The Rueb ‘N’ Stein has joined the burgeoning downtown WiFi network. Wireless internet allows us to work and play on our computers wherever we go.

Rueb management noticed more and more people bringing their laptops with them to dine. Some people came to eat and work, others were there to socialize and have a beer. Increasingly, and especially so in Northfield, wireless-enabled computers follow us when we go out.

So in January, badbrain set up and tested WiFi installation at the Rueb. The goals were to use moderately priced hardware and to make sure it was both robust and extensible. Customers at both the Rueb, with its many tables and bar, and Grundy’s, the non-smoking diner associated with the Rueb, needed a nice signal for their laptops. And Rueb management needed hardware that could stand up to the everyday wear and tear of a busy restaurant and bar, including a sometimes smoky environment.

Rueb management reasoned that people are more likely to use laptop computers while sitting down, so they didn’t worry as much about the Game Room and the Upstairs, which is used mainly for live music.

But if it turns out that customers use their computers in those areas, too, badbrain can help the Rueb use its new extensible hardware to expand WiFi service whenever and to wherever it wants.

A couple of months ago, By All Means Graphics, an excellent downtown Northfield design firm, came out with the Northfield Entertainment Guide. This is a very comprehensive free printed calendar of interesting things happening in Northfield. BAM (By All Means) correctly identified a need for such a guide and also correctly realized that local businesses would want to advertise in it. We are such a local business. Here’s our ad.

Additionally, Northfield.org decided recently to syndicate business blogs. Again, we are a such a local business.

Recently one of our small business customers experienced something really awful. His laptop computer died… Actually, the hard drive had a mechanical failure, which was then replaced under the manufacturer’s warranty. Sadly, all of his files were lost and all of his email, contacts and calendar too.

Fortunately, his business subscribes to our Proactive Maintenance Plan, and as part of that plan we manage its nightly backups. All of our customer’s important files had been captured the night before, and the night before that, and so-on. Once we got our hands on his laptop, all we had to do was restore that data. Ta-da!

Backups are an essential component to a healthy network. Often the task of making backups is left to an individual. This is problematic for a couple of reasons. One reason is that the designated person may not know what to back up. Another reason is that, as we all know, people are busy and this makes us forgetful. Routines are often interrupted by all those little tasks we have to accomplish every day and every week.

The solution? An automated backup system. The lesson here is to back up often and back up comprehensively.