Network World articles from January 2004

Network World archives from January 2004

Talk about legacy machines . . . One man's junk is another man's treasure; embracing the original Ethernet taps.
January 5, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL COONEY OK, so it's not exactly an Indiana Jones adventure, but hunting and scavenging around dark, dank basements looking for rare old computer equipment can be pretty challenging. "You may snicker, but these places can...

SANity check; Survey says SAN usage growing, but performance problems and lack of management tools are a concern.(storage-area networks)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JIM METZLER A long with any new technology come large doses of hyperbole and vague promises. With storage-area networks the promises included better ROI through storage consolidation and increased business productivity through...

Research net set to fly.(National LambdaRail optical network research)
January 5, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN DUFFY MARSAN The network research community is building an $80 million nationwide optical network that advocates say is the most ambitious and promising test bed since the creation of Arpanet - the Internet's precursor - in...

The LWAPP flap; Proposed standard for WLAN interoperability runs into some static.(Lightweight Access Point Protocol for Wireless Local Area Networks)
January 5, 2004... Byline: JEFF VANCE A number of wireless LAN switch vendors are pushing a new standard called Lightweight Access Point Protocol that would create interoperability between thin access points and WLAN switches from different vendors, but some...

IPv6 finally piques interest.(Internet Protocol v6)
January 5, 2004... If you have been reading my columns for a while, you know I have not been very enthusiastic about IPv6. While the technology is superior to IPv4, there has not been a good business case to consider IPv6 on a large scale in the corporate world....

Letters to the editor.(Letter to the Editor)
January 5, 2004... Byline: readers Regarding Mark Gibbs' column "The other side of IT vision" (www.nwfusion.com, DocFinder: 9122): The simple reason for the lowest common denominator in IT infrastructure is due largely to two factors: the competitive...

The true cost of spam.
January 5, 2004... I am convinced that we need a new type of post office - an electronic post office. This is the case because spam is killing one of the most cost-effective productivity tools ever invented: e-mail. At its essence, e-mail is a...

Cutting the office phone cord.
January 5, 2004... Byline: Keith Shaw The holidays are over and we have to get back to work. But we still like cool stuff to help us get our work done. It's our first column of the new year and we've already found a cool product. Plantronics headsets...

How to quantify downtime; Calculating downtime's drag on productivity and profit can help make the case for network improvements.
January 5, 2004... Byline: TOM PISELLO AND BILL QUIRK A conservative estimate from Gartner pegs the hourly cost of downtime for computer networks at $42,000, so a company that suffers from worse than average downtime of 175 hours a year can lose more than $7...

Aviation vendor flying high with VPN; Aviall's switch from frame relay to managed VPN cited as a key to better reliability.(Virtual Private Network)
January 5, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN DUFFY MARSAN Aviation parts distributor Aviall has experienced a major financial turnaround over the past three years that executives attribute in part to a strategic investment in Internet-based network technology. ...

New IDS tool fends off false positives.(intrusion detection systems)
January 5, 2004... Byline: ANDRE YEE Intrusion-detection systems are a key component of a multi-layered security architecture. However, the use of network IDSs has been hampered by less-than-perfect detection and a preponderance of false-positive alerts,...

Enterprise Applications briefs.
January 5, 2004... Byline: staff writers Microsoft has released the second beta of Host Integration Server, countering earlier suggestions that the product would not be upgraded because its functionality would be rolled into other Microsoft E-Business Server...

New stackable switch offers decent bandwidth at great price.
January 5, 2004... Nortel's Baystack 5510 New stackable switch offers decent bandwidth at a great price n By John Bass, Network world Global Test Alliance tackable switches - such as Nortel's new Baystack 5510 - are gaining a lot of...

Nokia upgrades its SSL remote-access software.(secure sockets layer)
January 5, 2004... Byline: TIM GREENE Nokia has upgraded its Secure Sockets Layer remote-access gear to better handle key popular applications such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes. In addition, Nokia Secure Access System Version 1.1 clears up some...

Nortel review how we did it.
January 5, 2004... We loaded eight 5510-48T switches in a rack and connected them in a full-ring topology. Specifically we tested the BayStack 5510-48T hardware, with firmware Version 0.0.16 and software Version 3.0.1.00. All tests were executed using 11...

Jumbo frames: More relevant than ever.
January 5, 2004... Byline: Kevin Tolly In a recent Network World "High-speed LANs" newsletter, editor Jeff Caruso posed the question: "How relevant are jumbo frames today?" He noted that, although they were never officially sanctioned by the IEEE, a...

Companies mull commercial vs. freeware SSH.(secure shell frameware)
January 5, 2004... Byline: ELLEN MESSMER It's a battle going on across many large corporations: should they manage remote servers via Open Secure Shell freeware or commercial SSH products? It's a truth-or-consequences situation that pits OpenSSH...

Catalyst 6500 mgmt. tool on the way; Software lets users configure, control venerable switch.
January 5, 2004... Byline: PHIL HOCHMUTH Cisco last month gave customers a sneak peek at a new network management tool for deploying multiple network functions on the Catalyst 6500 platform. The Integrated Services Device Manager for the Catalyst 6500...

Microsoft focuses identity mgmt. effort; ENTERPRISE SECURITY: Identity management.
January 5, 2004... Byline: JOHN FONTANA Amid the growing buzz around identity management, Microsoft is trying to pull together a platform that would offer corporations entry into a new generation of end-user management, security and regulatory compliance....

AV, IT system marriage proves powerful.(videoconferencing benefits from audio/visual and IT cooperation)
January 5, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN DUFFY MARSAN In December, Dow Chemical wrapped up a three-year, multimillion dollar project that involved upgrading all of its videoconferencing systems worldwide and migrating the traffic from dedicated ISDN lines to a...

Sonus touts network border switch; New software key to linking carriers' IP networks.
January 5, 2004... Byline: TIM GREENE Sonus Networks is introducing software that lets its switching gear connect phone calls between IP networks run by different carriers even if the networks use different protocols. In doing so, Sonus is naming a new...

The new face of fault-tolerant servers.
January 5, 2004... Byline: JENNIFER MEARS With the Internet extending business around the globe - and around the clock - there is a demand on server systems to be up and running all the time. For some companies that means clustering a bunch of boxes to...

We're having problems with open relay on Microsoft Exchange Server 2000.(Brief Article)
January 5, 2004... Steve Blass We're having problems with open relay on Microsoft Exchange Server 2000. We tried to shut down SMTP, clean out queues, turn off relaying, etc., but nothing worked. For a quick fix, we set up a temporary mail server using...

Microsoft eyes broader market for BizTalk Server.
January 5, 2004... Byline: JORIS EVERS Aiming to sell more of its business integration software into more small and midsize businesses and international markets, Microsoft recently said its forthcoming BizTalk Server 2004 will support more languages and more...

10 predictions for 2004.
January 5, 2004... Byline: NETWORK WORLD STAFF A few weeks ago we reviewed our 2003 predictions (we got about 70% right), and now it's time to venture forward with predictions for the new year. l Presence becomes the central focus in collaboration and...

Adventures in Web development.
January 5, 2004... Byline: KEITH SHAW If you run a small business with limited staff, the job of upgrading your Web site from "brochureware" to one where customers can actually buy things is daunting. If you're like us, you don't have the time or patience to...

Platforms for testing and publishing.(IndigoStar Software's IndigoPerl test platform analyzed)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Mark Gibbs Sometimes you just need a simple test platform to check out Perl or PHP applications as either stand-alone apps and Web scripts. We just discovered a cool open-source system that offers exactly that: IndigoPerl from...

Making all that is new old again.(voice over Internet Protocol and telecommunications regulations discussed)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Scott Bradner This Internet thing has gotten just too good for its own good. This was made ever more clear through two December events. The FCC held a one-day forum (www.fcc.gov/voip/) in Washington, D.C., at which...

net briefs.(network hardware news)
January 5, 2004... Linksys has announced a network-attached storage device for small businesses. The EtherFast 120GB Network Storage Device with PrintServer provides file and printer sharing, Web-based management and a back-up utility. A second bay lets you add a...

inf briefs.(new ethernet switch from SMC Networks)(Fujitsu and Red Hat developing Linux for large systems)
January 5, 2004... SMC Networks has introduced a basic 10/100M bit/sec Layer 2 Ethernet switch, the TigerSwitch SMC6724AL2b, for $400. With 24 ports, the box costs about $17 per Ethernet port, and includes basic connectivity features such as port speed...

New Year's resolutions for telecom managers.
January 5, 2004... Byline: johna till johnson 2004 is definitely looking up. All indicators point to an expanding economy, and "growth" is the watchword of the moment. So what can telecom managers do to ensure their next 12 months are as successful as...

short takes.
January 5, 2004... About 25 million users around the world signed up for DSL services last year, bringing total subscribers to 62 million, according to a report by consulting firm Point Topic done on behalf of the DSL Forum. Japan leads the way with 9.2 million...

Keeping in tune with IP telephony.(Internet Protocol)
January 5, 2004... Byline: sandy gittlen Network World embarks on its first Technology Tour of the year later this month, "Voice over IP: IP Telephony from Dollar One to Dollars Won." Keynoting the seminars will be Network World columnist Johna Till Johnson,...

MCI's chief seeks fresh start in '04.(Interview)
January 5, 2004... Byline: Denise Pappalardo and Paul McNamara MCI will soon shed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy shackles, and that freedom can't come soon enough for Chairman and CEO Michael Capellas. Since taking charge late last year, Capellas has worked...

Salary deep freeze at AT&T.
January 5, 2004... David Dorman, CEO at AT&T, sent out a memo six days before Christmas telling employees there would be no pay raises in 2004. According to an AT&T spokeswoman, market conditions and the fact that raises were issued in September 2003 led the...

Anti-spam law is a start, panel says.
January 5, 2004... Byline: JEFF CARUSO NEW YORK - While it's an important first step, the federal anti-spam law signed last December is unlikely to reduce spam noticeably, and companies will have to find other ways to fight it, said a panel of experts...

Vendors wrangle to control midsize business market.
January 5, 2004... Byline: ANN BEDNARZ Software vendors continue to jockey for the business of small and midsize companies, which make up the majority of the corporate population and account for a healthy percentage of IT spending. Most recently, small...

Firm looks to plug in power-line networks.(Askoa launches PlugLan network outlet)
January 5, 2004... Byline: PHIL HOCHMUTH Start-up Askoa is looking to help companies quickly set up remote or small-office LANs without stringing Category 5 cabling everywhere or configuring a Wi-Fi network and security settings. The company this week is...

voices of networking.
January 5, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Jeff Caruso Balls of crystal. New Year's predictions are a time-honored journalistic tradition, one that several of our e-mail newsletter columnists observe every year. With Paul "Buzz" McNamara out on a short-term...

Sun shelves Cobalt, focuses on x86.
January 5, 2004... Byline: JENNIFER MEARS Sun is mothballing its Cobalt server appliance line, and the news might not be good for businesses running the specialty boxes. But analysts say it's not surprising as the company focuses on building up its low-end...

Happy political messaging.
January 5, 2004... Byline: Mark Gibbs Happy New Year! Or to put it another way, Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar (Afrikaans), Feliz Ano Novo (Brazilian), Gung Hai Fat Choi (Cantonese), Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar (Dutch), Bonne Annee (French), Buon Capodanno (Italian),...

Old net start-ups never die, they just become alumni clubs; Packing them in at the 'Chipcom prom.'.
January 12, 2004... Byline: BOB BROWN Old net start-ups never die, they just become alumni clubs Packing them in at the 'Chipcom prom.' As Fanny Mlinarsky squeezed her way through the crowded Cambridge Hyatt cocktail lounge at last fall's Chipcom...

High-flying glory days past, Microsoft builds for future.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JOHN FONTANA Microsoft's mettle has been tested before, but in the next few years the company will face what are arguably its toughest challenges yet. These include: * Finding growth opportunities to offset the maturing of...

Can rogue wireless LANs be eliminated? Two industry experts debate whether perimeter security alone can deter rogue wireless access points.
January 12, 2004... Byline: Yes, by Marvin Chartoff Rogue access points are among the greatest security threats in corporate America. Network technology has become so inexpensive and easy to set up that many office workers have configured wireless LANs...

Can rogue wireless LANs be eliminated? Two industry experts debate whether perimeter security alone can deter rogue wireless access points.
January 12, 2004... Byline: No, by Brian Boyland The ubiquitous and transient nature of wireless technology presents a constantly moving target. Wireless access points let authorized and unauthorized users gain the same level of access through the same access...

Corporate homeland security a win-win.
January 12, 2004... Byline: W. David Stephenson Many corporations have been less than enthusiastic about new homeland security responsibilities, which they see as threatening to disrupt just-in-time manufacturing strategies, impose new costs and introduce yet...

Need broader tips.(network maintenance)
January 12, 2004... Need broader tips I found the tips offered in the story "Adding 'oomph' to your network" (www.nwfusion.com, DocFinder: 9223) to be of very limited applicability. Going jumbo is only a good idea for server-to-server file transfers or...

SMI-S unifies SAN management.(Storage Networking Industry Association's Storage Management Initiative Specification unifies storage-area networks)
January 12, 2004... Byline: TONY DICENZO Storage management is taking a major step forward with completion of the first version of the Storage Networking Industry Association's Storage Management Initiative Specification. Until now, network managers...

Has anything really changed?(high tech values again responding to market pressures)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Daniel Briere In scanning the coverage of the telecom recovery, we read about the excesses of the past and how we "know better" now. Everyone is singing the same tune: "Things are so different now." . . . "We'll never return to the...

NetScreen, Nokia top the growing field of products that target simplified secure remote access.(evaluating virtual private networks' security gateways)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Joel Snyder NetScreen, Nokia top the growing field of products that target simplified secure remote access By Joel Snyder, Network World Global Test Alliance Security with ease of use is the promise of Secure Sockets Layer...

2003: A forecasting report card.
January 12, 2004... Byline: Johna Til Johnson Once a year, we pundits earn our chops by reviewing the predictions we made last year and seeing how well they stood up. Here goes. Prediction No. 1: The Bells win on unbundled network element pricing. ...

Let's get physical; IT security must include locked doors and premises protection, not just firewalls.
January 12, 2004... Byline: Tim Greene Let's get physical IT security must include locked doors and premises protection, not just firewalls. By TIM GREENE Wells Fargo bank offered $100,000 in November to catch a thief who stole the Social...

Venerable IBM server carries on; SERVERS: IBM's iSeries.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JENNIFER MEARS Canadian customs broker GHY International was rolling out Intel servers en masse as it sought to keep up with its growth. The booming business was nice, but the multiplying boxes were becoming a monster to manage,...

The Internet is not a railroad, or is it?(Andrew Odlyzko's views on Internet service pricing)
January 12, 2004... Byline: scott bradner A ndrew Odlyzko is at it again. He keeps putting out tenaciously researched papers that make it very clear that one "common wisdom" or another is fundamentally flawed. His latest target is the telephone industry...

The power of prognostication.(evaluating predictions for 2003)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Dave Kearns I t's time to look back at what I predicted for 2003 and look ahead for the new year. I made four predictions for 2003, and I'm claiming partial credit. Specifically, I said (see www.nwfusion.com, DocFinder: 9230):...

Netriplex spam service, money-back guarantee.
January 12, 2004... Byline: CARA GARRETSON Data hosting company Netriplex has jumped into the anti-spam market with a service that guarantees to keep unwanted messages from a company's in-boxes, or else it will reimburse customers $1 per spam message...

Service Provider briefs.(data over coax standards being created)(Redback Networks emerges from Chapter 11)(Advanced Fibre Communications acquires Marconi's North American Access business unit)
January 12, 2004... Byline: staff Industry heavyweights have joined to define a standard for sending high-speed data and video traffic over existing coaxial cable that connects to televisions in most homes. Cisco, Comcast, EchoStar, Matsushita Electric,...

Goodbye, Cisco; hello, procket.(Roland Acra , hired by Procket Networks, interviewed)(Interview)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Jim Duffy Six months after losing its CEO, router start-up Procket Networks has landed a new one: Roland Acra, formerly Cisco's senior vice president and Service Provider CTO. Acra, who reported to Cisco Chief Development Officer...

CRM consolidation continues.(Customer Relationship Management)
January 12, 2004... Byline: ANN BEDNARZ Two acquisitions announced last week continue the CRM market consolidation that's been going on the last few years and highlight the importance of adding a personal touch to companies' online customer service efforts....

cool tools.(RIM adds speakerphone to BlackBerry)(Fujitsu launches new Tablet PC)(Epson launches the P-1000 portable hard drive and image viewer)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Keith Shaw Research in Motion and Nextel last week launched the latest BlackBerry handheld. The BlackBerry 7510 includes a high-resolution color screen, access to one or multiple corporate and personal e-mail addresses, built-in...

Alcatel beefs up switch mgmt. pack.
January 12, 2004... Byline: PHIL HOCHMUTH Alcatel this week is expected to release a version of its switch management software that promises to make managing network devices more flexible, secure and efficient. The new version of Alcatel's OmniVista...

Users tackle Linux management; With the operating system growing in popularity, customers look for mgmt. help.
January 12, 2004... Byline: DENISE DUBIE When Sean Lentner made the decision to move a dozen servers from Windows NT to the Linux server platform, he also had to consider changing how he managed those boxes. Specifically, the systems analyst at NYFIX, an...

3Com upgrades flagship switch; Switch 7700 improvements include redundancy, software security features.
January 12, 2004... Byline: PHIL HOCHMUTH 3Com this week is expected to launch a version of its enterprise backbone switch offering users redundant hardware and new security software features. The Switch 7700R will include the option for installing dual...

Ask Dr. Internet.(sharing windows applications over the Internet)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Steve Blass Steve Blass Can I share one of my Windows applications from an XP workstation with other Windows computers over the Internet? One way to do this is to use the Remote Desktop features in Windows XP by enabling...

Infrastructure Short Takes.(Novell last week announced that its Ximian Desktop software now supports SuSe Linux)(Dantz Development has enhanced its back-up and restore software for Macintosh computers with the addition of support for Mac G4 and G5 computers running Mac OS X)(Apple last week introduced a new RAID array)
January 12, 2004... Novell last week announced that its Ximian Desktop software now supports SuSe Linux. Ximian Desktop 2, a product Novell acquired with its acquisition of Ximian last August, is based on the open source GNOME project and lets users deploy a Linux...

short takes.(GFI introduces a freeware version of its Network Server Monitor)(Cranite Systems has released a client application that secures Mac OS X-based handheld computers on wireless LANs)(Network Associates introduces McAfee VirusScan PDA enterprise)
January 12, 2004... n GFI has made available a freeware version of its Network Server Monitor, a tool that monitors a network and its servers to identify and fix failures. The freeware version lets users check availability of HTTP and Secure-HTTP sites and confirm...

Microsoft releases first public beta of Win 2003 for Opteron.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JOHN FONTANA Microsoft last week launched the first general public beta program for its Windows Server 2003 64-bit operating system designed for Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron chip. The Windows Server 2003 64-bit Extended...

WorldCom back in government's good graces.(VeriSign changing DNS software)(IBM Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano has challenged his company to move to the Linux desktop)
January 12, 2004... The U.S. government's General Services Administration last week lifted restrictions against WorldCom, better known by its MCI brand name, which prohibited the telecom company from bidding on federal contracts. The GSA placed MCI in its Excluded...

DISA names winning bidders.(Defense Information Systems Agency)(Brief Article)
January 12, 2004... Byline: JIM DUFFY The Defense Information Systems Agency has announced the winning bidders for the agency's Global Information Grid-Bandwidth Expansion network. GIG-BE is a $900 million effort to upgrade DISA's network with optical,...

Happy New Free Tools.
January 12, 2004... Byline: mark gibbs H ere we are, just having crossed the threshold of a new year - renewed, re-inspired and dreaming of the Nasdaq hitting anything north of 4,000. Before we launch into our first geeky topic of 2004, we'd like to ask...

Wireless LAN worries; Despite security advances, implementation and interoperability obstacles loom.
January 12, 2004... Byline: ELLEN MESSMER This is supposed to be the year that the industry addresses the serious security shortcomings that are holding back enterprise wireless LAN rollouts. But looming implementation issues and vendor disagreement are...

Start-up looks to leverage corporate IM.(instant messaging)(Convoq introducing video- and Web conferencing software module)
January 12, 2004... Anticipating that instant messaging will play an increasingly important role in collaboration, start-up Convoq is gearing up to introduce an application next month that adds video- and Web conferencing to IM. Led by Charles Digate,...

Veritas buys utility computing company.
January 12, 2004... Byline: DENI CONNOR Veritas Software last week shored up its utility computing vision with a $59 million buyout of Ejasent, a 5-year-old vendor of application virtualization software. Ejasent makes software to non-disruptively move...

IBM expands four-way offerings.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JENNIFER MEARS Rapsheets, which provides online criminal records searches, was growing nearly 25% per month and was looking for ways to beef up its infrastructure to support the demand on its expanding database. After considering...

A dozen New Year's resolutions.
January 12, 2004... Was that the first of the year that went rushing toward the horizon with its tail on fire? I'd better make some New Year's resolutions pronto . . . hmm, let's see . . . Resolution 1: I will stop being surprised at how ineffectual and...

A question of semantics.(computer viruses)
January 12, 2004... Byline: Adam Gaffin A question of semantics As information continues up the OSI stack (Layer 3 switches? How quaint. This year, I want IS to buy me several application switches), the hackers - and the researchers who track them - have...

C&W service termination rankles customers.(Cable & Wireless America)
January 12, 2004... Byline: DENISE PAPPALARDO Cable & Wireless America is giving customers reason for concern yet again as it tries to reduce its network size and drop customers. The service provider - which filed for bankruptcy a month ago - is in the...

Holiday rush pushes retailers to spend; National Retail Federation to showcase aisles of wares to improve operations.
January 12, 2004... Byline: ANN BEDNARZ Flush from a strong holiday shopping season, retailers are gathering this week in New York to hear about a slew of technologies aimed at helping them improve in-store and online operations. The National Retail...

Microsoft shelves aging software.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JOHN FONTANA Microsoft this week will render "obsolete" Windows 98 and Office 97, the first two products in a line of aging software that will see support end this year. The move will force some corporate users to make upgrade...

Ultra Wideband's destiny up in the air.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JOHN COX A decision at an IEEE meeting this week could bring together two factions battling over a new wireless technology. But it's more likely to drive them to all-out market warfare. Cut-throat capitalism might prove to be...

Verizon to spend $3 billion on broadband offerings.
January 12, 2004... Byline: JIM DUFFY Verizon last week said it would spend $3 billion over the next two years to bring broadband networks to the mass market. The investment will include two network expansions and the rollout of a service and product to...

Microsoft seeks its next cash cow.
January 19, 2004... Byline: JOHN FONTANA Microsoft's reputation is one of a moneymaker, but the fact is that four of its seven business units are in the red. To the tune of $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2003, Microsoft bled money from its Business...

What's on tap for 2004.
January 19, 2004... Byline: johna till johnson I t's time to start planning for upcoming trends in the telecom market over the next 12 months. Maybe it's the leftover New Year's champagne, but something's telling me that this year's predictions should...

Linux delivers for U.S. Postal Service; Linux-based scanning machines speed mail sorting in 250 facilities.
January 19, 2004... Byline: PHIL HOCHMUTH While many businesses are just now turning to Linux as a server platform, the technology has delivered for the U.S. Postal Service for several years. The Postal Service has used penguin power since 1999 to...