Using Drupal Content Management System: Open Source Drupal CMS

Using Drupal is easy if you have a video tutorial from which to learn. Drupal is an open source CMS (content management system), which can be sued to create websites, blogs, social networking sites and so on. In fact there is virtually no limit to what you can be using Drupal for, and it's free.

What that means is that the source code is free to anybody that wants to use Drupal, although you can purchase various forms of customization, including themes and modules to offer specific effects and website components. Drupal is written in PHP and works with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, MAC and others, and a database system such as MySQL can be used for data storage - in fact a database of some form is essential.

Most of the content in Drupal is made up of what are referred to as 'nodes'. A node is intrinsically a piece of information, and they can come in a variety of content types. Among the predefined Drupal content types are 'page' and 'story', although you can also define your own. There is virtually no limit to the type of website you can develop using Drupal, but it can be heavy on use of resources.

For that reason you are advised to use a Virtual private server (VPS) or a dedicated server if you intend using Drupal to develop a large website such as a community or social networking site. If you are simply developing a small website for yourself, then you should manage with shared hosting, but otherwise you are best to get a dedicated hosting account.

Although learning Drupal is not difficult, you should learn the right way. By far the best way is to have private tuition, but that can be far too pricy for most people. You can also just play about with it, and pick it up as you go. However, if you are serious about using a Drupal content management system, then a Drupal video course is likely the best solution.

Drupal core is the standard installation of Drupal that contains a taxonomy system that enables content to be tagged with keywords, so that it is easily accessed. It includes a number of modules that enables the functionality of the system to be customized. Among the standard modules in the core download are search functions, a multi-level menu system, access statistics and logging, comments, polls and forums, RSS feed and aggregator and many more.

There are also several core Drupal themes, that allow the look and feel of the sites to be customized, and also supports a large number of languages.

If all this sounds complex, it is not as difficult to learn as you might think. A Drupal video tutorial is probably the best way of learning to use Drupal, since you can watch and copy, and replay any part that needs special attention. Using the Drupal open source CMS enables you to put your ideas for unique websites into practice, and also to immeasurably improve the functionality of the blogs, forums and social websites that you will learn to design.

Using Drupal can offer you many advantages, and an excellent Drupal video tutorial is available on Drupal Tutorials - Available for both beginner and advanced levels, this will enable you to learn how to use Drupal the best possible way - by example.

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An Overview: Remote Power Management Solutions

Remote power management solutions allow administrators to remotely power cycle servers and devices and troubleshoot problems, both locally and remote, from any location in the world. This provides administrators with the ability to manage servers more efficiently and reduce server downtime by affording direct access to power control. Remote power management solutions are also used by many businesses and organizations to manage servers at offices and branch locations where there are no IT staff members, offering cost-efficient “lights-out” operation at those sites.



Remote power management solutions add increased functionality over traditional metered and basic power products. While many power distribution units (PDUs) can provide basic information and amperage readings, only intelligent or ‘switched’ PDUs truly provide the benefit of outlet-level management.



In determining an appropriate power management solution, integration with today’s KVM over IP solutions should be considered. Most enterprise KVM over IP solutions provide the ability to integrate power management within the same interface as the console session on each attached server. This integration can provide datacenter administrators with comprehensive remote power management capabilities.



Recent advances in remote power management include:



o - Branch Circuit Protection—several products now provide branch circuit protection—each branch of grouped outlets has its own fuse and circuit breaker, to isolate power anomalies and issues.



o - 3-Phase Power—the use of 3-Phase power in server room and datacenters is on the rise. 3-Phase power provides more balanced power loads and allows a greater flow of power into a server rack, while using fewer circuits.



o - Power-Up Sequencing—several products offer the ability to inflow of power to each receptacle, to prevent circuit overload and allow systems to reboot in sequence, such as firewalls, then routers, then servers.



Advantages of Remote Power Management


Compared to traditional power management solutions, remote power management offers significant and unique advantages.



Reduction of Server Downtime and Labor Costs—As remote power management solutions provide administrators with the ability to recycle power to non-responsive systems and troubleshoot problems remotely, they can lead to a reduction in server downtime and significantly reduce outages and losses. With traditional power management systems, when it is necessary to perform a cold reboot, technicians must be physically present to reboot a system, often at a substantial cost to a company or organization. With remote power management, in most instances, the dispatch of field personnel to manually execute a hard reboot is unnecessary, as administrators can immediately access the PDU via a browser and reboot the switch.



Status Monitoring—As server densities increase, power requirements and heat output are also on the rise. Remote power management solutions allow remote monitoring of amperage draw per circuit, humidity, and temperature. Many products are designed so that probes can be mounted directly onto the strip, eliminating the need for external hardware. Most remote power management solutions are SNMP-enabled so that alerts can be sent automatically when amperage, temperature, or humidity levels exceed established thresholds.



Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Power Management



Question: How do you know when circuits are at capacity?


Answer: An administrator will be notified when circuits are at capacity in two ways. An onsite administrator can check an LED on the PDU itself, which will display the total amperage draw. Additionally, administrators can view amperage remotely through a feature in the web-based management tool or utilizing SNMP integration.



Question: How quickly and effectively can power be recycled using remote power management?


Answer: Once an administrator sends a command for remote reboot, it takes place immediately.



Question: Can all remote power management solutions allow administrators to gain true redundancy and simultaneous control of multiple power supply devices?


Answer: No. However, there are several manufacturers that provide simultaneous reboot of redundant power supplies, grouped across separate circuits.



Question: What security features do remote reboot power devices offer?


Answer: Remote reboot power devices have many security features. Basic features include user name and password authentication and communication via SSL or using SSH. Additionally, the use of LDAP, Active Directory, RADIUS or TACACS+ can be added to provide integration with existing authentication schema.

42U?s team of technology specialists provide unbiased, independent expertise and solutions for Data Center infrastructure. They provide best practices and products for Data Center builds, expansions, and consolidations. For thirteen years, the majority of Fortune 500 companies have engaged the 42U team to resolve their data center management challenges. 42U (http://www.42u.com) and its sister companies, are value-added resellers that provide expert independence advice and solutions around enterprise kvm switches, remote power, computer room power and cooling , server racks and green data center solutions.

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Put Remote Management to Work in your Branch Office

Remote system management is an increasingly important issue facing many businesses today. As corporate consolidation integrates additional locations within the same infrastructure, IT professionals face a more demanding environment. Recent surveys show that as many as 95 percent of branch offices operate without on-site IT personnel (1). Additionally, other surveys indicate that while spending on corporate IT staff still constitutes the largest component of most IT budgets, it continues to decline—from 42 percent in 2005 to 37 percent this past year. (2) These trends require IT professionals to do more with less and determine more effective ways to perform critical tasks.



These changes in IT staffing often result in non-technical personnel performing standard tasks, such as data backup, patch management, and system maintenance. Not only do these tasks detract from an employee’s primary responsibilities, it is difficult to assure that best practices and procedures are followed. In addition, failure to perform these tasks could result in vulnerabilities related to data loss and security.



In addressing the challenges and risks associated with remote site management, many IT professionals are implementing ‘intelligent’ management solutions. These solutions provide systems administrators with remote, bios-level access to all of their servers, network devices, and other critical equipment.



Remote management solutions offer significant benefits, including:



Reducing downtime and allowing administrators to bring equipment back online quickly



Decreasing operating costs by eliminating or reducing the need for IT staff or third-party service calls



Centralizing datacenter control, improving security and providing easier and more efficient processes to perform system administration, maintenance, and upgrades



Improving physical site security and monitoring, minimizing capital loss due to vandalism or theft of equipment (3)



Remote management solutions generally combine remote management, intelligent power, and environmental monitoring. Below are example solutions from Avocent and Raritan that enable IT professionals to easily integrate their remote locations into their centralized management process, as well as standalone solutions offered by other vendors.



Integrated Remote Management Solutions



Avocent



Remote Management: Avocent’s DSView 3 software provides an integrated platform for managing KVM switches, service processor aggregation appliances, and serial devices. Avocent’s DSR switches provide remote bios-level server and serial device control, and its service processor aggregation appliances, the OnBoard and the MergePoint, can be used to remotely manage devices with integrated onboard technologies.



Power: Avocent’s Cyclades AlterPath PM intelligent power distribution units enable remote power management and control of servers and network devices. AlterPath PM devices can be used with DSR switches and Cyclades console servers and integrate with DSView 3, combining system access and power control into a single interface. These devices come in both 208 and 110 models, with many variations in number of outlets and amperage available.



Console: Avocent’s Cyclades ACS console servers are available in single and dual power supply options. When combined with integrated power management and centralized administration, these devices provide secure and consolidated out-of-band infrastructure management. ACS console servers use a Linux operating system, are accessible both in-band and out-of-band, and have detailed logging capabilities and numerous security features.



Raritan



Remote Management: Raritan’s CommandCenter Secure Gateway Appliance provides centralized management of servers and IT devices managed by Raritan Dominion series switches and console servers, as well as IT equipment with service processors and embedded technologies. The CommandCenter can also integrate remote power strips connected to Raritan Dominion products. The CommandCenter features 128-bit encryption and third-party authentication through Active Directory, TACACS+, LDAP, and RADIUS, and provides strong password support.



Power: Raritan's remote power switches enable the remote monitoring, reboot, and shutdown of all connected devices. Using the Command Center, they integrate with Dominion KX switches and SX console servers, as well as other Raritan products, such as the Paragon II and IP Reach switches. These devices feature relay-controlled AC power receptacles, which allow administrators to monitor variables such as voltage, power, and temperature.



Console: Raritan’s Dominion SX and XRO devices provide out-of-band remote KVM access and serial device control, power control, and feature a modem for access if a network goes down. Dominion XRO devices allow 1 digital and 1 local user to control 1-3 servers and 4-8 serial devices and integrate with the CommandCenter Secure Gateway Appliance.



Standalone Solutions



Centralized KVM Over IP Management –Minicom



Minicom’s KVM.net device allows administrators to leverage their existing investments by providing front-end out-of-band KVM over IP management for mixed server environments. KVM.net provides secure, centralized management with a Linux-based GUI, and is a scalable system that features automatic discovery of all IP devices attached to the system. The device provides authentication and authorization mechanisms for secure access to servers, “non-blocking” access, and the capability to group users and servers.



Environmental Monitoring—Netbotz



NetBotz provides robust standalone environmental monitoring solutions. For smaller spaces with limited future expandability needs, the Netbotz 320 provides integrated environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity, dew point, airflow, door, and audio) with a web interface that provides immediate sensor readings, real-time camera images, and immediate configuration. The NetBotz 420 offers similar functions for small to medium-sized spaces that require comprehensive monitoring with moderate expandability potential. For larger spaces, the docked camera pods and sensor pods of the WallBotz 500 can be placed up to 340 feet from a base station, allowing coverage of multiple rooms or cabinets. An add-on CCTV adapter allows a CCTV camera to be used as well.



Intelligent Power—Server Technology



Server Technology’s remote power management solutions allow administrators to cycle power to non-responsive systems from any location via a web interface. These products also leverage leading advances in power distribution, such as 3-Phase power, branch circuit protection, and intelligent power-up sequencing. Server Technology also offers environmental monitoring devices that work with its power solutions, such as onboard probes that integrate with the Power Tower XL, allowing administrators to view temperature, humidity, water sensors, and dry contact closure sensors from its Enterprise View software, the same interface used to manage and monitor power.



Which of These Solutions Is Right For You?



42U provides complete remote management solutions, including KVM over IP, intelligent power, environmental monitoring, rack cooling, and rackmount solutions. The team at 42U specializes in assessing needs, creating solutions, and supporting clients, to ensure that IT professionals maximize their use of current technologies to improve overall business performance. A 42U sales engineer can help you sort through potential remote management solutions and select the one most appropriate for your organization’s particular needs and environment.



References



(1) (2006) Gareiss, R. "Branch Office Support: A Distant Reality", Network World, http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/branch/2006/1120branch1.html



(2) (2007) Rothberg, D. “Companies Will Spend More on The Channel, Less on Staff in 2007”, eWeek,


http://www.esp.eweek.com/article/CIOs+Will+Spend+More+on+the+Channel+Less+on+Staff+


in+2007/198665_1.aspx



(3) (2005) Hack, T. "Optimizing Remote Site Equipment Configuration, Monitoring, and Control." Remote Site and Equipment Management, http://www.remotemagazine.com/images/EasternResearchJune2005.pdf

This article was written by Lauren Nowenstein, Technical Writer, with guidance and input from DirectNET?s team of Solutions Sales Engineers. If you would like to send us feedback about this article, or have any questions, please write to us.

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Bandwidth Management in the Corporate Sector

Bandwidth is a term closely related to data and speed. Each computer has an allocated amount of bandwidth which determines the amount of data to be downloaded per second or transferred to the computer from the internet. More bandwidth relates to more speed as more data can be downloaded per second. A bandwidth limit means either a speed limit or a data limit. Traffic shaping is basically the control of computer network traffic to ensure the optimization of performance, lower latency and to increase usable bandwidth by delaying certain packets that meet particular criteria. Action on a set of packets, known as stream or flow, which can impose additional amount of delay on those packets that conform to a pre decided constraint which maybe a contract or traffic profile, is also defined as traffic shaping.

This can filter the volume of traffic sent into a network in a certain time. This is known as bandwidth throttling. The maximum speed at which the traffic is sent is known as rate limiting. Even though this kind of filtering is achieved by many ways and reasons, traffic shaping is almost always achieved by delaying packets. Application of this traffic shaping is seen mostly at the edges of the network so it can control the traffic being sent into the network. This may also be applied by a computer or network card which is a traffic source. This is to ensure that the traffic sent by traffic sources complies with a contract which is usually presented in the network by a policer.

The distinct practice of packet dropping and pocket marking is known as traffic policing. Features of some traffic shapers include speed limiting for bandwidth-intensive applications and protocols, flexible address and port filtering, acknowledgement prioritization to speed up congested links and real-time traffic monitoring and stream statistics. In the corporate market, traffic shaping is becoming more and more common. This allows companies to cut down on their purchase of additional bandwidth.. Bandwidth management is to control the rate of download and upload for all the computers in a network. In internet cafes computers with bandwidth software are quite suitable because of the tight integration with the internet café software which can block traffic automatically when a user logs out.

Bandwidth management can provide a cost effective solution for the high internet costs some companies offer. This software is able to monitor the network traffic and in most cases the bandwidth limit can be set by the users as well. Bandwidth limiter software measures, analyzes and records the bandwidth and speed of an internet connection. This software is available in the market by a number of companies, and works with DSL, cable, modem, router, network card and any other internet enabled service. An immediate increase in the efficiency of the network is witnessed. Also, a reduction in bandwidth requirements is seen while the other internet applications can run at maximum speed. This software is often referred to as bandwidth limiter.

I hope this information will help. If you want to explore more about traffic shaper or bandwidth limiter software, then visit the below link, at antamediabandwidth.com you will get latest articles and information about bandwidth management software and its related technologies.

http://www.antamediabandwidth.com/
"Let Manage Your Internet???.Manage It With Antamedia" by antamedia.com

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Bandwidth Management A Must Software For Internet Usage

Bandwidth is defined as throughput, amount of data that can be passed at a time. Bandwidth Management is very important because it is the central point from where all the systems are given the flow of internet. Allocating a specified bandwidth to every system is very important because if this would not be allocated then even if a single point consuming the most bandwidth would slow down the performance of the rest of the network. It can be very disadvantageous and solution must be addressed for this problem. Other wise a very wrong decision is taken to increase the bandwidth but his is never the ultimate solution of your problem. Instead bandwidth Management effectively utilizes your bandwidth and also stops the problem of unnecessary system hanging and delays. It is a very cost effective and efficient way of managing the available bandwidth.

It actually controls the upload and the download speed thereby acting as a gateway to every system internet connection. This is very important and a vital element of any internet connection that what uploading and downloading speed do you has for the internet. Bandwidth Management ensures that the whole network is performing in a smooth manner with little or no network failures, hanging and delays, The best part is the dedicated speed that is allocated which makes sure that no system is using excess of what is required or what it has paid for. This results in the overall efficiency of the network resulting in minimal data losses and failures.

If there is no bandwidth allocation then in large organizations, employees waste excessive time in watching unnecessary videos and clips just because they have access to the internet and an unlimited bandwidth. This can be quite costly in the long run as well as people would spend most of their times wasting and being less productive towards office work. That is the reason why bandwidth must be dedicated and specified. Bandwidth Management ensures and keeps track of what every systems is given the amount and how much is used and what is the cost that is incurred. In contrast to the unlimited bandwidth that is only the wastage of time as well as money. Two major resources loss can occur due to unattended bandwidth management.

Another very important feature of Bandwidth Management is that they cut costs as the internet connection is switched off after the office hours. This is very helpful in the long run profitability of organization as well as the productivity of employees. It gives the detailed statsic of every single system that is connected to the network. Thus keeping a log of evey system. In the same any new system added is also recognized automatically and given the desired required bandwidth. This software is very ideal for hospitals, universities and educational institutions specially since young students and children tend o waste a lot of time surfing unnecessary on internet. Moreover it is ideal for small to large scale organizations as well as for government institutions as well ideal in internet cafes.

http://www.antamediabandwidth.com will provides you best possible solutions to lemmatize the use of your internet bandwidth with the help of Bandwidth Management. This software not only helps you to monitor your bandwidth but also provides you internet security. We hope you have enjoyed this article.

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What You Need To Know About Bandwidth Limit And Bandwidth Management

Bandwidth is used to measure the amount of data that can be transferred over communication lines mainly between the user's computer and the provider who is providing the service known as Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Since the exposure of internet in the public domain this term has become a very much a house hold name. ISPs and people that provide internet service to the customers use various ways to control how the bandwidth is controlled. This process of controlling is known as bandwidth management. If companies didn't have no control of how bandwidth was controlled then the more and more people who use internet will experience slow connection and eventually the companies whole network will get congested. This would eventually resultin company unable to provide satisfactory service to their users. As such bandwidth management plays an important part for ISPs and companies that provide the service to help deliver satisfactory service. There are various third party companies that offer bandwidth management for ISPs and public companies to help keep their internet costs low.

There are various ways in which bandwidth is managed. One such way is what is known is the bandwidth limiter. This technique is deployed by a company to limit the amount of data a user can use. These are software both free and commercial that help companies deploy this for ease. An example of such software is SoftPerfect, which provides not only bandwidth limiter features, but also traffic shaper which would be explained shortly. This is not to say that bandwidth limiter is only helpful to big companies or ISP, but it can also be helpful in private use to help keep the costs of internet usage low. There are many uses of why a company will use bandwidth limiter mainly to stop people from using company resources to do extravagant downloading of internet content. Another use of bandwidth limiter is to help companies provide cheaper service to the users. For example, people who are unable to afford unlimited internet service, companies will often provide a cheaper often where the bandwidth is limited. The limit the ISPs put on the end users is what is known as the bandwidth limit. Bandwidth limits are put on various things by companies for example mobile companies usually put a bandwidth limit on how much content people can download or view over their mobile phones. There are bandwidth limits on the websites. This is where companies that host the website put in a certain limit as to how much traffic can a particular website receive.

Companies often use what is known as traffic shaper to help keep their network optimised to give ultimate performance. What this techniques means is that each part of data (known as a packet) must conform to a certain rule. It also helps companies control how much data enters the network itself at any given time. One example how it can help is that it can stop incoming data when lots of outgoing requests are being made for a short period. One company that offers such service is CFOS. Traffic shapers play an important role in ensuring that network is kept optimized to deal with users requests.

I hope this information will help. If you want to explore more about traffic shaper or bandwidth limiter software, then visit the below link, at antamediabandwidth.com you will get latest articles and information about bandwidth management software and its related technologies.

http://www.antamediabandwidth.com/


"Let Manage Your Internet???.Manage It With Antamedia" by antamedia.com

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Bandwidth Management Is A Nice Way To Control Traffic Over The Network And Hence Work As A Traffic Shaper

The use of the Internet is increasing these days. More and more people use the internet for the purpose of emails, downloading videos, uploading pictures, listening to music, for social networking, chatting, for blogging, for research work, for exploring different countries of the world, and in short for most of the day to day taks/works and requirements. The Internet’s link has a specified capacity that is given to your part of the network. One can not and must not use the capacity more than that as there may be many chances of overflow. This overflow results in the congestion of the network, on which many users are downloading at the same time. They are demanding certain bandwidth all the time and hence the network is not available for other users. Bandwidth management is a process in which the bandwidth that carries traffic over network is optimized. Here a bandwidth limit is applied to the network which is used as a traffic shaper over that particular network. This results in a network which has no congestion in it.

Bandwidth is the amount of the data that is transferred over a network in a specified period of time. This bandwidth can be controlled by the bandwidth management tools which are often called the packet or traffic shaper. Networks having bandwidth limiter are easier to use, as there is no congestion or blockage of the bandwidth by one person or computer over the network.

A congested network usually decreases your business critical performance. As you can not get the amount of bandwidth you require to carry out the business critical tasks. For example if you have to upload some video, or have to do video conferencing with the other members of your business who are in different places, and you do not get sufficient amount of bandwidth then it will cause you a lot of problems. Your much precious time would be wasted and your business will suffer a monetary loss. Many softwares for bandwidth management are readily available in the market today that helps in limiting the bandwidth over the network. Due to these softwares the efficiency, performance and speed of your network increases. A bandwidth limit is given to each user over the network, in which the amount of bandwidth to be used by that user/computer is specified.

Bandwidth management includes traffic shaping, congestion avoidance, scheduling algorithm, and also bandwidth reservation algorithms and bandwidth reservation protocols. These softwares work as traffic shaper, as they are shaping the overall traffic over the network. Bandwidth management also limitizes every user’s bandwidth consumption on a network, increases the efficiency and performance of your network, and also protects your network from hanging up.

Bandwidth management software works as a bandwidth limiter and helps restrict users from accessing everything over the network. Many users have certain bandwidth requirements and not everyone need a lot of bandwidth over the network. Only those people who demand more bandwidth are given this.

Antamedia will provides you best possible solutions to lemmatize the use of your internet bandwidth with the help of http://www.antamediabandwidth.com. This software not only helps you to monitor your bandwidth. We hope you have enjoyed this article.

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Bandwidth Manager A Great Solution For Network Management

The most likely problem which can occur while running a large network setup in any business is the control of traffic in your network. The control of traffic in a network to avoid traffic congestion and monitoring connections is known as bandwidth management. To handle the network pressures in an apposite way, it is very significant to select the most feasible mechanism for bandwidth management. There are different bandwidth management mechanisms to control the traffic in a network. These mechanisms help to shape traffic, prevention of network overloading, rate control and schedule algorithms. One solution for controlling the network traffic is thought to be the increase in bandwidth, but actually that is an ineffective and costly solution. Increasing the bandwidth is quite expensive, so you must adopt the methods which can utilize the bandwidth economically and optimally.

If you are the owner of a business where you face the issues of network management, then you should look for the optimal methods to control network traffic and manage the bandwidth. A very practical and effective solution designed to resolve this issue is the utilization of bandwidth management software commonly known as bandwidth manager. Bandwidth management software uses different algorithms which assign bandwidth preference to the traffic and allocate more bandwidth to the high precedence traffic. This assignment helps in controlling the download and upload rate of a network. The bandwidth is managed at the server side and the hence the usage of bandwidth manager offers a qualitative management of traffic without the constraint of any special hardware.

Antamedia bandwidth manager is an excellent tool which serves as an application accelerator, a network load balancer, and a firewall with a real-time service delivery. Antamedia bandwidth manager has the ability to shape and control the traffic in an efficient manner. This bandwidth manager can help the ISPs and companies to provide satisfactory service to their customers and hence increase their business integrity. Further to this, the bandwidth management software can prove useful in the highly congested environment of net cafes by managing their bandwidth in an optimal manner. With the help of this software, you can also specify the speed for internet users and can set the data transfer package. Moreover, you can provide the time limit for data package usage. It also authenticates the users who have been provided with specific data packages.

Antamedia bandwidth manager provides many advanced features which makes it different from other bandwidth management softwares. Some of these features are the true bandwidth management by kilobyte, statistics report generation, timer settings, real time monitoring of clients, time-based and volume-based services and easy deployment with the need of only two network cards.

Antamedia Bandwidth manager also allows you to generate SNMP, MRTG graphs using ip address of the users. Moreover, Packet Filtering allows you to control access to the unwanted websites. It has the capability of increasing the efficiency of your network. In short, antamedia bandwidth manager is the best way to reduce your costs and gives you a profitable business, as you will have more control over the bandwidth usage and your network.

Antamedia will provides you best possible solutions to lemmatize the use of your internet bandwidth with the help of http://www.antamediabandwidth.com. This software not only helps you to monitor your bandwidth. We hope you have enjoyed this article.

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What CXOs consistently fail to grasp about enterprise security

IT security is often a nagging thorn in the side of enterprises and those that lead them.  It is viewed as a technical issue that should just be fixed.  In this week’s lecture track on security that I delivered for Internet Evolution’s 60 Days of Executive Education I started off with three things that CXOs consistently fail to grasp about enterprise security.

Good security operations is not the same as good security.   Every organization that uses computers has to deal with the mundane daily tasks of identifying and blocking malware, keeping and reviewing logs, generating reports, and demonstrating compliance.  Many organizations that I talk with are great at the operational tasks. They have deployed technology that helps them patch and manage end points, generate reports, and keep the audit teams happy.  But, there is a lot more to being secure than doing these tasks well.  Let me start with defining good security. From my Focus Note on the subject:

1. A secure network assumes the host is hostile
It has been years since a firewall that enforces policies based only on source-destination-service has been sufficient.  Trusted end points harbor malware, are controlled by attackers, and are launching points for attacks.  Network security solutions must be in-line and inspect all the traffic that passes through them.  They must look for viruses, worms, exploit traffic, and even unusual behavior.  IDC dubs these solutions "complete content inspection" firewalls. Many vendors refer to them as UTM, Unified Threat Management

One aspect of a secure network that is often overlooked is that the computers on the inside of the network are often the danger.  It could be an infected computer brought in by an employee or contractor; it could be a poorly patched server that has been compromised by an outside attacker.  Even the smallest organizations have to invest in network security solutions to block attacks from devices on the inside of the network.  This is accomplished through network segmentation and deploying content inspection capabilities internally. As threats multiply watch for solutions that either sit on top of the access switch or incorporate the switch in their configuration.
2. A secure host assumes the network is hostile
This is another way of stating the requirement for a layered defense model. A laptop, desktop, or server cannot rely on the network to keep it safe.  AV, firewalls, and anti-spyware solutions have to be installed and up-to-date.  Patches for critical applications and OS have to be installed as quickly as possible.  Browsing shields should be turned on and Microsoft IE should not be used if at all possible.

3. Secure applications assume the user is hostile
This is where authentication and authorization come in to play.  One of the best deterrents of malicious behavior is the end user's awareness that their actions are associated with them (strong authentication) and logged (behavior monitoring).  Many online services have failed to protect themselves from their customers.  This applies to internal file sharing and community services as well.

Why security investments never end.

Extract from my ZDNet post on the topic:
I engaged a visitor to booth I was manning at a the Gartner ITExpo in conversation about network security and he lashed out with “you security vendors are always trying to sell us a new box, you are a money hole we keep spending on but we still get hacked”. This is one of my hot buttons. Pinning the blame on the security industry for all the different solutions that do not inter-operate is a favorite game played by industry pundits and CIOs.
As I was digging my heels in and getting my hackles up I finally read this guy’s name badge. He was CIO of a major branch of the US military. Well, here is my answer to him, thought up way too late to confront him face to face.
No sir, you have not spent enough on security. Look to your own operations. Have you enforced segmentation of your network? Have you put firewalls between you and the other agencies? Do you still allow telnet and ftp in unauthenticated clear text? Have you deployed user provisioning? What does your patch management look like? Do you have effective anti-spyware? Do you do security assessments of your entire network on a continuous basis? I know the answers to these questions as well as you do. Look to your latest computer security scores from FISMA. An F. You see that? An F!

Before you point fingers at a security industry that is constantly evaluating the threats and creating counter measures look to your own actions; or lack thereof. You sir have failed in your duty to protect the assets of the US Military. You have allowed foreign entities to overrun your networks. On your watch our digital homeland has been invaded.

Strong words perhaps but I cannot emphasize strongly enough the need for continuous investment in security.

Audit and compliance get in the way of good security

Please do not confuse compliance with security.  There are indeed many standardized ways to accomplish good security operations and audit reports.  But many times the resources needed to evaluate and counter new threats are completely absorbed in the compliance effort.  Government regulations and outside auditors have tremendously distracting effects on IT security people.  They got into security because they like the day to day battle with bad guys- the technical challenge of securing networks and applications. They did not sign up for endless meetings and paper work.  So be vigilant and monitor your compliance efforts to ensure that they do not get in the way of your security.

Here is the original post:
What CXOs consistently fail to grasp about enterprise security

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TEM Software - Telecommunications Expense Management (TEM) Software

Organizations are on the look for reducing the expense and complexity of handling telecom arena They are seeking means of cutting down yearly budget related to telecommunication that is amongst the leading costs in most businesses Telecommunication expense management and concerned network services works and manipulate the developing telecom expense of enterprises which facilitate in you to centralize on your business An efficient real time cost eradication program is telecom expense management (TEM) software The telecommunication expense management software is a cost reduction tool that facilitates manipulating the surviving services and they make attractive profit.

The key advantage of Telecom Expense Management (TEM) software is its Automation technique. The exceedingly propulsive TEM software has the enduringness take off the burden from the staffs which helps them to concentrate on their core activities Further the TEM software is capable of improving the business' ability to command the ever increasing monthly telecom expense and efficiently estimate the future necessitates.

Automation: Tracks single and aggregative use of throughout telecommunications units Liberates the accountants so that they can utilize their time in some important tasks. Facilitates in interconnecting voice and data units Furnishes with detailed daily, monthly and annual analytical reports, to make future telecom purchase more comfortable.

Tele-communication Cost Management is an unseparable requisite of many business. Big and small enterprises are noticed to throw away thousands of their worthty monthly employee hours tracking company cell phones or landlines numbers as employees are promoted, elliminated or are newly employed. As soon as the software is installed to the firm’s particular requisite, it monitors inventory, amount used and billing. Telecommunication Expense Management Software assists your company to perceive visibility into plus manage all telecom outlay of your business concern. TEM software in addition alleviates you to cut down the tele-communications consumption manipulation lifecycle of your business enterprise. Such expense equals ten to twenty-five percent of their annual savings. Further the Telecommunication Expense Management software facilitates you to simplifies those provocating project in telecom sphere.

Whenever the reputation of Telecom Expense Management software software raises, there progresses programs to fit entire enterprise’s requistes. Exploring the internet for Telecommunication Expense Management software will fetch you heaps of alternatives, the attempt of which can be equated to meeting with your local telecom provider. Following names are approximately some of the most popular solution providers

Nowadays, you will coming upon a number of Tele-communication Expense Management providers over the internet but we'd propose reexamining Vocio's TEM solutions.

Telecom Expense Management Software is dedicated for the information on that it's name suggest.

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Bandwidth and Network Management

Bandwidth management also known as Network Management Bandwidth or Network Bandwidth Management is the technique to measure and control communications on network link that may result in congestion of network and inadequate performance.

 

Bandwidth management is frequently used synonym for data-transfer. Data-transferring rate is the rate at which a specific amount of data can be taken from a single point to the other during the specified time limit. This type of bandwidth usually is expressed in bps or bits per second. Very rarely, it is expressed in Bps (Bytes per second).

 

A modem, which operates at 57,600 bps is having double the bandwidth and rate of modem, which operates at 28,800 bps. A link having greater bandwidth is capable of carrying sufficient information for sustaining the progression of pictures in any video presentation.

 

An actual communication path normally comprises of a link succession with every link having its private bandwidth.

 

Network tuning and network performance management are some of the terms used for Network Optimization. It is a unique linear programming framework model. In fact, network models have three merits over the linear programming framework model.

 

1.       Quick to solve: Problems with linear program having 30,000 columns and 1000 rows are solved very quickly. It grants that network models need to be included in various applications including real-time making of decision.

 

2.       Natural solution to integers: By realizing that problems can be designed as network program, solving special kinds of integer plans becomes easy.

 

3.       Intuitive in nature: Network models offer a language to talk about problems, which are intuitive when compared to variables, constraints, and objective language of integer and linear programming.

 

Network managers are constantly searching for smart Enterprise network management solutions that will make their job easier and more manageable. Enterprise network management services are offered by communication Companies that specializes in providing with these solutions and maintaining them for long-term periods.

Content writer at Inter-Dev, Internet marketing company & SEO company.

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KVM Switches translates into cost efficient remote server management

KVM Switch is a hardware device that allows users to access multiple CPUs from a single or multiple keyboards, mice and monitors. Reverse KVM Switches units work the other way around where one computer can be controlled from multiple locations.

KVM Switches over Cat5 are the latest and greatest products in KVM technology. Cat5 KVM Switches allows network administrators to connect multiple computers or servers via cat5 / cat5e/cat6 UTP cable to the switch and control from a single keyboard, video and mouse. This switch was designed to provide added benefits to its users, such as eliminate cable clutter, achieve longer distances between the server and the switch, better cable management, higher density, and multiplatform capabilities.

KVM over IP is similar in form and function of a traditional KVM. It allows multiple computers to be connected to the KVM Switches and be controlled by a single user's keyboard, video and mouse station. The difference is the Remote Access Server has added IP functionality, which means you can access any of the connected servers via 128 bit secure browser from anywhere in the world over IP (SSL v3, RSA, AES, HTTP, HTTPs, CSR).

KVM Switches translates into cost efficient remote server management. These units are ideal for environments involving multiple computers where remote access is needed such as command centres, military, security, server rooms, data centres, conference rooms, banks, control centres, government sectors and commercial businesses.

In addition to offering a wide variety of KVM Switches like PS2 KVMs, DVI KVMs, HDMI KVMs, KVM over IP, and KVM over Cat5. There are many online stores that offer custom systems design for server management applications.

Sales staff and engineers at these stores are highly trained and experienced KVM professionals in the industry. They excels at providing diagrams, quotes, consultation, and first response support for complete customer care from the beginning to end of a project.

Rackmount Monitors | KVM Switches | Rackmount LCD

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Bandwidth Management

Bandwidth is the thickness of electromagnetic frequency band. It entails the speed of data flow and transmission from a defined or a given path to measure a varied range of frequencies occupied by electromagnetic signals. Thus, bandwidth also acts as the channel capacity. Both digital and analog of any kind will have a bandwidth. The unit of measurement for bandwidth is Megabits per second (Mbps).

Bandwidth management is a procedure of determining and controlling the connections on a network line to refrain from network congestion and poor presentation – network monitoring.

Bandwidth management mechanisms assist to:

1.       Avoid network overloading

2.       Schedule algorithms

3.       Shape traffic

4.       Rate controlling

Bandwidth Management Tools and Techniques

The measurement tools and techniques are of two categories namely, packet sniffers and management applications. Packet sniffers consider individual packs, whereas management applications deem upon a broader overview of network interchange. In addition, packet sniffers produce bulk information and aid experts to track difficult bandwidth problems.

Bandwidth management tools make available the procedure, tools sand techniques to perform tasks of managing and controlling the network bandwidth. It is essential to utilize bandwidth optimally and economically, as it is a precious resource. Bandwidth also allows enhancing the productivity and securing stable returns on investment.

Issues that may affect the performance of a bandwidth

1.       Transmission Control Protocol identifies the capability of a connection.

2.       The explosion of web traffic requires extra bandwidth to withstand a possible traffic outburst.

3.       Deficit support unambiguous network load on the Internet

Bandwidth Manager:

Bandwidth manager software assigns bandwidth preference by allowing high precedence traffic to use more bandwidth in the network. Thus, a large file transfer will take more time as compared to the small file transfer. Actually, it is a server side draft used to manage the bandwidth of server. Here, the bandwidth manager manages the bandwidth of server as soon as the user downloads a file.  

Bandwidth manager helps to control the download and upload rate of a network. In addition, bandwidth manager functions without any special hardware design. Thus, bandwidth manager is an all-inclusive network traffic management tool, which offers quality and control of service

Content writer at Inter-Dev, Internet marketing company & SEO company.

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Compliance, Security, And Cost-Efficient Management: Ecm Rises To The Challenge

The combination of a weak economy - causing many to streamline operations to keep afloat - and increasing regulatory demands made business challenging for many in 2009. Those that emerged from the rubble of crumbling profits, hoping to resurrect their bottom line and succeed in this decade are working harder than ever, often with fewer resources. Although the economy will eventually improve, the regulatory scene is becoming more demanding, placing greater burdens on business. Only those that make wise use of limited resources will survive.

Despite recent unpredictability in government, business, and the economy, one thing is unchanged: compliance, security, and cost-efficient management remain the focus of many businesses. Named in multiple industries as the top three drivers for enterprise content management (ECM), they are more closely intertwined than ever:

Cost efficiency is only possible in today’s litigious economy with an integrated, efficient compliance management program that mitigates risk and avoids costly penalties. In a paper or mixed media environment, it’s nearly impossible to achieve.
Compliance is only achievable with stringent internal controls and an overseeing force to manage document security, governing access to information and how it is used. Entrusting oversight to fallible humans alone means there will always be mistakes. Zero tolerance is on the rise; penalties for non-compliance can be financially devastating.
Security is only manageable in information-intensive businesses when you have the tools to pull all of your information together so it can be controlled, centrally and consistently. Even with a full complement of employees, it’s challenging. In a paper-based environment, it’s impossible.

The solution? ECM.

ECM in 2010: stronger, more accessible

ECM delivers the control and insight you need to run your business intelligently, compliantly, and with confidence. What’s different this year? Top-line solutions are more accessible, interoperable, affordable, and intuitive, making it easier than ever to secure documents, govern them consistently, and comply.

ECM is a mature technology. When its capture, indexing, processing, and archiving capabilities are coupled with powerful Web services (now the industry standard for integration, but not offered by everyone), businesses benefit from redefined connectivity. ECM connects silos of vital business information, giving you comprehensive insight into your business, tools to work efficiently, the consistency you need to comply, and the digital trail to prove regulatory fulfillment.

Since the palette of ECM tools varies from one solution to the next, it’s vital to know what you’re looking for. The tips below will help you to find the best solution for your business.

Look for a system that will:

1. Help you manage changing regulations

Whether you’re ruled by the mandates of HIPAA, SOX, Gramm- Leach-Bliley, FERPA, the Freedom of Information Act or other regulations, managing compliance is expensive. ECM lets you track information, implement rules for information management, amend those rules to reflect regulatory changes, and ensure they are followed. It removes the burden and streamlines costs by following your rules implicitly – correctly, completely, and consistently.

Look for:

…web-based architecture that lets authorized IT staff administer the system remotely, 24/7, and allows authorized persons to access, view, search, process, and manage requests for information, wherever and whenever it’s needed.

…configurable functionality that lets you regulate who can access and manage various document types (HR contracts, invoices, etc.) and the functions each person can perform (importing, indexing, emailing, etc.).

…centrally configured, administered, and supported software. Modular solutions typically require multiple configurations and are more difficult to support. Central configuration saves considerable time and money.

…a business process management (BPM) or workflow component. BPM lets you regulate internal governance policies by setting rules and exceptions for routine processes (such as invoicing) that are followed without question, eliminating human error. Since BPM presents the greatest potential investment returns for an enterprise, buying ECM without a BPM/workflow component is shortsighted. Regulations change constantly, so make sure the solution you choose will let you make modifications easily so you can enforce new rules on the fly.

…lifecycle management features to let you set default retention schedules, backups, audit trails, data migration, and destruction schedules. Managing files throughout the entire document lifecycle is an important part of compliance.

…detailed audit trails that prove observance of the rules you set in response to regulations. Whether you’re replying to e-discovery requests, Open Records, or auditing demands, electronic discovery is far more cost effective than manually searching through scattered files. ECM, when integrated with legacy systems, line-ofbusiness software, email, and other digital repositories, produces thorough audit trails, mitigating the risk of non-compliance penalties and saving staff considerable time. Make sure your solution provides the detail you need.

2. Assure file security

As organizational hierarchies, regulations, positions, and job functions change, security rules must be adjusted. Centrally administered ECM makes it easy for IT administrators to amend the rules: a few clicks in one place, and all of the features and functions within the suite follow the new rules. No more need to rely on perfect memory, reminders, logons and passwords and hoping new employees get it right. ECM ensures the right people have access, know what to do, and can process their work. Organizational dictates are followed – every time.

Look for:

...the ability to lock down document types and specific document sections by groups of users (such as HR managers) and job role (such as directors or department managers).

…configurable, permission-based feature rights that let you determine who can retrieve, view, edit, annotate, sign, email, move, or delete documents; initiate workflows; etc.

…a centralized, tamper-proof repository to ensure the accuracy, quality, and integrity of archived information.

…the ability to electronically create file backups and enable quick recovery of information in the event of a business catastrophe.

3. Make compliance (and operations) cost efficient

In a paper-based or mixed media environment, compliance demands drain limited human and financial resources. Managing processes, following approval hierarchies, updating duplicate information in multiple systems (such as customer contact data), and filing documents correctly to ensure they’re found later demands precious time. Logging into multiple software systems, re-keying data from one system into another, wading through duplicate or conflicting customer records, and searching for insufficiently indexed or missing documents adds to the frustration. Being ill prepared to respond to demands is costly enough; making mistakes, missing deadlines, and failing to find information when it’s needed can be financially devastating.

ECM lets you respond to mandates cost efficiently by eliminating tedious search, expediting processes, eliminating the incidence of duplicate files and tasks, and ensuring your rules for access and processing are followed.

Look for a solution that will:

…index documents thoroughly so staff with diverse needs and searching methods can find what they need.

…integrate thoroughly with industry-standard Web services. Make sure the functionality of the suite you choose is fully underwritten in web services so you can take full advantage of its features and functions within your users’ familiar business software. This reduces the learning curve and cost of training. Also investigate your vendor’s fees for Web service calls: If you have to pay for every data request you make, you’ll be surprised how quickly it adds up.

…accommodate all phases of the document lifecycle, from document creation and capture through indexing, business process automation, document archival, retention, and destruction.

…deliver the information you need. Look for diverse search functionality such as enterprise, full-text, and keyword search. If you’re subpoenaed for information, you can’t afford to consume staff resources scrolling through electronic files manually because your ECM system won’t deliver what you asked for. ECM that is configurable, with thorough indexing and strong search, should respond to requests in seconds.

4. Be embraced by staff

A clear vision, solid plan, and top-line ECM won’t solve your business challenges unless the solution is fully embraced by your IT staff and end users. Consult them as you evaluate business needs. Understand their day-to-day challenges, no matter where they stand in the hierarchy. Streamline and improve your current processes before you get started with ECM. Since both IT and end users are facing more responsibilities than ever, the solution needs to make their lives easier, every day.

Look for:

…a flexible user interface, with drop-down menus, on-line help, and user-friendly documentation to guide end users.

…adjustable, moveable windows and work spaces to honor employees’ individual work preferences and maximize their productivity.

…a central log-on for all work, rather than needing to log in and out of each function to start scanning, send emails, launch processes, etc. Don’t waste precious staff resources on inefficient access to ECM products that exist to promote efficiency!

…a full suite of functionality that is centrally configurable, administered, and supported. This significantly reduces IT administration and eliminates the need to log in and out of each application to make changes.

Considerations in buying ECM

Quality vs. cost

Choosing a top-of-the line solution has never been as affordable as it is today, but don’t make the mistake of making price your only criterion. If you sacrifice quality or choose a solution that won’t meet your needs as the economy rebounds and your organization grows, you may be implementing ECM all over again with another vendor in a few years. Solutions that you choose today should serve you well for a decade and beyond.

SaaS vs. licensing vs. alternative pricing

Hosted services offer attractive financing opportunities if you’re cash strapped, but often at the risk of losing control over the security and business information—especially if the SaaS provider’s business fails. Licensing, in contrast, offers full data ownership and carries less risk, but includes an up-front cost that keeps some small companies from making the investment.

Some vendors offer subscription pricing and other alternatives that protect your business interests while making the leap forward more feasible. Explore your options. Remember, the goals are to enable cost efficiency, security, and compliance. Examine your options carefully. Your vendor should offer choices and be willing to find a financing solution that doesn’t sacrifice your business’s health.

2010: Get ready for the future

If you’re looking for a way to streamline resources, eliminate waste, and make efficient use of your information for cost-effective operations, better security, and consistent compliance, now is the time to get ahead with ECM. The regulatory train is picking up speed. Be ready when it arrives.

Choose wisely.

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DHS deploying the wrong weapons in cyberwar

Siobhan Gorman, writing at the Wall Street Journal tells us that a report from Richard Skinner, DHS Inspector General, will be presented to Congress today.  The report highlights troubles at US-CERT in particular turnover in leadership and severe understaffing.

The problem is not with US-CERT's administration it is with their impossible mission. There appears to be some belief within DHS and the inspector general's office that the secret Einstein project is somehow going to improve cyber security.  Pointing fingers at slow deployment and lack of information dissemination is ignoring a more fundamental problem.

The Einstein project, authorized under the still classified portions of the Bush Administration's Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI), is a plan to deploy Intrusion Detection sensors (IDS) at all of the government's Internet gateways.

Even if US-CERT was fully staffed with three shifts to monitor and report on the alerts Einstein generated, even if all of the sensors were deployed, even if all of the information were distributed to every department and agency within DHS, the US would not be able to fight cyber attacks.

Let's review. IDS is a technology invented over 15 years ago. It is signature based which means it relies on a massive collection of snippets of text and code that researchers have discovered over the years are associated with unwanted network traffic, be it worms, port scans, or intrusions. Because the original deployments of IDS were just passive data collectors there was no impact on network performance from adding new signatures so the data base grew and grew and the logs IDS generated grew and grew to the point where even a mid-size organization would receive millions of alerts a day.  IDS log management became a major problem that gave birth to two industries. Security Event Information Management (SEIM) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP).  SEIM productsfrom companies like Arcsight attempt to prioritize alerts so that security personnel can focus on just the important events. MSSPs (Symantec, SecureWorks, BT) use SEIM products to make it even easier for a customer to handle the flood of alerts their IDS generates.  To make the claim that they are effective MSSPs staff their SOCs (Secure Operations Centers) around the clock.  US-CERT has been tasked with becoming the MSSP for DHS.

But do you see the problem here? The only tool in DHS's chest is a monitoring tool.  Millions of alerts have to be filtered down. The continuous port scans, the worm traffic, the DDoS attacks, have to be winnowed down to something actionable. And even if that were possible, attacks such as those seen by Google, the Dalai Lama's office, and the Pentagon, would still be effective. I have been beating this drum since 2003 when I visited the Pentagon and in no uncertain terms informed them that they were wasting their money on IDS. The ensuing public debate was well covered by the media but must have been missed by the framers of the CNCI.

Einstein is a waste of money and a distraction. Other than generating huge reports that highlight the levels of attacks targeting DHS it will do nothing to protect DHS networks. There have been a lot of advances in network security technology since 2003.  It is time for DHS to get serious about security. 

Continued here:
DHS deploying the wrong weapons in cyberwar

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