Cameron Sturdevant

Remote control software, still the wallflower of the IT help desk, is rapidly gaining functionality, as I saw in tests of CrossTecs $179 NetOp Remote Control 7.0, released late last year. I was able to remotely control Red Hat Linux systems from the same console that I used to take over a variety of Microsoft […]

InfoExpress CyberGatekeeper uses “all stick and no carrot” to keep remote users in line when it comes to security and anti-virus products. During tests, I used the product to prevent log-ins by remote users who had either removed or had not upgraded various InfoExpress and third-party security products. Although some harshness is necessary to keep […]

Segue Software Inc. has significantly improved its SilkPerformer V Web application testing and load simulation tool by streamlining test setup procedures and incorporating several innovative analysis utilities. IT managers should consider SilkPerformer V to help with regression testing of complex Web sites that allow numerous user interactions, such as e-storefronts or online information clearinghouses. In […]

It goes without saying that organizations with many Windows systems have been installing a lot of security patches lately. eWeek Labs tests show that harried managers can get some relief from this chore by using Configuresoft Inc.s Security Update Manager. But there are catches. The first is that organizations must already have Configuresofts ECM (Enterprise […]

If taking potshots at enterprise CDNs seems like shooting fish in a barrel during these tough economic times, consider the nutritional value of the dead fish. Content delivery networks inside an organizations firewall may not be ready for prime time, but in the not-too-distant future, they will likely provide the productivity increase and corresponding improved […]

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. could save a lot of marketing ink on Next Generation Feature Pack 1, its firewall/VPN update, by just saying, “Hey folks, its a lot easier to use.” In eWeek Labs tests, we determined that the add-on Feature Pack 1, at $3,495 for a license to protect 25 IP addresses, is […]

Its not hard to make a Microsoft Visio diagram really messy really quickly. Cougar Technical Solutions GoVisual tidies up worked-over design drawings. In tests, I was able to clean up my old network diagrams in just a few minutes using GoVisual. In some cases, the effect was similar to a painting that had undergone restorative […]

Since the official death earlier this year of network management frameworks including Computer Associates International Inc.s Unicenter TNG, fragmentation is the name of the network monitoring game. IT managers should still push for a framework, despite the dismal failure of these products the first time around. The reasons why are increased productivity and reduced network […]

Whatsup gold, the venerable network monitoring utility from Ipswitch, got a face lift that makes it easier to use than previous versions while adding useful bells and whistles, such as in-depth SNMP device identification. I had WhatsUp Gold up and running within minutes using a variety of network discovery methods. WhatsUp Gold allowed me to […]

Determining whether an existing IP network can support satisfactory voice traffic just got easier with NetIQ Corp.s first release of Chariot VoIP Assessor. In eWeek Labs tests, we easily developed and ran tests that showed us where planned voice implementations were likely to succeed or fail. When VoIP Assessor found problems, it generated reports that […]