Storage Updates
Microsoft keeps poking its nose into the storage space (perhaps EMC’s
run rate of $10 billion is piquing its interest). But Microsoft’s game
is software, and one of the key thrusts here is Microsoft Storage Server 2003,
which is -- surprise, surprise -- based on Windows Server 2003.
There’s a new
rev, Release 2, on tap for later this year, which -- surprise, surprise
-- is based on Windows Server 2003 R2 (see a pattern here?).
Hardware makers are expected to build storage devices around the new software,
and the best will be given the honor of gaining the “Simple SAN for Windows
Server” moniker. This might well be a stretch. I don’t know of any
SAN that has ever been simple. In fact, complexity, incompatibilities and ungodly
prices have kept many who need SANs from getting SANs. If Microsoft can truly
make SANs simple, then the entire company should be knighted by the queen.
Freshing Microsoft Certs
This week Microsoft breathed
new life into its certs by adding training for SQL Server 2005 and Visual
Studio 2005. Training is now broken down into several types, including technology-specific
learning, job-specific learning and the high-level “architect” focus.
To my mind, Microsoft has made some major strides in the learning area and is
reinvigorating the entire cert space.
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We’re still here to cover it all. In fact, the Microsoft Certified Professional
magazine Web site is more than alive and well: It is thriving. If you haven’t
been there, check it out at http://mcpmag.com,
and let me know what you think or want us to cover. I’m at [email protected].
Tracking Employees into Overtime
Next week Microsoft will
ship a new app that lets you see how your employees are really doing. Business
Scorecard manager tracks workers or results against the key performance indicators
that managers define. Of course, managers can also use this against you. If
you’re a real slouch, hide this software from your boss. I’m sure
mine is already figuring out how to track how many of my jokes go south and
deduct bad joke fines from my paycheck (I think I just lost $100).
About the Author
Doug Barney is editor in chief of Redmond magazine and the VP, editorial director of Redmond Media Group.