Communications News articles from September 2007

Communications News archives from September 2007

Zen or control?(Viewpoint)(Survey)
September 1, 2007... Why do enterprise IT departments prefer central control of their networks versus allowing the consumerization of those networks? Why do IT policies generally restrict or prohibit consumer technologies from the corporate network? A recent...

The challenges of wireless smart devices.(Wireless)
September 1, 2007... Aberdeen Group, a national consulting firm, says that 90 percent of organizations are planning to increase their use of smart wireless devices--despite the fact that enterprises spend nearly 10 times more to manage wireless services and devices...

Hybrid communications.(SHORT TAKES)(Chazen Companies)(NEC Unified Solutions)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Chazen Companies has implemented a new communications infrastructure from NEC Unified Solutions designed to support improved voice features, videoconference capabilities and intra-office collaboration. Headquartered in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.,...

Wireless classrooms.(SHORT TAKES)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The West Chester Area School District (WCASD) is deploying wireless LAN and client-to-core security solutions from Aruba Networks throughout the school district. WCASD is one of 79 school districts selected to participate in the first year of...

Cisco favored for security.(Security)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Cisco Systems must be onto something with its network access control direction for network security--at least according to a recent poll of Communications News readers. Nearly three-fourths of poll participants favor Cisco as the leader in the...

IP communications use lagging.(Convergence)(Siemens Communications)(Survey)
September 1, 2007... Can U.S. firms cut costs while boosting worker productivity and competitiveness? Not today, according to a recent survey of 100 U.S. companies with more than 5,000 employees commissioned by Siemens Communications and conducted by IDC. Nearly 80...

Better storage.(SHORT TAKES)(University of Detroit Mercy)(BakBone Software)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The University of Detroit Mercy (UDM)is leveraging BakBone Software's technology to significantly shrink backup windows, automate the collection of Exchange reporting statistics and replace complex scripting for Oracle database backup....

Seamless service.(SHORT TAKES)(Avaya Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Frances E. Parker Home, a New Jersey-based senior care provider with assisted living and nursing facilities in Piscataway and New Brunswick, selected Avaya's IP Office, a secure, easy-to-use converged voice and data system, to help provide...

Events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... IT Security World 2007 Conference & Expo, Sept. 17-19, San Francisco, provides educational opportunities for all levels of information security professionals. www.misti.com WiMAX World USA, Sept. 25-27, Chicago, showcases next-generation...

Linux Appliance Design.(PUBLICATIONS)
September 1, 2007... LinuxAppliance Design, by Bob Smith, John Hardin, Graham Phillips and Bill Pierce, explains how to use Linux to build better appliances, backend daemons, handle asynchronous events and connect various user interfaces for configuration and...

Endpoint Security.(PUBLICATIONS)
September 1, 2007... Endpoint Security, by Mark Kadrich, offers specific, customized strategies to protect endpoint devices such as Windows PCs, notebooks, Unix/Linux workstations, Macs, PDAs, smart phones, cell phones and embedded devices through technical...

Blackberry for dummies.(PUBLICATIONS)
September 1, 2007... Blackberry for Dummies, by Robert Kao and Dante Sarigumba, covers the latest features and models, while detailing core applications, multimedia, GPS, broadband and more. www.wiley.com

Business factors drive IPT growth.(Voice Over IP)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... CIOs from across the U.S. are increasing their adoption of IP telephony, driven by such factors as the need for greater access to advanced telephony applications, improved management of distributed operations and reduced costs. Findings from a...

Do as I say, not as I do.(Green Tech)(Survey)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Despite the many government regulations pushing the private IT sector to think "green," government agencies in the United States and Canada have the lowest level of concern among all industries for energy efficiency and environmental...

The need for speed: getting film from 'reel-to-reel' to formats that work on televisions, computers, cell phones and ipods takes a high-performance networked storage system.(Digital Television Star)(SMC Networks Inc.)
September 1, 2007... For Sample Digital, a company providing media encoding services to the film and technology industries, quality is an absolute requirement-no compromises. Its long list of well-known clients-including Disney, Sony, Universal, Paramount, Lion's...

Kentucky goes wireless: Internet protocol network controllers are the huh for 150 base station sites.(Special Focus: Wireless)
September 1, 2007... In just four years, the state of Kentucky has gone from having a handful of isolated mobile data systems to being completely covered from border to border. The state's wireless network first began forming in 2002, when the Lexington-Fayette...

Is your WLAN ready for voice?(Special Focus: Wireless)
September 1, 2007... As the business case for voice-over-wireless LANs has matured, enterprises are beginning to realize the benefits of adding voice to their existing wireless LANs. To reap those benefits, enterprises first need to ensure the wireless LAN is ready...

Wireless eyes watch for crime: video surveillance in out-of-the-way places made possible with next-generation network.(Special Focus: Wireless)(Midtown Blue)
September 1, 2007... For the past few years, Atlanta's midtown has undergone a renaissance, with growth in office space, retail businesses and residents. Crime, however, was a problem. The Midtown Blue Safety Force was formed and has played an integral role in...

Location appliance.(WIRELESS PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Leveraging existing Wi-Fi infrastructures, Location Appliance-200 detects and monitors the positions of Wi-Fi devices on the network in real time. A rack-mounted box with software, the LA-200 can track as many as 2,000 wireless devices,...

Wi-Fi plus WiMAX.(WIRELESS PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The MeshMAX outdoor tri-radio unit offers Wi-Fi connectivity for access, Wi-Fi mesh for network redundancy and a high-capacity WiMAX link for backhaul. The device contains an 802.11b/g radio in the 2.4-GHz band and an 802.11a radio in the 5-GHz...

802. 11n network analyzer.(WIRELESS PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... With instant visibility into all wireless channels, devices, speeds, interference issues and the RF spectrum, Laptop Analyzer 7.5 identifies and classifies all 802.11n-capable devices in the network (including differentiating between...

WLAN AP.(WIRELESS PRODUCTS)(Foundry Networks Inc.)(IronPoint Mobility RS4000 )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The IronPoint Mobility RS4000 radio switch is a thin access point that applies intelligent RF clustering to achieve high-density AP operation. The RS4000 dynamically reserves radio bandwidth per client (up to 256 clients), enabling support for...

Buyers' guide.(Special Focus: Wireless)(Buyers guide)
September 1, 2007... Companies listed in this Enterprise Wireless Buyers' Guide can assist you in selecting the products and services that work best for your organization. ANTENNAS/TOWERS Aluma Tower Co. 772-567-3423 www.alumatower.com Alvarion...

Mobile modem.(Novatel Wireless Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Optimized for HSPA and EDGE/GPRS networks worldwide, the Ovation MC950D modem allows a computer to connect to 3G phone networks, supporting up to 7.2-Mbps downlink speeds and 2.1-Mbps uplink. Providing instant mobile broadband Internet access...

Multiservice Access Point.(Colubris Networks Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... In addition to delivering simultaneous access for 802.11a/b/g clients, the MultiService Access Point-630 provides dedicated, real-time RF security monitoring. The access point performs full-frequency security scans that detect and classify more...

Wireless Ethernet jack.(Karo Technology)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Designed to fit in any standard electrical outlet box, the 802.11b/g WEJ-11g Ethernet Jack is a commercial-grade wireless access point that offers both wired and wireless connections. The WEJ-11g receives power and data from a standard PoE...

Firm favors switched PDUs: high rate of failure led real estate company to new solution for its data centers.(Power Management)(Colliers Turley Martin Tucker)
September 1, 2007... Increasing power densities, combined with enhanced product functionality, have created strong demand for cabinet power-distribution units (PDUs) within today's data centers. The type and amount of power delivered to the cabinet can greatly...

POE for wireless.(Power Management)(power over Ethernet)(wireless access point)
September 1, 2007... To facilitate wireless access point (WAP) coverage and throughput capability, placing wireless access points in the most advantageous locations in a building is important. In order to broadcast a clear and uninterrupted signal, these locations...

GigE patch panel.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... Designed for copper wiring environments where frequent patching and a high density is required, the UniPatch GigE patch panel features a high-density card frame system, a modular design and offset jack positioning to counter the effects of...

LCD console drawer.(Infrastructure Products)(Fujitsu Components America Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Contained in a 2U configuration, the FD-MOOOMT hi-level console drawer consists of a 1U, 17" SXGA LCD console drawer and a 1U keyboard/mouse drawer. Each drawer can be operated simultaneously or independently. The unit provides...

USB wall plate.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... Making the placement of USB projectors, interactive whiteboards, cameras, printers and other USB devices up to 150 feet away from their host computers possible, the USB SuperBooster enables USB signals to be run over standard CAT 5/CAT 5e/CAT 6...

Coaxial connectors.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... With the versatility of a slide-on connector and the secure connection of a standard coupling nut connector, Quick Disconnect Connectors disengage from each other upon the application of an axial force to the attached lanyard, but not when...

Cooling fan.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... With four quiet fans and three sensors to detect temperatures, the Cool Zone rackmount cooling system delivers 100 CFM of cooling capacity to CPU servers, systems and hard drives. Fan speed is automatically adjusted by the thermal controller,...

Fiber-optic connectors.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... Offered in FC and MT-RJ styles, UniCam Pretium-Performance Connectors are no-epoxy, no-polish connectors that install quickly and easily in the field with a UniCam connector tool kit. The ceramic ferrule LC-, SC- and ST-compatible connectors...

Industrial cabinets.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... Available in heights from 12U to 44U and widths of 19", 23" and 24", FCC shielded S-Series Cabinets I have BeCu gasketing applied to all seams and joints to ensure paint-free electrical contact areas with optional clear chromate. The S-series...

Fiber splicing tool.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... The Fibrlok 250um fiber splice 2540G enables fast, easy splicing of 250-micron singlemode and multimode fiber. This low-loss splice is designed to be installed at drop-in fiber distribution terminals and optical network terminals outside, and...

Bundled cables.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... For use in access-control installations where a card reader, door lock and motion detector are situated at a single location, Signal bundled access control cables consist of four individual cables. The cables are bundled and can be pulled at...

Managed PoE hub.(Infrastructure Products)
September 1, 2007... The Managed PowerSense Midspan Power Over Ethernet Hub allows administrators to monitor and control powered end-devices, such as wireless access points, IP telephones and security cameras from a central location. The hub provides power over...

Best practices for mobile defense: several encryption methods are available, but training and planning are also important.(Security)
September 1, 2007... News reports of laptops lost by U.S. federal government agencies, medical institutions, retailers and others have highlighted the risks of exposing unencrypted data on mobile devices. Costs include regulatory fines, massive expenses for...

Internet security.(SECURITY PRODUCTS)(Grisoft Software)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... AVG Internet Security SBS Edition includes firewall, antivirus, antispyware and antispam applications for protection from viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, spare, phishing attacks and hackers. Administrators can perform remote...

Secure remote access.(SECURITY PRODUCTS)(ZyWALL SSL-10)(ZyXEL Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The ZyWALL SSL-10, an integrated firewall and SSL-VPN appliance, offers clienfless secure remote access for mobile workers. Users have access to shared network resources through a Web page, with user rights defined by login ID. The appliance...

Ultra-portable notebook PC.(SECURITY PRODUCTS)(Sony Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... At 2.65 pounds and less than 1" thick, the VAIO TZ features an 11.1" widescreen display with extra-bright color LCD technology. For connectivity, the computer incorporates 802.11n wireless LAN, wireless WAN technology and Bluetooth...

Telepresence experience delivered: virtual meeting rooms bring participants face to face in high definition.(Conferencing)
September 1, 2007... Telepresence can be defined as a combination of technology and environment that creates the impression that people in different locations are actually in the same room. Essential to delivering natural movement and sound are high-quality, highly...

IM and collaboration.(instant messaging)(business entreprises must use the technology)
September 1, 2007... The two foundations of instant messaging (IM) for process-focused collaboration are presence information (which identifies a user's availability to collaborate) and chat. Instead of proprietary and closed chat tools, the next generation of...

Develop a backup plan that works: knowing what information and data types that need to be protected is important.(Business Continuity)
September 1, 2007... Demanding requirements for a workable disaster-recovery solution cause IT managers to be faced with some cold realities. Recent studies have shown that, on average, IT managers only have a 30 percent data recovery rate when failure or disaster...

Network storage hard drive.(Product Spotlight: Storage)(Seagate Technology L.L.C.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... With a seek time of 3.9 ms operating at 10,000 rpm, the Cheetah NS hard drive uses perpendicular recording technology to provide a capacity of up to 400 GB, while consuming 8 W of power. With a mean time between failures of 1.4 million hours,...

Portable disk array.(Product Spotlight: Storage)(MicroNet Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The compact, transportable 5-TB eSATA Platinum RAID Pro solution is built around a 64-bit Intel XScale processor matched with 128 MB of error-correcting cache, to handle intensive SMB RAID applications including digital video, HD audio, digital...

SAS to SAS/SATA RAID subsystem.(Product Spotlight: Storage)
September 1, 2007... The 2U, 12-bay, single-controller SAS to SAS/SATA RAID subsystem EonStor $12S-G1030 can use both SAS and SATA drives within the same enclosure-SAS drives for mission-critical solutions and SATA drives for near-line backup environments. The $12S...

Data center management.(Product Spotlight: Storage)(Aperture Technologies Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... To help data center managers with forecasting, planning, and predicting power consumption, cooling, space and other physical resource needs, Aperture VISTA Capacity Management tracks infrastructure usage over time and applies forecasts of...

Rugged external hard drive.(Product Spotlight: Storage)(Olixir Technologies)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... About the size of a VHS tape, the 5,400 rpm Mobile DataVault 2LX transportable external hard drive-available in capacities from 20 GB to 100 GB-is designed to absorb significant shocks, and works with any computing platform. The drive can be...

Remote backup solution.(Product Spotlight: Storage)(Continuous Data Protection)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Continuous Data Protection (CDP) Box-to-Box Backup provides users the means to back up and restore data remotely, without using third-party offsite facilities. The solution includes an offsite backup-and-recovery device operating in conjunction...

Network storage server.(Product Spotlight: Storage)
September 1, 2007... To enable synchronized, precise backup timing for organizations with geographically disparate storage locations that need to be backed up at the same time, the iS900 iSCSI NAS Server, which is expandable to 18 TB, is designed with GPS, IRIG...

Alliance champions Ethernet issues: member companies to pen monthly columns for Communications News' readers.(Up to Speed)
September 1, 2007... While IEEE 802 Ethernet technology has existed for more than 30 years, it has lacked a consistent industry voice that represented the spectrum of IEEE 802 Ethernet standards developments. To address this, the Ethernet Alliance was founded in...