Francis Chu

When it comes to archiving files in Windows, most users are probably more familiar with WinZip or PowerArchiver, but PKWares PKZip 4.5 has more features for advanced users. Whats more, the PKZip file manager interface is simple to use, with customizable icons in the tool bar. In tests, the archive window listed the files in […]

Large level 2 caches are usually seen on processors used in powerful back-end servers, such as Intels Xeon chips, but Intel recently increased the L2 cache size on its Pentium III server processors. Designed for rack-optimized, one-way and two-way servers hosting front-end Web applications in server farms and data centers, the 1.26GHz PIII server processor […]

Any system exposed to the Internet is subject to attack at any time. Most IT managers employ firewalls and intrusion detection systems to guard the e-business infrastructure, but e-mail servers often go unprotected. Like other Internet-facing systems, e-mail servers can be exposed to spam, viruses and even hacker attacks. Anti-virus software and proxy add-ons for […]

As shown by eWeek Labs tests of web server load balancers from Radware Inc. and Zeus Technology Inc., Antara.nets FlameThrower II can be a formidable testing tool, capable of generating thousands of HTTP connections to stress the device under fire to the limit. A single FlameThrower chassis is capable of emulating more than 2 million […]

Server load balancers have become a critical infrastructure component for ensuring optimal performance of large Internet or intranet sites. Raw performance numbers are a useful comparison metric, but load balancing and management features and the ability of a system to integrate with different Web infrastructure components should play a more important role when choosing the […]

I recently downloaded the beta edition of WinZip 8.1 and discovered that it has some nice improvements over Version 8.0 that will make archiving files much easier in Windows operating systems. WinZip 8.1 is better integrated with Windows Explorer than is Version 8.0, and you can select several zip files and extract them into folders […]

Is there a hard drive for mobile users that can hold plenty of data but isnt the size of a miniature metal brick? Amazingly, Toshibas latest 1.8-inch Type 2 PC Card (Model K5002MPL) can hold as much as 5GB of data yet is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and thin […]

Finisar Corp.s SAN QOS protocol analyzer package provides a comprehensive system for monitoring Fibre Channel protocols in storage area networks, quickly diagnosing problematic links with data provided by an FC protocol analyzer to help minimize maintenance costs and downtime. Organizations that have or are planning a SAN deployment should consider this hardware/software combination, which was […]

When asked how to build a high-performance, reliable Web infrastructure, most IT managers will probably say something like this: Place redundant firewalls and multiple server load balancers, caching devices and SSL accelerators in front of your Web site, application and database servers, and connect all the pieces with switches and routers. This is, of course, […]

PERIPHERALS The data centers air conditioning may still cut to the bone, but American Power Conversions rack-mounted flat-panel monitor and keyboard drawer gives system administrators a slender console that provides comfortable access to rack-mounted server systems—albeit at a hefty price. APCs super-slim monitor and keyboard drawer is only 1U (1.75 inches) high, and it has […]