This week on Network World Fusion, 05/17/04

1) Cisco’s WLAN plan has landed 2) N+I spotlights security and apps management 3) A Wider Net: Inside MIT’s new geek lair 4) InteropNet Labs: Testers drill down on SIP, 802.1X security and MPLS 5) InteropNet Labs: SIP aces basic interop tests 6) InteropNet Labs: Vendors hit the 802.1X mark for access, but security holes remain 7) InteropNet Labs: Team mixes MPLS and IPv6 for enterprising results 8) VoIP breaks down the walls of the call center 9) Review: Network Physics NP-2000 appliance 10) Review: Cisco’s MDS 9509 11) Face-off: Is a unified WLAN approach better than an overlay? 12) Management Strategies: Negotiation know-how 13) Server Sleuths: Security attributes of a server management platform 14) Channel woes dog Microsoft 15) Nutter’s Help Desk: Wireless access point problems 16) Extreme changes 17) IBM ups the ante on Power servers 18) MCI by the numbers 19) New access services meet SOHO needs 20) Start-ups scramble for venture dollars

1) Feeds: A new source of enterprise info

2) Microsoft maps the future of Windows

3) Redmond enlists security vendors to automate policy compliance

4) VoIP talk tops NetWorld+Interop

5) Technology Insider: Web application security

6) Server Sleuths: Managing blades

7) Wireless Wizards: Protecting data in an open WLAN environment

8) Nutter’s Help Desk: Learning more about how viruses and worms work

9) A Wider Net: Are you 133t?

10) Technology Update: E-mail appliances shore up security

11) Management Strategies: Data center staffing

12) IBM software targets desktop, devices

13) Big Blue’s mainframe gathers no rust

14) The rules are fuzzy in IP numbers game

15) Foundry, Adtran air access gear

16) Bluetooth’s sprawl heightens security concerns

17) Data center spec set for debut

18) BellSouth unveils IP Centrex

19) Users want metro Ethernet, if it’s reliable and cheap

20) Novell eases pricing for Linux support

1) Feeds: A new source of enterprise info

Feeds is our new RSS aggregator and search engine. For the past month or so, it’s been grabbing roughly 150 RSS sources to build a database of enterprise-related news items and comments (it’s already up to more than 6,000 such items). This is what separates Feeds from other RSS-based search engines – when you search ir for “ATM,” you know you’ll get back items related to asynchronous transfer mode, not posts from college students complaining about their lack of cash. Check it out, kick the tires and let us know how to make it more useful.

DocFinder: 2046

https://www.nwfusion.com/feeds/

2) Microsoft maps the future of Windows

Microsoft last week released a five-year road map for its Windows Server that contains licensing and support requirements experts say are another tactic to pressure corporations to accept the software giant’s controversial licensing program.

DocFinder: 2064

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517msserver.html

3) Redmond enlists security vendors to automate policy compliance

Microsoft is working with anti-virus vendors to ensure that in the future its software will be able to verify a user’s desktop is secure and updated anti-virus signatures are in place before granting access to corporate resources.

DocFinder: 2065

4) VoIP talk tops NetWorld+Interop 

A lean but vibrant NetWorld+Interop last week drew IT executives focused on exploring specific new technologies, with VoIP high on their lists. Plus, click on the “NetWorld+Interop” in the article for our N+I breaking-news page, where you can get all the news from the show.

DocFinder: 2063

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517nivoip.html

5) Technology Insider: Web application security

In this Technology Insider, we’ll show you how to protect your Web apps from tricky maneuvers like SQL injection, cross-scripting, cookie poisoning and authentication hijacking. Wew review two Web application firewalls and provide a buyer’s guide with detailed vendor specs on these tools.

DocFinder: 2069

https://www.nwfusion.com/techinsider/2004/0517techinsider.html

6) Server Sleuths: Managing blades

This week, the Sleuths eye the differences between management of regular servers and stacks and stacks of blades.

DocFinder: 2083

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0517sleuths.html

7) Wireless Wizards: Protecting data in an open WLAN environment

The Wizards conjure up some tips to keep your data private.

DocFinder: 2084

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0517wizards.html

8) Nutter’s Help Desk: Learning more about how viruses and worms work

Ron Nutter provides some tips for better fending off the beasties.

DocFinder: 2085

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2004/0517nutter.html

9) A Wider Net: Are you 133t?

They’re a familiar sight on chat boards, in spam messages and in viruses. Even a co-worker might use one – jokingly, of course. They’re words that look unpronounceable: “l33t,” “w00t” and “h4x0r,” among many others. Learn the story behind “l33tspeak”.

DocFinder: 2062

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517widernetleet.html

10) Technology Update: E-mail appliances shore up security

E-mail gateway appliances have begun to replace message transfer agents at the edge of networks.

DocFinder: 2072

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2004/0503techupdate.html

11) Management Strategies: Data center staffing

Automation and virtualization advances could force IT pros out of work if they don’t evolve their skills.

DocFinder: 2073

https://www.nwfusion.com/careers/2004/0517man.html

12) IBM software targets desktop, devices

IBM last week made a brash move onto the desktop with the introduction of middleware designed to give corporations alternatives to Microsoft. It also provides the flexibility to run component-based software without sacrificing the sophistication or power of a fat client running natively on a client PC.

DocFinder: 2074

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517ibm.html

13) Big Blue’s mainframe gathers no rust

Mainframe customers are taking a fresh look at the Big Iron that celebrated its 40th birthday last month. IBM is spurring things along with new pricing schemes; more powerful processors; support for non-proprietary technologies such as TCP/IP, Linux and Java; and on-demand offerings that put the mainframe in the reach of even the smallest customers.

DocFinder: 2075

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517mainframe.html

14) The rules are fuzzy in IP numbers game

When it comes time to buy Internet services, network executives are inundated with measurements that service providers use to show the size and performance of their IP networks. But do any of these numbers really matter to corporate customers?

DocFinder: 2076

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517specialfocus.html

15) Foundry, Adtran air access gear

Several vendors at NetWorld+Interop last week took aim at the enterprise WAN access market with gear that promises performance equal to or better than market-leader Cisco’s – but at lower prices.

DocFinder: 2077

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517nirouters.html

16) Bluetooth’s sprawl heightens security concerns

A number of basically trivial but still troubling Bluetooth exploits prompted the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a vendor group, last week to hold a teleconference on security.

DocFinder: 2078

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517bluetooth.html

17) Data center spec set for debut

Proponents of a management specification scheduled to debut next week say it will lay the groundwork for more automated data centers, though lack of support from many key players has cast doubt on the effort.

DocFinder: 2079

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517datacenterstandard.html

18) BellSouth unveils IP Centrex

BellSouth last week unveiled an IP Centrex service for businesses looking to meld voice and data services.

DocFinder: 2080

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517blsvoip.html

19) Users want metro Ethernet, if it’s reliable and cheap

Enterprise network professionals say metropolitan Ethernet services have promise as an alternative WAN transport, but carriers must focus on making the services more reliable and cost-effective.

DocFinder: 2081

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517metro.html

20) Novell eases pricing for Linux support

Novell has introduced a new pricing model for its SuSE Enterprise Linux operating system that lets customers pay a lower flat rate for Linux support.

DocFinder: 2082

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0517novell.html