On Time
Mike Fratto's article about time was ... timely! ("Keeping Time With Your Network," July 10, 2003). The time issue has reared its ugly head for us with customers operating PCs in one time zone while remote servers in another zone run
Citrix or WTS; and in managing multiple users trying to edit the same records in systems half a world apart.
We have a time service that runs every few hours on a server (our PDC, as it so happens), and then either a scheduled event (other servers) or a start-up process (workstations) runs to sync with the master clock on the PDC. The command
"NET TIME \\computername /SET /Y"
does an acceptable job of keeping the machines in the same ballpark.
Norman R. Dotti, P.E.; President
Knorr Associates
normd@knorrassociates.com
On the Mark
Mike DeMaria hits the mark in identifying the pros and cons of today's instant messaging products ("IM Grows Up," June 26, 2003). The article will surely provoke further discussions and policy review.
Of course, each IM customer will do a cost-benefit analysis. The small-cap companies will struggle to justify an expenditure of $190,000, which may be close to their budgeted IT expense. These IM vendors may be competing in a limited market.
Rhetorical question: Will IM replace annual meetings, quarterly board meetings and traveling salespersons?
Gil Zizek; Retired - Former General Manager Transportation
FMC Corp.
www.GGZAK@AOL.com
Mike DeMaria replies: The $190,000 applies to 5,000 users, so smaller companies will pay a lot less. For the most part, I see IM replacing quick conversations that conventionally take place over the phone, such as small conferences with people in multiple areas.
On NICs
Nice article on 802.11 NICs ("The Future of Wireless," July 10, 2003). Network Computing, as usual, is on top of the new stuff. Regarding the Interactive Buyer's Guide, I don't know which is scarier, that there are only six manufacturers listed or that you can now buy a trimode card from several vendors for $99 list!
We are getting set to roll out an a/b network at our Owen School (MBA) in the next couple of weeks that apparently is the first of its kind in the country. We asked Cisco to come up with references, but they were not able to find any place that had non-Cisco dual-band clients (Owen will roll out IBM T40s with built-in Agere mini-PCI a/b cards to all its first-year students; the upperclassmen will continue to use Dells with Cisco 802.11b PC Card radios) connecting to 1200s with a and b.
Thanks for continuing to provide compelling content; the newsletter is invaluable.
John J. Brassil
Network Engineer; Vanderbilt Data/Video Engineering
john.brassil@vanderbilt.edu
On Moving Up
So there I was waiting for the Vue CCNA exam to finish downloading, and I began skimming a back issue of Network Computing. To my amazement, I read a letter to the editor by a 30-something techie who was asking for advice on how to break into management ("Career Coach: Always Looking Ahead," April 17, 2003).
I was dumbfounded to read the editor's response suggesting that possession of an MBA or MS in information systems or computer science would show the writer's employer that he was serious about moving into management.
I obtained an MS in information and telecommunications systems in 1997 and I'm still waiting for that to make an impact on my career. I even read an article in which the author suggested not to pursue a graduate degree unless your employer is willing to offer a salary increase or a possible move into management.
I've had to fight with employers to get anywhere. Advancing into management is truly about who you know, not what you know.
Jack Pugatsky; Senior Network Engineer
Computer Sciences Corp.
jpugatsk@csc.com
On SCO's Suit
I have to disagree with Don MacVittie's argument regarding SCO's lawsuit against IBM ("Open Source, Closed Minds" June 13, 2003). If one technology company is suing another over rights to a product, I believe the court is
in its full right to hear the argument. IBM has had a long history of claiming technologies as its own. If SCO has some of
the rights, then I completely agree with SCO that IBM is in violation.
This is why open-source software will never gain 100 percent acceptance. All major vendors have some sort of open-source software but at the same time have their own licensed and patented software as a front-runner. I find open-source to be a good development environment, but for a business to succeed, a truly well-written kernel and application software are necessary to get the proper support and version fixes.
Joseph deFulgentiis
HP-Tandem Certified Systems Engineer; MCC Consultant
E-mail withheld by request
Tell us how you really feel. Send e-mail to us at editor@nwc.com, fax to (516) 562-7293 or mail letters to Network Computing, 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030. Include your name, title, company name, e-mail address and phone number. All correspondence becomes the property of Network Computing.
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