InfoWorld articles from January 2005

InfoWorld archives from January 2005

HP amps up Itanium support - Delivers new midrange and high-end servers.(introduction of HP SuperDome)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... Hewlett-Packard hammered home its commitment to Itanium 2 this week by announcing new Integrity servers, along with additional OS support, virtualization software, and -- for the first time -- a pay-per-use model for Windows. The refreshed...

Interwoven unfurls LiveSite - Web publishing tool simplifies site creation, management.(introduction of Interwoven LiveSite Content Publishing Server)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... Interwoven this week will roll out a new Web publishing tool designed to allow business users to create and publish dynamic Web sites easily. LiveSite Content Publishing Server gives IT managers the capability to create page-level templates and...

Siebel Gets Vertical - Hosted CRM software targets specific industries.(customer relationship management; introduction of Siebel Systems OnDemand Release 6)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... With its eye firmly fixed on rival Salesforce.com, Siebel unveiled OnDemand Release 6 of its hosted CRM suite of applications last week, the first industry-specific version of its hosted software. The four prebuilt applications include CRM...

SAP, Microsoft deliver developer tool.(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... Microsoft, SAP deliver tool kit Microsoft and SAP announced the availability of a new portal development kit, delivering on a promise to integrate their Web services-based technology platforms. The kit -- Portal Development Kit for...

Extreme offers Aspen switch.(introduction of Extreme Networks Aspen 8800)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... Extreme Networks unveiled its line of high-performance Aspen 8800 enterprise LAN switches, which are designed with a two-tier network architecture aimed at delivering voice-class availability and high levels of security to the network edge. The...

Symantec: Spam growth slows.(reports)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... The volume of e-mail spam has stabilized, according to figures from Symantec's Brightmail unit. December's figures, culled from traffic traveling through the company's servers, showed that 67 percent of e- mail is now spam, identical to the...

Apple unveils Mac mini - Company also demonstrates forthcoming Mac OS X, productivity suite.(introduction of Apple Mac OS X, Apple Mac mini and Apple iWork '05)
January 17, 2005... Giving life to rumors that circulated around the Internet earlier this month, Apple Computer detailed a Mac that will sell for less than $500, a new version of Mac OS X, and a productivity suite. The announcements came during CEO Steve...

Mike Stonebraker on "Inhaling Fire Hoses".(Interview)
January 17, 2005... Database guru talks about his new company and the database market Mike Stonebraker is something of a database legend. He was the main architect of the Ingres relational database, the Postgres object- relational database, and the Mariposa...

STRATEGIC DEVELOPER: Exploring the deep structure of code - Move over, text editors; here comes a new programming paradigm.
January 17, 2005... It's been a while since I've written code in Java. This week, however, I updated my installation of Eclipse, dusted off an old Java program, and saw that ancient artifact in a whole new way. Now, I've never been an IDE kind of guy. It's...

AHEAD OF THE CURVE: InfiniBand flies - Getting data from point A to point B as swiftly as possible is now job No. 1.(Column)
January 17, 2005... Electrons travel at the speed of light, and processors, buses, and networks need to catch up. Boosting throughput inside systems has become a priority in entry-level servers, and progress is evident in system designs from AMD, Apple...

CTO CONNECTION: The perils of customization - We all think we're one of a kind. Readers chime in on why IT systems should avoid specialness.(Column)
January 17, 2005... The strong response to my recent column about enterprise IT customization and the MTV show Pimp My Ride suggests that pop culture might actually be educational in the right context. Reading through the feedback, I suspect that the yearning for...

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Apple gets suite, AIP admits defeat - Censored by spam blockers.(introduction of Apple iWorks; management of AIP Communications)
January 17, 2005... It's been a week since I returned from Vegas, and I'm still recovering from my CES hangover. That ear-splitting duet between Intel's Craig Barrett and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler may have done me in. Or maybe I spent too much time at the...

REALITY CHECK: Modernizing product development - It's time for a new approach to product lifecycle management, and the ball is in IT's court.
January 17, 2005... The past few years have seen companies doing everything they can to reduce costs. From outsourcing and offshoring to RIFs (reductions in force), the byword has been, "Cut expenses." But if most of the economists are right, 2005 will be a much...

EDITOR'S LETTER: Seeking CTO Stars - Time is running out to nominate candidates for InfoWorld's CTO 25.(chief technical officer)(Editorial)
January 17, 2005... Wanted: superstar CTOs. No, InfoWorld isn't hiring; we're honoring. Specifically, we're preparing our fourth annual CTO 25 Awards, recognizing chief technologists who have led their companies -- or the IT community -- by example during the past...

Product Previews.(introduction of Business Objects XI and Pervasive Postgres; enhancement of Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration)
January 17, 2005... Business Objects gets inside Office, Pervasive to back Postgres, Microsoft adds IM, collaboration to hosted Exchange, and Red Dot details new version of LiveServer By InfoWorld staff Business Objects Ties BI Into Office Business...

Quest GPS knows what's important: Location, location, location - Garmin system easier to customize than client/server location-aware applications.(global positioning system)
January 17, 2005... Companies such as MapQuest and Microsoft (with its MapPoint Location Server) are at the forefront of location-aware enterprise applications, using location data to build a customized data display or to give telemetry back to a datacenter or...

SSL VPNs made simple - The enKoo-3000 meets the remote access needs of smaller shops.(virtual private networks, secure sockets layer; enKoo-3000 Remote Access Appliance)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 17, 2005... You can always tell when a particular technology begins to gain momentum by the availability of lower-cost alternatives to the bleeding-edge, high-end devices. One company that is specifically targeting the SMB SSL VPN market is enKoo, whose...

Sun Fire V490 amps up processing power - New server debuts Sun's dual- core UltraSparc IV processors.(Sun Microsystems Inc.)
January 17, 2005... Eight hardware threads in a four-processor system -- that's the innovation behind the Sun Fire V490, one of the first two models to use the company's new dual-core UltraSparc IV chip. (The other is the eight- processor Sun Fire V890, released...

Automate security audits for source code - Fortify Source Code Analysis Suite 3.0 combines comprehensive inspection and intelligent analysis.(Fortify Software)
January 17, 2005... Tools that help software developers write secure code are notably under- represented in today's corporate arsenals. The reason is that checking source code for security weaknesses is a difficult task, given the number of potential threats and...

Multifunction printers: A place for everything - We tested eight midrange MFPs on their feature-juggling skills; one shines above the rest.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 17, 2005... Wave good-bye to that printer down the hall -- and to the fax machine, copier, and scanner that sit nearby. MFPs (multifunction printers) combine the functionalities of these four machines into one, promising to save space, money, and...

Apple takes the bite out of SANs - Xsan lowers the obstacles to SAN implementation.(storage area networks; Apple Xsan network software)(Brief Article)
January 17, 2005... The first thing on my New Year's list is Apple's Xsan storage networking software. As one would expect, the interface is pretty, but don't let the GUI lull you into Candyland. Xsan is far and away the leading candidate for storage product of...

Compuware, Borland boost development wares - Java, application processes come into focus in separate initiatives.(acquisition of TeraQuest Metrics by Borland Software Corp.; enhancement of Compuware DevPartner Java 3.3, Compuware OptimalJ 3.3 and Compuware Vantage Analyzer for J2EE)
January 24, 2005... Looking to extend java support across the application lifecycle, Compuware has injected new functionality into its Java development wares. Meanwhile, Borland Software has acquired TeraQuest Metrics in an effort to improve its application...

HP, IBM, Sun boost enterprise grids - Globus Toolkit is focus of consortium.(formation of a consortium by Hewlett-Packard Co., International Business Machines Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Sun Microsystems will this week announce an effort they are spearheading to extend the open source Globus Toolkit for grid technologies to commercial enterprise deployments. In conjunction with the authors of the...

Symantec shows e-mail security appliance - New products use the acquired Brightmail anti-spam technology.(introduction of Symantec Mail Security 8000)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Symantec on Monday plans to enter the growing e-mail security-appliance market with its Symantec Mail Security 8000 line. The series consists of three systems: the 8240 and 8260 for network gateways and the 8160 system for network...

Sun rolls out Identity Auditor - Software applies identity management for repeatable compliance.(introduction of Sun Java System Identity Auditor )(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Sun Microsystems this week introduced identity audit and compliance software designed to give IT departments visibility into employee identity and system-access activities. The Sun Java System Identity Auditor can help with the difficult...

Product Previews.(enhancement of Emprix e-Test suite 8.0 and Google Search Appliance; introduction of Sun Java System RFID Tag and Ship)
January 24, 2005... Sun touts RFID software, Google updates search appliance, Empirix adds collaborative load testing, and ONStor unleashes NAS Gateway By InfoWorld staff Sun Helps Shift Toward RFID Sun Microsystems last week announced a java-based...

SAP Seeks PeopleSoft Users.(introduction of new maintenance and migration service by SAP AG)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... With the Oracle and PeopleSoft merger underway, rival German business software vendor SAP responded with a new maintenance and migration service aimed at its customers running PeopleSoft and J.D. Edwards applications. The offer, called SAP Safe...

Intel Unveils New Centrino Platform.(Intel Sonoma)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Intel launched a renewed version of its Centrino platform for notebook computers. The platform, known by its development code-name Sonoma, will provide benefits for both home and enterprise users. The Centrino platform, first launched in March...

SonicWall Touts Firewall.(introduction of Sonicwall TZ 150 )(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... SonicWall announced the release of a low-cost firewall device aimed at small businesses and designed to allow remote users to communicate via a VPN. The TZ 150 firewall, priced at $389, combines deep packet inspection capability with...

IBM courts collaboration developers - Lotusphere will showcase development tools, forthcoming Notes Domino 7.(planning to introduce IBM Domino Designer 7.0)
January 24, 2005... Next week at its annual Lotusphere conference, IBM will extend its collaboration vision with an increased focus on tools. Big Blue is expected to unveil a new version of Domino Designer, the visual, script-oriented programming tool used to...

Microsoft reveals Exchange road map - Company slims down vision; gives glimpse of next version.(Microsoft Exchange Server 12)
January 24, 2005... Microsoft last week sketched out the future of its Exchange messaging server, revealing a road map vastly changed from the company's sweeping collaboration vision of a few years ago. Enhancements coming to Exchange this year include...

REALITY CHECK: Enterprise apps: On-demand or on-premise? There's room for more than one business model.(new customer relationship management software from Salesforce.com Inc.)
January 24, 2005... As the number of vendors touting hosted applications grows and the sophistication of their offerings increases, the choice between hosted solutions and on-premise solutions is no longer just a debate between competing vendors. It's become a...

STRATEGIC DEVELOPER: Where was desktop search when we needed it? The network cloud is fast replacing traditional storage tools.
January 24, 2005... Desktop search engines are sprouting like weeds. Google's showed up in October, then Microsoft's in December, and now Yahoo's this month. It's a story full of bizarre twists and turns. Did you know, for example, that Microsoft gave us a capable...

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: Oracle begins bloodbath, G- men choose new path - Sniffling, schmoozing, and boozing.(downsizing of PeopleSoft Inc.)
January 24, 2005... Spent the last week sick as a proverbial dog. A nasty cold snap, combined with too much schmoozing and boozing, has put my heinie in a sling. So I've been home, nursing my few remaining brain cells back to health and perusing my favorite news...

CTO CONNECTION: Subscribe vs. build - Purists, particularly the open source variety, ignore the outsourcing option -- to their detriment.(chief technical officer)
January 24, 2005... Two weeks ago I noted that, although the adoption of open source solutions with commercial support is growing (think Red Hat and SpikeSource), the price/performance ratio of those solutions remains excellent, even if you're spending a little on...

AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Welcome to the Mac, Oracle - Now that it's buying into Mac platform, IT should dig deeper into Apple's server lineup.
January 24, 2005... Like you, I make my living in technology. And like you, I don't make capricious career choices. The decision I made about two years ago to focus my IT operations, my research, and a good deal of my editorial output on the Mac platform will...

EDITOR'S LETTER: Service-oriented architecture - Adopting an SOA design philosophy can reduce costs while making IT more nimble.(Editorial)
January 24, 2005... Once, during a tour of a modern auto factory, Eric Newcomer was startled to come upon an aging VAX -- the original minicomputer -- controlling some machinery. "It was sitting on the assembly line between the tire robot and something that...

Speeding up enterprise search - Verity's updated Ultraseek server-based solution sidesteps prolonged search implementations.(Verity Ultraseek 5.3.1)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 24, 2005... There's no overstating the importance of search to your public Web or internal servers. Even the best-architected sites have grown so complex that more than two-thirds of visitors use site search as their primary form of navigation, research...

SecureCore shields server memory - Determina's host IDS, Memory Firewall technology work well but lack polish.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 24, 2005... Holes left by perimeter security and conventional anti-virus solutions are being filled by host-based IPS solutions, many of which mirror their network-based kin by inserting themselves between the wild outside network and the vulnerable...

Keeping clients honest remains a struggle - Configuration management appliances from InfoExpress and StillSecure fall short.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 24, 2005... Regardless of the size of their enterprise, administrators worry whether the clients on their network comply with mandatory policies, which include having properly set permissions and meeting requirements for firewalls, spyware, spam filtering,...

Check Point VPN layers the protection - Connectra 2.0 combines SSL VPN, deep packet inspection, and rich end-point security options.(virtual private networks, network security software of Check Point Software Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 24, 2005... Competing in a crowded SSL VPN market, Check Point's Connectra 2.0 is positioned as not just a secure remote access solution, but also a complete Web security gateway. As such, Connectra not only validates client PCs for anti-virus and personal...

Wow! What a WAN - New technologies and techniques can help you make the most of your wide-area links.(wide area networks )
January 24, 2005... It wasn't so long ago that calling a telco to order frame-relay circuits was the only feasible way to securely connect remote offices to headquarters. The typical frame-relay network consists of T1 and fractional T1 circuits connected via a...

Metro networks go wide - Nontraditional carriers are bringing high bandwidth links to far-flung areas.(Road Runner)
January 24, 2005... MANs (metropolitan area networks) have been around for some time. Companies such as Yipes took advantage of the fiber glut in major cities to offer intracity connections with throughputs of 1Gbps or faster at low prices. For large enterprises...

IT tackles phishing - IT aims to protect corporate reputations and thwart attacks against the datacenter.
January 24, 2005... One of the oldest cons in the book, the confidence scam, has a new name: phishing. And it's putting IT on alert because of its potential to damage online business communications and compromise the datacenter. "It's a shame this activity...

Phishing ploys reflect savvy technical skills - The force of the phisher's arsenal gets stronger as IT implements more countermeasures.
January 24, 2005... When going up against hackers and organized crime intent on fraud through phishing, strategy is everything. Here are popular schemes listed (loosely) in order of severity. Social engineering Threat: Manipulates basic emotions: trust,...

Reeling in the phishers - Coalition is prepared to move in as soon as phishy activity surfaces.(Digital PhishNet)
January 24, 2005... Phishers beware. IT is watching you watching them. The FBI is out to get you jailed, too. Enterprises are banding together in an alliance dubbed Digital PhishNet to share information with one another and with the FBI about phishing schemes...

Sun revamps Java Enterprise System - Sun divides Java Enterprise System into subsets.(Sun Java System Suites)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Sun Microsystems on Tuesday is broadening its Java Enterprise System network services software package, releasing middleware suites tailored to functions such as service-oriented architectures and collaboration. The Java Enterprise System is...

EMC, Veritas refresh backup wares - Dansk acquisition brings EMC to SMBs.(introduction of EMC Dantz Retrospect 7, EMC Legato NetWorker and enhancement of Veritas Backup Exec 10 )(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Companies looking to strengthen their data backup and recovery methods will have some new options as products arrive with enhanced disk and tape capabilities and improved functionality. EMC this week ships the latest version of EMC Legato...

Titans spearhead BI resurgence - Business Objects, Cognos, IBM, and MicroStrategy focus on vertical solutions, integrated apps.(production introduction planning of MicroStrategy Inc., International Business Machines Corp and Cognos Inc.; business intelligence)
January 31, 2005... With companies looking to rip out 20-year-old reporting products and replace them with deeper analytics and Web-based reporting tools, it appears business intelligence may be in the midst of a major replacement cycle. The changes to BI are...

Microsoft pushes piracy checks.(planning of Microsoft Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Microsoft in mid-2005 will put a piracy lock on two of its Web sites where software can be downloaded, requiring all Windows XP and Windows 2000 users to validate their copy of Windows as genuine before downloading software. The lock will be...

Good offers wireless app access.(introduction of Good Technology GoodAccess)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... Good Technology launched GoodAccess, a middleware platform for accessing corporate data on wireless devices. Lending their support to Good were ISVs Oracle, Salesforce.com, and Siebel Systems, which said their systems will connect to Good's...

NetSuite Unveils ERP Modules.(introduction of NetSuite Advanced Financials Module and NetSuite Advanced Financials Module; enterprise resource planning)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... NetSuite announced a pair of advanced ERP modules, called NetSuite Revenue Recognition Module and NetSuite Advanced Financials Module. New features complement NetSuite financial management and reporting tools and include real-time, role-based...

BEA, IBM build out SOA services - Companies help customers plan service-oriented architectures.(service introduction of BEA Systems Inc. and International Business Machines Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2005... BEA Systems and IBM have both added to their SOA (service-oriented architecture) offerings. For its part, BEA last week offered a free Web-based tool to quantitatively measure a company's "baseline" for pursuing an SOA strategy. The...

HP eyes app lifecycle with OpenView - Company builds out framework with capabilities to reduce application costs.(enhancement of HP OpenView)
January 31, 2005... Hewlett-Packard last week strengthened its OpenView software portfolio with a raft of products and programs designed to bridge the gap between application development and users' IT operations. Company officials contend that application...

CTO CONNECTION: Backing into disaster - Sometimes the most pedestrian procedures are the ones that really protect your job.(backup systems management; chief technical officer)
January 31, 2005... "What is the best way to fire half my IT staff with minimal disruption?" It's not often that I receive calls asking me questions as pointed and desperate as this one, but I got just such a call from a friend of a friend who recently had been...

AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Into the Mac trap - The skeptic journalist clocks Apple's luxury car sales strategy but almost gets run over.(marketing of Apple Computer Inc.)
January 31, 2005... For two years running, Steve Jobs spent more time during his Macworld Expo keynote talking up luxury car iPod sockets than he did his own server product line. If Apple won't bother pitching Xserve and Xserve RAID to the value-conscious...

REALITY CHECK: The age of the industry-specific PC - Is Intel planning build-to-order components for vertical markets?(reorganization of Intel Corp.)
January 31, 2005... The Intel reorganization earlier this month gives us an interesting peek into the future of computing -- a future that could become a double-edged sword for corporate and home PC buyers. If you haven't followed the news, Intel is creating...

STRATEGIC DEVELOPER: When time-shifting and telepresence collide - Technology is changing the significance of time and distance for today's workers.
January 31, 2005... Yesterday I drove to a meeting in another state. On the way there and back, my car radio was tuned to no regular broadcast but instead to the pirate radio station in my briefcase. Its components: a $20 Belkin FM transmitter, a $90 Creative...

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: The devil in Mr. Jobs - Apple sues teen, Oracle gets mean.(cases between Nicholas Ciarelli and Apple Computer Inc.; downsizing of Oracle Corp.)
January 31, 2005... It seems even a crusty old newshound like me can get burned. My item last week about a couple naming their baby "Yahoo" turns out to be a hoax cooked up by a (now-unemployed) Romanian tabloid reporter. Reporters making things up just for a...

EDITOR'S LETTER: EDITOR'S LETTER: The incredible shrinking SAN - Compact, manageable, affordable, and easy to set up: What's not to like?(storage area network, Logan Harbaugh )(Editorial)
January 31, 2005... Logan Harbaugh knows just how far SANs have come in a few short years. Back in 1995, he was part of a Bell Microproducts team that built a then- magnificent 1TB storage array for the Missiles and Space division at Lockheed. Everything about the...

Product Previews.(introduction of IBM eServer OpenPower Model 710, StorageTek Lifecycle Fixed Content Manager 100 and Infragistics TestAdvantage)
January 31, 2005... IBM adds to Power5 lineup, Tira ports J2ME apps across handsets, StorageTek preserves data, and Infragistics boosts testing toolkit By InfoWorld staff IBM adds to Power5 lineup IBM last week rolled out a low-end, power5-based...

Open source PBXes: free flexibility - Capable IP PBXes from Pingtel, Digium are free for the downloading, but require admin expertise to use effectively.(Digium Asterisk V1.0.3 and Pingtel SIPxchange V.2.4; private branch exchanges)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 31, 2005... One great thing about the open source movement is that if there's a feature of any kind that someone somewhere needs, it will be made available for everyone. As a result, the open source PBXes tested here are feature- filled Swiss Army knives...

Speed Coefficient provides deep, meaningful analysis of SQL Server - Stellar reporting shines in Imceda's graphical database trace tool.(Imceda Speed Coefficient 2.1)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 31, 2005... Troubleshooting your database system when it's having problems is no longer enough. With the recent onslaught of audit requirements such as Sarbanes-Oxley, DBAs must stay on top of system and query performance on a regular basis in order to...

ShareMethods helps sales teams seal the deal - Document management service integrates nicely with popular CRM solutions.(ShareMethods 3.0; customer relationship management)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 31, 2005... Sales teams are constantly challenged to be more productive and increase revenues. SFA applications help users track leads, but they typically lack an important function needed in the sales cycle: managing the documents required, say, to...

Starter SANs suit many needs - Easy setup and enterprise features of Compellent, Dell/EMC, DNF, HP, IBM, iQstor, MPC, and Nexsan bundles hit the mark for SMBs and corporate networks.(Compellent Storage Center QuickStart, DNF IPBank-E 1600 and Dell/EMC AX100; storage area networks, small/medium business)(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 31, 2005... The SMB sector is poised to become the next big market for SANs. For vendors courting this market, the biggest challenge is that because SMBs typically lack specialized storage architects and administrators, building SANs from components is a...

Crystal shows a new sheen - Crystal Reports XI's long-awaited new features make creating complex reports faster and easier.(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 31, 2005... Since acquiring Crystal Decisions in 2003, Business Objects has been working to integrate Crystal Reports into its business intelligence suite. Crystal is now part of BusinessObjects Enterprise XI, but it also continues to be available...