http://wwww.rolandtech.com The latest news. en-us tconkle@rolandtech.com tconkle@rolandtech.com Roland Tech generator Disks aren`t always the only reason for storage failure. A new study suggests other components may be the real culprit. While disk problems are a big culprit in storage subsystem failures, enterprises might want to begin eying physical interconnects, since they`re just as often to blame. Disks were responsible for a median percent of failures. But they also found that physical interconnects including shelf enclosures could claim even higher failure percentage rates.Disks are not the only component in storage systems. To connect and access disks, modern storage systems also contain many other components, including shelf enclosures, cables and host adapters, and complex software protocol stacks. Failures in these components can lead to downtime and/or data loss of the storage system. The study analyzed almost five years` worth of storage logs from 39,000 systems deployed at NetApp customer sites. Those systems include approximately 1.8 million disks, across 155,000 high-end, mid-range, low-end and backup shelf enclosures. In addition to new statistics on the role of physical interconnects in failures, the researchers also found that protocol stacks were responsible for a small percent of failures. http://rolandtech.com/news/16/Lost Information 03/17/08
03:38 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/16/Lost Information Managing your network is serious business. Your critical business services depend on it -and so does your revenue stream. At the same time, your network continues to grow in size and complexity, with the addition of more devices and new technologies, in response to business growth and demands. Preventing network downtime and performance degradation is every IT manager`s goal. Causes are not always preventable - major power outages and other external events occur -but a considerable amount of disruption can be prevented. Industry analysts agree that erroneous network configuration changes, manually entered, cause a significant portion of network downtime and performance degradation. With that kind of impact, getting change and configuration management under control is critical. http://rolandtech.com/news/22/Managing Your Network 03/17/08
03:58 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/22/Managing Your Network Are peer-to-peer networks really filled with sensitive corporate data just waiting to be plucked and abused? It seems unlikely--surely people wouldn`t be that sloppy. The results were shocking and scary--loads of confidential business documents and enough personal information to ruin any number of lives and create PR nightmares for quite a few companies. Among the business documents were spreadsheets, billing data, health records, RFPs, internal audits, product specs, and meeting notes, all found in a quick expedition, using simple tools. It`s doubtful that so many people were sharing such sensitive files on purpose. More likely, the users, or even their children, had installed a P2P program to download music or a TV show, and clicked OK to all the questions during the install process. One of those questions is which folder to share files from, and often the default is the Windows My Documents folder. The result was plain--and in many ways worse than the lost laptops that have made so much news, because the files are available to the entire world and leave no trace when they`re taken. http://rolandtech.com/news/24/Peer to Peer 03/18/08
04:59 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/24/Peer to Peer The next-generation interface was a hot topic of discussion among experts during panels at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The popularity of Guitar Hero suggests that the video game`s controller could influence new ways to make computers accessible. The Microsoft Surface interface, which makes use of other spaces, is also gaining some momentum in the consumer world, and interfaces will not be limited to table top screens in the longer term. Meanwhile, Cynergy Systems showed off a homemade Minority Report-style gesture interface made from a Nintendo Wii controller, a gutted computer mouse, and a pair of baseball gloves dotted with infra-red LEDs. http://rolandtech.com/news/26/The Incredible Vanishing Keyboard and Mouse 03/18/08
06:33 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/26/The Incredible Vanishing Keyboard and Mouse They call him the Spam King. He was one of the world`s most notorious e-mail spammers, allegedly responsible for sending millions of spam e-mails. And he will plead guilty to federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and failure to file a tax return. His name is Robert Alan Soloway.Soloway, 29, was arrested last summer after being indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Seattle. His trial was scheduled to begin in two weeks, but that changed when federal prosecutors dropped 37 counts, including all of the identity-theft cases, in a plea bargain. The charges against Soloway could send him to prison for up to 26 years. He also faces up to $625,000 in fines. http://rolandtech.com/news/31/The Spam King has Fallen 03/28/08
05:44 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/31/The Spam King has Fallen Fraudulent e-mail and tainted websites are more prevalent than ever. Spam, much of it pitching fake drugs and financial scams, accounts for most of all e-mails, says a large software security company. The number of new strains of malicious programs increased fivefold in 2007 over 2006, and about 20,000 new malicious programs are unleashed on the Web each day.Yet most consumers are in a fog about the array of tech security tools they can, and probably shoulduse to protect themselves.Tech security companies add to the confusion by focusing on solving very specific problems. The result: Home PC users are left to decipher for themselves what set of security products they ought to be using and how much protection they are actually getting. Consumers need to try to understand what each of these tools actually tackles.Anti-virus programs fail to catch every malicious program. So keeping anti-virus subscriptions current isn`t enough. Consumers must also get in the habit of quickly installing all software program updates from Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Mozilla and Java, because many contain the latest security patches. Beyond that, consumers should consider using: Certified e-mail. Web page scanners. Browser security tools. http://rolandtech.com/news/33/When Anti-Virus Isn't Enough 04/10/08
11:25 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/33/When Anti-Virus Isn't Enough The alerts look authentic, but don`t let that fool you. Any financial warning you get over the Internet is probably bogus, especially if it seems to come from a bank or credit card company claiming it is trying to save you from the crooks. Recently, there`s been a surge in electronic notices warning consumers that their account has been compromised and telling them how to fix the problem. That usually entails calling a toll-free number or clicking on a link to the company`s Web site. Either way, you should assume that the intent is the opposite of what it promises, and that its only purpose is to get you to divulge your personal information and use that to loot your account. Phony bank notices have been around as long as e-mail, and many notices are rather crude, full of misspelled words and other red flags. But others are more sophisticated, complete with official corporate letterhead and other small touches that can easily make you believe they are legit. But they are as phony and dangerous as letters from a Nigeria oil minister`s widow. http://rolandtech.com/news/37/Bogus Emails 04/10/08
11:51 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/37/Bogus Emails Workers outside the office are increasingly the targets of malicious attacks, and unsafe behavior by remote workers is one of the key factors behind a projected increase in security spending around the world. Remote workers are less secure than ever, thanks to advances in Web technology and a new focus by attackers. Road warriors and telecommuters are visiting social-networking sites in greater numbers, prompting attackers to follow. That means protection strategies need to change. The focus used to beon internal security and beefing up VPNs and so on, and getting the message out on worms and viruses. Now we need to change the message to let our workforce know that we`re seeing a lot of drive-by downloads of malware out there, specifically in those kinds of sites. http://rolandtech.com/news/39/Remote Attacks 04/10/08
11:57 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/39/Remote Attacks CIOs know that their organizations must keep up with rapidly evolving technologies as well as lead the enterprise in the discovery of strategic uses of IT. But with the daily pressures of business, many find there`s just not enough time and money for innovation. What happens to innovation projects? Clients need more than IT has resources to deliver.Staff diverts time away from training and product research to fulfill clients` demands. There just aren`t enough hours in the day to do both. Meanwhile, IT staff rarely find the time to work with clients to discover innovative, strategic uses of information technology. The last thing staff want is more work, when they don`t have time to satisfy current business requirements. Unfortunately, current requirements are rarely all that innovative. They tend to be projects that keep the business running or improve efficiencies. They`re not breakthrough opportunities that utilize IT to enable business strategies.Again, short-term needs displace innovation. Clearly, it`s not a lack of interest from IT that impedes innovation projects. Time and money are the two constraints on innovation for most IT organizations. The answer to the problem of executing innovation can be found in the ways that an IT organization defines innovation and then funds it using its resource governance processes. http://rolandtech.com/news/40/Innovation 04/10/08
02:12 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/40/Innovation HP today strengthened its security portfolio, HP Secure Advantage, with the introduction of several products that increase data protection and compliance in storage environments. New to the portfolio are a secure fabric switch; an encryption kit for tape autoloaders and libraries; integration of compliance and key management appliances; and, an online security assessment tool. These offerings provide customers with a holistic approach to data security, from evaluating existing security strategies to identifying and combating potential security threats. As a result, companies can reduce the risk of security breaches, achieve regulatory compliance and safeguard against lost intellectual property, revenue or corporate reputation. In recent interviews of technology security professionals, respondents cited data protection as their top priority for 2008. It was revealed that the number of company records exposed due to security breaches increased in 2007 over the previous year. HP has been protecting the majority of the worlds financial transactions for the past 35 years, safeguarding ATM, point-of-sale networks, credit card information and electronic funds transfers. HP Secure Advantage bolsters this effort by delivering a portfolio of servers, storage, software and services that provides customers with integrated security solutions from the desktop to the data center. http://rolandtech.com/news/43/HP Strength 04/11/08
12:34 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/43/HP Strength Yahoo will test displaying Google search ads in a small number of its search engine queries, a move likely to be interpreted as the latest in a series of Yahoo maneuvers to resist Microsoft`s acquisition attempt.The test, expected to last up to two weeks and be limited to up to 3 percent of Yahoo search queries in the U.S., is specifically for Google`s AdSense for Search service. In other words, Yahoo would be acting as one of the Web publishers that carry pay-per-click text ads from Google. The ads will appear only in Yahoo.com. http://rolandtech.com/news/44/Yahoo 04/11/08
12:36 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/44/Yahoo Spammers are starting to use the meeting invite features of both Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlookto send messages advertising the latest designer watches and prescription drugs. This week it was heard from an executive who said he had received an e-mail with an Outlook meeting invitation attached. Suitably wary of the spammer invite, he closed out the e-mail and ignored it. But when he opened up his Outlook calendar a few minutes later, he was horrified to find the spam meeting was scheduled anyway. With Outlook, the problem seems to stem from the program beingtoo helpful. When Outlook receives a meeting invite, it blocks off the time period requested on a provisional basis until the recipient either accepts or declines the invite. The beauty of this approach for the spammer is that if people choose to decline the invite those people are essentially responding to the spammer, always a bad idea because it confirms for the spammer that he has reached an active e-mail address. The situation is worse for people who have ill-advisedly configured Outlook to automatically accept meeting invitations. http://rolandtech.com/news/46/Outlook Users Beware 04/11/08
03:14 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/46/Outlook Users Beware Microsoft`s expectations are running high for the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008. The launch is vitally important to Microsoft, which hopes sales of the updated server software will spur wider adoption of Windows Vista by corporate customers that have so far resisted the urge to upgrade from Windows XP. Microsoft is counting on new features in Windows Server 2008 to attract interest from corporate IT managers. These features generally fall into one of four areas Microsoft focused on when developing Windows Server 2008: security, virtualization, Web productivity and business intelligence. This is going to be key not only in mature markets but in emerging markets. Users that have tested beta versions of Windows Server 2008 said the software offers significant improvements in security and manageability over previous versions. This difference was particularly apparent for companies that still rely on older software, including Windows NT Server 4.0. While many beta testers have already decided to upgrade their systems to Windows Server 2008, others are waiting to see the final version before making a decision. http://rolandtech.com/news/53/Microsoft Server 2008 04/15/08
03:44 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/53/Microsoft Server 2008 Global digital information the digital universe amounted to 281 billion gigabytes (281 exabytes) in 2007, or almost 45 GB of digital information for every person on earth. The figure is 10 percent more than the previous estimate, and is expected to hit 1.8 zettabytes (1800 exabytes) in 2011.In graphical terms the digital universe to be the equivalent of over 17 billion eight GB iPhones. The digital universe has a compound annual growth rate of about 60 percent, thanks to a jump in worldwide shipments of digital cameras and televisions, as well as better understanding of information replication trends.Increasing Internet access in developing nations, sensor-based applications and extensive online social networks have also contributed to the growth of digital information worldwide. http://rolandtech.com/news/57/Digital Growth 04/22/08
11:24 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/57/Digital Growth Phishing attacks on U.K. consumers have more than doubled for the first quarter of this year, according to Apacs, the U.K. payment association.Apacs recorded more than 10,000 reported phishing incidents in the first quarter of 2008, more than 200 percent up from the same period last year.Online banking losses due to fraud have decreased by one-third from 33.5 million (US$67 million) in 2006 to 22.6 million in 2007, Apacs said, but efforts to defraud users have climbed steadily.The number of recorded phishing incidents for the first quarter of 2007 was 3,394, an increase from 2,369 in the first quarter of 2006.Phishing scams are continuing to rise and they are becoming ever more sophisticated.There are, notoriously, no reliable figures for cyber crime in the U.K., partly due to the lack of a centralized Internet law-enforcement body. The National High-Tech Crime Unit was folded into the Serious Organized Crime Agency in 2006.The dramatic rise in phishing figures could also be due to increased awareness on the part of users. http://rolandtech.com/news/61/Going Phishing? 04/22/08
11:47 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/61/Going Phishing? A Michigan woman who advertised online for a hitman to kill her lover`s wife pleaded guilty to the murder-for-hire scheme, prosecutors said on Friday.Anne Marie Linscott, 49, faces 10 years in prison for each of three federal charges, including intent to commit murder, the U.S. Attorneys for the Western District of Michigan and the Eastern District of California said in a joint statement.In November 2007, three California residents searching job listings on Craigslist.com found an advertisement for a freelance position posted by Linscott, according to court documents. The three job seekers contacted California police.The defendant asked two of the respondents via e-mail to eradicate the victim and provided the victim`s name, age and employment address. In one correspondence, she said she was looking for silent assassins and offered to pay $5,000 to kill the victim, who was not identified by the court.Sentencing has yet to be scheduled. http://rolandtech.com/news/62/Internet Killer 04/22/08
11:50 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/62/Internet Killer EU states agreed on Friday on tight laws against incitement to terrorism in order to clamp down on militant groups` use of the Internet.EU justice and interior ministers also agreed in Luxembourg on an action plan to try to stop groups getting explosives.Police say the Internet has taken on huge importance for militants, enabling them to share know-how, plan operations and spread propaganda to a mass audience.The Internet is used to inspire and mobilize local terrorists functioning as a virtual training camp.Each member state shall take the necessary measures to ensure that terrorist-linked offences include public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment for terrorism, and training for terrorism.States may also consider attempts to train and recruit as terrorist offences. http://rolandtech.com/news/64/Fighting Cyber Terrorists 04/22/08
11:58 AM http://rolandtech.com/news/64/Fighting Cyber Terrorists Criminals changed tactics in the last six months of 2007, dropping malicious e-mail in favor of Web-based attacks, according to data reported to Microsoft by Windows users.The company saw the number of Trojan downloader programs it removed from Windows machines jump by 300 percent. These programs masquerade as legitimate pieces of software, but once installed they then download malicious software such as spy ware or ad ware onto the victim`s computer. They are typically installed via the Web. http://rolandtech.com/news/65/Smarter Viruses 04/22/08
12:00 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/65/Smarter Viruses The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that no more than 10 percent of all PCs in use by organizations have power management enabled, and as a result are wasting large amounts of electricity and contributing to greenhouse gases. One major culprit may be Windows XP.Unlike the Vista operating system, Windows XP does not give system administrators the ability to natively manage power settings on PCs over a network. That may be hindering adoption of the power management functions available in the operating system.But XP isn`t going away anytime soon, and EPA believes that PC power management is an obvious way to save power. It has gone as far as to develop a source tool, EZ GPO (Group Policy Objects), and has made it freely available for download. This tool gives system administrators the ability to control power management over the network. It`s not needed for Vista, which has these management controls included. http://rolandtech.com/news/66/Go Green 04/22/08
12:02 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/66/Go Green Google joined a handful of other companies by announcing that it is delivering mobile banner ads. Companies that use Google`s AdWords to advertise online now have the option of displaying a banner ad on cell phones instead of simple text. Google includes a text line under each banner identifying it as an advertisement. Clicking on the ad opens a mobile Web page for the advertisement.A number of other companies already display banner ads on mobile Web pages. Yahoo, AdMob and Third Screen, which is now owned by AOL, are among companies that display banner ads for advertisers. Microsoft displays banner ads on some of its mobile Web pages, such as MSNBC and other MSN mobile Web pages. While many other companies are already supporting mobile banner ads, mobile Internet usage is still relatively low, so Google probably hasn`t missed an opportunity. http://rolandtech.com/news/72/Google 04/24/08
02:17 PM http://rolandtech.com/news/72/Google