Technologies

ZaReason Preparing Ubuntu Servers

• December 17, 2008

ZaReason, one of the best-known companies developing Ubuntu desktops and notebooks, plans to introduce Ubuntu server products soon. I welcome the news, but the Ubuntu server market still faces tall challenges.

The Planet: Web Hosting Meets Managed Services

• December 17, 2008

Imagine managing 14.1 million web sites, 57,000 Dell servers and the second largest number of Red Hat hosting licenses in the country.

Novell Cancels Brainshare…

• December 17, 2008

How bad is the economy? Novell has just canceled BrainShare, one of the IT industry’s long-standing events. Initial perspectives from Matt Asay (Blogger, The Open Road). Plus, here’s the official statement from Novell Chief Marketing Officer John Dragoon.

Novell OpenSUSE 11.1: That’s Only Part of the Picture

• December 17, 2008

Novell is generating buzz this week with the December 18 launch of OpenSUSE 11.1. But The VAR Guy is looking at Novell from a slightly different perspective. The far bigger news involves senior VP Roger Levy (pictured) — who may bring order to Novell’s product lines. Here’s the scoop, from The VAR Guy.

First, the basic facts. Earlier this week Novell announced that:

Siemens OpenScape Targets Managed Service Providers

• December 17, 2008

Siemens has unveiled a virtualized contact center platform for managed service providers. The system, called OpenScape Contact Center, allows MSPs to host the software for multiple tenants. It’s slated to debut in February 2009. I’ve got to be honest: I read the Siemens press release three times. It does a great job of describing the […]

Selling Linux on Netbooks to a "Professional" Crowd

• December 16, 2008

The Economist published an article recently about netbooks, the small and cheap laptops that may well prove central to bridging the gap between geeky Linux users and the masses.  While it doesn’t say anything very original, the recommendations it makes–and the audience of professionals that’s likely to read them–are noteworthy in their own right. The […]

Avnet Technology Solutions Explores Hosted Microsoft Office Communications Server

• December 16, 2008

During the Avnet Analyst Day in New York, Avnet Technology Solutions described its fastest growing business opportunities for VARs. But the more intriguing discussion occurred over lunch. That’s when John Paget, president of Avnet Technology Solutions, answered questions about possible hosting partnerships involving Cisco Systems Inc. Unified Communications and Microsoft Office Communications Server.

Mandriva Linux Attracts 2,000 Partners

• December 15, 2008

When it comes to Linux, most U.S. headlines involve Canonical, Novell or Red Hat. But another Linux distribution — from Mandriva S.A. of Paris, France — is making a name for itself in the global IT channel. Consider this: More than 2,000 IT partners have lined up to back Mandriva, up from about 1,200 in 2007, The VAR Guy has learned. Here’s the scoop.

One Linux to Rule Them All?

• December 15, 2008

From Linux to Windows: Is This 2009 Downgrade Really Necessary?

• December 15, 2008

While speaking recently with one of my bosses, I was told I will receive a new business laptop in 2009. Now, for the problem: It will be running Windows Vista or Windows XP. Hooray for new gear. Boo for Luddite attitudes. I’m never one to rankle feathers. But in this case I honestly asked “I’m […]

Last Call: Open Source Partner Programs

• December 15, 2008

If you’re an open source software company building an IT channel partner program, The VAR Guy wants to hear from you. Participate in the Open Source 50 survey, and your company could be ranked among the top open source businesses working with VARs, solutions providers, integrators and managed service providers. Deadline for participation is December […]

When Acquisitions Bomb: Revisiting the Nortel-Bay Networks Deal

• December 15, 2008

Zenoss: Open Source Meets Managed Services (Again)

• December 15, 2008

I’m hearing a familiar trend in the managed services market: MSPs seem to be embracing more and more open source tools. The latest example involves Zenoss, a commercial open source company that specializes in applications, systems and network monitoring.

ADTRAN Launches n-Command MSP Platform

• December 15, 2008

I hinted earlier this month that ADTRAN, which competes with Cisco Systems on some fronts, would be making aggressive moves into the managed services market. An official release about the managed services strategy surfaced today, with ADTRAN announcing n-Command MSP, a remote monitoring and management tool for VARs.

According to an ADTRAN press release, the tool allows managed service providers to:

Review: ZaReason Makes Desktop Linux A Breeze

• December 12, 2008

Before you finish your holiday shopping, consider the following option: If you’re in the market for a low-end PC, put aside about $300 for the ZaReason Breeze, a small desktop computer that runs Ubuntu Linux. Based on our testing, we see some clear market segments where the Breeze is an ideal option for today’s consumers and small businesses.