This week on Network World Fusion, 08/04/03

————————————– 1) Users still bullish on Web services ————————————– We catch up with the companies profiled in last year’s Web Services Early Adopters series (http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2002/0415webservices.html) to see if they’re reaping the benefits promised. Two out of three give an enthusiastic thumb’s up. DocFinder: 5944 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0519revisited.html

1) Microsoft marshals forces to try to stem open source momentum

2) Vendors ready to showcase latest wares at LinuxWorld

3) Some VoIP users still cling to TDM

4) Face-off: SSL vs. IPSec VPNs

5) Review: Data-compression products

6) Wireless Wizards: Preventing 802.11 interference

7) Security Notes: A vote for better balloting machines

8) Nutter’s Help Desk: Configuring AppleTalk on a Cisco switch

9) WAN Services Notes: Bad week for MCI

10) Router/Switch Notes: 10-Gig over copper

11) Technology Update: 802.1S solves architecture issues

12) Management Strategies: Spenders and savers

13) From Net.Worker: Here comes home control

14) IBM boosts portal collaboration features

15) SAN switching: Bigger is better

16) ISPs slow to upgrade nets for dial-up

17) WLAN security: Users face complex challenges

18) Hackers set up shop in state agency’s server

19) CC product evaluation picks up steam

20) Nortel debuts advanced net services wares

Editor’s Note: Most folks who contacted me about DocFinder numbers said ditch them because hyperlinks are good enough. But nobody said they were so awful they can barely bear to read this newsletter with them. Meanwhile, a few people did write to say they found the numbers useful. So since they seem to be inoffensive and actually help some folks, we’ll keep them (and we’re looking at some improvements some correspondents suggested).agaffin@nww.com

     — Adam Gaffin, executive editor,

1) Microsoft marshals forces to try to stem open source momentum

Linux’s bark is turning into a bite for Microsoft. As a result, the software giant is stepping up to protect itself and keep corporate customers from turning to the open-source operating system to satisfy server and desktop needs.

DocFinder: 7043

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804microsoft.html

2) Vendors ready to showcase latest wares at LinuxWorld

Despite the specter of The SCO Group’s legal scuffle with IBM and Linux users, big players such as BEA Systems, HP, IBM, Sun and Veritas will roll out products and services at this week’s LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in San Francisco.

DocFinder: 7044

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804linux.html

3) Some VoIP users still cling to TDM 

Enterprise telephony vendors are clear that IP is the future, but customers haven’t universally agreed how to get there. Some companies that made grand commitments to IP telephony are scaling back to hybrid environments, while others are forging ahead with pure-IP convergence plans.

DocFinder: 7045

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804voiptrouble.html

4) Face-off: SSL vs. IPSec VPNs

SSL has emerged as a possible competitor to IPSec for use on VPNs. Does it offer similar functionality with less complexity and lower cost? We put the question to Chris Hopen, CTO of Aventail, an SSL VPN vendor in Seattle (who naturally answers “yes”) and

Brian Feng, vice president of engineering at ZyXEL Communications (who argues that IPSec remains the gold standard). Read their opening statements, then jump in with your comments and questions.

DocFinder: 7061

https://www.nwfusion.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=658

5) Review: Data-compression products

We tested five systems to see how they compressed data through a limited network connection and how the deployment and management costs stacked up.

DocFinder: 7049

https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2003/0804rev.html

6) Wireless Wizards: Preventing 802.11 interference

The Wizards tell you how 802.11b/g systems avoid interference from other devices via CSMA.

DocFinder: 7062

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2003/0804wizards.html

7) Security Notes: A vote for better balloting machines

Senior Editor Ellen Messmer discusses the controversy over Maryland’s all-electronic voting machines (a report says they’re easily cracked; the vendor and the state disagree) and says we need less confrontational ways to deal with such critical issues. Read her thoughts, then follow the link to Scott Bradner’s column on the topic.

DocFinder: 7063

https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/security/003228.html

8) Nutter’s Help Desk: Configuring AppleTalk on a Cisco switch

Ron Nutter helps out a user who moved his company to a Catalyst 6509 and then found out his network includes several Macs that need to talk to each other.

DocFinder: 7064

https://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2003/0804nutter.html

9) WAN Services Notes: Bad week for MCI

Senior Editor Denise Pappalardo wonders: Wow, talk about a bad week.  How much Pepto-Bismol do you think has been downed over at MCI in the past seven days?

DocFinder: 7065

https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/wan/003239.html

10) Router/Switch Notes: 10-Gig over copper

Senior Writer Phil Hochmuth takes a look at 802.3ak (also known as 10Gbase-CX4), an impending IEEE standard for moving 10-Gigabit Ethernet over twinaxial copper wiring. It’s intended for linking servers, switches and other devices over short distances.

DocFinder: 7066

https://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/routers/003230.html

11) Technology Update: 802.1S solves architecture issues

802.1S Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol solves problems by supporting multiple spanning trees within a network.

DocFinder: 7050

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2003/0804techupdate.html

12) Management Strategies: Spenders and savers 

Analyzing your peers’ IT investment styles can help bring greater returns.

DocFinder: 7051

https://www.nwfusion.com/careers/2003/0804man.html

13) From Net.Worker: Here comes home control 

New IP services help mobile and remote workers monitor the home while away.

DocFinder: 7052

https://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/news/2003/0804networkerlead.html

14) IBM boosts portal collaboration features 

IBM says the latest version of its WebSphere portal will be easier for businesses to install and gives them broader capabilities to collaborate across heterogeneous applications.

DocFinder: 7053

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804websphere.html

15) SAN switching: Bigger is better 

Looking to ensure resource availability and reduce the number of hops in storage-area networks, many users are opting for ever-bigger storage switches.

DocFinder: 7054

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804director.html

16) ISPs slow to upgrade nets for dial-up

Although millions of users still depend on dial-up Internet access service when traveling or working from a home office, the benefits provided by the newest modem specification remain unavailable to many of them.

DocFinder: 7055

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804v92.html

17) WLAN security: Users face complex challenges

Best practices in WLAN security hinge on your specific security needs and the technologies you choose to satisfy those needs

DocFinder: 7056

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804specialfocus.html

18) Hackers set up shop in state agency’s server

Hackers had made a state agency’s network their old Kentucky home before being discovered by auditors, who revealed the incident publicly last week.

DocFinder: 7058

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804kentuckyhackers.html

19) CC product evaluation picks up steam

But concerns grow that accredited labs are getting ‘congested’ with submitted products.

DocFinder: 7059

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804commoncriteria.html

20) Nortel debuts advanced net services wares

Nortel last week announced hardware and software for smaller companies interested in deploying advanced network services such as intelligent firewalls, Secure-Sockets-Layer-based VPNs and traffic acceleration.

DocFinder: 7060

https://www.nwfusion.com/news/2003/0804nortel.html