This week on Network World Fusion, 11/01/04

1) Has IE dug itself a hole? 2) Wireless directory draws cheers, jeers 3) A Wider Net: When silence sounds too, well, silent 4) How GM saved a billion dollars 5) Un-wiring the wireless LAN 6) Review: Pedestal aids in security enforcement 7) Review: LANsurveyor 8.5 for Windows 8) Review: SCO’s UnixWare measures up with open source additions 9) Technology Update: FTTP boosts bandwidth in the last mile 10) Management Strategies: In the firing line 11) Wary buyers dampen software sales 12) The other side: Hardware revenue should be up 13) Dell continues network battle 14) Tools help manage domain names 15) ISPs look inward to stop spam 16) Start-ups automate global trade functions 17) Microsoft aims to save $1 billion this fiscal year 18) Siemens exec talks up VoIP

1) New column: Data Center Doctors

2) Service-oriented hype to meet hard realities

3) Roadblocks for shared IDs: Trust, immature standards

4) Testing your mettle: Zinc whiskers in the data center

5) Data center cooling issue heats up

6) Wireless Wizards: What happens when everyone has a WLAN?

7) Nutter’s Help Desk: Server reboot problem

8) E-mail at a crossroads: Dealing with a crisis

9) Security Summit: CIOs gather to talk about security

10) Configuresoft succeeds at system compliance management

11) LLDP-MED simplifies VoIP deployments

12) Improving IT infrastructure

13) Switch vendors crunch Gigabit chips

14) Sprint rolls out wireless management services

15) Cable operators target business accounts

16) HP launches edge switch with copper, fiber 10G links

17) HP to detail product integration, plans

18) Top Layer unveils clustered IPS

19) Equipment makers revive corp. net plans

20) Red Sox IT department caches in on World Series

21) Vendors tout WLAN security products

22) Packeteer software  fights network congestion

23) GXS to inherit IBM’s EDI business

24) Carriers aim for MMS interoperability

1) New column: Data Center Doctors

A few months ago, we started a column called Server Sleuths. This week, we expand that to Data Center Doctors, because there’s a lot more going on in the enterprise data center than just the care and feeding of your servers. Our specialists are now on call to answer questions on everything from storage to switches to, yes, servers. In our first Data Center Doctors column, the docs investigate a case of utility computing in a heterogeneous data center.

DocFinder: 4470

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/110104dcdoctors.html

2) Service-oriented hype to meet hard realities

Hype alone would have IT executives believe that in coming years service-oriented architectures will be as standard within companies as morning coffee. But network professionals and industry analysts say it won’t be that easy, because SOA is something you build, not buy.

DocFinder: 4471

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104soapart1.html

3) Roadblocks for shared IDs: Trust, immature standards

Speaking at last week’s Digital ID World conference, American Express, Fidelity Investments, Boeing, Fifth Third Bank, Premier and a host of other companies shared their hopes, early successes and concerns as they try to integrate their identity management services with business partners and customers.

DocFinder: 4472

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104federate.html

4) Testing your mettle: Zinc whiskers in the data center

One expert says one way that zinc whiskers are identified is through a distinctive popping sound that power supplies emit as they are snuffed out by the whiskers. He recalls one customer whose data center lost dozens of power supplies after an old upflow air conditioning system and a new downflow one were turned on at the same time, scattering zinc whiskers everywhere. “It sounded like popcorn,” he says.

DocFinder: 4473

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104widernetwhiskers.html

5) Data center cooling issue heats up

IT professionals often over-build their cooling and power systems in data centers because they misunderstand or miscalculate necessary thermal requirements, experts say. Such misjudgments can result in the unnecessary purchase and installation of hundreds of thousands of dollars of computer room air conditioning units and power supplies, and far-too-cool data centers.

DocFinder: 4474

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104cooldatacenters.html

6) Wireless Wizards: What happens when everyone has a WLAN?

The Wizards conjure up an answer for the question: Will interference limit the value of wireless LANs in the future? What happens when every company, resident and such has a wireless LAN?

DocFinder: 4475

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/1101wizards.html

7) Nutter’s Help Desk: Server reboot problem

Ron Nutter helps a user whose server keeps rebooting for no reason he can discover.

DocFinder: 4476

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/110104nutter.html

8) E-mail at a crossroads: Dealing with a crisist

Spam, phishing and other abuses are threatening to undermine confidence in the internet. What will it take to solve the crisis before it’s too late?

DocFinder: 4477

https://www.nwfusion.com/research/2004/110104email.html

9) Security Summit: CIOs gather to talk about security

CIOs gather at Dartmouth College to share ideas on enterprise security.

DocFinder: 4478

https://www.nwfusion.com/research/2004/110104summit.html

10) Configuresoft succeeds at system compliance management

With its intuitive interface, great flexibility and automatic compliance functionality, Configuresoft’s Enterprise Configuration Manager (ECM) Version 4.5.2 is one of the best Windows-centric programs we’ve tested.

DocFinder: 4479

https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/110104rev.html

11) LLDP-MED simplifies VoIP deployments

Draft standard Link Layer Discovery Protocol-Media Endpoint Discovery facilitates information sharing between endpoints and network infrastructure devices. Such data will simplify the deployment of endpoints, enable advanced device firmware management and boost support for E911 in enterprise networks

DocFinder: 4480

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2004/110104techupdate.html

12) Improving IT infrastructure

In too many companies, IT is suffering from what Accenture refers to as the austerity trap. It’s a trap that is triggered when companies, responding to short-term pressure for greater earnings – and suspicious at best about what might be seen as inward facing IT investments – focus only on cost-cutting and on replacement.

DocFinder: 4481

https://www.nwfusion.com/careers/2004/110104man.html

13) Switch vendors crunch Gigabit chips

Companies such as Broadcom and Agere Systems are working to squeeze more Gigabit switch port controllers onto one chip. For switch buyers, this could result in lower-cost, feature-rich gear that is less prone to failure.

DocFinder: 4482

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104infchips.html

14) Sprint rolls out wireless management services

Sprint last week announced its first management system that lets users manage enterprise-wide wireless services and devices while also promising reduced costs and increased security.

DocFinder: 4483

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104carrsprint.html

15) Cable operators target business accounts

Think your cable TV company is just for video and residential VoIP? Think again. Cable multisystem operators are building a strong presence as providers of business telecom services, particularly to small and midsize businesses.

DocFinder: 4484

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104carrspecialfocus.html

16) HP launches edge switch with copper, fiber 10G links

HP this week is expected to release two wiring closet switches that let users uplink with 10G Ethernet via fiber or copper links.

DocFinder: 4485

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104hpswitch.html

17) HP to detail product integration, plans

HP later this month is expected to unveil the fruit of two acquisitions that the company says will help customers automate the detection and resolution of application performance problems and maintain IT service levels.

DocFinder: 4486

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104hp.html

18) Top Layer unveils clustered IPS

Top Layer Networks this week is expected to unveil a clustered version of its intrusion-prevention system that can reach 8G bit/sec throughput while supporting inspection and traffic blocking through multiple routers.

DocFinder: 4487

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104toplayer.html

19) Equipment makers revive corp. net plans

Traditional telecom equipment vendors are increasingly targeting the enterprise network market, banking on growing demand for packet-based capabilities similar to those for carriers.

DocFinder: 4488

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104enterprise.html

20) Red Sox IT department caches in on World Series

The Boston Red Sox, newly crowned champs of Major League Baseball, traditionally haven’t been known for team speed. Until recently, neither was the network the club used to support news reporters and photographers working postseason games at Fenway Park.

DocFinder: 4489

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104redsox.html

21) Vendors tout WLAN security products

New software from two vendors is intended to boost security for wireless LANs, one targeting the network, the other wireless clients.

DocFinder: 4490

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104wlanproducts.html

22) Packeteer software  fights network congestion

Packeteer is issuing software for its traffic-shaping gear that makes it easier for customers to resolve network problems.

DocFinder: 4491

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104packeteer.html

23) GXS to inherit IBM’s EDI business

Global eXchange Services stands to become the largest player in an industry some predicted would continue to falter and eventually die out altogether. Instead, today’s value-added network service providers are mulling a comeback as increasingly complex business integration efforts have companies looking to outside providers for help.

DocFinder: 4492

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104ibmvan.html

24) Carriers aim for MMS interoperability

U.S. wireless operators have created a plan for Multimedia Messaging Services interoperability across networks, the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association announced last week.

DocFinder: 4493

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/110104carrmultimedia.html