Arriving at Insight I was astounded at the size of the event:

• 2000+ delegates
• 26,600 hours of Technical Learning
• 200+ breakout sessions

As expected, new storage hardware was discussed in detail with the new FAS2240 receiving a lot of attention.

The FAS2240 is aimed at the SME market and as such has a price to match. Perhaps the most impressive feature of this hardware is its scalability; capable of storing up to 432Tb with the ability to transform the FAS2240 into a standard disk shelf which can be incorporated without any data migration into a larger NetApp storage platform. This all fits in very nicely with the new “Start Right, Keep it Simple, Grow Smart” strategy.

Storage Efficiency technologies are an area that NetApp are very proud of. So much so that Dave Hitz (Founder and Vice President of NetApp worldwide) made it the topic for his breakout session and keynote speech. What was very impressive is some of the statistics that were covered:

Using FlashCache, SATA can be used instead of SAS to achieve the same performance meaning less than half the cost, power and rackspace. Oh and you get double the storage capacity!

Deduplication carried some very impressive figures, so far worldwide has saved NetApp customers over 5 Exabytes of data!! To put that into perspective that’s 5,000,000,000 Gb! The message with Deduplication was simple..

Just turn it on!

So what can we expect NetApp to bring over the next year or so?

Well, the term “infinite and immortal” has become more popular in recent months with NetApp folk, this is their vision of the future for their storage platforms. Infinitely scalable in both size and performance and immortal through hardware resiliency. Reflecting back on the breakout sessions I attended it’s clear to see that they’re on the right track.

With Data ONTAP 8.1 cluster-mode (due early 2012) linear scale-out performance can be achieved by simply adding another node which in turn adds to the overall reliability and resiliency of the storage cluster as a whole.

There is also a strong belief that ‘Big Data’ will be the cloud of 2012, with NetApp’s recent announcement of the e-Series aimed at High Performance Computing, Seismic data and full motion video data capture they may be ahead of the curve.

We’ve gone a bit further now though and got sponsorship from NetApp and Microsoft to award small prizes to winning managers in our league. Each month we will send £20 in gift vouchers to our manager of the month.

If you want to add your team to our league, just contact Paul Stringfellow (pauls@gardsys.co.uk) and he will send you the registration link.

What’s to be included?

SP1 does not include any new features to the Windows 7 OS and will consist mostly of security patches and non-security fixes that have previously been made available through Windows Update.

Two features that will be included are RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory. Allowing companies to better leverage virtualisation technology with Windows Server 2008 R2.

RemoteFX

Microsoft say:

By leveraging the power of advanced codecs and virtualized graphics resources on the data center host, RemoteFX adds support for any application, including 3D, and rich media to a virtual desktop environment. In doing so, RemoteFX complements and extends the user experience enhancements of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services.

From a user perspective, things are going to look a whole lot nicer, Windows 7 Aero will be possible on thin clients. What this means from a business perspective is that the cost of client machines can be significantly reduced without having to compromise on graphical performance. Thin-clients can even do CAD design. Excellent!

For more info, http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/rds-remotefx.aspx

DynamicMemory

Again, for use in Virtualised Infrastructures; Dynamic Memory is the ability to pool memory as a resource and use it where it is needed when it is needed. This ability to automatically shift RAM from one virtual machine to another whilst running increases RAM utilisation and can reduce overall equipment costs.

For more info. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff919570%28VS.85%29.aspx

Service detail

The IBM ServicePac is a simple, cost-effective way to purchase a range of support services and is particularly suited to those small and medium sized organisations who want the full backing of a world-class IT services provider yet at a competitive price.

IBM ServicePac offers a fixed term and predefined scope and is available through Gardner’s. The IBM ServicePac range is wide and includes hardware maintenance services, software support services, implementation services and education.

This ServicePac is available for a selected number of HP® servers including P class blades, Proliant DL and ML servers.

Highlights

• Provides pre-packaged hardware maintenance services for a one time payment
• The hours of cover are 7 days a week , 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Gets your systems up and running fast, with over 30% of support calls currently fixed remotely
• 4 hour on site response time following problem determination
• Helps to minimise downtime and expense
• 1or 2 year contract term
• Network of UK stores with over 42,000 parts stocked

IBM delivers these services using the same systems, methods, resources and contact centre that are used for IBM products. This means that the service is delivered to the same high standard as other IBM services. This is not a subcontracted service.

ServicePac options are designed to be easy to use and order. Plan your support by making a single payment and be confident that IBM is delivering the service you need. Contracting has never been so simple. Each ServicePac is a self-contained contract and simply needs to be registered with IBM to activate service.

For full description including ServicePac Selection Guide and HP ServicePac Guide please visit:-

http://www-935.ibm.com/services/uk/index.wss/offering/its/n1629769

This is the first opportunity for anyone interested in SBS 2011 Essentials to get their hands on a copy of the server OS for trial purposes before the official product is released. This 25 users (maximum), cloud based system is fundamentally different from any other version of SBS that has gone before in that advanced features such as Email, SharePoint and AV are provided using cloud services.

This stripped down version is priced for small businesses allowing them to only pay for the features they need and nothing they don’t.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, use the links below to download a copy or alternatively subscribe to our blog for regular updates.

Here are some helpful links:

1. Official SBS 2011 Download page

2. SBS 2011 Official YouTube channel – contains helpful tutorial videos

3. Microsoft’s Official SBS website

Since then, the development of this Operating System has been relentless. Including a name change to Windows Small Business Server 2011, a simplified user interface and interaction with cloud based services.

Official SBS Website http://www.microsoft.com/sbs

Features of SBS 2011:

• Simplified IT Management
• Automatic daily backup of client machines and servers
• Access Business Information from Virtually Anywhere, Anytime
• Built-in Document Collaboration
• Designed and Priced for Small Businesses

Despite going through some changes, SBS 2011 still remains available in two editions:

Standard – supports up to 75 users

This, like previous versions of SBS is an entirely on premise solution including Email, File and Print features.

Essentials – supports up to 25 users

This edition contains a minimal number of inbuilt feature and relies on cloud based offerings to provide functionality such as email eg Exchange Hosted Services.

For more information see the Official SBS Website at www.microsoft.com/sbs

Welcome to Bootcamp

Lesson 1 – cloud and hosted services are the same thing, just called different things by different people.

Lesson 2- cloud computing is a concept

Lesson 3 – there are different types of clouds

Talking Clouds

The concept of cloud computing is simple, it looks at computing from a functional perspective and not that of the system builder or Administrator. For example cloud computing says “I want the ability to send email without paying for a server” or “I want the ability to backup my data without worrying about changing tapes”.

Most people aren’t concerned with how their services work, instead they are more concerned with the quality of service they receive. Cloud is all about consuming the facilities you need when you want, where you want and receiving a consistent service managed by someone else. This is provided via an Internet connection to the hosting company.

Nowadays, you can have a wide range of services provided to you via the Internet including:

• Office applications (word processing etc)
• Email
• Data Backup
• AntiVirus Protection and Systems Management
• Collaboration software
• Everything you need really.

So why is cloud important?

From a business perspective, less management and guaranteed levels of service for fixed monthly fees. With only paying what you need at the time you need it, businesses can reduce their costs dramatically.

Going forward, all major technology vendors including NetApp, IBM, Google, Microsoft have recognised cloud computing. Microsoft’s has even based its latest planned server OS for SME’s (SBS Aurora – blog post here) on cloud services to provide its core functionality – a big gamble? At the moment, possibly, cloud is new an misunderstood. In 3 years time when this OS is released, not at all because at that point cloud will be a well known platform.

So, SBS2008 has been around for 2 years now, as with other versions of SBS before, it is suitable for up to 75 users and contains the following:

1. MS Exchange Server
2. SharePoint site for collaboration
3. Remote Web Workplace
4. File and Print sharing

In short, all the things that businesses need to get going licensed as one product, installed on one server.

So, what does the new SBS contain I hear you ask….well, in short, nothing much. But, it is radically different from other versions of SBS previously released and contains 2 versions.

SBS7 (codename)

This version of the new SBS is an on premise solution, it runs on a single server and contains the usual MS Exchange, SharePoint, File and Print etc. This is likely to only contain product updated from previous versions of SBS. [more details here]

SBS Aurora (codename)

Now this is cool! With all the talk of cloud computing Microsoft have included it in the core functionality of this product. This does not contain MS Exchange, SharePoint or CRM out of the box but can provide them by consuming Microsoft’s BPOS services.

No worrying about backing up your Exchange, because Microsoft do it for you.

No worrying about losing emails if your server crashes, because Microsoft do it for you.

Great!

This product will reduce the outgoing cost for Small Businesses by allowing them to pay only for the services (Email, SharePoint, CRM) they need on a monthly basis whilst allowing Administrators to manage the system as if it is inhouse. [more details here]

We expect this to be a great product which will provide everything that an SME requires, nothing that it doesn’t. Watch this space!

Normally when mentioned that the camera is connected to a computer network people tend to think of webcams, small, basic devices that connect to your computer used for chatting with your friends. This simply isn’t the case, with the advancement of camera technology picture definition has been vastly improved and impressive features added including::

• High Definition
• Thermal imaging
• Infra-Red imaging
• Facial recognition
• Automatic Number Plate Recognition
• PIR sensing
• LED lighting
• Motion detection

As these cameras are Ethernet based they can be easily incorporated into your existing network infrastructure to allow easier manageability, scalability, reliability and flexibility. Images can be backed up to a data store on your network or using Gardners service offerings, backup the images to us also ensuring that you always have a copy of your images.

Pilot Scheme

We have recently begun our trial scheme for our Axis offerings. During the past couple of weeks we have been contacted by some of the North-West’s largest companies interested in this technology and are piloting the cameras with them.

If you wish to get involved with this free of charge trial scheme, we have a range of IP cameras available suitable for any purpose. If you are considering replacing your current security cameras, installing new ones, or are simply interested in the technology and want to trial some IP cameras please just let me know.

Email: jasonf@gardsys.co.uk

Twitter: @enrjfitz

Phone: 0151 220 5552

Hi all, first blog post in a while (sorry!).

Just to remind all of you that were hot on the heels of downloading and installing Windows 7 RC (build 7100) – your time is almost up. Starting on 1st March 2010 users with this RC release will experience their machine shutting down every 2hrs, messages warning that the copy of Windows is not genuine.

On June 1, 2010, if you are still on the Windows 7 RC, your license will expire and the non-genuine experience will be triggered. Your wallpaper will be removed and "This copy of Windows is not genuine" will be displayed in the lower right corner of your desktop, above the taskbar. Starting on February 15, 2010, Windows 7 RC should actually start giving daily prompts to remind you about the expiration, but just in case two weeks’ notice isn’t enough, we’re letting you know a month in advance.

If you have enjoyed using Windows 7, upgrade to it! It’s brilliant!

Upgrade sooner rather than later to avoid issues in the future.