Techworld.com OS and Servers Features

Microsoft steams into services with Azure

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:11:00 GMT

Blue-sky thinking

Microsoft's new cloud operating system and a complementary slate of developer resources are set to become the core of its services platform for some time. In fact, the company claims that it will be the mainstay of computing for the next 50 years.

Virtualisation and security - the risks explored

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:12:00 GMT

And what to look for when going virtual.

While server virtualisation increases operational efficiencies and management flexibility, and reduces total cost of ownership, it can also increase security risks.

Don't listen to the doom-sayers on Vista

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:01:00 GMT

We've seen it all before.

In comparison, Forrester Research reported that as of the end of June - 19 months after Vista's November 2006 debut for business users - the new operating system was running on 8.8 percent of enterprise PCs worldwide. Forrester analyst Thomas Mendel, who authored the report, wasn't impressed: he compared Vista to the ill-fated New Coke. However, even Gartner, that prophet of Windows' doom, forecasts that Vista will be more popular at the end of this year than XP was at a similar juncture - with 28 percent of the PC operating system installed base worldwide, vs. 22 percent for XP at the end of 2003. "The uptake of XP was slower than people remember today," said Michael Cherry, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Wash. He noted that many IT managers "labelled XP a consumer-only upgrade" at first. Early opinions of Windows XP were remarkably similar to those that many users offer about Windows Vista today. For instance, a Computerworld survey of 200 IT managers conducted in 2001, just before XP was released, found that 53 percent of the respondents didn't plan to upgrade their PCs, while another 25 percent were undecided. And in an informal poll of 25 users a year later, only four said they had started deploying XP. "We have not moved to XP, and we have no plans to," one CIO said in 2002. "This is an upgrade that offers nothing to a business customer." Another IT manager said that the cost of upgrading to XP was "very high" and that there wasn't "a lot of perceived value" in moving up.

Microsoft's open-source whizz under dual attack

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Suspicion from his own company and the open-source community.

Microsoft's Sam Ramji is like a turkey knocking on Thanksgiving's door. Ramji has the unenviable task of stretching his neck out into the open source world as Microsoft's representative. And on top of it, his employer has preheated the oven with years of hubris, sleights of hand and broken promises.

Who said moving VMs across a physical server is such a bright idea?

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Challenging the received wisdom.

One of the more interesting things about covering the computer business is the number of "Duh" moments involved.

Linux set to make mobile splash?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT

It's the talk of the conference world

Linux is set to make a major impact in the mobile computing realm, the executive director of the Linux Foundation stressed at a conference this week.

Can open source fly on mobiles?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Not in Microsoft's opinion...

Symbian's decision to make its source code freely available tips the scales in favour of open-source software in smartphones and could make it harder for Microsoft, and even other open-source platforms like Google's Android and Linux, to compete.

5 easy ways to commit career suicide

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

It's not difficult...

BANG! Without warning, the rifle discharged, tearing a hole through the floorboard of the car of a US Army colonel. The rifle belonged to a young lieutenant who had been invited to go hunting with the colonel.

5 IT skills that won't boost your salary

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

It no longer pays to be a PC, NetWare or HTML expert.

Technical skills may never die, but areas of expertise wane in importance as technology advances, forcing companies to evolve and IT staff to forsake yesterday's crafts in favour of tomorrow's must-have talents.

Water-cooled servers gaining steam

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:45:00 GMT

The secret lies in its efficiency.

When the University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications set out to build a machine with more than 200,000 server cores, the key wasn't simply shelling out cash for newer, faster silicon chips. The trick was harnessing the power of a substance that comes right out of your kitchen sink: water.

The next big move in chip manufacturing

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Industry ready for 450mm wafers, exec says.

The next big step in chip manufacturing will be the industry's move from 300mm wafers to 450mm wafers, which should help chip makers improve the performance of their products while keeping costs down.

Industry ready for 450mm wafers, exec says

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Intel, Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing already ahead.

Every silver lining has a cloud

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

What spooks Microsoft's chief security advisor.

Microsoft's US general manager/chief security advisor for its National Security Team thinks like a true security professional: In every bit of good news, Bret Arsenault wonders what bad news could be lurking behind it.

What does reselling VMware do for Sun?

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Is it a fig-leaf to cover a lack of home-grown product?

Sun has just cut a deal with VMware that results in the hardware company increasingly donning the clothes of its competition. The official line is that "Sun is offering the VMware infrastructure product suite on Sun hardware systems with full support from Sun."

Windows XP SP3: The improvements are under the bonnet

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

When Windows XP Service Pack 3 is finally released, it'll be worth the trouble.

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), just out from Microsoft as Release Candidate 2 (RC2), may not necessarily be worth the download now, but when it's finally released, it'll be worth the effort. It won't make any noticeable cosmetic changes to your operating system, but underneath the hood are several security improvements worth having. In addition, one researcher claims it will slightly boost XP's speed as well.

A pair of green-IT users

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Austin Energy and WellPoint show how to grow your green credentials.

Austin Energy is no Johnny-come-lately to energy efficiency among US companies. The $1.2 billion power company estimates that it has saved energy equivalent to the output of a 660MW power plant since 1985, when it launched the first in an extensive line-up of innovative energy conservation and renewable resources programs. Austin Energy's goal is to boost that total savings by an additional 750 megawatts of power by 2020.

Virtual appliances are really here

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:15:00 GMT

Has hardware had its day?

If you thought virtual appliances - complete ready-to-run services in (typically) a VMware wrapper - were just for trying things out on, think again.

VM management: How deep is your visibility?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Fortisphere's approach could bring unique benefits.

As we remarked a few months ago, this year has been described as the year of datacentre orchestration. Or at least, the next twelve months look set to see more concentration on the management of virtualised systems as much as the installation of same.

VM management -- how deep is your visibility?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Fortisphere's approach could bring unique benefits

As we remarked a few months ago, this year has been described as the year of data centre orchestration. Or at least, the next twelve months look set to see more concentration on the management of virtualised systems as much as the installation of same.

Industry sceptical on Microsoft's new-found openness

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Adopting 'wait and see' approach

Microsoft's commitment to open up its APIs and communications protocols and reach out to open source developers polarised opinions much like Microsoft itself has historically polarised the industry.

Opening up APIs is smart PR move for Microsoft

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Is the company trying to do the right thing?

If Microsoft really carries out on its new interoperability promises, it could repair its tarnished reputation in the technology industry and help the company get out of its own way to compete more effectively with Google.

Backup strategy - virtualisation changes everything

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Working under a brand new set of rules.

Virtualisation is causing enterprises to rethink their backup strategies, with technology that combines pieces of traditional and well-understood enterprise backup with some pieces that are unique in the virtualised world.

New IBM mainframe won't end battle for big iron's soul

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

First System z update since 2005 due this month; fight against servers continues

IBM is expected later this month to announce its next-generation System z mainframe, its first update since the release of the z9 three years ago. It is promising improved energy efficiency, security and "50 percent more capacity" in its new hardware.

Check-list for the economic green datacentre

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Planting the seeds for the green datacentre.

Steve Yellen, vice president of product and market strategy at Aperture Technologies, argues that striving for a greener datacentre has become a business imperative as well as an environmental one.

Check-list for the economic green data centre

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Planting the seeds for the green data centre

Steve Yellen, vice president of product and market strategy at Aperture Technologies, argues that striving for a greener data centre has become a business imperative as well as an environmental one.