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E-Mail Poll ResultsSoothsayers, Oracles and Fortune-tellersWe asked you to predict the future in our May 31 E-Mail Poll. Here's your collective vision: Windows 2000 will be released in the first quarter of Year 2000; the New York Yankees will win the 1999 World Series; and the first female U.S. president will be elected between 2008 and 2020. Our final question asked whether you feel the Y2K problem and its possible ramifications in the United States are being presented to the general public legitimately. While 43 percent feel that the problem is being somewhat exaggerated, 12 percent believe it is potentially far worse than publicized.1.
How You're Using Application Servers and Component TechnologiesIn response to our May 17 E-Mail Poll, 44 percent of you indicated that you don't use any component technologies, while an equal percentage responded that you use COM/DCOM. As for long-term plans, 39 percent of you replied that you plan to evaluate or deploy Enterprise JavaBeans within the next 12 months, with 33 percent indicating plans for COM/DCOM and 22 percent looking to evaluate or deploy CORBA. And it seems that Microsoft MTS is making a big splash in the application server market; 39 percent of you responded that you use or plan to deploy it within 12 months.1.
Y Ask Y? Your Answers to Our Y2K PollFor those of you stockpiling canned goods in preparation for Y2K disasters, there's good news. Zero percent (that's a big whopping none) of the respondents to our May 3 poll feel that Y2K will catastrophically affect the U.S. economy. But still, preparations are in progress: 84 percent are generally prepared while only 14 percent responded that all problems have been found and corrected. Y2K has had a major impact on IT budgets for 12 percent of the respondents, but 32 percent reported only a minor impact.1.
Catching a Free RideAccording to 77 percent of the respondents to our April 19 E-Mail Poll, free software is every bit as good as commercial software. Only 6 percent feel that freely available software is worse than commercial software, while 17 percent think that freely available software is better than commercial software. And most of our respondents believe that the support for free software via newsgroups and discussion groups is equivalent to or better than commercial support.1. In general, do you feel that the quality of freely available software is as good as the quality of commercial software?
Keeping Your Network HealthyBased on the results of our April 5 E-Mail Poll on enterprisewide antivirus products, it seems most of you don't take any chances when it comes to infections. Nearly 90 percent of you responded that your company supports enterprisewide antivirus products, which are most frequently placed on each desktop (53 percent) and on each server (23 percent). And despite the threat of malicious Java and ActiveX applets, only 15 percent of you are limiting your clients to locally signed applets.1. Does your company support enterprisewide antivirus products?
Will It Be Gigabit Ethernet or ATM?It looks like Gigabit Ethernet is in the cards for most of you. A full 60 percent of the respondents to our March 22 poll said that Gigabit Ethernet will be deployed in their next backbone upgrade, as compared to 34 percent who said ATM is scheduled for the next upgrade. As for the current state of affairs, 36 percent said Fast Ethernet has been deployed as the primary backbone technology, while 34 percent responded that ATM was the primary backbone.1. Which of the following have you deployed as a primary backbone technology?
V.90 Modem Speed FeedThe remote-access arena is bustling with V.90. When V.90 is paired with compression, connection speeds soar. But some of you are concerned about usability. In response to our March 8 poll about V.90 modems, 28 percent of you stated that you have no preference in how 56-Kbps technologies are paired, while 27 percent said you prefer V.90 paired with x2. And a whopping 85.5 percent of you said you expect to use V.90 as an alternative to ISDN. Our biggest surprise when the results rolled in? To the question concerning your ability to get faster connection rates on the road, nearly 40 percent replied, "I'm a homebody; I don't travel."1. Do you have a preference in how 56-Kbps technologies are paired?
No preference 28%
Yes, because it's less costly than ISDN 61%
I don't travel 38% E-Commerce Surf Is UpAlthough e-commerce is all the rage, it seems many of you are just starting to get your feet wet. Only 17 percent of respondents to our February 22 E-mail Poll conduct e-commerce, but more than 60 percent intend to do so within the next year. As for when you expect to see a return on investment from e-commerce, 38 percent don't know. Forty-one percent of respondents expect to see a return in eight to 18 months.1. When will your organization start conducting e-commerce?
Within the next year 62%
Integration with ERP, inventory, database or other software 55%
Don't know 38% The Scoop on E-MailOnce again, Microsoft Corp. has come out on top in the application arena. More than 42 percent of those responding to our February 8 E-Mail Poll deploy Microsoft's Exchange Server as part of their e-mail infrastructure, while slightly more than 41 percent deploy open standards-based services. The runaway leaders--at more than 74 percent--for deployed client technologies are standalone mail clients. And your current infrastructure costs don't seem to be spiraling out of control: More than 60 percent of you say you spend less than $100 per user, while only about 2 percent say you spend more than $1,000 per user.1. Which technologies are deployed as part of your e-mail infrastructure?
Microsoft Exchange Server 42.5%
Standalone mail clients 74.7%
Less than $100 60.9% Ready for Smartcards? Maybe Next YearSmartcards may be popping up like weeds in many places, but not in our readers' networks. According to the results of our January 25 E-Mail Poll, more than 90 percent of you have no smartcard applications in place. However, some of you do have plans to implement smartcard applications within the next year: More than 18 percent will implement single sign-on using smartcards, and more than 13 percent will implement secure Internet or intranet applications using Web browser-integrated smartcards and smartcard-enabled dial-in authentication or VPN connections. And an overwhelming majority of you, 89.5 percent, responded that you do not support an X.509v3 public key infrastructure on your network.1. Do you have any of the following smartcard applications in place?
No 92.1%
No 73.6% Backups Aren't Taking A BackseatNot one response to our January 11 E-Mail Poll, "Backing Up To Move Ahead," included "We have no backup strategy" as an answer. That's good news for everyone who trusts that his or her data will always be there.
The two most popular backup server distribution schemes, registering 45 percent and 40 percent, respectively, are large central backup servers and server-specific tape drives. As for the top factors in selecting a backup server, the software platform clearly is most important (80 percent), but price is close behind at 65 percent. Finally, 4-mm DAT (digital audiotape) is your top choice for media, cited by 50 percent of you, but 8 mm also scored high at 45 percent.
We have a large central backup server 45%
Platform on which it runs 80% As the Cash FlowsIn our Dec. 15, 1998, E-Mail Poll we asked you if you were sold on e-commerce. Business-to-consumer (B2C) sites are on the rise. Slightly less than half of you have a B2C site in place or are planning to launch one within the next year. But business-to-business (B2B) sites can't be counted out by any means--more than one-third of you have one in place or planned. What company will help you get these sites deployed? More than a quarter of you said you will be turning to Microsoft for help.1. What kinds of e-commerce solutions do you have in place or plan to implement within the next year?
Business-to-consumer 46.9%
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) 32.8%
Microsoft 26.6% The Verdict on ESMIn our Dec. 1, 1998, E-Mail Poll we asked if you think ESM (enterprise systems management) is the solution for real network problems today. More than 67 percent of you say you have an ESM system installed or under consideration; slightly more than 32 percent reported no plans for ESM. Those who are employing or considering ESM are using products from Hewlett-Packard Co., Computer Associates International and Tivoli Systems. And while installation and implementation are barriers to full implementation of an ESM platform, you say that the biggest deterrent is that you just don't think you need it.1. ESM in your organization is...
Under consideration 46.2%
Hewlett-Packard 30.7%
We don't need it 23.7%
Software distribution and asset management 30.7% Internet Control and MonitoringNovember 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the February 8, 1999 issue) How do you control and/or monitor employee Internet use in your organization? According to the results of our November 15, 1998, E-Mail Poll, the most common Internet-access policy, stated by 28.1 percent, is simply to allow all access. The next most common response--at 23.8 percent--is to allow access, but restrict nonbusiness use to personal time. As for defining your rules, 44 percent of you said that you have a written policy specifically defining the terms of Internet use.1. What is your company's Internet-access policy? Allow access, but restrict nonbusiness use to personal time 23.8% Restrict access to employees whose jobs require it 21.1% Allow access, but disallow all nonbusiness use 13.4% Block sites with questionable content 12.5% No access allowed 1.1% 2. How is your Internet-usage policy defined? Written policy specifically defines Internet use 44% Falls under a general policy for appropriate computer use 38.2% No defined policy 17.8% 3. What tools and techniques are used to ensure conformance? Regularly inspect server/gateway access logs 42.3% Use Internet gateway software to block sites 35.7% Spot-check employee activity 27.1% No enforcement 26.1% Spot-check client access logs, cookies and cache 23.8% Use client filter software to block sites 8.5% Home Is Where Your Job IsNovember 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the January 25, 1999 issue) Our November 1, 1998, E-Mail Poll results show that you're ready and willing to support the growing telecommuter population. We asked you about the number of telecommuters you'll support next year, and how you accommodate your current group. Although 90 percent of you responded that tried-and-true analog modems help your home workers get their jobs done, ISDN took second place. Next year you'll support more telecommuters than ever before.1. What percentage of your employees use telecommuting facilities at least twice a week? 49.4% Less than 5% 17% 5% to 10% 12.7% 11% to 25% 9% 26% to 50% 7.5% More than 75% 4.4% 51% to 75% 2. Which access methods do your employees use to telecommute? Analog (28.8-Kbps or 56-Kbps) modems 90.2% ISDN 29.2% Cable modem 10.8% xDSL 3.5% DirectPC 1% Other 4.9% 3. By the year 2000, what percentage of users do you expect to support for regular telecommuting needs? 25% Less than 5% 20.5% 5% to 10% 18.4% 11% to 25% 14.5% 26% to 50% 12.1% More than 75% 9.5% 51% to 75% The Great Client/Server MigrationOctober 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the January 11, 1999 issue) Client/server messaging solutions lie ahead for 41 percent of poll respondents now migrating from legacy systems, while 23 percent have already migrated to such systems, according to our October 15 survey on messaging migration. Slightly more than 56 percent of you support one or two legacy systems. And Microsoft Exchange is the messaging platform on which 52.2 percent of you have standardized.1. Is your organization migrating legacy systems to one or more client/server messaging solutions? We're in the process of migrating 41% We've completed the migration to our target platform 23% We're planning our migration strategy now 21.3% We have no plans to migrate to a new messaging solution 14.7% 2. How many legacy systems do you currently support? One or two 56.1% None 17.8% Three to five 16.7% More than six 9.4% 3. On which of the following enterprise messaging platforms have you standardized? Microsoft Exchange 52.2% Lotus Notes 18.5% Novell GroupWise 15.1% Netscape SuiteSpot 6.7% Other Internet mail platform 10.1% Other 9.5% Bandwidth ConservationOctober 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the December 15, 1998 issue) Our October 1 poll asked you about your bandwidth conservation measures and plans for bandwidth growth. For slightly more than 53 percent of you, electronic monitoring of Internet use is the top choice for conserving bandwidth, followed closely by quotas on emailbox size. When it's time to add bandwidth, 67.3 percent expect to put Gigabit Ethernet on the backbone.1. What bandwidth conservation measures do you employ? Please check all that apply. Electronic monitoring of Internet use 53.1% Quotas on e-mail mailbox size 47.9% Quotas on e-mail message size 39.8% Movement of LAN applications to thin-client architecture 28.6% Time-adjusted delivery of large transmissions 24.5% Bandwidth managers at choke points 15.3% Restrictions on use of real-time applications 12.2% End-to-end QOS techniques 2.0% Other 25.5% 2. What solutions are likely to be deployed at your organization to add bandwidth by 2000? Gigabit Ethernet on the backbone 67.3% Switching to the desktop 55.1% ATM on the WAN 17.3% Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop 15.3% ATM on the LAN 12.2% ATM on the campus 11.2% Sonet on the WAN 8.2% Other 24.4% Tentative About TurnkeysSeptember 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the December 1, 1998 issue) Although turnkey Internet servers can make it easier to connect your remote offices to the Internet or the central office, only 24.3 percent of you use them, according to our September 15 Poll. The poll also showed that you consider an e-mail server the most important feature, followed closely by firewall/VPN and Web-server functionality.1. Do you use turnkey Internet servers to connect remote offices to the Internet? No 68.6% Yes 24.3% Not at this time, but we plan to in the next two years 4.3% Not at this time, but we plan to in the next year 2.8% 2. On what platforms would you prefer to have them deployed? Windows NT 57.1% Unix 22.8% It doesn't really matter 14.2% NetWare 8.5% MacOS 0% Other 5.7% 3. Which features do you consider most important? E-mail server 88.5% Firewall/VPN 64.2% Web server 57.1% Remote management 54.2% File server 45.7% DNS/DHCP 38.5% Upgradable WAN connectivity 37.1% Network Address Translation 24.2% Influential IntelSeptember 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the November 15, 1998 issue) With our September 1 E-Mail Poll, we sought to gauge Intel's influence on you and your networks. More than 58 percent responded that any segment containing an Intel product offering has been shaped by the company's dominant market share of CPUs. Approximately 31 percent and 24 percent of respondents feel that Intel holds sway over network infrastructure equipment and network interface cards, respectively. And as you can see below, Intel is respondents' predominant processor for both desktops and servers.1. What processor is in your network's desktops? Intel 95.8% AMD 23.5% PowerPC 16.9% Cyrix 13.1% SPARC 13.1% HP-PA 7.5% Motorola 68k 6.1% Other 9.9% 2. Which of the following are in use on your network's servers? Intel 92% SPARC 18.3% Alpha 16.4% HP-PA 14.1% PowerPC 11.7% AMD 6.6% MIPS 3.3% Other 6.1% Home Sweet HomeAugust 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the November 1, 1998 issue)In our August 15 issue, we asked if you outsource, or plan to outsource, the upkeep of your Web site. Forty-five percent say you maintain your Web site in-house, while 29.8 percent report that upkeep is outsourced. And though one might assume that bandwidth is most important when choosing a Web hosting provider, it finished fourth. 1. Do you have a public Web site? Yes 89% No 11% 2. If yes, choose one of the following: Site is in-house and will stay in-house 45% Site is outsourced and will stay outsourced for the next year 29.8% Site is outsourced but will be moved in-house 12.5% Site is both in-house and outsourced, and we don't know what will happen 8.4% Site is in-house but will be outsourced in the next year 4.3% 3. When evaluating a hosting provider, which are most important? Cost 66.2% Level of access/control 48.9% Provider support 42.8% Bandwidth 39.3% Available services 31.7% Fault tolerance/disaster recovery 26.2% Provider flexibility 22.8% SLAs 4.1% Remote Access BoomingAugust 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the October 15, 1998 issue)Telecommuters are an ever-growing presence in the workforce, which means that enterprise remote-access demands are increasing as well. In response to this demand, 11.2 percent of you are supporting 145 or more ports in a single POP (point of presence) while 6.7 percent are supporting ISDN on more than 81 percent of your ports. But most are playing it safe when it comes to making the move to 56-Kbps modems (V.90 or V.PCM): 31.6 percent say you won't switch until it's really stable. Other responses from our August 1 poll appear below. 1. How many ports do you support in a single POP? 24 or less 61.6% 25 to 48 13.4% 49 to 96 10.5% 97 to 144 3.3% 145 or more 11.2% 2. What percentage of the ports you support are ISDN? Less than 20% 77.5% 21% to 40% 7.4% 41% to 60% 6% 61% to 80% 2.4% Greater than 81% 6.7% 3.When do you plan to move to 56-Kbps modems (V.90 or V.PCM)? We already did 22.5% Not until it's really stable 31.6% Q3 1998 12.5% Q4 1998 15.4% Q1 1999 8.3% Q2 1999 9.7% Strike Up the BandwidthJuly 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the October 1, 1998 issue)In response to our July 15 E-Mail Poll, you told us your bandwidth needs are growing--both on the LAN and the WAN. Most of you see your bandwidth requirements growing at a rate of 25 percent or less, but some of you are experiencing growth rates as steep as 76 percent to 100 percent. The most significant factor boosting the need for bandwidth? Twenty-nine percent cited the Internet. 1. By what percentage are LAN bandwidth requirements growing? 0% to 25% 41.5% 26% to 50% 34.8% 51% to 75% 16.3% 76% to 100% 5.9% More than 100% 1.5% 2. By what percentage are WAN bandwidth requirements growing? 0% to 25% 35.6% 26% to 50% 25.2% 51% to 75% 20.7% 76% to 100% 12.6% More than 100% 5.9% 3.What is the most significant factor underlying bandwidth growth? Internet Access 29% Business-specific applications 26.1% Messaging 24.3% Imaging 7.5% Collaboration 7% Video 4.6% Other 1.1% Transactions .03% Telephony .01% Linux is Looking GoodJuly 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the September 15, 1998 issue)Yes, you are using Linux! Well, nearly 75 percent of you are, while 14.6 percent of you are evaluating it. More than half of you say you use Linux because it runs circles around the other Intel platform OSes. Linux's easy manageability and the fact that it's developed by an open consortium also rank high among your reasons. But Linux's commercial availability isn't tempting everybody: You're split right down the middle with 52.7 percent saying that Linux's commercial avalibility does not make it a more appealing option, and 47.3 percent of you saying that it does. 1. Does your organization use Linux? Yes 72.6% No, but we're evaluating it 14.6% No, and we don't plan to use it 12.8% 2. For which of the following reasons does your organization use Linux? It runs circles around all the other Intel platform OSes 59.5% We find it easy to manage 47.0% We like the fact that it's developed by an open consortium 46.9% Some important applications for our organization run on Linux 41.8% Full available source code allows us to modify OS at will 41.4% Other reasons 40.3% We don't use Linux 12.8% No results in September 1 issue Considering CollaborationJune 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the August 15, 1998 issue)Even though very few of you--14.3 percent--are using groupware via the Web, most of you--52.4 percent--say you're considering it. Those using Web-based groupware are implementing it via interfaces to existing groupware systems. And the most common reason for not deploying Web-based collaboration tools? There's simply no demand. 1. Does your company use groupware via the Web? Yes 14.3% No, but we are considering it 52.4% No, and we have no plans to deploy it 33.3% 2. How do you plan to implement Web-based groupware? As a standalone environment 21.4% Via interfaces to our groupware system 45.3% We are not using it and have no plans to deploy it 33.3% 3. If you are not planning to deploy Web-based collaboration tools, what are your reasons? No demand 23.8% Products are not yet mature 23.8% Security 19% Network lacks Web infrastructure to support it 9.5% Web interfaces not sufficient 4.8% Thin Ain't Really InJune 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the August 1, 1998 issue)Despite claims that thin-client computing is a more cost-effective method of delivering client/server applications to user desktops, most of you (59.6 percent) have no plans to deploy it. Your No. 1 reason is that the cost of Windows-based PCs continues to decline, making them more cost-effective. 1. Does your organization use thin-client computers as an alternative to traditional Windows PCs? Yes 19.1% No, but we are considering it 21.3% No, and we have no plans to deploy it 59.6% 2. Which of the following thin-client technologies do you feel has the greatest potential benefit within your organization? Microsoft/Intel Net PC 29.4% Java-based network computers 33.7% Windows terminal technology using Citrix WinFrame or Microsoft Terminal Server software 36.9% 3. If you're not planning to deploy thin-client computers, what are your reasons? The cost of Windows-based PCs continues to decline, making them cost-effective 44.7% We've already built an infrastructure to support Windows clients 38.3% Lack of applications available for thin-client computers 25.5% Thin-client computers aren't flexible enough 23.4% Other 8.5% Thin-client computers are too unstable 1.5% Win, Place And ShowMay 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the July 15, 1998 issue)The results of the Well-Connected Awards People's Choice Poll are in! You voted for your favorite software and hardware products of the year, and below we've listed your top picks in each category. 1. Choose your favorite software product of the year. [14.8%] IntraNetWare, Novell [12.6%] Lotus Notes 4.6, Lotus Development Corp. [10.9%] Novell Directory Services, Novell [8.1%] Outlook Express (Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0), Microsoft Corp. [7.7%] Eudora Pro E-mail 4.0, QUALCOMM [6.1%] ActionWorks Metro 3.03 with OnTrack 1.0 for Exchange, Action Technologies [4.4%] Sniffer Basic, Network Associates [3.9%] ARCserve family, Computer Associates International [3.9%] Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0, Microsoft Corp. [3.3%] Systems Management Server 1.2, Microsoft Corp. [3.3%] TME 10 NetView 5.0, Tivoli Systems [2.8%] Alta Vista Forum 98, Digital Equipment Corp. [2.8%] NetIQ AppManager, NetIQ Corp. [2.8%] Visual Cafe for Java Database Development Edition, Symantec Corp. [1.6%] InocuLAN for Windows NT, Computer Associates International [1.6%] Network Health 4.0, Concord Communications [1.6%] Transcend Traffix Manager, 3Com Corp. [1.2%] NetID, Bay Networks [1.2%] OrbixMT, IONA Technologies [1.2%] StarBurst Multicast, StarBurst Communications Corp. [.6%] Dynabase, Inso Corp. [.6%] IBM TXSeries 4.2, IBM Corp. [.6%] Resonate Central Dispatch, Resonate [.6%] Sentry CA, XCert International [.6%] StandbyServer for NetWare/intraNetware, Vinca Corp. [.6%] Ultraseek Server, InfoSeek Corp. [.6%] ZOOMIT VIA, Zoomit Corp. [0%] Interse Market Focus (part of Site Server 2.0), Microsoft Corp. [0%] MQSeries V5.0, IBM Corp. [0%] NetDynamics 4.0, NetDynamics [0%] N-PLEX Enterprise, ISOCOR [0%] Shiva Access Manager 3.0, Shiva Corp. [0%] Transcend Enterprise Manager 4.2 for UNIX, 3Com Corp. 2. Choose your favorite hardware product of the year. [19.2%] Cisco Catalyst 5500, Cisco Systems [12.6%] Bay Networks Extranet switch 4000, Bay Networks [12.1%] Pipeline 75, Ascend Communications [10.9%] Firewall-1, Check Point Software [8.9%] CoreBuilder 3500 Layer 3 High-Function Switch, 3Com Corp. [8.8%] Cisco Systems AS5300, Cisco Systems [8.4%] HP Internet Advisor, Hewlett-Packard Co. [3.9%] Cisco 776, Cisco Systems [3.9%] ForeRunner ASX-1000, FORE Systems [3.4%] P550 Cajun Switch, Lucent Technologies [2.9%] HP D640, Hewlett-Packard Co. [1.8%] MetaStore Department System, Symbios [1.3%] Cisco 2916M-XL, Cisco Systems [1.1%] Permit Enterprise, TimeStep Corp. [.8%] SDM-9300, NetPerformer, ACT Networks [0%] Intel Business Video Conferencing with ProShare Technology, Intel Corp. [0%] Nortel Passport 6480, Nortel (Northern Telecom) In The Swim With Distributed File SystemsMay 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the July 1, 1998 issue)Only 15.2 percent of you are using a distributed file system like AFS or DCE DFS right now. However, 30.4 percent of you who aren't currently using one do have plans to implement a distributed file system soon. Additionally, 32.6 percent of you also are planning to deploy Windows NT 5.0's distributed file system. 1. Do you use a distributed file system like AFS, DCE DFS, etc.? Yes 15.2% No 84.8% 2. Do you plan to implement a distributed file system soon? Yes 30.4% No 69.6% 3. Are you planning on deploying Windows NT 5.0's DFS? Yes 32.6% No 67.4% Authentication SnapshotApril 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the June 15, 1998 issue)It's rather overwhelming: 72.8 percent of you say you are using centralized authentication for your remote-access users. And an equally impressive 75.4 percent are using hardware token-based authentication systems. Finally, your authentication protocol of choice is Windows NT Domains, at 44.1% 1. Do you use centralized authentication for remote-access users? Yes 72.8% No 27.2% 2. Which of the following authentication protocols are you using? NT Domains 44.1% RADIUS 25.0% None 21.3% NetWare Bindery 19.1% TACACS+ 5.9% TACACS 2.9% XTACACS .73% 3. Do you use hardware token-based authentication systems? Yes 75.4% No 24.6% On Your Way UpApril 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the June 1, 1998 issue)With so much graphical information to show you, there's no room for talk. So, here are the results from our "Keeping Up With The Joneses" E-Mail Poll. 1. When are you planning to implement your next backbone upgrade? Now 21.5% In the next 6 months 25% In the next 12 months 18% In the next 2 years 16.9% No plans for upgrading 18.6% 2. Which technologies are you considering for your backbone upgrade? Fast Ethernet 46.8% Gigabit Ethernet 31.7% ATM 22.5% FDDI 8.6% High-speed token-ring 4.6% Other 4.6% Token-ring 2.8% 3. What type of backbone routing do you plan to use? Collapsed 55.2% Distributed 44.8% 4. What is the typical size of your current Layer 3 network? Less than 50 users per subnet 29.7% 50-128 users per subnet 33.8% 128-256 users per subnet 17.6% 256-512 users per subnet 13.4% 1024 users per subnet 3.6% More than 1,024 users per subnet 1.9% Trip The Light LDAP: A New Heavyhitter Protocol?March 15, 1998 PollRight now only about one-quarter of you are using LDAP. But before you know it, that number will be on the upswing--45.2 percent of you responded that though you're not using LDAP now, you're planing to use it in the future. And what will be driving your deployment of LDAP? The two top responses were e-mail and directory services, with 58.1 percent and 45.2 percent respectively. 1. Does your company use LDAP? Yes, we use LDAP 25.8% No, but we plan to use LDAP soon 45.2% No, and we do not plan to use LDAP 29.0% 2. How do you plan to deploy LDAP within your organization? Both servers and clients 66.7% LDAP servers 21.5% LDAP clients 11.8% 3. Which applications are driving the deployment of LDAP in your organization? E-mail 58.1% Directory services 45.2% Web-based applications 35.5% Security services 29.0% Groupware 19.4% Database access 9.7% Other 6.5% MPU Servers? You Betcha!March 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the May 1, 1998 issue)When asked if you were thinking about using the latest round of MPU servers, nearly half of you said you are considering them in your growth plans. Queried about which OS you'd most likely use, an overwhelming majority of you said Microsoft (69.4 percent). 1. What is your primary reason for considering eight-way MPU servers?
I'm planning for future growth 46.8% Internet Platform of PreferenceFebruary 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the April 15, 1998 issue)Microsoft's Windows NT network operating system was the runaway winner--garnering nearly half the vote--for the platform on which you deploy your Internet services. Unix, with 29.2 percent, was the only other choice that even came close. Meanwhile, the 'turnkey hardware' choice didn't even show up as a blip on the screen. As always, performance/scalability issues were the No. 1 concern--22.2 percent of you said these issues influence your decision most. The big shock? Price came in surprisingly low: Only 6.1 percent of you said it influenced your decision. 1. What platform do you use to deploy Internet services? (Web, FTP, etc.)
Windows NT 45.4% Locking Down Your NetworkFebruary 1, 1998 Poll (Results published in the April 1, 1998 issue)Here are the results from our February firewall E-mail poll. See where your responses fall compared to those from our other readers. Then check out the firewall Buyer's Guide on page 110 to see if you could be securing your network any better or for less cash than you're laying out. 1. How many of your remote offices have firewalls both internal and to the Internet?
20% 49.5%
No, in all cases 46.6%
Best of breed 58.4% Calling In The FedsJanuary 15, 1998 Poll (Results published in the March 1, 1998 issue)Microsoft's rule of the desktop operating system market has sparked a great deal of discussion in our industry and in Washington. The government must now decide if Microsoft uses its position of dominance to unfairly compete in other markets, and we wanted to know what you think the government should do. Well so much for "give me liberty or give me death," because only 4.3 percent of you suggested that the government should just stay out of it altogether, while 39.9 percent felt that Microsoft should be required to provide equal access in the form of open APIs to its OSes and GUI. Thankfully, everyone has the right to their own opinion--just another benefit of living in the good old U.S. of A. 1. How do you think the U.S. government should deal with Microsoft's business practices surrounding its OS dominance?
Require that Microsoft provide equal access in the form of open APIs to its OSes and GUI 39.9% What's On Your Plate In 1998?December 15, 1997 Poll (Results published in the February 15, 1998 issue)We admire your honesty: 19.6 percent of you were willing to admit that you'd be spending your time in 1998--at least in part--finding out just exactly what a three-tiered message queuing middleware system is. We were also encouraged by your enthusiasm: Nearly one-quarter of you will spend the year "Web-ifying" everything you can get your hands on. But what really impressed us is your devotion: 36.4 percent of you responded that in 1998 you will dedicate yourselves to reading every issue of Network Computing. We're blushing. Thanks. 1. What's at the top of your "To Do" list for 1998?
Read every issue of Network Computing 36.4% Going Directly To DirectoriesNovember 1, 1997 Poll (Results published in the February 1, 1998 issue)It seems as if everyone you know will be jumping on the directory bandwagon within the next year--only 2.8 percent of you said that you'll never support an enterprise directory. Only 9.1 percent of you are running an LDAP-only directory, while a whopping three-quarters are using an NDS or other NOS-based directory. 1. If your organization doesn't already support an enterprise directory, when are you planning to do so?
Not sure when 39.7%
NDS, or other NOS-based directory (NIS, NT Domain, StreetTalk, etc) 74.8%
Internal network configuration 41.4% Security and PerformanceOctober 1, 1997 Poll (Results published in the January 15, 1998 issue)Although security seems to be a burning issue these days, more than one-third of you have no plans for implementing VPNs (virtual private networks). Those of you who have jumped on the VPN bandwagon want what you always seem to want: performance. At 56 percent, performance is the most important feature in a VPN. 1. How are VPNs implemented in your network?
No plans to implement VPN 36.7%
Performance 56.0% |
Yes 89%
On each desktop 53%
One 53%
No 85%
Gigabit Ethernet 15%
Gigabit Ethernet 60%
Time-tested technology 15%
