Seem like those of us in network and telecom find ourselves spending so much time on server room complexity, heat issues and wiring that we forget there are simple solutions for the small everyday irritating problems we keep putting aside.

Like what you ask? You know, where to put things like screws, cables and other misc items that techs need handy when working on servers. I have found that having a simple little rackmount lockbox works very well to keep those messy things hidden yet close to the techs that need them. I have seen some placed every 3-5 racks and others on every row of racks.

I convinced ISC management to put them on sale thru 10-14 at a 20 percent savings so you can try one out painlessly. They are available 9 inches deep with a hinged lock-latch in both 3U and 4U. Click on Rackmount Lockbox to see a picture and more details. Heck, that is why they call me, The Rackmount Ranger!

Sprint launched its first WiMAX market last week, but the long-awaited Baltimore roll-out was followed by two other interesting bits of news related to the company. First, it seems as though Sprint is looking to establish, or perhaps re-establish, its wireline identity at the same time that AT&T is looking to blur the lines (pun intended) between its wireline and wireless units. Last week, AT&T announced a management shuffle and structural revamp intended to to help it address the converged services evolution, but on the same day as that move, Sprint announced a new wireline unit aimed at offering IP-based converged voice, data and video services to businesses.

So, are these efforts two different takes on the future of convergence? Not exactly. Sprint is still in recovery from its post Nextel acquisition tailspin, and the company’s wireline efforts have been an area of strength. It appears that the one-time long-distance upstart is trying to leverage that strength, while also marketing the wireline unit as an organization offering more than just basic wireline business services.

The second interesting bit of news came late last week, as The Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint is finally giving in and looking to sell the Nextel unit. New Sprint CEO Dan Hesse once said the company was committed to improving the Nextel unit and network, but subscriber leakage has continued.

By Dan O’Shea FierceTelecom

I get calls all the time about Rackmount Panel Options. Seems like I am alway learning new things network guys and gals are doing with them. Because of this, I have made sure that ISC has a rackmount panel just for you on their website.

Without going into detail, I can say that if you want steel, aluminum, vented, security, flanged, unfanged, ability to cut your own holes in them or a whole bunch more, click here to find the panel for your specific application. Your protector, Rackmount Ranger!

By James Niccolai

October 01, 2008 — IDG News Service —

Google’s leadership on the Web stems partly from its powerful data centers, which allow it to provide lightning-fast search results while keeping energy costs to a minimum. The company has been mostly secretive about what goes on inside these giant computing factories, but on Wednesday it offered a peek at what it has been able to achieve — on the energy side at least.

Google has published results from internal studies showing that its data centers are “the most efficient in the world,” according to a blog post from Urs Hölzle, its senior vice president of operations. While some of what it does, like designing its own servers, isn’t practical for most businesses, other tricks could be replicated by other companies, albeit for an upfront capital cost.

Click here to see the rest of the story

By Nancy Gohring

October 01, 2008 — IDG News Service —

Enterprises can now buy a networking appliance from Cisco Systems that runs basic Windows Server 2008 functions, a product designed for use in branch offices, Cisco and Microsoft announced Wednesday.

The companies said in February that they were working on a way for enterprises to run Windows Server 2008 services locally at a branch office on Cisco’s Wide Area Application Services networking appliance. The alternative for many companies is either to use a full Windows Server at every branch, which could be overkill, or run all functionality centrally, which could result in slow performance for branch workers.

With the new product, called Windows Server on WAAS, branch offices can host services locally including Active Directory, Microsoft Print Services, Microsoft Domain Name System Server and Microsoft Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server. That can improve performance for branch workers and reduce costs related to wide area network connectivity and branch systems management. An IT administrator can remotely manage the Windows Server functions using Microsoft System Center.

Cisco used embedded virtualization technology in its appliance to enable Windows Server 2008 to run on it.

Some companies that had early access to the product describe their experiences on a Web site set up by Microsoft and Cisco. Farm Credit Services of Mid-America had 180 Windows Servers companywide, including one in nearly every branch, said Jim Curtis, director of infrastructure. His goal with Windows Server on WAAS is to move most of the branch servers to the company’s data center to make better use of a small infrastructure support staff.

He currently runs Active Directory centrally, but once the appliance setup is complete he could move Active Directory to the branches as a read-only function, improving log-in times for workers and mitigating potential security issues, he said.

The product is one example of Cisco and Microsoft working together while they also compete in other markets, such as unified communications.

Pricing for Windows Server on WAAS starts at US$10,000, including the hardware and the software license. Other configurations with more storage are also available.

Copyright © 2008 IDG News Service. All rights reserved. IDG News Service is a trademark of International Data Group, Inc. Article From CIO.COM

How many of you have had nightmares about one of your rackmount servers burning up? Even worse, how many of you have actually had a server burn up? Before you get to depressed, I have a solution that can take away your fears and help you sleep a whole lot better!

I have been recommending a very cost efective solution for the last couple of years that alerts you by phone, email, text message or whatever if the temperature or humidity levels exeeds your parameters. It is called a SensorHub.

The SensorHub is a zero “U” sensor that allows you place it wherever you want to in a server rack or ceiling. For more information, check out the SensorHub link. By the way, you can save 10% if you purchase by 10-7-08. Your total solution provider, Rackmount Ranger.

Sep 30, 2008

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer still sees a “certain buoyancy” among technology and telecommunications customers worldwide, despite recent US economic woes.
“Our industry is not immune to what goes on in the global economy. And yet as I travel…given the current circumstances, people still see a certain buoyancy in the market,” Ballmer, quoted by a Reuters report, said.

“At least, for now, people are feeling, I won’t say optimistic, but better than you would be feeling if you are watching CNBC all day,” he said of the financial TV channel.

Ballmer, the leader of the world’s largest software maker, said he was speaking generally of industry demand rather than his own business. “We are one week from the end of the quarter, so I have nothing all that interesting to say,” he said

Wall Street analysts, on average, expect the Redmond, Washington-based company to generate an 8% rise in revenue to just under €1.04 billion (US$15 billion) during its fiscal first quarter ending in September, the Reuters report further said.

Article from America’s Network

Visa is developing mobile payment software for the new wireless phone powered by Google’s Android system, an Associated Press report said.

San Francisco-based Visa said Android users will be able to receive near real-time alerts about purchases via their mobile devices, Visa said. Users also will be able to use location-based mapping technology to find ATM machines and nearby stores where they can redeem special Visa offers.

The software will be broadly available to US consumers by the end of the year, starting with holders of Chase Visa cards, the Associated Press report said.

Visa’s announcement came two days after T-Mobile USA showed off the G1, the first phone harnessing Google’s ambition to make the internet easy to use on the go. The T-Mobile device is schedule to hit US stores October 22.

The nation’s largest payment network also signed a deal to give users of Nokia’s upcoming 6212 Classic-model cell phone the ability to make “contactless” payments in stores just by flashing their phone at an electronic scanner.

Similar “contactless” capabilities for Android users are still under development, Visa said.

Sep 26, 2008 Article from www.americasnetwork.com

If you have a lot of cables running through your rack or cabinet, these offset rackmount lacer bars can be very handy. Common uses are putting the Lacer Bar Close To The Rear Of The Unit For Cable Strain Relief Or Managing Multiple Horizontal Cable Bundles At Different Depth Positions.

ISC has several versions of these on sale ending 10-1-08. This is a very economical way to organize your cables and makes it a bit easier to work on your hardwar as well.

When you follow the link to the page, you will have to scroll down to see the sale items but it is worth it. Part numbers are LBP-2A, LBP-4A and LBP-6A. Glad I could be of help, Rackmount Ranger.

Be honest, how many of you have been asked or ordered to put company rackmount hardware in a room that was not designed for today’s servers?

I see it all the time. Someone higher up decrees that there is space available in a room down the hall without giving thought the air conditioning can’t handle the load. Even worse, the air is turned off or set at a higher temperature at night and holidays. I also see network rooms that have nasty hot spots in them that are not easily to fix

How are you going to manage this kind of situation without losing your job, burning up your servers or both? After working with many network managers on cooling issues, I found a product that can save your hind end and your server. It is called Cool Cube and provides 10,000BTU/HR Cooling In A Self Contained Portable Unit.

The Cool Cube can be rackmounted, put on wheels, stacked or hung from the ceiling. If you are dealing with bad heating issues, it worth looking at this. If you have any questions, call your trusted solution provider, Rackmount Ranger.