Virtually Speaking

February 9th, 2010

Rugged Software Organization: Improving Software Quality and Security

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:00 am

Categories: Security in virtualized environments

Tags: Software, Code, Tools & Techniques, Security, Management, Dan Kusnetzky

My colleague Josh Corman, Research Director of 451 Research’s Enterprise Security Practice; David Rice, Executive Director - The Monterey Group and Jeff Williams (bio),  CEO - Aspect Security and Chairman - The OWASP Foundation just launched the Rugged Software organization. The hope is to educate IT and business professionals and improve the quality of software and also improve overall security.

The Rugged Software Manifesto

• I am rugged… and more importantly, my code is rugged.
• I recognize that software has become a foundation of our modern world.
• I recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with this foundational role.
• I recognize that my code will be used in ways I cannot anticipate, in ways it was not designed, and for longer than it was ever intended.
• I recognize that my code will be attacked by talented and persistent adversaries who threaten our physical, economic, and national security.
• I recognize these things - and I choose to be rugged.
• I am rugged because I refuse to be a source of vulnerability or weakness.
• I am rugged because I assure my code will support its mission.
• I am rugged because my code can face these challenges and persist in spite of them.
• I am rugged, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary… and I am up for the challenge.

Interested in learning more or helping making the world of IT more rugged? Please visit http://www.ruggedsoftware.org/

February 8th, 2010

Leostream's Connection Broker 6.3 enhanced for Xen, Sun VDI

Posted by Paula Rooney @ 9:14 am

Categories: Uncategorized

Tags: Desktop, Sun Microsystems Inc., Xen, Leostream, Paula Rooney

Leostream’s enhanced Connection Broker makes it easier for companies to deploy hosted virtual desktop infrastructures, especially those on Xen and Sun.

Version 6.3 of the vendor neutral broker, officially announced on Feb. 8, offers a new web client, enhanced policies and administration functions, as well as additional platform support.

On the Xen front, Leostream’s Java agent will install on the Xen hypervisor to provide inventory and power control for Xen virtual machines.

The 6.3 broker also offers tight integration with Sun Secure Global Desktop software, which provides secure web access to Sun environments from any client device, Leostream said.

The connection broker — which offers HVD support for VMware, Citrix, Microsoft and Xen.org hypervisors — ties desktop images in the data center to thin clients, laptops, workstations and web pages and delivers an end user experience that is equivalent to or better than traditional desktops, the company maintains.

There’s a lot more, including, in the words of Leostream:

-Web Client: A separate Leostream Web client allows users to access their desktops and applications via the Web, and simultaneous access to the Connection Broker Administrator Web interface, as dictated by user’s role and permissions.
Roles and Permissions

Protocol Aware: Administrators can maintain granular control of remote viewing sessions in multiple protocol environments by specifying exactly which protocols to try and in which order.

February 8th, 2010

"Cloud computing": What is it exactly?

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 4:00 am

Categories: Cloud computing/SAAS/ISP Issues

Tags: Cloud Codex, Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Hardware, Dan Kusnetzky

While doing my morning news scan, I came across the article ‘Cloud Computing’: What Exactly Is It, Anyway? By Roger Cheng of the Wall Street Journal. Although not an attempt to establish a complete framework, the article is likely to be helpful to business people.

Analysts, on the other hand, like to create a more complete description that broadly defines a topic and examines the components. The Cloud Codex has been very useful for 451 Research subscribers because it is comprehensive.

We’re well beyond the definitional phase of research and are starting to delve more deeply into use cases, best and worst practices as well as trying to understand what over 200 suppliers are doing in this area.

At first glace, cloud computing appears to just be a rehash of past IT stories.  We tend to think that it is an important trend that needs focused attention.

What do you think? Is cloud computing an overused, over-hyped marketing catch phrase or an important trend?

February 4th, 2010

Swype text entry for smart handhelds

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 4:00 am

Categories: Mobile computing, Off topic

Tags: Software, Apple iPhone, Handheld, Entry, Swype, Keyboards, Tools & Techniques, Smart Phones, Hardware, Peripherals

One of the features that I’ve always liked about Microsoft’s Windows Mobile is the fact that many of its features can be changed by the addition of third party software. Microsoft, unlike Apple, seems to welcome the efforts of third parties to improve and enhance how their software works.  Apple appears to be telling its iPhone customers “we give you what we want you to use. If you don’t like it, buy a phone from someone else.”

I’ve not been totally happy with anyone’s on-screen text entry. So, I’ve been trying out software from several third parties. I was persuaded to try Swype text entry on my HTC HD2 and thought I’d take the time to comment.  Text entry on screen-based devices, such as the iPhone and others, has always caused me grief.  I’ve thought of many of the on-screen keyboards as “mistake amplifiers” rather than viable text entry tools for professionals. Here are some thoughts based upon the first couple of weeks of using Swype’s approach to text entry.

• Learning to use the basic text entry functions of Swype was pretty easy - even for an old-timer like me.
• Entering text is fast and efficient.
• Swype’s approach to entering capital letters doesn’t work well for me.  Over half the time, I end up having an entire word capitalized rather than just the initial letter.
• Once I became familiar with the approach Swype uses, I have been able to answer Email and SMS messages faster than using other keyboards.  I’m able to type faster one-handed on my HD2 than I used to be able to type two-handed on the iPhone.

Have you tried Swype?

February 3rd, 2010

Park Community Federal Credit Union - Double-Take Customer Profile

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:30 am

Categories: Consumer use of Virtualization

Tags: Double-Take, Solution, Double-Take Software Inc., Server, Disaster Recovery, Data Management, Dan Kusnetzky

Double-Take Software customer profile

This time, Eric Hubbard, Network Engineer for Park Community Federal Credit Union, and I communicated. His organization has been using Double-Take Software’s product Double-Take Availability. It’s always good to hear from someone actually using a product rather than just hearing marketing messages.

Please introduce your organization and the role you play there.

Park Community is a full service financial provider that exists for it members.  As the Park Community Federal Credit Union network engineer, the responsibility of the entire network sits on my shoulders.  The datacenter, WAN connections, and desktop PC’s are my responsibility to maintain.  With that much responsibility we needed a solution that worked well and was reliable.

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February 2nd, 2010

Computacenter, an Embotics customer profile

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:00 am

Categories: Managing virtualized environments, Virtualization

Tags: Information Technology, Environment, Computacenter, V-Commander, VM, VirtualCenter, Storage, Hardware, Dan Kusnetzky

Recently, I had a chance to exchange messages with Ian Scanlan, Computacenter’s IS Operations Manager. His organization has been using Embotic’s V-Commander. I thought you’d like to hear from someone actually using the technology.

Please introduce your organization and the role you play there.

Ian Scanlan, IS Operations Manager for Computacenter.  I primarily look after the internal server estate (Wintel, AIX and AS400).

Computacenter is Europe’s leading independent provider of IT infrastructure services. To help our customers maximise the value of IT to their businesses, we offer services and solutions at every stage of infrastructure investment.

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February 2nd, 2010

Local merchant helps after briefcase died

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 1:00 am

Categories: Off topic, Travel issues

Tags: Merchant, Web Site Development, Scanners, Web Technology, Notebooks, Internet, Hardware, Peripherals, Notebooks & Tablets, Dan Kusnetzky

I was packing for a trip to NY for a business meeting when I discovered that my briefcase had split along one of its seams. I guess that’s what I get for carrying around a cheap (and I do mean cheap) case that I got at a long-ago and mostly forgotten trade show. So, I checked out various websites to learn more about what was available and noted down features that I wanted in my next travel companion.

I must admit that taking my computer out of the bag for the TSA check has gotten old. I was happy to learn that several manufacturers have come up with bags and briefcases that make this process a bit easier. The bag or briefcase opens up so that it can be placed flat upon the checkpoint scanner’s belt. The laptop side of the case is made of some special material that allows a clear visualization of the laptop. After the scan, it is easy to pick up the case, zip it up and head off to the gate.

I printed out the photos and specifications of some of the more promising briefcases and checked at various merchants in the city.  Most of the larger chains, I must admit, had little to nothing of interest and indifferent to non-existent customer service as an added bonus.

A small local merchant, Christina’s Luggage and Gifts in the Westfield Sarasota Square mall offered several models of “checkpoint friendly” briefcases. What won me over what the pleasant, conversational approach of the store’s owner. We chatted about the issues business travelers now face. He took the time to show me the features of all of the products that met my requirements and even offered to beat the online price offered by one of the websites.

I enjoyed working with this merchant and may have unintentionally done something good for the community.  The store owner made a point to tell me that local purchases return more money to the local community than do online purchases. I guess that is something good to know if the community is suffering due to today’s economy.

February 1st, 2010

Social media and its impact on company image

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:21 am

Categories: Internet, Off topic

Tags: Employer, Social Media, Blogging, Internet, Dan Kusnetzky

I had an interesting conversation with Nick Patience, a colleague at the 451 Group, about the impact an individual’s private blogging, tweeting, facebook page and the like have on their employer’s reputation and image. We both came to the conclusion that the messages presented by an individual do have an impact on the image of their employer even if the person specifically states that the comments and opinions expressed are his/her own and not that of the company.

Do you agree? Should company’s have policies controlling comments made by staff members during their own private time?

January 28th, 2010

Virtualization survey results

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:01 am

Categories: Virtualization

Tags: Server, Survey, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Storage Management, Utility Computing, Hardware, Storage, Dan Kusnetzky

One of my priorities when coming to The 451 Group was to expand the company’s primary research capabilities. This means a strong focus on both demand- and supply-side research.  I’ve been reviewing the results of a recent quick virtualization adoption survey that was executed by several of my colleagues. While the detailed study results are proprietary, I  thought that some of the results would be of interest to you.

Three points from the virtualization study

• Phase 2 of virtualization is starting, and it could be much larger than Phase 1. In our definition, Phase 1 is the first 30% of total servers that are virtualized. At that point, management and automation tools become necessary, and users begin to look for areas to virtualize other than just test/dev and file/print servers, which we believe is Phase 2.

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January 27th, 2010

Apple Tablet: Can Apple address issues with earlier generations of tablet devices?

Posted by Dan Kusnetzky @ 3:00 am

Categories: Cloud computing/SAAS/ISP Issues, Mobile computing, Off topic, Uncategorized

Tags: Device, Apple Inc., Tablets, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Dan Kusnetzky

I’ve seen an amazing amount of hype surrounding the launch of Apple’s tablet computer. Good job Apple! As in times past, Apple is moving into well-established, but marginal markets with the hopes and expectations of doing something new and different. This device has the potential of introducing people to various forms of cloud computing as well.

I’ve owned several earlier generations of tablet computers and have always felt that they were:

• too hard to use
• didn’t offer needed applications
• weren’t flexible enough for my needs
• offered unacceptable performance
• had too many moving parts, parts were too easy to lose or break (I can’t tell you how many replacement styluses I’ve had to purchase)
• made it difficult for me to reuse previously licensed content
• and didn’t fulfill my requirements for a device that merged the functions of a telephone, camera and computer.

Furthermore, I got tired carrying around cables and power supplies for many devices and just stopped using the older generation tablets.

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