Seven things every IT person should know about storage

Seven things every IT person should know about storage
Avoid performance problems with these new tricks


1. You might be spending too much money on storage and still not getting performance gains
Optimizing storage isn't about buying new stuffIt's about determining whether the data you've created is stored in the right place. This discussion goes beyond the basic concept of using inexpensive disk to store data and delves into how the disk is configured, especially when it comes to replication and mirroring.

2. Application-centric monitoring tools can help boost SAN performance
Users who get great performance out of their storage-area networks (SAN) have discovered application-centered monitoring for storage performance.

3. Green storage technologies can cut energy bills without sacrificing performance
Storage isn't the biggest energy hog in the data center, but new technologies can still help cut back on its power consumption by as much as 20%, users say. Even using storage space more efficiently can cut down on wasted capacity, experts say. This means spending less on storage in the long run.



4. Advanced backup-management tools ease auditing and compliance
Over the last several years, numerous vendors have taken backups from boring to remarkable by rolling out fancy backup-management tools.


5. storage virtuailisation appliances can give you a single storage system for both backups and live storage
Just ask the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UFCVM). Over the last six months, the college has been putting its 7TB storage area network through its paces, using it for nearline backup and primary storage.

6. Lawsuits are a fact of life and sloppy e-discovery can cost you millions
Recent surveys show that, on average, U.S. companies face 305 lawsuits at any one time. With each lawsuit comes the obligation for discovery -- production of evidence for presentation to the other side in a legal dispute. With 95% of all business communications created and stored electronically, that puts a heavy burden on IT to perform e-discovery, finding electronically stored information.


7. Storage grid standards could put an end to proprietary storage management
The Open Grid Forum, a standards organization focused on Grid Computing, is working on a variety of standards for the compute, network and storage infrastructure, all the way from describing jobs to being able to move and manage data, says Mark Linesch, who heads the organization.

Microsoft Leads Linspire to Its Linux Stable

Microsoft Leads Linspire to Its Linux Stable

Linspire has joined the likes of Novell, JBoss and Xandros in signing cross-licensing and litigation protection deals with Microsoft. Microsoft has gone on a virtual spree lately, partnering with Linux vendors across the board. Only a few years ago, the software giant was fuming about Linspire, which back then was known as Lindows.

Linspire has become the latest Linux vendor to sign a deal with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) , the two companies announced Wednesday. The pact promises a closer working relationship between the two software makers. For consumers, it brings greater interoperability and a technical collaboration that also includes intellectual property assurances, Microsoft said.
"Delivering interoperable solutions for our customers is an important priority," said Bill Hilf, general manager of platform strategy at Microsoft.

"Through our ongoing collaborative relationships with commercial open source companies, we are demonstrating our commitment to delivering the value and increased interoperability customers want.
"Covering features from document formats to instant messaging and digital media, our announcement today with Linsipire is an important step for our mutual customers," he added.

Safari for Windows Gets Better Security

Safari for Windows Gets Better Security
Responding to security concerns, Apple has updated Safari for Windows; beta 3.0.1 is available now.Part 1 of a special five-part series.


Apple has released Safari Beta 3.0.1 for Windows, an update to their recently-introduced Web browser for Windows XP and Vista. The new version is available for download from Apple’s Web site or through the “Apple Software Update” application (bundled with QuickTime or iTunes for Windows).
Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced Safari for Windows near the end of his keynote presentation during this week’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, Calif. Apple is releasing Safari for Windows in the hope of growing its market share in the browser market. Some market research pegs Safari in third place behind Firefox, with only the Macintosh market using it.
The public release of Safari 3 is a beta version — Apple has released it for trial purposes, with the intent of gathering feedback prior to its release. More details are available from the Web site.
The security improvements in Safari Beta 3.0.1 include correction for a “command injection vulnerability,” corrected with additional processing and validation of URLs that could otherwise lead to an unexpected termination of the browser; an out-of-bounds memory read issue; and a race condition that can allow cross-site scripting using a JavaSscript exploit.
Apple notes that these security issues to do not affect the Macintosh version of Safari 3.

I am about being different

I am about being different: John Abraham

John Abraham is trying to essay a wide variety of roles. The actor has recently wrapped up Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking in which he plays a chain smoker trying to quit smoking and in Nagesh Kukunoor's Aashayein he will be seen as a gambler.
"You know, John Abraham is about being different. And I want to work with directors who will present me differently. Anurag Kashyap is someone I'd like to work with again and again," John said.
He is quite impressed with Kashyap, who has directed him in No Smoking, and describes him as a "volcano about to erupt".

"I've just seen the film and I must say I am very proud of it. Anurag is a genius. I'm so confident about this film. This is the kind of cinema I always wanted to do. This is a very special film," said John who played a Gandhian in Deepa Mehta's Oscar nominated Water.
The actor has also adopted the one-film-at-a-time mantra.
"After three months in England I'll again disappear for two months from Mumbai, this time to South India for Aashayein. We'll wrap it up in one schedule. That's how I'll work from now on. One film at a time."
John has no girl starring opposite him in Aashayein.
"The plot revolves around me. Isn't that nice for a change? I hope audiences won't get bored watching me. I'm totally excited about working with Nagesh."
After Aashayein, John intends to take a break. "Everything is going well. Even when I'm out of Mumbai shooting, a very efficient staff and friends look after my endorsements and my other interests. I'm surrounded by people who know my mind and act as I would if I was in their place.
"I'm not unhappy being out of town, except for the weird rumours that are allowed to float in Mumbai when I'm absent. I'm such a chilled out guy, happy to be in my space. I make such an effort not to get into others' space. I just do my work quietly. And still I get into these controversies."
Asked if big production houses are upset by his refusal to do assignments like Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, John said: "I wouldn't like to comment on that. But I'd like to say I'm really grateful to Aditya Chopra for giving me Dhoom, which turned around my career.
"You know, I know him from school where he was my senior. He's a very good man. He understands the audiences completely. And I totally respect him for that. I don't think he has a problem with me. And I certainly don't have any problems with him. He's a genuinely nice guy.
"As for big production houses being unhappy with me, what about UTV? They've a lot of faith in me. Isn't UTV big? I think Metro is a lovely film. I'd love to work with Anurag again."

Multemedia Linux Device

Multimedia Linux device

It's an MP3 player, FM radio, video and photo display device, an e-book reader and a sound recorder – all bundled in one.

What more, it's a Linux-based personal computer ready for web, email and office use. Touted as the Swiss army knife of handheld gadgets, Wizpy, has now been launched in India by Japan-based Turbolinux.

The nifty tool which is a multimedia media player that contains a PC-bootable version of the Linux operating system is priced at Rs 11,995.

“This palm sized mobile device enables the user to have their own personal computer environment through which they can access documents, e-mails and the internet, keeping their data secure and confidential,” said Deepak Wassan, president, Turbolinux.

Pegged as a ‘PC 2.0’ product, Turbolinux has partnered with eSys Technologies and online portal cafegadgets in for distribution in India. “Early adopters who are curious about using Linux but either don't want to or can't install the operating system are our target customers,” he said.

Bouyed by its success in universities of Vietnam, the company is aiming to gain foothold in the education sector moving on to the corporate sector before targeting the home users.

The pocket-sized device, that can play audio and video files, is really a Linux carrot of sorts, allowing users to store a complete Linux desktop in its memory. “You can plug the Wizpy into a PC's USB port and boot up the Linux system with all its user settings, passwords, bookmarks, etc,” added Wassan.

Turbolinux will ship 50,000 units of Wizpy to India by the end of this fiscal and also plans to introduce products in the middleware and applications areas.

Prince of Persia Classic

Prince of Persia Classic

If you've ever heard someone say, "Back in my day, video games were hard! We didn't have fancy save systems or checkpoints! We died all the time, and we liked it!" chances are pretty good that person has a tale or two about Prince of Persia. Originally released in 1989 for the Apple II and then ported to pretty much every other system of the time, Prince of Persia was defined by its top-notch animation, tough combat, and challenging platforming elements. Eighteen years later, the game has received a serious face-lift and has been released on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 800 points ($10). A shiny new coat of paint and a more forgiving difficulty curve make Prince of Persia Classic a game worth owning if you're a fan of the original, a fan of the more recent Prince of Persia games, or just a fan of action platforming games in general.
You know, over 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce. If you don't make it to The Princess, she might not stay married to Jaffar forever.

As in the original, you play the role of The Prince, and you are charged with rescuing The Princess, who has been imprisoned by the evil Jaffar. Ever the thoughtful one, Jaffar has given The Princess exactly 60 minutes to decide to marry him...or die. Even back in 1989 the whole "save the princess" thing wasn't particularly original, but hey, who can say no to a damsel in distress? Accepting the challenge means you've got 3,600 seconds to run, jump, and sword-fight your way to the exit door of each one of the palace's 14 levels and save The Princess from a fate worse than death: marriage.
The action takes place on a 2D plane, but like Castlevania or Metroid, there's plenty of exploring and backtracking to be done. Impeding your progress are spiked floors, blades that shoot out from the floors and ceilings, gates that can be raised only by stepping on specific floor panels, and a plethora of hair-raising jumps that give new meaning to the phrase "leap of faith." Thankfully, The Prince has a large arsenal of moves with which to navigate through the palace. He can tiptoe through spikes, dangle and pull himself up from ledges, roll under quickly closing gates, and backflip his way to hard-to-reach places. In this day and age of analog control, the digital control here often makes it frustrating when you're trying to position The Prince precisely. He quite often moves more or less than you were hoping, and that often results in death for The Prince and a flurry of expletives from the player.
Jaffar doesn't just rely on traps to keep you from reaching The Princess; there are sword-wielding guards throughout the palace, too. There isn't a lot of combat in the game, but sword fighting does play a large role, since you generally need to dispatch the foe at hand to progress to the next room. You hit one button to swing your sword and another to parry your opponents' attacks. The first few fights start off slow and easy, but you'll soon find yourself engaged in some intense, fast-paced duels. For the most part, the simple combat is enjoyable and a welcome break from sweat-inducing jumps. If you get dinged during a fight there are health potions hidden among the levels, but even then you'll likely fall victim to your enemies' blades on numerous occasions.
Prince of Persia Classic still counts down the minutes until The Princess has to choose her fate, but instead of getting a "Game Over" screen when an hour has passed like in the original, you can now keep playing. You can still save the princess, too, though you get a slightly different ending if you beat the game in under an hour. Also making the game more forgiving, and as a result, more enjoyable, is the addition of a checkpoint on each level. Once you've reached the checkpoint you can start from there if you die, but know that the clock keeps ticking and doesn't reset to the original time when you hit the checkpoint. For anyone who isn't used to older games that simply drop you into the proceedings armed only with a "Good luck!" a glowing Tinkerbell-style sprite that points out where you need to go next is a nice addition. You can turn this assistance off if you wish.
Even with these changes, Prince of Persia Classic is a challenging game. It's unlikely that most players will be able to finish the game in less than 60 minutes on their first attempt, even if they've got a walk-through handy. And only an extremely talented few will be able to successfully complete the game in survival mode, where you have only one life and the 60-minute time limit to deal with. If you're interested in honing your skills, you can play levels over or try a time attack to see how fast you can beat the game. Online leaderboards let you see how you stack up to the competition.
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.
For its time, Prince of Persia was a very impressive-looking game. Sure, the environments weren't anything spectacular, but the way The Prince was animated really brought the game to life. The way he rolled, jumped, grasped a ledge, and wielded his sword looked smooth and lifelike. Now, thanks to updated graphics, these moves look just as impressive as ever. There's a wide array of realistic-looking animations, and the transition from one to the next is seamless. The Prince now resembles the character from the more recent games and is nicely detailed, as are the environments, though there isn't much variety to them. On their own, the cutscenes that play before each chapter aren't anything amazing, but for a downloadable arcade game they're impressive, and they tell the story adequately. There's not a tremendous amount of audio in the game, but here, the frequent absence of sound is used to great effect--there's nothing to distract you from the fact that you're dangling from a ledge, 50 feet above a pit of spikes.

'Classmate PCs'

Intel to Get 'Classmate PCs' to India

Possibly inspired by Nicholas Negroponte and his $100 laptop, Intel is reportedly now planning to bring its range of low-cost 'classmate PCs' to India. It was sometime around the middle of 2006 that Intel brought the first 60 classmate PCs to India for a pilot test. By the end of the current year however, Intel plans to ship about 100 more such classmate PCs.
The first pilot test was conducted in December 2006 at the Delhi Public School, Vasundhara. The company will start the second round of pilots most likely at Navodaya Vidyalaya, also in Delhi.

A small laptop based on Intel's 900MHz Celeron-M processor, the classmate PC features a flash disk memory instead of a hard disk. As the name suggests, it is designed particularly for school going children. Significantly, sporting a price tag as low as between Rs 9,000 and Rs 11,000, Intel's classmate PC is definitely seen as a direct and dangerous competitor to the AMD-powered One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. And, the original price of a classmate PC is learnt to be around $285 but as the company expects to manufacture in volume, prices are also expected to fall to about $200.

Meanwhile, OLPC's laptop is currently estimated to cost around $175. According to sources at Intel, bringing classmate PCs to India is part of the company's World Ahead Program where Intel works in conjunction with federal and local governments to be able to reach the next 1-billion PC and Internet users.

New Gadget!!!!

First DVB-H Handset this Week





On Saturday, Nokia launched its new Nseries multimedia device, the N92, which the company claims is the world's first Digital Video Broadcast Handheld (DVB-H) enabled handset supporting Live Broadcast Mobile TV. Nokia's announcement follows the recent launch of DVB-H Mobile TV services in Delhi by national broadcaster, Doordarshan. Currently, DD's service comprises 8 popular free-to-air DD channels, including DD National, DD News, DD Sports, DD Bharati, DD Urdu, DD Punjabi, DD Bangla, and DD Podhigai, supported on DVB-H compliant handsets.
At the Nokia launch, Vineet Taneja, Director of Multimedia, Nokia, said, "We are glad to bring the Nseries flagship device the new N92 to mobile users in the country. With the growing popularity of mobile devices, and their capability to offer instant access to information and entertainment, this initiative will bring in perfect synergy between television content and the mobile platform." Nokia claims its N92 is the world's first 3G/GSM device to feature an integrated DVB-H receiver. The N92 works in conjunction with DVB-H technology to deliver live digital TV broadcasts, making it as easy for consumers to tune into TV channels on the device as it would be within the comfort of their homes. With the N92, users can set reminders to watch their favorite TV programs, create personal channel lists, and subscribe to TV channel packages.

In a new form factor that is apt for watching TV on-the-move, the N92 has a large 2.8-inch anti-glare QVGA screen with 16 million colors and dedicated media keys. The N92 starts shipping by end of this week for a price of Rs 23,719. In another announcement, Nokia said its N77 multimedia computer cum TV phone is getting readied to be shipped to India later this month. According to top sources at Nokia, N77 takes TV out of the living room, and into the open. The wide 2.4-inch flat screen and high quality stereo sound make N77 the ideal personal mobile device for enjoying TV programs on-the-go. N77 features dedicated TV keys to give users direct access to a world of TV programs. The device sports the ability to remember the last channel viewed by the user. Similar to N92, with the N77 too, users can set reminders to alert them about favorite TV programs.

Apart from all the features one would expect from an Nseries multimedia computer, N77 also features: 30-second replay and live TV watching after replay; and program guide for viewing program information up to 7 days, purchasing new channels, etc. The N77 based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS is being offered in markets where commercial mobile TV services based on DVB-H technology are available.

Apple shows OS X Tiger features and new browser

Apple shows OS X Tiger features and new browser

Apple uses its developer conference to show what new tools it has on the way
David Neal, IT Week 13 Jun 2007

Apple used its developer conference in San Francisco to unveil a version of its Safari web browser for Windows PCs and to demonstrate a near complete version of its OS X Leopard operating system, due later this year. The company also disclosed details of how third-party apps can be supported on its iPhone, and new features in the server version of Leopard.
Mac OS X Leopard, due to ship in October, adds numerous features including a re-designed Finder to let users browse and locate files and applications. The major new feature is Time Machine, which maintains up-to-date copies of files to help users recover lost data.
The server version of OS X Leopard will include a wiki server, a Spotlight Server to quickly find content stored on other servers, and iCal Server, to co-ordinate scheduling across different calendar applications.
“Leopard is the best release of Mac OS X to date, surpassing even Tiger, and will further extend Mac OS X’s leadership as the most advanced and innovative operating system in the world,” said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.
Meanwhile, Apple has made available a Windows version of Safari 3, its browser that will ship as part of Leopard. Apple claimed Safari is more responsive than rivals, loading web pages up to twice as fast as IE 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox. It features a private browsing tool to prevent information about a user's browsing history being stored, and runs on Windows XP or Vista.
Apple said that its iPhone handset, due for release later in June, will support Web 2.0 standards, enabling developers to build applications that look and behave just like native applications and which can seamlessly access the iPhone’s services.