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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Server Blades and Virtualization? It’s All About Money

Here’s a universal truth when it comes to writing about technology tech people don’t talk like anyone else. This is why there is some apprehension when it comes to writing let alone having to read about server blades and virtualization. Those two topics were the focus of the 6th annual Server Blade Summit in Anaheim in which Key Information Systems, based in Woodland Hills, was a premier sponsor and the company’s marketing director Pete Elliot worked with summit Chairwoman Barb Goldworm on the programming. “I made a commitment to volunteer my time because I feel strongly that virtualization will be critical for the future of the technology industry,” said Elliot in a phone interview. And what is a server blade and virtualization? A server blade is multiple servers 10, 20 or 30 consolidated into one rack. Then using virtualization software, those servers can be turned into even more servers without additional hardware. While the process used to create virtualization is complicated to the layperson, the reason for doing so is not: to save money. If one server can be turned into many servers then it saves on space and it is easier to manage because there is less equipment, Elliot said. Consolidation of servers has become a powerful scenario for a lot of companies because they are going to get rid of a lot of servers and that frees up floor space, Elliot added. At the summit were presentations from vendors such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and VMware, the maker of virtualization software; and end users such as Countrywide Financial Corp. that are using virtualization. Clients of Key Information have already turned to virtualization or are in the process of doing so, Elliot said. What Elliot calls Virtualization 1.0 is about getting the idea out before the business community. Virtualization 2.0 will be about new ways of managing the process and the new technology available to implement it. In 2008, Elliot expects a bigger and better conference with more speakers and more end users. “We’re moving in a direction where it’s becoming more sophisticated,” Elliot said. “That’s what we are going to be looking at next year, the next step and where it is going in the future.” Storage Synergy Somewhat easier to understand is network storage, the tech sector inhabited by Archion Technologies. The Burbank company recently scored a new client in Turner Studios, the broadcast production division of Turner Entertainment Group. Turner turned to Archion for the firm’s new Synergy HD storage product to meet its expanded needs of high-def production in support of Turner Sports coverage of NBA games. The Synergy HD storage replaced older storage units that had experienced data losses. There was one hour of downtime to switch over from the old storage system to the Archion unit, said Ken Brady, director of technical operations for Turner Studios. The Synergy HD storage system was also recently acquired by McDonald’s to upgrade its digital storage of audio and video assets used to produce their corporate communications. The fastfood giant was impressed by how seamlessly the Synergy HD system could add storage space without requiring software or hardware upgrades, said Archion CEO Mark Bianchi. Broadcast Engineering Magazine chose the Synergy HD system as its 2007 “Pick Hit Award” winner at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas in April. Broadband Expansion United Online Inc. launched a new broadband service, the Woodland Hills company’s second foray into high-speed internet access. The Juno DSL service is available in parts of 34 states and the District of Columbia. United Online has offered broadband Internet access under the NetZero DSL brand since November. The two broadband services provide almost 30 percent of United Online’s customers the ability to upgrade. “Our Juno customers are extremely loyal to the brand so we launched Juno DSL to allow them to upgrade to a faster speed while giving them the chance to remain a part of the United Online family,” said company Chairman and CEO Mark Goldston. Wireless Standards Semiconductor supplier Semtech Corp. has come out in support of ONE-NET, an independent, user-supported development community committed to open standards for low-power wireless devices. Optimized for residential and small business control applications, the ONE-NET standard is specifically designed to use very low power and provide good security at a very low cost. “The benefits of the ONE-NET protocol are a perfect match for Semtech’s family of wireless devices because they bring small size, high functionality, low power consumption and low system cost to allow customers to take full advantage of the rapidly evolving market for wireless home automation and remote security products,” said Robert Whittaker, ISM Product Group Manager for Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products business unit. Briefs Xirrus Inc. received certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance for security and interoperability for its high performance, long-range Wi-Fi products. Products and equipment receiving the certification instill confidence for use in multi-vendor networks and will help accelerate the roll-out of enterprise-wide Wi-Fi networks, said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik The Chinese subsidiary of Van Nuys-based TechnoConcepts, Inc. signed an expanded agreement with one of China’s largest home entertainment manufacturing companies. The deal between Jinshilin Techno Ltd. and Changzhou Xingqiu Electronic Co., Ltd. results in Xingqiu providing manufacturing engineering and design work for Jinshilin’s IPTV set-top box. Staff Reporter Mark Madler can be reached at (818) 316-3126 or by e-mail at [email protected] .

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