This Week In Products: Sun’s server/processor salvo

The Big Launch: Sun adds to Sun Fire line
Sun Microsystems Inc. made several announcements, including the early arrival of its 9.6 GHz-based, high-performance systems, led by the Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 servers with CoolThreads technology. Sun also announced its intent to open source the company’s massively-threaded processor technology.

Based on the 9.6 GHz UltraSparc T1 processor, code named Niagara, the server line allow customers to take advantage of the new CoolThreads technology without having to rewrite applications. Sun guarantees binary compatibility on the Solaris Operating System (OS) across all supported systems including the Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 servers with CoolThreads technology. This ensures that software written for the Solaris 10 OS will run unmodified on all supported UltraSparc systems, Sun said.

ITBusiness.ca Coverage: Microsoft’s Project Green unifies business apps

Infrastructure
Libert products seek to cool data centres
Emerson Network Power announced four models of the Liebert DS system and a condenser system for the Liebert DS.

The new models extend the Liebert DS product line to include 53 kW, 70 kW, 77 kW and 105 kW downflow units. With the Liebert ParadenserTM the Liebert DS can be installed using traditional refrigerants and later transitioned to green refrigerants with no loss in capacity. Traditional condenser systems lose as much as 15 per cent of capacity when converting to green refrigerants.

The Liebert DS system also features the iCOMTM control system that allows increased inter-unit coordination and provides diagnostics and service capabilities.The system includes a 5-year belt, permanently lubricated 200,000 hour bearings, and an auto-tensioning motor base that eliminates the need for manually tightening the belts.

Security
VeriSoft Access Manager works from USB drive
Bioscrypt Inc. announced the introduction of VeriSoft Access Manager USB Flash Drive Edition.

VeriSoft Access Manager USB Flash Drive Edition is the latest Bioscrypt offering developed to address the need for increased convenience and security for access to information technology. This technology is designed to be installed and distributed on USB flash drive devices for users to store information, applications and credentials on a removable and secure portable device. Among the benefits of the new solution is Single Sign-On (SSO) user authentication, transparent file and directory encryption and a secure electronic wallet for storing online shopping and bill payment information. All files load directly from the USB drive.

The functionality provided by VeriSoft USB Flash Drive Edition makes information, such as digital pictures, MP3 files and PowerPoint presentations, available to a new computer. Then through VeriSoft Access Manager’s SSO functionality, usernames and passwords required for accessing Web sites and applications are entered automatically, removing the need to remember them. The user can plug the USB flash drive into any PC and the VeriSoft Access Manager self-installs, launches automatically and the user is prompted to sign-in.

Invisible to the user, VeriSoft Access Manager automatically centralizes password replacement, consolidates user identities and secures vital company information. All data in the Secure Data Repository is encrypted to provide another layer of security protection should the USB key be lost or stolen. Once the USB drive is removed from a PC it leaves no trace of the data, passwords or files accessed.

VeriSoft Access Manager USB Flash Drive Edition supports multifactor user authentication. USB drives equipped with biometric identity verification technology may use this for SSO verification.

Novell preps for ID Manager 3
Novell announced the upcoming worldwide availability of Novell Identity Manager 3, the company’s flagship cross-platform provisioning and identity management solution for security and compliance.

Available Dec. 13, Novell Identity Manager 3 can visually model implementations and easily reuse configurations to reduce deployment times and test “what if” scenarios before deployment. Employee access to network resources can be based either on corporate roles or on distinct approval processes. The add-on Provisioning Module for Novell Identity Manager 3 delivers workflow capabilities to help customers streamline user administration by automating approval requests and designating role, group or individual assignments that help define approval processes.

Networking
Cisco extends support for SIP
Cisco today extended its support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based applications aligned with IMS standards efforts with enhancements to elements of the Cisco SEF, the service convergence layer of its IP NGN architecture.

Additionally, Cisco has extended SEF support for non-IMS applications to enable real-time monitoring of VoIP call quality and integration with third-party anti-virus, security and intrusion detection appliances. The Cisco SEF enables support for virtually any IP service ranging from business Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to consumer-oriented applications like Video-on-Demand (VoD), interactive gaming and IPTV.

Products announced include the Cisco XR 12000 Series router. Session Border Control (SBC) provides per-session control and management of IP multimedia traffic based on widely-used protocols such as SIP and H.323 for signaling interoperability. This enables multi-service scale with easier operation and lower costs by eliminating additional appliances and overlay networks, Cisco said. It also builds on Layer 2/Layer 3 services with native IOS XR implementation and provides a flexible and open architecture, designed to enable interprovider peering and provider access deployments with support for unified or distributed signaling.

The Cisco MGX 8880 Media Gateway, meanwhile, is designed to allow service providers to consolidate their infrastructures and deliver differentiated IP Communications services. The Cisco MGX is now PacketCable qualified and is optimized for IMS and non-IMS applications.

Fluke adds VoIP features to OptiView
Fluke Networks Canada announced that its OptiView Series II Integrated Network Analyzer now offers a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) option designed to allow network managers to analyze VoIP activity on their network, determine call quality and view individual call channel details.

The OptiView Integrated Network Analyzer offers seven layer protocol analysis, active discovery, SNMP device analysis, RMON2 traffic analysis and physical layer testing. Support for Layer 3 switched networks simplifies identification of hosts connected to L3 switch ports, according to Fluke.

The Internet Throughput Option, meanwhile, checks the capacity of WAN links, allowing customers to verify that they are receiving the WAN capacity they paid for. Additional VLAN support and increased device discovery capabilities give users the network visibility.

The OptiView Integrated Network Analyzer is available for immediate delivery through Fluke Networks sales channels worldwide, with suggested list pricing starting at under $25,000 and varying by configuration. The VoIP analysis option, Internet Throughput Option, VLAN Vision and other options are also available with list prices of $6,520, $1,108 and $5,579 respectively.

Storage
DataMirror offers enhancements to iCluster
DataMirror unveiled the iCluster 2.2, the latest release of DataMirror’s complete high availability and disaster recovery solution for business applications running in the IBM i5 (iSeries) environment.

The iCluster 2.2 include a centralized monitoring graphical user interface (GUI), which means sdministrators can monitor replication simultaneously on both the primary and backup systems, as well as start and stop replication jobs, all within a single interface. Enhanced object management, meanwhile, means administrators can configure multiple objects to be refreshed as a group to the backup system without the overhead of journaling. Simple global level commands let administrators start, stop, set starting positions and switch over of multiple object sets using simple global level commands.

The iCluster 2.2 offers full support for IFS and LOBs in remote journaling environments, remote journal cleanup, and automatically manages remote journal status. Improved checks for synchronization status of triggers, files, IFS objects and data queues are intended to ensure data integrity so users have the confidence that their source and target systems match.

V-Switch includes iSCSI recovery features
SANRAD Inc. announced the general availability of its iSCSI-based Global Data Replication and Recovery solution built around the company’s V-Switch.

SANRAD’s Global Data Replication and Recovery solution combines the iSCSI V-Switch and the company’s embedded StoragePro software. Data is replicated between any primary site to one or more secondary sites over standard copper or optical IP networks. Both one-to-one and many-to-one replication operations are supported, allowing organizations with multiple satellite offices to replicate data to a central data centre.

StoragePro software supports both continuous synchronous and asynchronous replication to remote sites with ensured data consistency for every application, including data caching on the V-Switch. The Global Data Replication and Recovery solution includes the ability to automate failover and fallback between primary and secondary sites that help minimize Recovery Time Objective.

Data Management
PowerGREP goes on text string search
JGsoft has released PowerGREP v. 3.2, a Windows grep tool that lets users find files and information anywhere on your PC or network. Users can search through any number of text and binary files for words, phrases, and strings. In addition to locating information across multiple files, PowerGREP lets users manipulate and replace text. PowerGREP is a tool for extracting information from server logs, Web site pages, programmers’ source code, financial reports, or any data that’s scattered across a network.

PowerGREP performs searches for text strings, even when searching files that are deep within subfolders. PowerGREP can locate and manipulate text strings that are contained in Word documents, PDF files, and Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and Quattro Pro spreadsheets. PowerGREP treats ZIP files as if they are ordinary folders, and allows users to search within all of their ZIP-compressed archives.

PowerGREP uses “regular expressions” when performing more complex search and replace operations. Users can apply any number of search terms, sequentially or concurrently. Users can establish an intuitive naming convention, and store backups of files each time they modify them. These backups can be saved as ZIP-compressed archives. In addition, the program’s Undo History feature automatically keeps track of which actions modified which files, and which backup files were created. With the click of a button, users can undo any modification that they have made.

PowerGREP v. 3.2 runs under Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003, and costs US$149 for a single-user license.

TikiWiki gives open source content management option
Aplus.Net has released the TikiWiki, an advanced, open source content management system.

The key component of the product is content management, particularly the fact that it allows multiple team members to create and manage content, rather than one webmaster who does not have the narrow specialization. Other basic features include blogs, forums, webmail, surveys, newsletters, image gallery, calendars, banner rotation, and many others.

VoiceTiki, which enables an audio component to the Web site that generates unique “talking” Web pages. The MobileTiki feature allows a user to access the site via mobile phone. User Watches allow visitors to tag certain content, and receive alerts once content has been updated.

The TikiWiki is now available to most Aplus.Net web hosting customers at no extra charge. Requirements are “SoloXR” hosting plan and above. The product may be automatically installed from the Aplus.Net Control Panel. In addition, Aplus.Net offers setup, maintenance and training services for those who need guidance through the more complex elements of the TikiWiki.

FleetPulse 2.1 includes native fuel consumption loading
Netistix Technologies announced that version 2.1 of its telematics FleetPulse product is now available.

This version of the product provides fleet operators and fleet managers with native fuel consumption monitoring, advanced exception reporting and smart GPS capture.

Fleet managers can now use the FleetPulse interface to automatically generate and email customized exception reports to various stakeholders. Those exceptions are now configurable, meaning that fleet managers can set specific thresholds and automatically generate reports when those thresholds are exceeded.

Release 2.1 also provides fleet managers with the option of enabling an audible alarm in the FleetPulse unit. Based on a pre-defined speed threshold, the unit will beep to remind the driver of speed restrictions while the vehicle is in motion, addressing the problem the moment it occurs.

M-Business Anywhere adds localization
iAnywhere announced the availability of the latest release of its M-Business Anywhere.

M-Business Anywhere 6. features include Web Services integration support, Asian localization as well as improvements in management, performance and security.

M-Business Anywhere now supports double-byte content and applications and has localized clients for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Supported device platforms are Windows XP and Windows Mobile 2003. M-Business Anywhere currently has existing localized clients for English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.

With M-Business Anywhere’s SOAP API, third party software developers ca embed M-Business Anywhere in their solution and offer mobile extensions to their applications to the market. This Web Services integration allows companies to re-brand the M-Business Anywhere management console, or build their own management consoles. The SOAP API also gives the ability to use a single management console to manage mobile and desktop applications. M-Business Anywhere clients can now be upgraded automatically by administrators. A key feature for managing large deployments and distributed environments, this allows administrators to specify different upgrade rules for different platforms and connection types. Administrators also have the option to force upgrades or allow users to defer until a later sync. A “tree-based” user interface is designed to significantly simplify management of the M-Business Anywhere server, users, groups and channels and is built using a new SOAP API.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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