Drew Robb

Databases usually have two things in common. They have grown far larger than envisioned by their creators and they are filled with unneeded data. Many companies, therefore, are seeking to pare them down to the essentials and archive little used content. But what should you archive, how should you do it and what best practices […]

Based on the success of last week’s Storage Networking World (SNW) conference in Orlando, Florida, the future of the storage world looks fairly bright. Despite a continuance of tough times for IT in general and faltering attendances at other industry events, SNW experienced highest ever attendance once again. Over 2500 attendees and 109 vendors visited […]

Instant Messaging can speed critical communications across the corporate network, saving time and giving an edge to team projects. The trouble is that IM also can speed viruses into the network, and shoot corporate secrets out to competitors without leaving any trail behind it. IM technology, at this point in its maturity level, isn’t the […]

There is no doubt that choosing the wrong software path can place severe strain on a company’s budget. Many have tried to make do with commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS), for example, only to find after a prolonged battle that their specific needs demanded professionally developed software. Others insist on reinventing the wheel by developing software […]

A few years ago, good customer service meant someone to answer the phone 40 hours a week. And as long as you replied to messages or faxes within 48 hours, nobody got too upset. Those days are gone. That’s why small and mid-sized firms are looking at Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software as a way […]

When was the last time you went on a roller coaster ride like the famous Cyclone at Coney Island, or perhaps a more modern ride like Scream at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles? Remember the terror (or joy, depending on your temperament) as you went up and down, and up and down? Well, […]

The Web Services Spin A core element of the move to on-demand computing is web services and this topic came in for discussion again and again at CA World. From a traditional systems management perspective, some view web services as a new layer on top of the conventional management layer that simply maps devices and […]

There was a certain simplicity to old-style warfare. The opposing troops would line up facing each in their colored uniforms and fire on command. Battles could only take place on certain designated days. There was no question about who was the enemy, where the front line was or when you were under attack. Protecting a […]

The idea that IT is in a recession looked pretty ludicrous at Computer Associates (CA) annual CA World event last month, held at the Mandalay Bay convention Center in Las Vegas. While other trade shows have scaled back over the past two years, CA World appeared to be bigger and more lavish than ever. 14,000 […]

For years now, Open Source advocates have been saying Linux will take over the entire UNIX field. And unlike its aging uncle, Linux’s inherent design necessitates unity. ”Because of the nature of Linux, the vendors have to cooperate and have a common operating system, unlike UNIX,” says Larry Augustin, chairman of VA Software Corporation, which […]

There is something very enticing about the word ”free”. It has a nice ring to it. But all types of free are not the same. That free dessert comes after the $50 dinner. The free silk tie only comes when you buy three suits. And don’t forget the free oil changes — which would cost […]

By longstanding IT practice, enterprise backups encompass data stored on servers, not workstations. If you want your files backed up, the mantra goes, don’t store them on your desktop. And as for laptops? Forget it. It’s up to the user to backup anything vital. Unfortunately, this mindset runs into the teeth of the explosive growth […]