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Fluke’s EtherScope Series II
Fluke Networks has recently introduced the EtherScope Series II Network Assistant, a handheld, portable network analyzer that allows network professionals to solve a wide range of network related problems that they may encounter with twisted pair and optical fiber networks running at 10/100 mbps and Gigabit Ethernet.
The device helps locate cables, identifies faults in them, distance to breaks and measures the optical loss of fiber links. It also allows verifying Ethernet signaling and measuring the DC voltage of 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) links.
The product identifies VLANs configured on discovered switch interfaces and gives the interface status and the connected host details. Discovered devices are organized into IT Subnets, NetBIOS Domains and IPX Networks. The Nearest Switch feature tells the network professional where they are connected in the network and provides all the required network information.
EtherScope allows for testing of networks at gigabit speeds with the full-duplex 10/100/Giagabit and 1000BASE-SX/LX/ZX fiber optic links with optional SFP transceivers. Using a pair of Series II EtherScope units, networks can be analyzed and throughput measured across the fiber optic network. The Internetwork Throughput Option enables IP performance testing for deployment and maintenance of enterprise networks.
It provides a comprehensive measurement of the 802.11 signals and noise in the environment and packet level information in order to identify excessive errors and retransmissions. It scans 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges and identifies, locates and disables unauthorized ad-hoc networks. While giving the security settings of all discovered wireless devices, the product allows testing and verifying wireless configurations and authorization configurations as well.
Fedora 9 Launched
Fedora has announced the release of the latest version of its operating system, Fedora 9. The new version includes features like KDE 4 integration and a non destructive live USB.
The operating system features a non destructive live USB with persistence that allows Fedora 9 Live images to be added to an existing USB key using either a Linux or Windows application without the need to remove data, repartition or reformat the USB key. The result of this is a bootable and portable OS. With the persistence feature, users can download and store data, add or remove software as they would do on any other Fedora operating system.
The KDE4 integration to the operating system includes a new desktop with a new visual style, an integrated search feature, and a new multimedia API and a hardware integration framework. GNOME 2.22 adds new features including a world time clock, better file system performance, security improvements, power management at the login screen, the ability to dynamically configure displays, better Bluetooth integration and improved podcast support.
OpenJDK6 has also been integrated into the OS. Other enhancements include NetworkManager with support for mobile broadband, multiple connections, connection editing and sharing, PackageKit for cross distribution software package management, and FreeIPA-a tool that allows system administrators to manage policy and auditing across mixed computing environments.
Next Generation Wireless-N Routers from Linksys
Linksys has made available two new Wireless Routers, namely the Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Broadband Router (WRT160N) and the Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WRT310N). These routers come with improved usability features such as the Linksys Easylink Advisor (LELA), which helps simplify the set-up of the network, and helps assure that all devices and connections are stable and highly secure.
The WRT160N and WRT310N are designed to take the router out of the study and into the living room. Both come with a shiny finish, alluring curves and slim profile which refreshes and revamp the industrial design on Linksys router models. These products were created to fit in virtually any home.
Feature’s include the new enhanced RangePlus internal antenna technology which adds to the aesthetic design of the routers without compromising on performance or reliability.
The WRT160N and WRT310N come with Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) which is essentially a ‘Network Advisor in a Box’. This handy software is designed to take away the technical hassle when setting up a new wireless network. It can help to set up a router with a series of simple questions, automatically checks the network for updates available for the router, and helps to securely configure connected devices and computers. Its visual interface will make setting up a wireless network easier and more accessible than ever before.
LELA will also automatically check the PC and network for issues that may hinder the installation and attempts to resolve any potential conflicts. No passwords or confusing network terminology are required.
The new Ultra RangePlus Wireless-N Routers are the first products from Linksys to ship with Wi-Fi Protected Setup certification. Wi-Fi Protected Setup is designed to simplify the task of setting up security on wireless networks.The WRT160N is priced at Rs. 5,999 and the WRT310N at Rs.7,999.
WD VelociRaptor pushes 10,000 RPM’s
WD is now shipping its next generation, 10,000 RPM SATA “Raptor” series of drives named as the VelociRaptor. Designed with an enterprise-class foundation, the new hard drive is modified specifically for PC and Mac enthusiasts and professional workstations.
The hard drive is built with enterprise-class mechanics and packs 300 GB of storage capacity into a 2.5-inch enterprise form factor. The 2.5-inch drive is enclosed in the IcePack, a 3.5-inch mounting frame with a built-in heat sink -- a customization that fits the drive into a standard 3.5-inch system bay and keeps this powerful drive extra cool when installed in a high-performance desktop chassis.
The company is positioning this product as the next step-up for the speed-craving PC enthusiast. Features include 10,000 RPM drives, with SATA 3 Gb/s interface, and 16 MB cache to deliver mind-bending performance.
IcePack Mounting Frame, which encloses the drive in a 3.5-inch enterprise-class mounting frame with a built-in heat sink that keeps the drive extra cool when installed in high-performance desktop chassis.
Rotary Acceleration Feed Forward (RAFF), which optimizes performance when the drives are used in vibration-prone, multi-drive chassis.
SecurePark, which parks the recording heads off the disk surface during spin up, spin down and when the drive is off. This ensures the recording head never touches the disk surface, resulting in improved long-term reliability and increased drive protection when the chassis is moved.
The drive is priced at is Rs. 16,500 for 300 GB.
Citrix unveils the Branch Repeater
Citrix and Microsoft have jointly announced the availability of the Citrix Branch Repeater. The appliance aims to make branch office computing faster and more cost efficient with faster delivery of applications to branch offices.
The appliance which is an end to end infrastructure is designed to help users, transform static data centers into dynamic data delivery centers. Sitting between corporate data centers and branch offices, the device amplifies and re-transmits applications to users in branch offices.
The device is based on the Windows Server architecture and includes the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server software. While delivering critical Windows Server infrastructure services in the branch office, the device also provides enhanced application delivery and performance.
Windows applications, streamed by XenApp, are sent from a branch through this appliance. The applications are then delivered rapidly to branch employees directly from the appliance thereby eliminating backward traversal to datacenters. New applications added to the datacenter can be delivered to each branch employee’s desktop as required.
The device also enables consolidation and delivery of native Windows services such as file, print, Active Directory, Domain Name System (DNS), dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) , and ISA Server 2006 web caching. Using native Windows support tools, IT staff can remotely manage the appliance thereby minimizing support costs in remote offices.
The appliance uses Wide Area Network (WAN) optimization technology by Citrix, to accelerate the delivery of application traffic. While improving application performance it also reduces bandwidth consumption by up to 75 per cent.
Red Hat introduces Enterprise Linux 5.2.
Red Hat has unveiled the latest update to their OS with the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2. This new version promises better hardware support and improved quality combined with new features and enhancements in areas such as virtualization, desktop, networking, storage, clustering and security.
Virtualization of large systems, with up to 64 CPUs and 512 GB of memory is now possible with this new version. It also supports virtualization on NUMA-based architectures with security, performance, manageability and robustness improvements. It also supports CPU frequency scaling for virtualized environments which helps reduce power consumption.
The OS has an extensive hardware support for several architectures such as x86/x86-64, Itanium, IBM POWER and S/390. It also supports Intel’s Dynamic Acceleration Technology, which allows power saving by utilizing idle CPU cores, and offers performance gains by potentially over clocking busy cores within safe thermal levels. The OS also supports IBM’s Cell Blade systems.
The Enterprise Linux 5.2 Desktop comes with an enhanced support for a laptop’s suspend/hibernate and resume functions. It also includes a new set of updated graphics drivers.
Networking improvements such as enhanced support for IPv6 and IPSec protocols are included. Storage enhancements include support for iSCSI root volumes. It also includes a powerful application control scripting environment for cluster applications. Other enhancements include SystemTap, which provides sophisticated kernel level dynamic tracing.
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