EMC Unveils New Data Protection Products

EMC introduced new hardware and software products focused on data protection, including four new midrange data domain systems, updates to its data protection suite and snapshot manager, and extended backup and archive application support.

EMC’s new Data Domain DD2500, DD4200, DD4500 and DD7200 are four times faster and 10 times more scalable than their predecessors and support up to 540 data streams. Enterprises can expect up to a 38% lower cost per gigabyte, EMC says, while completely consolidating backup and/or archive data.

EMC’s data protection suite, Avamar 7, has added file system and NAS/NDMP backup to its repertoire, so it now supports all major data center workloads being directed to Data Domain systems. It now also features VM Instant Access, which allows a VM to be booted from a Data Domain system and up and running in less than 2 minutes. Other software updates include integrated snapshot management in NetWorker 8.1, as well as a new wizard-based user interface, auto-discovery and intelligent assignment of snapshot storage.

EMC also expanded its backup and archive application support. Data Domain systems now offer integration with archiving applications from OpenText, IBM and Dell, and also support direct backup from SAP HANA Studio via NFS. In addition, DD Boost for Oracle RMAN now supports Oracle Exadata and SAP running on Oracle. EMC’s Data Domain systems can be deployed with more than 20 products for file, email, SharePoint, content management and database archiving.

Netsocket Launches SDN Framework

Netsocket released its Virtual Network (NVN) product suite, a software-defined networking framework for network virtualization and advanced automation. Targeting commodity x86 virtual server platforms, it's completely software-based.

Networking elements of the NVN suite include the vFlowController, which provides carrier-class Layer 2-4 forwarding control, and vFlowSwitch, a virtual Layer 3 switch that offers port-by-port management, integrates with industry virtual Layer 2 switches and works with OpenFlow-enabled switches. Both run on Microsoft’s Hyper-V technology. vFlowController can natively interoperate with legacy networks through vRouter, vTunnel and vFirewall components, which Netsocket provides at no cost.

Netsocket’s NVN suite also includes two applications: vNetCommander, a centralized management system that handles automated installation, provisioning and orchestration of the network; and vNetOptimizer, a virtualized version of the company’s Cloud Experience Manager service assurance product, which provides real-time network service analytics, automation and optimization of the network.

Netsocket is offering what calls an “Early Experience Edition” of the suite that can be downloaded for free. It includes vFlowController, vFlowSwitch, and the vNetCommander-BASIC application.

CA Expands Mainframe Management Capabilities

CA Technologies added new network and system management capabilities to its CA Chorus mainframe management platform, and introduced some new tools aimed at big iron.

CA Chorus Infrastructure Management for Networks and Systems integrates system, network and DB2 for z/OS performance management applications into a single interface. CA said the updates are aimed at helping enterprises cope with mainframe experts retiring by providing a streamlined workspace--the look and feel of CA Chorus is the same for a database administrator, security administrator or storage manager.

CA also announced its CA Cross-Enterprise Application Performance Management 3.0, which enables IT administrators to identify and isolate performance problems more quickly by monitoring health metrics of critical application components. Like CA Chorus, CA CE APM 3.0 features enhanced dashboards that facilitate more immediate alerts to reduce application outages.

Barracada Further Integrates WAF With Azure

Barracuda Networks has deepened integration of its Web application firewall (WAF) with Windows Azure so that it can be deployed as a single instance or as part of a security platform to protect against SQL injections, cross-site scripting, OS command injections, session tampering, buffer overflows, XML attacks and DoS attacks.

The Barracuda Web Application Firewall scans all inbound Web traffic to block attacks while scanning all outbound traffic to prevent data loss. It is available as a physical or virtual appliance and is deployed in front of Web application servers. It comes with predefined security templates and features automatic security updates and virtual patching through Barracuda’s Energize Updates Continuously updated threat profiles.

Performance-wise, Barracuda's WAF features content caching, data compression and SSL acceleration, as well as integrated load balancing. User access control features include authentication via LDAP and RADIUS.

NEXT: New releases from Polycom, LANDesk, and Citrix

Polycom Goes Panoramic For Lync

Polycom unveiled 360-degree, panoramic 1080p HD video collaboration specifically built for Microsoft Lync 2013, while also announcing Lync 2013 qualification for its full portfolio of Polycom VVX Business Media Phones and accompanying software updates for its UC Software v 5.0 in Lync environments.

The company’s CX5500 system features enterprise-grade video and audio collaboration capabilities, and can be plugged into a USB port on a laptop; it also doubles as a SIP audio conference phone. Meanwhile, the CX5100 provides the same HD panoramic USB video experience for customers who don’t require standalone conference phone connectivity. Both deliver 1080p active speaker video that automatically tracks the flow of conversations at a 30 fps, while offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the room. The CX5500 and CX5100 systems can also be used in combination with the recently announced Lync Room System.

The CX5100 will be available worldwide in September, while the CX5500 is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter. The UC Software v. 5.0 for Lync users will be available in August as a free upgrade for customers on VVX Business Media Phone maintenance support.

LANDesk Puts Tools Under One Umbrella

LANDesk Software announced Secure User Management Suite, which pulls together its Integrated Systems, Asset and Security Management Solution, LANDesk Management Suite and LANDesk Security Suite into a single suite to enable IT managers to view of all the assets in their environment--everything from smartphones to software licenses.

Available now, features in the combined suite include LANDesk Data Analytics, which measures software usage for group licensed software to guard against failing audits, LANDesk Management Suite, which now offers Automated Software License Reclamation so enterprises can reclaim unused or underused software from systems, and the ability to monitor software usage in a VDI environments.

Secure User Management Suite includes latest version of LANDesk Patch Manager, which allows administrators to fine-tune scheduling and circumstances for patching a system.

Citrix Delivers Apps And Desktops From Azure

Citrix’s recently announced XenDesktop 7 now allows enterprises to deliver mobile apps and Windows Server-based session desktops from Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud platform. Using the licensing support for Remote Desktop Services on Windows Azure, XenDesktop can extend session desktops to support live session roaming, multiple device types and formats, and rich media. Citrix’s integration with Windows Azure also supports the ability to create multi-tenant desktop services.

XenDesktop 7 is built on Citrix’s Avalon platform and can mobilize Windows applications for smartphones and tablets. It makes use of Citrix Receiver, a universal client built for devices running Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android and others that require a clientless HTML5 Web interface. XenDesktop also has a management tool to manage profiles independently from the operating system and uses real-time synchronization of user files from Citrix ShareFile.