Networking » Reviews »

  • WatchGuard XTM 810

    You could say that WatchGuard is accelerating its product development. Its software, firmware, features, functionality and hardware all show performance improvements over their earlier products.

    Written by Computerworld Staff • 01 July 10 16:08
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    Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH wireless router

    Setting up the Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH wireless router for the first time is easy using the bundled CD, which contains the user manual and configuration tool. Thereafter, you can wall mount or stand it up using the stand provided, and manage it through its web interface.

    Written by Madana Prathap • 16 Dec. 09 10:10

  • Review: Windows Server 2008 R2

    The noisiest new feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 promises to be live virtual machine migration, as Microsoft seizes the chance to show that Hyper-V is closing the gap with VMware Infrastructure. But there are many reasons beyond server virtualization to take a close look at Windows Server 2008 R2. Important enhancements are spread across the board, ranging from IIS to networking to Terminal Services. There's even a story to be told about R2 and the upcoming Windows 7, which gains better virtual desktop integration and even secure remote access without requiring a VPN -- though the latter feature, called DirectAccess, requires the use of IPv6.

    Written by Sean McCown • 12 March 09 08:30

  • Tools for analyzing WLAN traffic abound

    The value of capturing and analyzing network traffic is well established. After all, the generic "sniffer" has been a fixture of networking since the days of "datascopes" on RS-232 connections. Wireless links introduce a number of complicating elements to this process, however -- Wi-Fi protocols are unique at Layer 2, and traffic over the air isn't serialized, as is the case with wire. Simultaneous, competing traffic is often the norm.

    Written by  Craig Mathias • 20 Jan. 09 08:53

  • Windows 7 beta shows off task bar, UI goodies

    The just-released Beta 1 version of Windows 7 is a solid, fast-performing, stable operating system that appears to be just about fully baked and ready for prime time. It is much further along than Windows Vista was during its initial beta phase, and it appears to be feature-complete. Based on the stability and speed of this beta, don't be surprised if Microsoft Corp. releases Windows 7 before 2010 rolls around.

    Written by Preston Gralla • 09 Jan. 09 09:06

  • Tighten up your customer focus

    In sports, successful athletes narrow their focus during crunch time. They may concentrate on footwork, technique or increase their margin for error. Technology providers must do the same thing during tough economic times. You must focus on your customer and nothing but your customer, whether the customer is a consumer, another business, or internal departments needing technology and support.

    Written by James E. Gaskin • 05 Dec. 08 06:17

  • Improved Riverbed Steelhead RiOS eases WAN-traffic taming

    With the economy slowing down and IT budgets getting tighter, trying to sell your boss on some new network equipment might defy conventional wisdom. But if the equipment helps reduce time wasted when working over a WAN, or better yet, improves overall WAN usage and user productivity, it might not be as difficult a sale as you thought.

    Written by Keith Schultz • 19 Sept. 08 09:43

  • Cisco Nexus 7000 aims for data center dominance

    Building a big data center and looking for a switch to match? How do 256 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and nearly 1.7 terabits of capacity sound?

    Written by David Newman • 03 Sept. 08 09:50

  • WARP your WAN for performance and reliability

    I've had a Comcast cable Internet connection for years. Last year I got a shiny new fiber connection from Mstar. But rather than uninstall the cable connection, I asked FatPipe Networks if they'd be willing to let me perform an extended test of the company's flagship route clustering product, WARP.

    Written by Phillip J. Windley • 29 Aug. 08 10:28

  • Juniper switch proves to be credible choice

    Cisco take note: Juniper's new EX 4200 switch not only fills a hole in a leading competitor's product line, but also represents a credible alternative for enterprise access switching.

    Written by David Newman • 15 July 08 09:10

  • Sophos NAC is a good start

    The wide variety of so-called NAC (network access control) products on the market shows a broad range of thinking about policy-based security controls and the management of the network in general, including the end-point devices that connect to the network. Some vendors enforce policies using a client agent, some enforce them in the network, and some even use peers for enforcement. Network-based enforcement itself can take many forms, including dedicated gateway, DHCP manipulation, 802.1x authentication, and port- and VLAN-based enforcement on switches.

    Written by Steve Hultquist • 08 July 08 10:27

  • The best wireless LAN system for SMBs

    Small businesses have, for some time, been able to easily deploy a wide-open access point or two, or put together a couple of access points with a basic level of security. The thing that hasn't been easily available is a small, secure, managed wireless network that's easy to deploy and administer, and priced for the needs of a smaller business. Now there is such a thing, and its existence does a good job of highlighting what we've been missing. The solution is the Ruckus Wireless ZoneFlex Smart WLAN System, and it is a very good thing, indeed, for the SMB wireless market.

    Written by Curtis Franklin Jr. • 09 May 08 09:03

  • Packeteer iShaper is the new king of CIFS

    Network admins have spent many a late night trying to figure out how to improve application response or file replication across the WAN. Faster performance is all about bigger pipes, right?

    Written by Keith Schultz • 04 April 08 19:53

  • RedSeal Security Risk Manager

    Just this week while I was on-site, an IT services company serving a client of mine asked for my help. They needed to know where to put their efforts in securing information. Their customers are varied, with a range of systems and connectivity. For each infrastructure, they wanted to know, where are the highest risks? In one case, there are two connections to the Internet, remote access, mobile users, and a complex web of systems and networks, some with external data sharing.

    Written by Steve Hultquist • 12 March 08 09:53

  • Network review: ConSentry LANShield Switch

    Traditionally, many IT specialists have seen networks as an open channel. They allow an infinite variety of devices to communicate, and the best networks make communication simple, free, and instantaneous -- like the air we breathe. Back in the early days of the Internet, shell accounts were free for the asking. Few people used passwords. It was an easy and altruistic era.

    Written by Steve Hultquist • 15 Feb. 08 09:09

  • Reflex IPS adds security to your VM life

    Reflex Technologies' Command Center is itself a virtual machine that sits on VMware's ESX server and acts as an intrusion-prevention system, watching connectivity activity between other VMs and the virtual network interface provided by VMware.

    Written by Tom Henderson and Rand Dvorak • 12 Feb. 08 08:43

  • Check Point UTM management falters; Cisco, Juniper gain

    Without good management tools, the enterprise-class unified-threat-management firewalls we tested would be little more than expensive packet-pushers.

    Written by Joel Snyder • 13 Nov. 07 10:49

  • UTM and IPv6: Do they mix?

    IPv6 is the writing on the firewall.

    Written by Joel Snyder • 13 Nov. 07 10:53

  • Juniper, Cisco all-in-1 devices hit on intrusion-prevention

    Juniper Networks' ISG-1000 and Cisco's ASA5540 with its add-on SSM-20 IPS module offer no-compromise IPS products that will make the security purist happy with their configurability and control features.

    Written by Joel Snyder • 13 Nov. 07 09:46

  • WLAN analyzers come of age

    In 2004 we tested several wireless LAN protocol analyzers and found two distinct characteristics: Those dedicated and built from the ground up for WLANs, and those that were modest add-ons to what were then labeled classic protocol analyzer products.

    Written by Tom Henderson and Rand Dvorak • 24 April 07 14:32
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