Communications News articles from December 2003

Communications News archives from December 2003

So long, kena@.(Editor's Note)
December 1, 2003... Changing your e-mail address can be an unsettling and unproductive event, even when tire IT department says such a change is necessary." So, consider me a bit unsettled. Since March 6, 1999, my e-mail address has been kena@comnews.com. It...

Publications.(Trends)(Red Hat Linux 9 Bible and Voice, Video and Data Network Convergence)(Book Review)(Brief Review)
December 1, 2003... The Red Hat Linux 9 Bible, by Christopher Negus, provides instructions on installing, configuring and customizing the system, including desktop and firewall management, setting up Web servers, administering backups, and automating system tasks,...

2004: a turn in the road.(Trends)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... A substantial recovery ill information technology capital spending is increasingly likely in 2004, according o Michael Fleisher, chairman and CEO of technology research and advisory firm Gartner, Stamford, Conn. Increasing numbers of corporate...

Events.(Trends)(Calendar)
December 1, 2003... BICSI Winter Conference, Jan. 12-15. Orlando, offers educational seminars on LAN, outside plant, cabling installation end wireless, as well as main technical presentations. www.bicsi.org COMNET Conference and Expo. Jan. 26-29, Washington,...

Ubiquitous cells.(Trends)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Cell phones are everywhere, including the bathroom. According to a survey on cell phone etiquette conducted by online wireless retailer LetsTalk of San Francisco, 620/0 of those polled say taking or making calls in the bathroom is OK. The...

Technology treats security symptoms.(Trends)
December 1, 2003... Network security in healthcare and research requires constant vigilance over the network, tracking for any unauthorized activity that could jeopardize research and patient data. With many distributed resources, medical organizations require...

Roll the dice: competition prompts casino to cater to business guests with an easy-to-manage wireless LAN.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2003... Operating a casino hotel and convention center is not all fun and games. Behind the flashing lights, constant action, and exciting entertainment merit and eateries is a serious business, marked by increasing competition among a growing group of...

Gain an edge with optical Ethernet: by leveraging metro Ethernet, enterprises can normally realize savings over leased-line alternatives..(Special focus: optical technologies)
December 1, 2003... If your business is one of the survivors of the economic downturn over the past three years, you have probably learned how to do more with fewer resources, pushing both the limits of your people and your existing technology infrastructure....

Buyers guide.(Special focus: optical technologies)(Buyers Guide)
December 1, 2003... The first portion of this Optical Technologies Buyers Guide, the Product Guide, lists the various in this category, and the companies that make those products. The second section, the Guide, provides phone and fax numbers, and Web addresses of...

CWDM module.(New products)(Metrobility Optical systems R4:000)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The R4:000 managed Ethernet CWDM model reduces the capital expenditure of the channel costs to approximately 1/3 that of DWDM, and reduces the operating expenditures by simplifying the installation, configuration and management of the network....

Fiber-optic modem.(New products)(Canoga Perkins 2346 T-3 )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Designed for extending PBX tie lines, router connects and DS-3 multiplexer links, the modular 2346 T-3 Fiber Optic Modem, with hot swap capability, provides reliable long-distance extension of T-3/DS-3 signals operating at 44.736 Mbps. The 2-U...

Fiber equipment protection.(New products)(Delaire USA al Fuse, Optical Power Limiter, Optical Network Protector and High Power Optical Terminator )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... High-power optical signals can take a tall on network components and optical test equipment. A family of four new optical protection products includes the Optical Fuse, Optical Power Limiter, Optical Network Protector and High Power Optical...

Optical hub.(New products)( GE Fanuc Automation Americas Reflective Memory Hub)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The Reflective Memory Hub provides up to eight reflective memory ports using small form factor pluggable transceivers, which can be a mix of multimode (short distance) or single-mode (long distance). Each port regenerates the serial optical...

Advanced fiber conversion.(New products)(from Omnitron Systems Technology )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Four new modules for the company's iConverter managed media converter line include advanced Fiber-to-fiber GigE40-GigE, GigE-to-Fast Ethernet and Fast Ethernet-to.Fast Ethernet converters, as well as an advanced 10/100 copper (UTP) to...

Optical networking card.(New products)(from ADVA Optical Networking)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Designed for use with the company's Fiber Service Platform (FSP} 2000 system, the eight-channel Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) Card includes a universal transponder design that transports all typical enterprise protocols for...

Fiber bridge.(New products)(Atto Technology FibreBridge 2350C )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... The FibreBridge 2350C Fibre Channel-to-SCSI bridge features one 2-gigabit Fibre Channel host interface port, two independent Uhra3 SCSI drive-side buses and an embeddable 4-U cPCI form factor. The unit offers advanced diagnostics and management...

DWDM uses existing network: Seminole County secures quick, economical solution to outgrowing its municipal telecom infrastructure..(Special focus: optical technologies)(dense wavelength division multiplexing)
December 1, 2003... Seminole County, Fla., -- recently came to a crossroads with its telecommunication infrastructure. Its existing network could no longer support the growing requirements for bandwidth and speeds associated with new technologies for voice, data,...

Startup outsources its server backups: rapid growth stressed IT staff's ability to keep up with backup-and-restore tasks.(Network Services)
December 1, 2003... Glenn Timmons, information technology director at Incentive Systems, Bedford, Mass., wanted to build an IT infrastructure that would accommodate the company's growth but would not saddle a small IT department with a lot of unnecessary tasks. At...

Antiviris-protected backups.(Storage management and testing)
December 1, 2003... The CA Protection Suite provides secure data protection within customers' backup window constraints. The new solution combines eTrust Antivirus' dual-scanning technology with BrightStor ARCserve Backup's high-performance backup and recovery....

Advanced backup software.(Storage management and testing)
December 1, 2003... NetBackup 5.0 brings advanced data protection techniques, faster disk-based backup, and desktop and laptop data protection capabilities to the enterprise data-protection software. The software now supports a wide variety of low-cost, mid-range...

Storage test system.(Storage management and testing)
December 1, 2003... The PowerFrame Storage Test System is a modular monitoring and analysis system for SANs and storage components. The product supports the following storage protocols: 1-, 2-, 4- and 10-Gbps Fibre Channel, 1.25-Gbps Gigabit Ethernet, and 1.5-, 3-...

Detailed storage reporting.(Storage management and testing)
December 1, 2003... Intended for enterprises of all sizes, BackupReport provides a consolidated view of backup activity across multiple servers, backup products, operating systems and storage technologies. Version 2.5 of the solution collects and consolidates...

Wi-Fi provides network harmony: cost savings, flexibility and security push firm to adopt wireless technology.(Wireless)
December 1, 2003... Cerwin-Vega began creating and selling its first loud-speakers for hi-fi stereos in 1954. Its timing could not have been better. The swing, be-bop and ballads of the early Fifties had just given way to a new kind of music that required...

Secure wireless.(Wireless)
December 1, 2003... Access/One Network is a complete wireless local area network system, supporting multiple radio frequency technologies-802.11a/b/g, and Bluetooth--within an intelligent, secure and scalable network. The network consists of several categories of...

How to identify cable plant faults: built-in diagnostic technology allows IT managers to eliminate downtime and decrease support requirements.(Cable Testing)
December 1, 2003... The networking industry is currently undergoing the next major LAN upgrade cycle: enterprise networks upgrading from 100-Mbps Fast Ethernet networks to 1,000-Mbps Gigabit Ethernet networks. Top-tier computer equipment manufacturers are also...

Enhanced fiber.(Optical cabling and connectors)
December 1, 2003... Fully able to support legacy systems, including Ethernet and Fast Ethernet, the company's 50-micron GIGAlite multimode fiber features guaranteed Gigabit Ethernet distances up to 750 meters using 850-nm vertical cavil/surface-emitting lasers....

Easy-to-install connector.(Optical cabling and connectors)
December 1, 2003... The singlemode version of the AMP NETCONNECT LightCrimp Plus fiber-optic connectors features a new, fiber-splice engine technology that allows for the precision alignment of cabled fiber to the factory-polished, stubbed ferrule--enabling...

Connector tool kit.(Optical cabling and connectors)
December 1, 2003... The LANscape Solutions UniCam Connector Elite Tool Kit features a new installation tool, which incorporates an easy-to-use roller clutch that maintains inward fiber pressure during connector installation, enhancing the ease of connectorization....

Environmentally sealed connector.(Optical cabling and connectors)
December 1, 2003... The PHDTM multichannel optical interconnects system features new connectors designed specifically for industrial applications where optimal performance is required in the most severe conditions. The expanded PHD system includes the...

Flame-retardant optical bundles.(Optical cabling and connectors)
December 1, 2003... The company has expanded its product offering of OFNP-rated fiber-optic cable up to 144 optical fibers, in addition to OFNR-rated cables with up to 156 optical fibers. The cables have tight-buffered construction, which is more flexible than...

Caching is solid with disk option: solid-state, disk-based cache can improve the performance of sluggish networks.(Storage)
December 1, 2003... Storage is a leading cause of under-utilized network resources, under-utilized processors and dissatisfied end-users. The problem can, however, be addressed with a storage cache device using solid-state disk technology. Solid-state, disk-based...

Enterprises shifting to the web: the case for SSL-VPN.(Key notes: top line information for IT buyers)
December 1, 2003... Rumor has it that migrating a few thousand users from one application platform to another is a bit tricky, especially when it comes to remotely accessing that application. Unfortunately, this is the dilemma an increasing number of CIOs are...

Reduce the network management burden: healthcare software provider finds low-cost answer to keeping track of data..(Remote Monitoring)
December 1, 2003... Delivering quality medical care requires more than well-trained doctors and the latest medicine and equipment. Medicine is an information-based profession and better information technology improves patient outcomes. Headquartered in Skowhegan,...

Monitor voice system performance: gathering reports and analyzing information helps keep customers happy..(Voice Networks)
December 1, 2003... With the many options customers have today for purchasing products and services, they will not tolerate poor service for long. Network administrators need real-time information on voice system performance, and the ability to quickly modify...

Voice analysis.(Voice and wireless testing)(Sunrise Telecom's Voice Analysis Module, the SunSet MTT )
December 1, 2003... With the newly released Voice Analysis Module, the SunSet MTT provides a hand-held solution to install and troubleshoot voice over IP (VoIP) systems. It allows users to verify VoIP service from the customer site and check service quality from...

VoIP call generator.(Voice and wireless testing)(Delta Test Protocol Solutions' WinSIP )
December 1, 2003... WinSIP is a high-performance, scalable, low-cost SIP bulk call generator that runs on standard PC hardware. The test tool provides RFC 3261-compliant SIP signaling and media load generation for both voice and video-over-IP calls. It allows the...

Wireless spectrum monitoring.(Voice and wireless testing)(Madge's WLAN Probe Monitor)
December 1, 2003... The WLAN Probe 2 is a small, discrete sensor device that performs real-time intelligent radiomonitoring, scanning all channels used by 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth equipment. The unit detects and reports on authorized and unauthorized wireless...

Wireless spectrum analyzer.(Voice and wireless testing)(Berkeley Varitronics Systems' YellowjacketPLUS 802.11a )
December 1, 2003... The YellowjacketPLUS 802.11a is o wireless receiver that integrates Compaq's iPAQ PDA in sweeping, analyzing and optimizing 5-GHz WLANs and WISPs. The receiver measures all 12 OFDM network channels operating on the IEEE 802.11 a standard,...

Conferencing noise cancellation.(New Products)(Polycom's Vortex EF2280 )
December 1, 2003... The Vortex EF2280 improves audio quality for conferencing, distance learning and other installed applications through acoustic echo and noise cancellation. The unit automatically mixes microphones and other audio sources while canceling...

IDS with IPv6 support.(New Products)(NFR Security's Sentivist 4.0 intelligent intrusion-management solution )
December 1, 2003... The Sentivist 4.0 intelligent intrusion-management solution adds capabilities that reduce false positives and enhance scalability and manageability. The new meta alert correlation feature reduces the number of false positives by correlating...

VoIP monitoring.(New Products)(Psytechnics' psyVoIP 2, a dedicated, non-intrusive voice-quality measurement solution for VoIP environments)
December 1, 2003... Fight poor VoIP voice quality and prioritize network maintenance tasks effectively with psyVoIP 2, a dedicated, non-intrusive voice-quality measurement solution for VoIP environments. The system enables network managers to address common VoIP...

Data backup device.(New Products)(Sony Electronics' DRU-510A (internal) and DRX-510UL (external) drives)
December 1, 2003... Dual RW drives support 4X DVD+RW recording for personal or business data backups. The DRU-510A (internal) and DRX-510UL (external) drives combine the DVD-rewritable (DVD+RW/-RW) formats with the DVD write-once (DVD+R/-R) formats. They are...

Scalable conferencing system.(New Products)(Advanced Media Design's MediaPOINTE System-Two)
December 1, 2003... The MediaPOINTE System-Two is designed for multiple participants in a work group conferencing environment, allowing any media source, or combination of sources, to be displayed by the operator on a full screen, in multiple windows on the screen...

Cable ties.(New Products)(FCI-BURNDY Products )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... UNIRAP Cable Ties ore designed for field applications and are easily installed by hand. Compact heads and pre-bent tips facilitate quick and space-efficient cable bundling. All ties are fabricated of one-piece nylon with no metal parts. The...

Workgroup switch.(New Products)(Milan Technology's MIL-S3580 Layer 2 managed switch )
December 1, 2003... The MIL-S3580 Layer 2 managed switch provides high-performance, nonblocking switching. With 24 fixed 10/100 auto-MDI/MDIX ports and two slots in the front panel for optional modules, it can be configured to 26 ports per switch. The module slots...

Video streaming appliance.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... Designed for business television, corporate communications, distance learning and archiving applications, the MWG 2000e streaming platform enables companies and organizations to deliver high-quality, reliable video over IP networks. The device...

Patch management system.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... UpdateEXPERT is a software patch-management tool for networked workstations and servers that discovers missing and applicable patches and reliably deploys them. The system enforces software security policies and provides a way of managing...

Managed switch.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... Designed for mid-market enterprises, the Matrix V2 Managed Switch provides a combination of convergence-ready networking, security and high-availability features. Multilayer classification capabilities allow prioritization of voice over IP and...

Voice testing.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... PacketScan provides real-time audio monitoring, analysis and statistics on both SIP and RTP/RTCP messages. All SIP protocol messages are collected and displayed, along with the full decode of the messages. Detailed call statistics, call trace,...

Chassis-mounted storage module.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... Designed for use with the company's VME/VME64 compatible Pentium- and Celeron-based CPU boards, the DS MSS/OOx mass storage module is a single--or dual-slot board providing a variety of storage options. The DS MSS/001, a single slot board,...

Customizable storage router.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... The UltraNet Edge Storage Router 3000 allows users to define, on a port-by-port basis, the storage configurations that perfectly match their storage networking requirements, including connectivity to 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps, FICON or Fibre Channel, IP...

Portable Ethernet capture and analysis.(New Products)
December 1, 2003... The MD1231A is a self-contained, portable Ethernet test system with the ability to transmit, monitor, count and decode high-level IP protocols. Weighing only 11 pounds, the unit features two interface slots that accept standard 8-port 10/100 Mb...

Focus on data context, not content: intranets and affiliated software can add value to the mountain of accumulated data..(Guest Column)
December 1, 2003... In 1998, a study released by Pitney Bowes showed that the average businessperson in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom sends or receives 190 messages a day--including 30 e-mails, 22 voice messages, four pager beeps and three...