Welcome to This Week on NW Fusion, featuring breaking news, info, and tips from Network World Fusion, the most comprehensive enterprise networking resource on the Internet. See below for the week's biggest stories and check out our other e-mail newsletters at http://www.nwfusion.com/focus
1) Showtime for Linux
1) Sun, HP put 64-bit power in spotlight
2) Check Point users urged to patch firewall gaps
3) A Wider Net: Do you believe in Magic Quadrants?
4) Regulation called a threat to VoIP
5) Wireless Wizards: Why does a wireless system need extra VPNs?
6) Nutter’s Help Desk: How much back-up power is enough?
7) Review: Mobile middleware
8) Review: NetSupport DNA
9) Review: Microsoft System Management Server 2003
10) Technology Update: RAIN architecture scales storage
11) Hacker insurance
12) Coming soon to your IM client: Spim
13) Layer 8: How to freak out your Mac friends
14) Legacy app servers get Web services
15) Network, telecom funding drops off
16) Adventures in networked media players
17) IT execs cautious in budget forecasts
Editor’s Note: Another day, another poll. Check out what Melissa Shaw is asking you today, in our exclusive Layer 8 poll: https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/layer8/ (today, it’s your choice for the best personal technology)agaffin@nww.com
— Adam Gaffin, executive editor,
1) Sun, HP put 64-bit power in spotlight
Looking to offer machines that do more yet cost less, Sun and HP this week are expected to expand their server families with boxes that promise 64-bit capabilities at prices competitive with 32-bit systems.
DocFinder: 9646
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209server.html
2) Check Point users urged to patch firewall gaps
Check Point customers have been plugging two vulnerabilities discovered last week in the company’s firewall and VPN software that could compromise the networks the products are designed to protect.
DocFinder: 9647
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209checkpoint.html
3) A Wider Net: Do you believe in Magic Quadrants?
Gartner analysts say they have their trademarked Magic Quadrant down to a science. But plenty of vendors, gored by the quadrant’s twin axes of “completeness of vision” and “ability to execute,” insist it’s all just hocus-pocus.
DocFinder: 9648
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209widernetquadrant.html
4) Regulation called a threat to VoIP
VoIP service now is mostly free of government regulation, and FCC Chairman Michael Powell has indicated over the past couple of months that he’d like to see the commission exert a “light touch” on regulating VoIP.
DocFinder: 9645
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209voipstory.html
Also see:
More VoIP issues bubbling up
DocFinder: 9673
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209voipreg.html
5) Wireless Wizards: Why does a wireless system need extra VPNs?
The Wizards explain all.
DocFinder: 9675
https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0209wizards.html
6) Nutter’s Help Desk: How much back-up power is enough?
Ron Nutter helps a user whose company keeps losing power.
DocFinder: 9676
https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0209nutter.html
7) Review: Mobile middleware
We test four mobile middleware products from Aligo, Extended Systems, iAnywhere Solutions and JP Mobile.
DocFinder: 9663
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/0209revmm.html
8) Review: NetSupport DNA
We recently tested the newest version of NetSupport DNA, and while it still has a few warts, it does a great job of making a system administrator’s job easier.
DocFinder: 9664
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/0209revdna.html
9) Review: Microsoft System Management Server 2003
SMS has undergone something of a purpose change with a focus on features that help identify security vulnerabilities and distribute critical updates.
DocFinder: 9665
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/0209revsms.html
10) Technology Update: RAIN architecture scales storage
Redundant Array of Inexpensive Nodes surpasses traditional storage architecture by offering data-storage and protection systems that are more distributed, shareable and scalable.
DocFinder: 9666
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2004/0209techupdate.html
11) Hacker insurance
Experts explain how cyberinsurance could save the day if your network is violated.
DocFinder: 9667
https://www.nwfusion.com/careers/2004/0209man.html
12) Coming soon to your IM client: Spim
Experts predict that unwanted IMs have the potential to wreak just as much havoc as spam.
DocFinder: 9668
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209carrspecialfocus.html
13) Layer 8: How to freak out your Mac friends
Turn the Mac lovers in your life apoplectic with the story of Andy, the boy who wanted a Dell for Christmas (huh?) but got a G5 – which he promptly gutted and turned into a PC. Turns out it’s a hoax, but it’s a pretty darn funny one, complete with pictures. Also today: the winner of last week’s caption contest; the start of this week’s tilt; and how you can weasel out of spending a lot on Valentine’s Day.
DocFinder: 9669
https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/layer8/
14) Legacy app servers get Web services
Two vendors are unveiling software designed to make it easier for companies to bring legacy applications to the Web.
DocFinder: 9670
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209hostwares.html
15) Network, telecom funding drops off
With 2003 marking the lowest venture-capital investment levels for the network and telecommunications sectors in recent years, these categories could certainly benefit from an increase in corporate IT spending.
DocFinder: 9671
https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0209moneytree.html
16) Adventures in networked media players
We test three of the latest media players, and let you know whether they’re worth your time and money.
DocFinder: 9674
https://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/news/2004/0209adventures.html
17) IT execs cautious in budget forecasts
IT executives are beginning to take sales calls from technology vendors again, evidenced by a number of large vendors that cited increases in corporate spending as a major contributor to their improved results in the latest round of financial reports.
DocFinder: 9672
