thePipeline

Rack 'em up

Rackable Systems Inc. officials have launched a new server series, called Scale Out. The product family is designed for high-density data center deployments.

Scale Out uses the open architecture, rackmount design of other Rackable product lines, while adding improved density, serviceability and management features. Company officials say the product is superior to a blade server approach because the open architecture makes the most of

industry-standard components. The servers also manage heat better than blades, they say, making them easier and less expensive to keep cool.

Meanwhile, Dell Inc. officials have released a new line of PowerEdge servers, saying they have aggressively integrated new technologies and standards across the line. With four models of dual-processor servers and a management software package, Dell officials are emphasizing consolidation, databases, enterprise applications and high-performance computing as needs that PowerEdge can meet.

The servers use Intel Corp. Xeon processors with 64-bit technology.

Stop sharing

Say goodbye to free, illegal downloaded music or movies, at least at work. Akonix Systems Inc. officials have released Enforcer, which blocks access to popular peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks.

Akonix, best known for enterprise instant messaging, is touting Enforcer as a way to protect enterprise networks from the security vulnerabilities that result from employees swapping files. Unregulated files can carry viruses or other malicious code.

Company officials cite a 2003 report showing that employees in more than 77 percent of organizations occasionally use P2P file-sharing services, often in violation of established policies.

On the security side of the equation, PivX Solutions Inc. officials have launched the Qwik-Fix Pro, a tool for protecting Microsoft Corp. Windows-based desktop computers and servers from bad guys and their bad programs.

Qwik-Fix uses Active System Hardening to block Windows vulnerabilities that viruses and hackers can exploit. PivX officials said that is a more effective tactic than trying to identify virus code as it comes into the system.

Flash!

Officials at Kanguru Solutions, a division of Interactive Media Corp., have released a USB flash drive that incorporates Advanced Encryption Standard security. Company officials have submitted the product for testing for compliance with Federal Information Processing Standards. Officials say they expect the product to be certified by this fall.

The new product is a reaction to the increased emphasis on security since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, said Nate Cote, vice president of product management at Kanguru.

The device is 3 inches long and comes in green or red cases.

Officials at QuickVault LLC, meanwhile, have a new file backup and management system for flash drives. The software, JumpVault, makes it unnecessary to back up files manually. It also improves file organization capabilities.

Users can navigate to the files they want to save and select them for backup. JumpVault allows users to schedule backups to occur daily, weekly or monthly, or they can run manual updates as needed.