Cover V13, i11

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nov2004.tar

New Products

Rackable Systems Launches Scale Out Server Series

Rackable Systems, Inc. has launched the Scale Out Server Series, its new server solution designed for large, high-density, data center deployments.

According to the company, the new Scale Out Server Series is built from a rack-level, data center perspective as opposed to the 7U or sub-7U chassis design typical of traditional blade server solutions. Traditional blade design inhibits open architecture design while severely hampering thermal efficiency. Scale Out's open architecture approach maximizes non-proprietary, industry-standard components, emphasizing unlimited flexibility for customers requiring specific networking, local storage, and provisioning software solutions. For more information, visit: http://www.rackablesystems.com.

BlueCat Networks Releases Adonis DNS/DHCP Appliance

BlueCat Networks has released the new edition of its award-winning DNS appliance. According to the company, the Adonis DNS/DHCP Appliance now includes a suite of features to manage powerful DHCP services, in addition to tools and wizards for configuring and managing DNS operations. Current Adonis customers can perform an online upgrade to enable DHCP services at no cost.

The Adonis Data Checker identifies errors contained in DNS and DHCP configurations. Resolution of DNS errors and IP address or resource allocation conflicts before the live deployment of configurations prevents loss of DNS and DHCP services. The 1U, rack-mountable Adonis DNS/DHCP Appliance is powered by a hardened Linux OS kernel and integrated firewall. Between the appliance and its cross-platform Adonis Management Console client-side application is 128-bit encrypted SSL connectivity that provides DNS and DHCP administrators with added protection from external security threats and risks. For more information, see: http://www.bluecatnetworks.com.

3PAR Announces Virtual Copy DBA for Linux

3PAR has released 3PAR Virtual Copy DBA for Linux. According to the company, with 3PAR Virtual Copy DBA and InServ Storage Servers, users can now deploy Linux-based applications more simply, more economically, and more reliably. 3PAR not only allows for rapid Oracle recovery on Linux but also enables simple, on-demand Linux server provisioning.

With 3PAR Virtual Copy DBA for Linux, users maintain high availability for their Oracle 9i/Linux environment by instantly recovering data after accidental deletions or corruptions. Virtual Copy DBA intelligently takes a non-disruptive and consistent snapshot of an entire Oracle data set. Snapshots created from Oracle databases require no capacity reservations and consume raw capacity only for changed data. 3PAR Virtual Copy DBA for Linux is available immediately. For more information, see: http://www.3par.com.

ShaoLin Microsystems Offers Free Linux Desktop Deployment and Management Product

Now through December 31, 2004, ShaoLin Microsystems is offering free download of their flagship product, ShaoLin Aptus -- the Linux "Fit Client" enterprise desktop network computing environment.

According to the company, ShaoLin Aptus is a middleware that delivers the "Fit Client" network computing architecture by enabling a Linux server sharing its operating system and applications with multiple networked client PCs simultaneously and transparently. Once ShaoLin Aptus is installed on a Linux server, all networked client PCs can turn into the Linux-based fit clients in minutes without individual installations and even local hard drives.

Users can download the ShaoLin Aptus package for up to 5 clients. To provide free support, ShaoLin has set up a forum for users to discuss and share their opinions of using ShaoLin Aptus. For more information, visit: http://www.shaolinmicro.com.

Altiris Releases Server Management Suite 6.0

Altiris, Inc. announced the new Altiris Server Management Suite 6.0, which automates management of initial deployment and provisioning, inventory discovery and reporting, performance and availability monitoring, and patch management.

According to the company, this new release adds additional security features and further consolidates management capabilities from a single console to decrease the cost and complexity of managing diverse server environments.

New Server Management Suite features include:

  • Improved support for Windows and Linux bare-metal server deployment in addition to customized deployment and management of HP, Dell, and Fujitsu server blades to optimize hardware investments.
  • Improved patch management automates patch analysis, dependency checking, and targeting to help create highly secure server environments. Integration with patented Altiris recovery technology provides rapid recovery from software conflicts and failures.
  • Extended monitoring support for Sun and Red Hat platforms help ensure high availability.

The suite is built on the new Altiris 6 architecture to simplify and secure comprehensive server management through a new task-based interface, new role and scope-based security, and efficient shortcuts to the most common tasks. It offers natively integrated solutions for bare-metal imaging, deployment, and configuration; comprehensive hardware and software inventory; software management including application packaging, policy-based software delivery, security assessment, and patch management; availability and performance monitoring; and real-time diagnosis and remediation.

Existing customers with current upgrade protection can download and install Altiris 6 at no additional cost. Altiris Server Management Suite 6.0 is available starting at $253 per node with volume discounts available. For more information, visit: http://www.altiris.com.