VODA Newsletter April 2008

Printer picks up more than one piece of paper from feed tray

First check to see that the paper is not damp due to humidity or improper storage, and that the pages are loosely “fanned” before inserting a stack into the feed tray.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, it’s likely the pad that separates the paper needs to be replaced. The installation can normally be done yourself without sending the printer out for repair. Again let the service department know of the model number to order the correct part.

Second-generation Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 5400 series with 45nm quad-core technology offers you greater energy efficiency and the multitasking performance necessary to maximize your virtualization efforts with proven reliability.

Now you can run your high performing infrastructure applications on the ultimate solution for cooling and density challenges-all on the world's most popular server platform.

Revolutionizing computing with 45nm technology

Quad-core server processors

The Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5400 series

Offers second generation quad-core using 45nm technology with up to 3.16GHz and large 12MB L2 cache. Boost performance by up to 25 percent¹ in existing platforms using the same technologies, software and socket compatibility. Now with Intel® VT FlexMigration, your server virtualization farm can get the benefits of 5400 series performance with live VM migration to select existing and all future Intel Xeon processors.

Shortcut to downloads

Product brief: Maximize Compute Performance and Energy Efficiency with new advancements available in Standard High-Volume Servers (PDF 1.2MB)

The Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series

Offers breakthrough performance, helps control operating costs, and alleviates datacenter cooling requirements. The 5300 series provides up to 1.5x performance boost over previous generation dual-core.² Now you can manage multiple servers as a single pool of resources with the most headroom and performance of any Intel two-processor general-purpose server.

The Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 7300 series

Offers leading scalable performance and best-in-class virtualization for server consolidation. The 7300 series provides huge leaps over previous generation dual-core: up to 2x scalable performance, 2.5x the virtualization performance boost³ and 3x greater performance per watt.

HP Innovates "Closed Loop" Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program

The company’s innovative recycling process facilitates the combination of multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics – from everyday water bottles to highly technical HP inkjet cartridges.

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 30, 2008 – In an industry first, HP today announced it has developed an engineering breakthrough that enables the use of post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new Original HP inkjet print cartridges.

More than 200 million cartridges have been manufactured using the process thus far. HP used more than 5 million pounds of recycled plastic in its inkjet cartridges last year, and the company is committed to using twice as much in 2008.

The company’s innovative recycling process facilitates the combination of multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics – from everyday water bottles to highly technical HP inkjet cartridges.

In addition to closing the design loop, using recycled content saves energy and keeps plastic out of landfills – since first piloting the process, HP has used enough recycled plastic to fill more than 200 tractor trailers.(1)

“By developing the technology to use recycled plastics in Original HP inkjet print cartridges, we have the opportunity to reduce the environmental impact HP products have on the planet,” said Michael Hoffmann, senior vice president, Supplies, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “HP’s considerable investments in building a recycling infrastructure made this achievement possible, and this is just the beginning of what we hope to accomplish.”

Innovation without compromise

In developing this process, HP engineers, chemists and partners dedicated themselves to finding a way to provide the environmental benefits of using recycled materials while still delivering the uncompromising quality and reliability customers count on from HP.

HP inkjet cartridges returned through HP’s Planet Partners program undergo a multi-phase recycling process that reduces them to raw materials such as plastics and metals. HP combines plastic from the inkjet cartridges with recycled bottle resin and a suite of compounding additives to ensure all recycled materials meet HP’s high-performance standards.

The amount of recycled content in these HP inkjet cartridges may vary between 70 to 100 percent of the total plastic used, but the reliability results for each product are stringently tested and consistent across the lineup.

And unlike companies that simply remanufacture cartridges, HP has found a way to mold these recycled plastic components into new Original HP inkjet cartridges.

Honored by the industry

In recognition of HP’s inventive approach to using recycled content, the Society of Plastics Engineers, a trade organization for plastics professionals, plans to present HP with its most prestigious environmental stewardship award at the Global Plastics Environmental Conference in March.

“HP’s use of recycled plastic in an application as technically demanding as their inkjet cartridges represents an unprecedented engineering innovation,” said Larry Koester, vice president of Communications, Environmental Division, Society of Plastics Engineers. “This remarkable achievement comes after many years of perseverance and ingenuity by HP and their partners.”

Designing with the environment in mind

HP’s approach to environmental management of its print cartridges considers every facet of the product lifecycle – from design to manufacture to recycling. Incorporating recycled plastics in Original HP inkjet cartridges closes the loop on this lifecycle management.

Using recycled content is the latest advancement from HP’s Design for Environment program, which reduces the environmental impact of HP cartridges through material usage, ease of recycling and packaging efficiency.

HP’s Planet Partners return and recycling program provides free and convenient cartridge returns in more than 45 countries, regions and territories. Customers can be confident in HP’s environmental management because cartridges returned through Planet Partners are never refilled, resold or sent to a landfill.

Can you rely on anti-spyware/virus software to keep your data safe?

Author: Chris Zacharias - APO Encryption

I am always amused when I read an article that tell you that if you run anti-spyware, anti-virus, and maintain a firewall, you should be able to keep your files safe. Irony is added to the mix when, in the same article, they mention the need to update all this software on a regular basis since the new viruses and spyware are written specifically to get around current definitions of what is a virus or spyware.

So, the itinerary looks something like this:

1. Buy some anti-virus software and pay annually for upgrades.
2. Buy some anti-spyware software and pay annually for upgrades.
3. Do some web surfing to a perfectly legitimate web site that has somehow been compromised and get some new spyware on your computer that is undetected by your current software.
4. Wait months before some security expert discovers this new type of spyware.
5. Wait a week or more for the anti-spyware company to figure out how to address this new threat and update your definitions.
6. Make sure your payments are up to date with the anti-spyware company.
7. Download the update and get rid of the spyware that has been sitting on your computer for the past month doing who-knows-what.

Think I’m being cynical? Take a look at what Sony (one of the good guys) did not that long ago. They produced some spyware that loaded itself on your computer if you put one of their music discs in your computer. This spyware was around for 8 months before it was discovered. Then, because it was so well written, Sony, not the anti-spyware companies, provided the code to remove it.

Still think I’m crying wolf? In February, Microsoft released eleven security updates – six of which were considered “critical.” These updates were to patch software flaws that allowed hackers to gain access to your computer. For one of the fixes, it was noted that hackers had already posted code showing how to take advantage of the flaw. You can rest assured that if the hack is being posted, it means that the hackers have moved on to a better way to gain access to your computer. Next month, when some of these hacker’s new techniques are discovered, there will be another set of “critical” patches for you.

All these reasons combined are why you periodically read a story about how someone successfully hacked into an FBI computer or some other top secret government computer.

When someone writes a new virus, it is specifically designed to get around the current practices used to thwart it. It’s an endless game of cat and mouse with the virus writers coming up with something new, and the anti-virus people catching up periodically, only to be left behind again.

How long does spyware have to sit on your computer to do any damage? Seems to me that if it is there for one hour, that is all it takes to cook your goose. A well written spyware program could send out all your client files, or your banking files in the first hour after it is loaded on your computer. So, one month after that first hour, if you are able to delete the spyware, the damage has already been done and the hacker no longer cares. Besides, the hacker is almost done the next version of the spyware, so he’ll get you again next month.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t time to trash your anti-spyware or anti-virus service. These days there are thousands of types of mal-ware floating around that these programs will protect you from. It is the ten new ones being produced each day that you need to worry about.

I’m not sure why, but encryption software is rarely, discussed in the same articles that discuss viruses and spyware. This is very strange since encryption is really the only thing that will protect yours, or your client’s data. When (not if) the new spyware is loaded on your computer. If all the spyware can find on your computer is encrypted data, your data is safe.

Not all encryption is created equal. For instance, with Full Disk Encryption (FDE), once you load your key, your entire computer is accessible by anyone or any spyware, that makes a call for a file. So, if your computer is lost or stolen, you are ok. But if it is spyware you are trying to protect against, FDE will not offer you any protection.

File encryption will protect you from viruses, spyware, and even if your laptop is lost or stolen. With file encryption, your files remain encrypted until you open them. When you are finished with the file, it re-encrypts.

Encryption is a tricky type of software to implement. That is why governments and militaries around the world insist on certified software. If the software isn’t certified, there is no way of knowing if there is a back door, or even if the encryption is being properly implemented.

When looking for encryption software here are the minimum requirements you should insist on:

FIPS certification. Without this, you have no idea what you are buying.
AES type encryption, preferably AES-256. Encryption software that is using DES, Twofish or Blowfish are no longer secure. Hackers have cracked these. AES is currently used by governments and militaries around the world.
File shredding. It isn’t enough to encrypt your data. The program must be able to shred the original.
Portability. Too often, encryption is tied to your computer. You should be able to back up your files or carry them on your USB memory stick without having to decrypt them first.

After those four requirements, you should be looking for ease of use features that suit your particular needs.

Quote of the Month

Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back.
— Thomas Sowell, Creators Syndicate

Product of the Month

GoVault Data Protection Solution

The GoVault Data Protection Solution is a fast, simple, reliable and affordable disk-based data protection solution that satisfies the backup, disaster recovery, and archive needs of small business. GoVault’s unique Data Protection software for Windows utilizes data de-duplication technology to provide an extremely cost-effective solution by reducing the number of cartridges required for effective backups by up to 20:1. The result is reduced media usage and significantly faster daily backups, so performance doesn’t have to be compromised for convenience, while providing a simple to use, easy to organize solution that is tough enough for real-life handling. The GoVault Data Protection Solution includes two ruggedized, password protected, removable media cartridges allowing for secure and reliable onsite/offsite backup practices. The GoVault Data Protection Solution is the ideal tape replacement for SMB customers looking to upgrade their current backup devices with an easy to use, affordable, disk-based solution.

Fast - Backup completes BEFORE you leave the office
Simple - Limited backup management resources required
Reliable - Worry-free protection with 10+ years archive shelf life
Affordable - Advanced protection plan fits within budget
Solution - Includes dock, 2 cartridges (onsite/offsite) and data protection software for Windows

GOVAULT DATA PROTECTION Solution PRODUCT DETAILS

GoVault’s unique data de-duplication technology eliminates redundant data to dramatically increase the number of backup data sets that can be stored on a single disk, as well as the number of available recovery points. The result is reduced media handling, simplified management, and faster restores, which allows a more practical and cost effective way to provide disaster recovery points. Additional key bebefits include:

Windows-based application for use as data protection / archiving application.
No additional backup application required.
Very simple user interface – Client or Server based application
Media rotation management - Simple prompts allow user to easily keep track of off site data on media for true low cost disaster recovery.
Advanced file search across many media
Scaleable application – Usability and function are excellent for SMBs.

Portable Backups: The New GoVault
"An ideal small business backup solution requires the three Ps: performance, portability, and protection. Quantum's new version of its GoVault removable drive storage fits the requirements..." Â - By Fahmida Y. Rashid, CMP Channel

GOVAULT DATA PROTECTION Solution PRODUCT DETAILS

Choose from the easily-integrated SATA internal dock, which can be quickly installed into either a standard 5.25 inch or a 3.5 inch server or desktop bay, or the stylish brushed aluminum tabletop USB dock that can be connected in seconds.

Solutions feature 2 cartridges (onsite/offsite) with capacities points of 40GB, 80GB, 120GB & 160GB. A single 40GB cartridge version is available, although two cartridge solutions (onsite/offsite) are strongly recommended.

Complete Solution – Disk-based solution that includes Dock, two Cartridges (onsite/offsite) and Data Protection Software (featuring data de-duplication technology) ideal for SMBs and corporate remote offices
Speed – 26-34MB/sec native transfer rates - more than 10X low-end tape drive performance, with quick random access to data for faster restores. Data De-duplication drastically reduces backup window – only stores changed information.
Capacity – Data de-duplication software provides a cartridge advantage of up to 20:1 over traditional low-end tape drives during maximum data replication at similar stated capacity points
Cost-per-gigabyte ~ $0.10/GB
Investment Protection – Backward and Forward compatibility
Ruggedized - Cartridge can withstand a 1 meter drop onto a hard surface with no damage

COMPATIBILITY

All GoVault system cartridges are read/write compatible and interchangeable with any GoVault dock so it’s easy to maintain daily backups and organize data.

Email Anders at anders@vodagroup.com for more information!

Ask the VODA Expert

Q: How do I get more calendar printing options from Outlook 2007?

A: Install the Calendar Printing Assistant for Outlook 2007, free from Microsoft at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA101687211033.aspx. This will provide even more customization of what your calendars will look like when printed.

Latest Virus Threats

Packed.Generic.62
Packed.Generic.61
Packed.Generic.47
W32.Tvido.B!inf
Trojan.Acdropper.C
W32.Imspread.Gen