous migrations. It allows seamless data migration from PostgreSQL databases to any supported target and vice versa. Open-source PostgreSQL regularly releases new versions, and Amazon RDS aims to support these within five months. Upgrading PostgreSQL instances is essential for security and compliance. Minor version upgrades focus on security and bug fixes without adding new functionalities, while major upgrades can change system tables and data formats. AWS DMS tasks require careful management during PostgreSQL upgrades. For minor upgrades, ongoing DMS tasks should be stopped and then resumed post-upgrade. For major upgrades, replication slots must be dropped before the upgrade, which will invalidate ongoing DMS tasks. After the upgrade, a new CDC-only task should be created to resume data migration. Minor version upgrades of the target PostgreSQL database do not affect AWS DMS CDC tasks, but major upgrades require stopping the DMS task, performing the upgrade, and ensuring compatibility with the replication instance before resuming the task.
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