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POWER & ENERGY. Network
World, 10/06/06 (p12,16)
"As heat, power and cooling rise to the top of the list of concerns
for data center managers, there are a growing number of initiatives
aimed at helping enterprises reduce electricity consumption and increase
efficiency of their technology infrastructures." more
"What follows are some recent initiatives that IT managers should
be watching:
- 80 Plus - utility-funded
program, provides incentives to manufacturers to use more energy
efficient power supplies into desktop computers and servers. (page
1)
- ASHRAE Standards- some
87 standards, uniform methods of testing equipment for rating purposes;
recommended practices in designing and installing equipment; indoor
air quality, thermal and energy conservation; and recommend the safe
use of refrigerants. (page
2)
- Fault Tolerant Power Compliance Specifications and Cooling
Compatibility Specification, The
Uptime Institute, computers that receive AC input from two
AC power sources; provide fault-tolerant operation; computer or
communications equipment; maintaining a consistent internal temperature
regardless; (page
3)
- Google
PSU Standard, (12VDC) - Google, working with Intel; proposal
for a new 12-volt standard for power supplies that support PCs
and low-end servers, eliminating today's multivoltage power supply
units (PSU), which Google says provide too much power and waste
30% to 45% of their energy. By using Google's proposed standard,
which the search engine giant uses internally to cut costs, enterprises
could reduce energy waste to just 10%, Google says."
(page
4)
- The Green Grid, Advanced
Micro Devices (AMD), HP, IBM, Sun, Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Alliance to Save Energy; aims to collect best practices
in data center operation, construction and design, and issue recommendations
for energy-efficient IT. (page
5)
- House of Representatives Bill H.R. 5646 (Google't);
To study and promote the use of energy-efficient servers, calls for
EPA to submit a study of the growth and energy consumption of data
centers, study will include an analysis of growth trends and server
utilization, the migration to energy-efficient processors, potential
cost saving available through adopting energy-efficient servers and
data centers, and the impact on existing energy grids, as well as
recommendations on incentives offered for using energy-efficient
servers and data centers. (page
6)
-
National
Fire Protection Standards, The National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA), Description: The NFPA
has more than 300 codes and standards that minimize the risks
and effect of fires. (page
7)
- Server
energy measurement protocol (PDF) - EPA with vendors and researchers,
including AMD, Dell, HP, IBM and Sun, to create energy-efficiency
measurement guidelines for buyers to use when purchasing low-end
(1U and 2U) servers. (page
8)
ZD Tech Update 2006-10-17
Today Sun unveiled "Project Blackbox," which tucks several
racks of computing gear, along with the necessary power and
cooling equipment, into a standard shipping container 8
feet wide, 8 feet tall and 20 feet long. Due for release next summer,
the data center in a box is aimed at companies running out of space,
power and cooling in their data centers. more
Electronic Design, October
4, 2006, ED Online ID #13692
"Will a Power Electronics Technology Roadmap ever become a reality?
There have been several workshops and efforts made toward producing
such a roadmap, but so far there has been more talk than progress.
The need exists, but the more salient question is whether the manpower
and expertise are available to produce such a document." more
Best Practices for Hurricane Evacuation and Remote Operations
(Remote
Magazine, June/July 2006, p20-22) NOT found online at Remote's
web but The
Perfect Storm Platform is almost identical (same authors
- Michael Chmilewski and Stan DeVries).
Power Snippets
- Pentadyne
Ready to Ship Second-Generation Clean Energy Storage Product (Rem.Mag Oct/Nov
'06)- VSS+DC, 190kW for 12.5 sec, 20 yr design-life operating 24x7. Detailed
specs at Pentadyne.
- IdaTech:
ElectraGen™ Family
of Critical Backup Power Systems Achieves NEBS Level 3 Certification (Sep
'06), also - IdaTech,
LLC Acquired by UK-Based Investec Group Investments Limited (Jul
'06)
- Backyard wind
turbines turn energy consumers into suppliers (IEEE
Spectrum,
Oct '06, p18) "In August, Southwest Wind Power, a
start-up located in Flagstaff, Ariz., began selling a 1.8-kilowatt
residential wind turbine dubbed SkyStream 3.7 [see photo, “In
My Backyard”]. The tiny power plant sells for US $5100; total
cost including installation runs between $8500 and $11 000. By
comparison, the installed cost of comparable small wind devices
can eclipse $30 000." more
:: Communication (Tele/Data) :: <top> |
TECHNOLOGY. (IEEE Spectrum, June 2006,
p15)
DoCoMo demonstrates wireless transmission at 2.5 gigabits per second.
"The launch of third-generation cellphone systems nearly five
years ago promised to transform the speech-and-message handset into
an exciting multimedia tool. It is a promise largely unfulfilled, mainly
because bandwidths have been limited to between 384 kilobits per second
and 2 megabits per second at best. But network operators are looking
ahead—admittedly rather far ahead—to get things right with
next-generation (4G) technology: it will be an all-packet service that
integrates voice and data transmitted at high speeds and capacities" more...
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (Microwave
Journal, September 2006, p22-38) In-depth
analysis and overview of the rapid changes occurring in the area of
wireless communications, particularly in the wireless mobile device
market more (technical
article)
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (InformationWeek,
Oct 16, 2006,p54) After spending billions to buy additional radio spectrum,
the No. 4 cellular carrier plans to revamp its network to better compete
with larger rivals. T-Mobile USA paid $4.2 billion for additional radio
spectrum in a recent federal auction, and the cellular company plans
to spend billions more to upgrade its network to take advantage of
the greater bandwidth.
more
WiMAX Focus
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (CIO
Magazine, Oct 1, 2006) Sprint Nextel has given WiMax technology
a green light, becoming the first major U.S. carrier
to back WiMax for its fourth-generation (4G)
wireless data network. Sprint, the third-largest U.S. mobile
operator, plans to start rolling out the WiMax network in late
2007 and hopes to reach as many as 100 million
people with the service by the end of 2008.
Offering downstream speeds of 2Mbps to 4Mbps,
WiMax promises new power for bandwidth-hungry applications
like mobile videoconferencing and large enterprise file transfers.
... The 4G service will complement Sprint Nextel's 3G
EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) services, executives
say. ... WiMax service prices will meet Sprint's frequently
stated goal of offering 1GB of data per month for less than
$20: "We are significantly south of that," West says.
... full
article
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (Network
World, 10.16.06, p10) Report from WiMAX
World 2006 trade show. "Over 4,500 attendees and 140+
exhibitors participated." - not too bad considering there
were only a handful exhibitors at CTIA a few years back showing
WiMAX gears.
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (InformationWeek,
Oct 16, 2006,p34) Major vendors like Intel, Motorola, Nokia,
and Nortel show off gear for service providers and consumers more
Motorola ... consumer market, wireless modems
connect
to a computer and a WiMax service provider, should be available
early next year. Sprint, which plans to spend
up to $3 billion over the next two years to build its WiMax network,
is the only major U.S. carrier that has announced plans to sell
Motorola's WiMax cell phones and smartphones. Nokia introduced
Flexi WiMax base station for service providers. The first version
operate in the 2.5-GHz band, used in the United States,
available at the end of next year; base stations operating in 3.5-GHz
band will be available in 2008. Nokia also plans to introduce WiMax-enabled
mobile phones in 2008. Nortel rolled out a portfolio of mobile
WiMax technologies for service providers, including base station
transceivers, network gateways, antennas, mobile subscriber stations,
and management systems. And Intel, the world's largest chipmaker
and a strong WiMax proponent, introduced a hardware and software
package to let telecom equipment makers incorporate WiMax into
their wireless base stations.
Analysts predict that millions will use WiMax
to gain a wireless broadband Internet connection by the end of
the decade if service providers start adding the technology to
their networks. The introduction of WiMax equipment from major
telecom vendors last week is a big step in that direction.
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (Electronic
Design 09.14.06, p44-55) - more in-depth and technical including
frequencies, network details, as well as products, players. more |
More Communications... Head Lines
NETWORK STRATEGY - IPv6
The
Protocol Supremacy (CIO Magazine ,
October 1, 2006, p76-83)
"The Internet's new communication technology, IPv6, is coming—whether
CIOs are ready or not. But being ready could save you millions and reduce security
risks." more
:: Research & Development <top> |
COMMUNICATION (TELE/DATA). (Microwave
Journal, September 2006, p45), European Union’s
6th Framework Programme for funding technology and scientific projects,
new embedded systems initiative called Speculative and Exploratory
Design in Systems Engineering (SPEEDS) has been established.
... to define a standard, end-to-end framework for
the implementation of innovative, next generation concepts, methodologies,
processes, technologies and tools for the design of embedded systems.
more
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
They'll lead your company to the promised land of project-based culture.
"October 02, 2006 (Computerworld) -- In our increasingly project-centric
world, the productivity to be gained by good project management is far too
promising to ignore. But for most companies, shifting to a project-oriented
management structure represents great change, and people resist change, regardless
of the benefits that it may bring. Rules and guidelines are needed, so I’ve
devised these commandments. By following them, your company can position itself
to enter the promised land of project-based culture." more
DEVELOPMENT - HARDWARE, the analog/digital divide
POINT
oF VIEW High-Speed,
High-Performance, High-Voltage Technologies Converged (Electronic Design, Sep 28, 2006, p20)
"Functionality is converging on platform devices as they become
our primary conduits for voice, data, and video. This increase in functionality
drives the need for more integration in both digital and analog ICs." ... "By
separating analog and digital functions, each can be optimally scaled
to realize the lowest system cost. Digital circuits are scaled by reducing
line widths, while analog circuits are scaled by increasing the density
of passive elements such as inductors and capacitors." more
DEVELOPMENT - SOFTWARE
PRODUCT
RELEASE RollOut:
Adobe's Flex 2.0 - Ajax for the Masses (Network
Computing, Sep 14, 2006, p38,40)
Flex uses the ubiquity of the Flash player to make development accessible
and resolve incompatibility with older browsers. more
:: The Human Resources Corner <top> |
CAREERWATCH. What hiring managers
are looking for (NOT found online; ComputerWorld,
October 9, 2006, p54)
Likelihood to fit |
73% |
Interviews |
70% |
Willingness to learn |
69% |
Likability |
63% |
Skills |
62% |
Knowledge of the organization |
20% |
Diversity |
19% |
Testing |
15% |
(eWeek September 4, 2006, p31)
Generation Y for Dummies online. Called everything from the MyPods
to the Baby Boomlets to the Boomerang Generation, they're quickly filling
the department ranks. Five reasons why they're different and why you
should care:
- View of work as just a job and not a career
- More job hopping than in any previous generation
- Greater demand for work-life balance and job flexibiity
- Focus on end products, not processes
- Expection of an open workplace where views can be heard without
fear of retribution
(Gen Y: From (1976-1982)
to (1995-2001).)
:: IT - Information Technology <top> |
InformationWeek, Sep 18,
2006, p41-49. It's easy to forget that we world as we know it today
with Internet and The Web didn't exist 1990(!). In 1991, the Web was
just a gleam in a few people's eyes. Today it's driving communications,
research, business, and life everywhere. How did we get here, and what's
next? more
(Editor's personal reflection: Remembers back to the '70s
when I started learning programming Basic on a IBM5100 mini
computer, the Swedish-designed ABC80 end of '70s, started teaching
computers and programming, my first Mac (1984), starting my
first company (1987, consulting in software development), buying
a Mac in 1989 for 100 000 Swedish Crowns (incl vat; more than
14 000 in today's US Dollars, yeah - the company did well),
building a super computer in 1996 (DEC Alpha-based), the many
years of reliable computing on UNIX, Linux, and Mac platforms,
the constant - and even increasing - struggle with Windows
(How many patches did you download the last month?), the joy
when Mac OS X was released in 2001 - combining a user-friendly
Mac GUI w/ a stable UNIX core. Today J&P Group runs
a variety of platforms including Mac OS X, Linux, and MS Windows
for development, measurements, statistics, testing.
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(directly
to comparison chart, PCMag].
WikiPedia on Firefox -
the editors prefered choice.
Technicalities - About this News Letter <top>
Created on a Macintosh computer w/ Macromedia Dreamweaver simply because
it works! And the tools available and well familiar to the editor.
Sources include a variety of magazines,
papers, personal contacts, et cetera.
Distribution to professional
acquantancies - more
online. |
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