New network storage devices; enterprise architecture, free of 'Star Trek' puns; Can you hear me now?; Superpowered
New network storage devices
Information technology storage is a never-ending battle, especially finding space to store the endless stream of new product releases.
Procom Technology Inc. is rolling out a new network-attached storage (NAS) product — NetFORCE 1800 — touted as a compact, midrange NAS filer for small and midsize organizations. The system takes up two rack slots and provides up to 1 terabyte of storage.
The Irvine, Calif., company says users can add units to scale to a maximum of 6 terabytes. The device runs on Procom's NetFORCE 4.2 operating system, optimized for scalability, network file sharing and data delivery.
FalconStor Software Inc. began selling IPStor version 4.0, a software product that controls storage systems. The new version includes advanced data replication and enhanced backup and management storage services.
It works with both NAS and storage-area network (SAN) technologies, and incorporates new storage services for storage consolidation, performance optimization, business continuity, backup consolidation and acceleration, and open SAN connectivity.
Enterprise architecture, free of 'Star Trek' puns
Flashline Inc.'s recent release of FlashPack for the federal enterprise architecture helps agencies track and manage their software assets, as the architecture requires.
It incorporates the four architecture reference models, and can also help agencies manage their business case submissions to the Office of Management and Budget. It includes management metrics to help measure the effects of software consolidation and legacy modernization efforts.
The product is an add-on for the Flashline Registry, and together they serve as a common repository for all of an agency's data assets, including Extensible Markup Language schemas, Web services, components, applications, models, patterns, frameworks, architectural standards and process templates.
Meanwhile, Citrix Systems Inc. has launched MetaFrame Password Manager, completing the Citrix MetaFrame Access Suite that the company first announced in March. The new offering is a single sign-on access control system and password security solution.
MetaFrame Password Manager allows users to sign on to a network over any device from any location, providing a convenient and fluid segue into wireless devices.
Can you hear me now?
Verizon Wireless last week released BroadbandAccess, a new service that blankets an area with wireless Internet receptivity, theoretically making access as ubiquitous as wireless phone coverage. Washington, D.C., and San Diego have coverage now, and Verizon plans more launches soon.
Can you hear me now?
Verizon says the service is secure, works with existing virtual private network connections and runs at typical speeds of 300 to 500 kilobits/sec, but can run up to 2 megabits/sec at peak. Did you hear that now? It's based on Code Division Multiple Access 1xEVDO cell technology, with its own data protection and authentication abilities. This wireless craze ain't going away, kids. Can you hear me now?
Global Teck Worldwide Inc. unveiled Snapcell, an in-line device that encrypts wireless phone communications. The device works with Ericsson T-series phones. You can't hear me now.
Strix Systems Inc. released Architect/One, a planning tool for wireless local-area networks (LANs). The product builds a radio frequency map based on specific network requirements. The tool is available free to the company's channel partners through the end of this year.
Architect/One provides automatic prediction for the optimal layout of Strix's Access/One network nodes, based on coverage, throughput and usage requirements, company officials say. Strix's reseller partners will use it to help design and install wireless Strix LANs.
Meanwhile, Strix is signing up new partners to participate in its Channel/One Partner Program.
And Dell Computer Corp. is now the federal distributor for a rugged, wireless tablet computer from Xplore Technologies Corp. Dell will market the tablet to agencies through its own General Services Administration schedule contract.
The rugged iX104G is built for tough conditions, designed to withstand heat, vibration, falls and maybe even an angry fist.
Superpowered
The government market for high-powered computers is staying strong, and vendors continue to respond with new offerings.
Aspen Systems Inc., a Wheat Ridge, Colo., company that builds Linux-based high-performance computers, has unveiled two new models, both based on the Intel Corp. Itanium 2 processor.
One system features dual 1.4 GHz Itanium chips. The other comes with two or four 1 GHz low-voltage processors to generate less heat. The dual-processor computers take up two slots in a standard rack, while the quad version needs four.
Engineers say that heat dissipation is one of the most difficult problems to solve for supercomputers. The high-powered processors historically have generated more hot air than Dennis Miller on speed.
Can you hear me now?
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