This week we'll catch up on a few upgrades of products we've reviewed in this column.

TightVNC

First, there's an improved version of a tool we loved, the remote control utility VNC. The new version, TightVNC, is a direct descendent of the original code.

TightVNC is faster, smaller and more robust than the original, and boasts all sort of enhancements:

• Improved cursor handling so you no longer see slow remote cursor movements that lag behind the local cursor.

• The algorithms for encoding screen data are optimized for slow and moderate-speed connections, meaning they generate less traffic than the standard VNC procedure. TightVNC also supports all the original VNC encodings so it can operate efficiently over fast networks.

• With TightVNC you can choose the ratio of compression and coding speed to match your connection speed and processor power.

• If you don't care too much about image quality, JPEG compression is an option that compresses color-rich screen areas more efficiently than the compression scheme used in the original VNC.

• An improved Java viewer (accessed through the built-in HTTP server, as in the standard VNC).

• You can choose arbitrary port numbers for TCP/IP connections, a feature not available in the original VNC.

• The Unix version of the TightVNC viewer can tunnel connections via SSH automatically using a local SSH/OpenSSH client installation.

There are a lot more changes. But best of all, TightVNC is, like its forebear, free.

WhatsUp Gold 8

Another upgraded product is the network management console called WhatsUp Gold from Ipswitch (www.ipswitch.com), now at Version 8 (see our review of Version 7).

In this release WhatsUp Gold adds:

• Real-time event monitoring of Windows log events and alert generation. You also can relate device downtime or network strain to a specific event that has recently occurred on the network.

• Selective Discovery, which maps the specific device types you choose to include or exclude rather than performing a "blanket" discovery of all network devices - this can be a real performance improvement in large networks.

• XML and custom map formats for sharing with other applications.

• SMS notification (TAP and UCP - GSM will be added in the future).

• Enhanced NT Service Monitoring adds the ability to restart a failed Windows NT/2000/XP service in conjunction with sending a notification of this service failure.