Communications News articles from November 2003

Communications News archives from November 2003

Spam works.(Editor's Note)
November 1, 2003... The irony was almost palpable. There, on my Outlook screen, was an e-mail message offering a spam-blocking software. The e-mail was unsolicited and had a bogus return e-mail address, although there was an opt-out link available. So, in effect,...

Wireless spreads its wings.(Trends)
November 1, 2003... At the University of San Diego (USD), the pursuit of academic excellence extends to the technology used to support its 30 programs of study. That is why, when USD learned it could increase Internet and network access across its scenic 180-acre...

Convergence takes hold.(Trends)(IP telephony)
November 1, 2003... For the Highline School District, located south of Seattle, reducing telephony costs and staying in closer touch with the parents of the 17,000 students it serves had become priorities. Driving the need for change were the eight different phone...

Events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... Infosecurity 2003, Dec. 9-11, New York, is an opportunity for security staff to attend educational seminars and view the latest security-related techniques and technologies. Also at the event is a Storage Expo. www.infosecurityevent.com ...

School is keen on convergence: Kean University implements cost-saving feature-enhancing, IP-enabled voice network.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Like many colleges and universities across the United States, Kean (rhymes with rain) University in New Jersey had been using a no-frills Centrex setup to serve its communications needs. The service was not bad, but there just was not much to...

Cabling system brings gigabit to desktop: trade show offers exhibitors and attendees high-speed connectivity.(Special focus: cabling, wiring & enclosures)(the NetWorld+Interop (N+I) conference and trade show )
November 1, 2003... In recent years, the NetWorld+Interop (N+I) conference and trade show has used a structured fiber-optic cable system as the show floor backbone, with copper providing 100-megabit connections to the individual exhibitors. That network...

Cable overcomes 'alarming' situation: faced with stricter fire code regulations, data hosting service found an innovative solution.(Special focus: cabling, wiring & enclosures)(Redundant Networks is using DataTwist 350 Limited Combustible FHC 25/50 Enhanced Category 5e cable. Jointly engineered by Belden and the Fluoro products division of DuPoint)
November 1, 2003... During the construction of its new Reno, Nev., data hosting operations center, Redundant Networks ran into an unexpected obstacle. The local fire department had issued some tough new guidelines for cabling installation, including a requirement...

Buyers guide.(Special focus: cabling, wiring & enclosures)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... The first portion of this Cabling Wiring & Enclosures Buyers Guide, the Product Guide, lists the various products in this category, and the companies that make those products. The second section, the Company Guide, provides phone and fax...

Convenient enclosure.(New Products)(Bud Industries NR-10026 Cabinet Rack)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Model NR-10026 Cabinet Rack adheres to NEMA 12 and IEC 529 IP 55 requirements, and Features internal panel space dimensions of 78.75"x19"29.25". The rack comes complete with frame, locking front and rear doors, externally removable side...

Compact connectors.(New Products)(Tyco Electronics Mini RJ21 )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Mini RJ21 Connector System is a high-density modular copper cabling system. The 24-pair cabling and connector solution provides up to 12 ports with a single cable and accommodates 10/100. POE, VoIP, up through Gigabit Ethernet applications....

Fiber enclosure.(New Products)(from Molex)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Rack Mount Fiber Enclosure features installation-minded items, such as dual cable spools for flexible cable storage methods, a removable rear panel with maximum input cable access, durable full-drawer extension, lockable door and variety of...

Product catalog.(New products)(from Graybay)
November 1, 2003... The new 32-page ProSource Catalog provides helpful information and competitive pricing for more than 500 high, quality tools and testing devices from leading manufacturers, including DEWALT, Fluke, Greenlee, Harris Corp., IDEAL INDUSTRIES,...

LCD mounting solution.(New products)(from Middle Atlantic Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Addressing the increasing use of LCD screens for network monitoring applications, the Custom LCD Rackmount System mounts monitors using VESA 75 and VESA 100 mounting hole patterns, while allowing for additional room in the rear of the rack for...

Cable runway system.(New products)(Wiremold FieldMate CR Series)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The FieldMate CR Series cable runway is lightweight and flexible for easy configuration and installation. The system stringers are made from 16-gauge, high-tensile tubular steel. Cross members are made from 12-gauge steel and feature rolled...

Heavy-duty rack.(New products)(Hoffman DataCom )
November 1, 2003... The Heavy-Duty Open Frame Rack features open access on all sides for easy equipment access, providing space for positioning and securing LAN and WAN equipment, phone and voice mail equipment, routers, and servers. Vertical channels in the...

Indoor fiber enclosure.(New products)(from FONS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The NEMA-12 rated TICE-Series wall-mount cabinets provide for increased protection from indoor contaminants and accommodate up to 144 fibers in a range of cabinet sizes. The cabinets feature a dual-hinged design to ensure separation of...

High-speed fiber.(New products)(from The Siemon Company)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... As part of the company's 10G ip cabling solution, XGLO fiber jumpers and pigtails are designed for next generation backbone and fiber-to-the-desk applications. They feature premium fiber that meets IEEE 802.3 10 Gigabit Ethernet requirements...

Angled faceplates.(New products)(Ortronics )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Series II Angled Faceplates allow angled positioning of Clarity(6) and Clarity(5E) Series II modules, as well as other 1-U flat Series II modules. The angled positioning provides a lower profile workstation solution, which minimizes the...

Video delivered over CAT 5: cable television, telephone and data are all distributed from the same wiring closets.(Special focus: cabling, wiring, & enclosures)(University of Florida's Health Sciences Center (HSC) in Gainesville )
November 1, 2003... The University of Florida's Health Sciences Center (HSC) in Gainesville occupies more than two million square feet in 14 buildings that serve the university's medical, dental, nursing and three other colleges. The complex has approximately...

Minimize the risk of wireless exposure: emerging standards, network design and VPN technology secure network vulnerabilities.(Wireless Security)
November 1, 2003... The growing popularity of wireless LANs (WLANs) has resulted in considerable security concerns for many organizations, but not without solutions. New management tools and concepts in network design, well developed security best practices,...

Network design for security concerns.(Wireless Security)
November 1, 2003... A single rogue wireless access point (AP) can create a gaping hole through which outsiders can gain access to the corporate/campus network, resources and confidential data. Two approaches are common in positioning security gateways to protect...

Combine VPN and encryption.(Wireless Security)
November 1, 2003... Despite the flaws in 802.11 that have led to the justifiable level of concern today, WLANs really present no greater security risk than any other form of network, and the tools and techniques required to assure this reality exist today. ...

VPN offers peace of mind: appliance makes difference in decision to deploy wireless.(Wireless Security)(Atomate Corp.)
November 1, 2003... Atomate Corp., with headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif., has a number of key employees who travel extensively and work remotely from various customer sites and university laboratories across the West Coast. Its cutting-edge research and...

Five steps to securing wireless.
November 1, 2003... Until corporate buildings are designed/rebuilt to prevent radio signals from escaping, all companies have their own private buildings, wireless security standards are established and wireless devices conform to them, wireless security...

Unified messaging scores with NFL: communications network improves productivity and reduces operation expenses.(Voice Networks)(NFL Films )
November 1, 2003... When NFL Films broke ground on a 200,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art motion picture and television studio in Mount Laurel, N.J., the company wanted to create a facility that would bring all its various production and post-production...

Unified communications unplugged.(Voice Networks)
November 1, 2003... Unified communications provides employees with the ability to access voice mail, fax and groupware applications-including e-mail, calendar and contacts-and corporate data. Such as customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning...

VPN solution.(Firewall and VPN products)(Nortel Networks' Alteon SSL-VPN Software Release, version 4.1, )
November 1, 2003... The new Alteon SSL-VPN Software Release, version 4.1, is de signed for companies that utilize SSL VPNs as their primary means of remote access. The solution offers dynamic access control to intelligently assess the security level of a client...

Remote sites route optimization.(Firewall and VPN products)(Proficient Networks' Proficient Network Policy Engine )
November 1, 2003... The Proficient Network Policy Engine (NPE) model NPE210A enables enterprises to deploy mission-critical applications across IP VPNs without fear of poor application performance, achieving frame relay-like performance with lower costs and...

Software solution.(Firewall and VPN products)(StoneSoft's StoneGate version 2.2)
November 1, 2003... Reducing complex configuration requirements for clustered firewalls, StoneGate version 2.2 is a high-availability firewall and VPN that provides drop-in firewall clustering to simplify configuration and reduce installation time. The software...

SIP enable a firewall.(Firewall and VPN products)(Ingate Systems)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Made specifically for small businesses looking to SIP-enable their network quickly, the SIParator 20 is a device that connects to an existing network firewall to seamlessly enable the traversal of SIP-based communications. Once connected to the...

Unified switching platform.(Firewall and VPN products)
November 1, 2003... The NetScaler 9000 Secure Application Networking System now features secure, remote access for Web-based and client/server applications, terminal access and files through integrated secure socket layer virtual private network functionality for...

Intrusion protection upgrade.(Firewall and VPN products)(Fortinet's FortiOS 2.5 )
November 1, 2003... FortiOS 2.5, a new release of the firmware available for all FortiGate antivirus firewalls, adds significant new features, such as intrusion prevention, as well as more than 50 enhancements to the firewall, VPN, antivirus, intrusion-detection...

Integrated VPN/firewall.(Firewall and VPN products)(GE Access' iForce VPN/Firewall Appliance )
November 1, 2003... The iForce VPN/Firewall Appliance offers both enterprise-class and mid-market business customers higher levels of security, easier deployment and manageability. The solution integrates Check Point VPN-1/FireWall-1 Next Generation (NG) with...

Hand-held optical testing.(Optical network testing)(Sunrise Telecom)
November 1, 2003... Designed for use with the company's SunSet MTT modular test toolkit, the Optical Loss Test Module combines oil the tests needed to qualify optical-fiber networks and identify faults, including a bidirectional loss test, optical return loss and...

Fibre Channel analysis.(Optical network testing)(Computer Access Technology's FCTracer v1.1 is a Fibre Channel analyzer )
November 1, 2003... FCTracer v1.1 is a Fibre Channel analyzer that allows for long-term recording of trace data to disk to enable capture of intermittent errors. It also supports remote access and automated test capabilities, the ability to cascade multiple...

OC-3 testing.(Optical network testing)(GL Communications' Ultra OC-3/STM-1 Analyzer Card is a tool for testing, monitoring, simulating, analyzing, installing and maintaining fiber. Optic networks )
November 1, 2003... The Ultra OC-3/STM-1 Analyzer Card is a tool for testing, monitoring, simulating, analyzing, installing and maintaining fiber. Optic networks under SONET and SDH protocols. The PCI card plugs into any Windows-based PC, including desktops,...

Automated fiber testing.(Optical network testing)(Kingfisher International's KI3600 general purpose, hand-held fiber-optic power meter)
November 1, 2003... The KI3600 general purpose, hand-held fiber-optic power meter measures absolute and relative light levels in multimode and single mode optical communication systems. The device comes with advanced features to increase productivity, including an...

Mobile device access.(New Products)(ScriptLogic's Desktop Authority )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Designed for administrators who provide services to mobile, distributed workforces, Desktop Authority provides five levels of security and a remote interface via a Live visual duplicate of individual desktops or an entire network from any Web...

Remote device management.(New Products)(emWare's DeviceView Service is an enterprise remote device-management system )
November 1, 2003... The DeviceView Service is an enterprise remote device-management system that allows companies to manage their equipment anywhere in the world. The service consists of an enterprise database, messaging and routing system, serial-based...

Call monitoring.(New Products)(OfficeLink Observe, version 2.0, provides remote call monitoring )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... OfficeLink Observe, version 2.0, provides remote call monitoring for corporate users on Nortel and other switches. The solution leverages the existing monitoring capabilities within any switch by providing remote access to the observation...

Monitor remote devices.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... The SOAP-based Management Interface uses SOAP messages for Web service-based network device management. The solution offers simplified and programmable provisioning, configuration and monitoring through a SOAP-based API-enabling dynamic...

KVM-based device control.(New Products)
November 1, 2003... As an enterprise-class solution for managing Windows, Sun and Linux/UNIX servers with simple cabling, advanced security and expandability, the AlterPath KVM offers support for enterprise networking requirements, such as server authentication...

Are you ready for Web-age collaboration? Collaboration capabilities are pushing Web conferencing to the forefront.(Guest Column)
November 1, 2003... Easy-to-use features, cost effectiveness, productivity gains and the ubiquitous use of the Web are driving the growth in Web conferencing. Part of the comfort factor for Web conferencing stems from business users already familiar with on-demand...