Here is this week's Editors' Choice; look for Readers' Choice later this week.
EDITORS’ CHOICE
Online debate: Network neutrality
The U.S. House of Representatives last week voted down the concept of network neutrality. This week, the Senate debates the issue. Join the debate – we’re running a forum on network neutrality. Scott Cleland, chairman of NETcompetition.org, which represents represents telecom and wireless companies and David Isenberg, a fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society will debate each other – and you.
From the front page
Users demand better net hardware mgmt.
While network equipment makers have reinforced the management elements in their routers, switches, accelerators and voice equipment, customers still want more.
Compatibility with legacy equipment key to NAC’s future
Many network access control specialists have yet to address one of the biggest problems with their security technology: making their products work better with legacy network gear.
Review
NetIQ suite tops test of security compliance wares
The good news is that strong options abound in this class of products, with five of the six tested earning an overall rating of at least four out of five possible points. NetIQ’s Vulnerability Manager came out on top as the most well-rounded product. While it did not stand out in any individual area, it performed solidly across the board in policy management, reporting, compliance checks, configuration and remediation.
From the blogs
Ken Fasimpaur discusses the irrational term “SOA 2.0.” Jason Meserve and Keith Shaw discuss the week’s news in a new version of Network World Radio. Mark Gibbs really likes the Google Browser Sync Extension. James Gaskin says the net-neutrality vote in the House means the bullies are winning.
How to
Ron Nutter helps a user decide which is a better way to prepare for the exam: A router simulator or building a test network.
In depth
IPFIX eases network-flow reporting
Flow-based technologies, increasingly popular for characterizing network traffic, are invaluable to setting QoS policies, deploying applications and engaging in capacity planning. However, network managers have lacked a standard format in which to export traffic flows.
The importance of information stewardship
Taking charge of and managing information across a network represents one of the most critical strategic challenges facing corporate IT executives. In today’s information-overloaded business environment, long-term competitiveness can depend on it.
More news
Avaya bolsters IP phone line
Avaya this week is expected to launch a line of IP phones, attempting to woo corporate users with cell phone-like features, high-clarity audio and simplified user interface.
Microsoft moving desktop into virtualization fold
Microsoft’s virtualization plans for the desktop are getting strong reviews, as users and analysts alike say that the benefits for IT should be reduced costs for deploying and managing devices and migrating between versions of software.
Getting a handle on transaction mgmt.
As enterprise applications grow more sophisticated and evolve to support environments with service-oriented architectures, a new breed of management software is growing up to manage the transactions that make these applications run.
Tech tools bolster retailers’ crime-fighting efforts
As shoplifting tallies mount, retailers are turning to IT products that let them home in on suspicious transactions and tune their anti-theft measures.
TechEd to showcase Microsoft’s future
With new versions of its flagship products still entrenched in development, Microsoft opens its annual TechEd conference this week with a focus on selling IT on the benefits of migrating to the new software.
Industry group to advance ‘near field’ wireless
An industry group last week released an architecture and initial specifications for a wireless technology with a range of inches that can be used to automate data sharing and transactions by mobile devices.
Users share wireless security tips
Network professionals at last week’s Globalcomm 2006 conference said they are exploiting the latest wireless and mobile technologies to get employees closer to customers and increase productivity, but are constantly facing new security challenges in doing so.
CA enriches mainframe security
CA last week updated three applications in its mainframe identity- and access-management suite with features the company says help customers establish consistent passwords across systems and assess the impact of security changes on performance.
IPolicy IPS device aims low
IPolicy Networks plans to introduce a low-end version of its high-end intrusion-prevention firewall family that also screens URLs to prevent users from accessing designated Web sites.
Competitors ask FCC to block AT&T, BellSouth merger
A group of competitive telecommunications service providers Tuesday said they have urged the FCC to deny the proposed merger of AT&T and BellSouth.
Wireless customers share security strategies
Network professionals at Globalcomm 2006 conference said they are exploiting the latest wireless and mobile technologies to get employees closer to customers and increase productivity, but are constantly facing new security challenges in doing so.
Avaya bolsters IP phone line
Avaya next week is expected to launch a line of IP phones, attempting to woo corporate users with cell phone-like features, high-clarity audio and simplified user interface.
