HP-Compaq: What Happens Now?

As a result of the HP-Compaq merger, assuming good execution, enterprise customers can expect HP to beef up its services offerings, as well as its Windows-based server and workstation lines. There will be an added thrust in developing and marketing Itanium-based processors. 03/20/2002

Precise Launches Heterogeneous SRM Tool

Precise Software Solutions is using its prominent position in Windows server storage to attempt a step up into the software sector that provides higher level views of a company's storage capacity. 03/20/2002

Preliminary Estimate: Shareholders Approve HP-Compaq Merger

Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman and CEO Carly Fiorina announced that a preliminary examination of shareholder votes shows that HP shareholders approved the company's merger with Compaq Computer Corp. 03/19/2002

Ballmer: Microsoft Not Shopping for Services Firms

Hyper-Threading Scalability Remains to be Proven

As is common with launches of new processor lines, the new Intel Xeon MPs do not deliver on their performance promises yet, even in benchmark situations. 03/19/2002

TechEd Keynote Switched from Windows .NET Server to .NET

Microsoft changed the keynote topic for its 10th annual TechEd show in New Orleans in April from Windows .NET Server to just .NET. 03/19/2002

Analyst: Microsoft Shares OLAP Market Lead in 2001

In just two years since exploding onto the Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) market with SQL Server 7.0 OLAP Services, Microsoft already shares the No. 1 position in market share with Hyperion Solutions, according to an analyst report. The same report projects that Microsoft will easily overtake Hyperion for sole ownership of the No. 1 spot in 2002. 03/14/2002

SQL Server Betas Ramp Up

Redmond opened the nomination process late last month for users and organizations interested in beta testing the forthcoming 64-bit version of SQL Server, codenamed Liberty, and for a fourth service pack for SQL Server 7.0. 03/14/2002

Whistler Server Embedded Replaced With Server Appliance Kit

Microsoft shifted its focus in developing an embedded version of the Windows .NET Server operating system. 03/13/2002

Windows 2000 Artificially Throttles Intel’s New Xeon MPs

The way the operating system interacts with the BIOS means Windows counts the virtual processor created by Intel's new Hyper-Threading technology against the processor licensing limit. The glitch raises problems for users with more than half the physical processors their version of Windows 2000 is supposed to support. 03/13/2002

IBM Launches Expandable 8-Way Server

IBM took a major step toward broadening the choices for customers interested in greater-than-eight-processor Windows servers. IBM rolled out the eight-processor version in its Enterprise X-Architecture line. The next piece, set to come in July, will be a 16-way system. 03/13/2002

Technical Discussion of the Xeon MP Throttling

A Microsoft technical white paper, however, explains that Windows 2000 Server in many cases cannot properly exploit the Hyper-Threading technology in the Xeon MP. 03/13/2002

Sun Sues Microsoft Over Java Again

Sun filed a private lawsuit against Microsoft seeking damages and penalties for what the company claims Microsoft did to its Java-based business by abusing monopoly power. 03/12/2002

Intel Releases Next-Generation Xeon MP

Intel formally launched the 32-bit processor that will provide the foundation for multiprocessing on Windows servers for the next several years. 03/12/2002

3rd Microsoft Patch Available for SNMP Hole

Microsoft Corp. notified customers that a third patch is available to protect Windows platforms from the industry-wide SNMP security vulnerability. This time the patch covers Windows NT Terminal Server 4.0. 03/12/2002

Unisys Rolls Out Second High-end Server

Unisys refreshed its high-end "Wintel mainframe" with a new model for the first time since launching the 32-processor server in 1999. 03/12/2002

MCSA Ranks Exceed 5,000 Charter Members

Microsoft to recognize early adopters with wallet card and special certificate. 03/12/2002

NT Patch Available for SNMP Vulnerability

Microsoft continues to work on bringing out patches for all versions of Windows affected by the industry-wide security vulnerability in SNMP. 03/07/2002

Analyst Firm Lists Exchange Headaches

Ferris Research, an analyst firm and consultancy focusing on messaging and collaboration, on Thursday released a list of the four biggest headaches for Exchange 2000 administrators. The culprits, according to Ferris Research, are mass updates of mailboxes, recipient policies, distribution list management and interorganizational use of Exchange. 03/07/2002

BMC Unifies Database Tools

Hoping to better reflect the current data management environment, BMC Software, Inc. unified its database products and business units. In addition, it launched new products for IBM's DB2 database. 03/07/2002

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer Preview

When it’s released, the new Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) tool that Microsoft Corp. announced a couple of weeks ago will fulfill a long-sought requirement of Windows systems administration: A free hotfix management tool with a GUI interface and HTML reporting capabilities. 03/06/2002

Another Alternative for Pocket Data

abcDB packs punch in a small package 03/06/2002

.NET does Internet

IP*Works! relieves you from writing grungy code 03/06/2002

Clean Up Those Databases!

Customizable filtering from DataPipe 03/06/2002

Recombinant Mind Maps

Kutchka Templating extends a brainstorming tool 03/06/2002

Best Practices for VBA Shops

Total Visual Code Tools makes it easier to write consistent code 03/06/2002

Objectives Guides for .NET Exams Now Online

New exams guides for Microsoft's developer tracks now available; details beta dates. 03/06/2002

Optimization the Smart Way

AQTime helps you target problem code 03/06/2002

Windows Reclaims Top Spot in SAP Benchmark

Unisys this week leapfrogged IBM with a Unisys ES7000 32-processor server running Windows Datacenter Server to retake the top spot on an SAP application scalability benchmark. 03/06/2002

Critical Flaw Revealed in Microsoft VM

Microsoft this week acknowledged a critical flaw in the Microsoft Virtual Machine that could allow an attacker to intercept confidential information such as usernames and passwords. 03/06/2002

Datacenter Server Limited Edition Released

Although Microsoft has pushed back the schedule for Windows .NET Server, the company is going ahead with the release of a limited edition of Windows Datacenter Server based on Windows .NET Server beta code. 03/05/2002

News Analysis: OS Delay a Good Sign for Trustworthy Computing

With the confirmation that it is delaying the release of Windows .NET Server, Microsoft offers the first tangible proof that its Trustworthy Computing initiative is more than hype. 03/04/2002

Microsoft's 2002 Security Bulletin Count Reaches 12

Microsoft set a wicked pace for security bulletins in the last 30 days. After issuing no bulletins through Jan. 29, Microsoft sent out 12 from Jan. 30 through the end of February. 03/04/2002

SBS 2000 Report Card: One Year Later

Getting Certified on Exchange 2000

The book, despite some drawbacks, is still a useful exam-prep tool for experienced Exchange 5.5 administrators. 03/01/2002

Getting Down to BizTalk

The world of EAI awaits you. Just enter the realm of HIPAA, RosettaNet, UDDI and document exchange, then prove yourself with this new exam. 03/01/2002

Your Brief Guide to Scripting Tools: Visual KiXtart Editor 3.0

Editors exist for all kinds of scripting needs—some free, some cheap, and some not-so-cheap. Use this guide to help you find the right product for your work. 03/01/2002

Get to Know Those Nodes

LANutil Elite 5.1 is an efficient, effective hardware and software inventory program. 03/01/2002

Cowboys and Indians

Redmond’s not-so-secret plan to shoo those pesky Apaches away. 03/01/2002

Create Custom Performance Counters

Create Custom Performance Counters 03/01/2002

More Protection Than You Want

CheckIt Firewall locks down your computer so well that no traffic flows in or out! 03/01/2002

Get Ready for Your Audit

Time spent with network security auditors pointed out to Roberta the most common weaknesses in companies. How does yours stack up to her list? 03/01/2002

A Tale of Two Guys

A common theme: What does my certification get me? 03/01/2002

WinProxy Delivers on Promises

Polka your way around the Internet. 03/01/2002

Be Prepared

Scout out potential trouble by listening to your servers’ sounds. The best plan, as always, is a current backup. 03/01/2002

Microsoft Certification Public Newsgroups

Should you chase the rabbit down the newsgroup hole in pursuit of your certification? 03/01/2002

Your Brief Guide to Scripting Tools

Editors exist for all kinds of scripting needs—some free, some cheap, and some not-so-cheap. Use this guide to help you find the right product for your work. 03/01/2002

Certified Mail: March 2002

The value of bootcamps; what MCPs wear; Microsoft's certification retirement policy. 03/01/2002

ActiveManage Extends the Sysadmin's Reach

Keep your network running from anywhere. 03/01/2002

Donning the Supervisory Cap

This month, Greg discusses the right (and wrong) way to be an effective supervisor. 03/01/2002