Given the hoopla over the release of Windows XP, it should come as no surprise that there’s been a surfeit of related announcements, several of which are important to the networking community. Herein is a summary of those XP-related products and services which will impact networks and enterprises.
First off, Microsoft itself has been making announcements to target networkers, heralding XP as the first operating system to include native support for Wi-Fi networks and IEEE 802.1x wireless security standards.
Security
McAfee.com unveiled the “McAfee Security Center” for the Windows Messenger feature of the Windows XP operating system from Microsoft Corp. The McAfee Security Center is integrated into the new Windows Messenger feature, making McAfee.com one of five key companies selected to appear in “tabs” within the application, offering services and content to users of Windows XP. Featured in the McAfee Security Center will be news and information from McAfee.com focused on helping customers to understand security issues and offering advice about how to protect themselves from various Internet threats.
McAfee also unveiled VirusScan Online for Windows XP, a Web-based security service designed specifically for the new operating system built to offer consumers and business users managed protection from computer viruses, Trojans and other malicious code. The redesigned service from McAfee.com will offer a totally new look and feel patterned after the Windows XP user interface, and will fully utilize the integrated .NET features provided in the new operating system including notification, Passport integration, XML and SOAP support.
Management
Computer Associates has announced the availability of a broad range of management solutions for XP, which is in turn integrated with the rest of their platform coverage. The announcement includes the availability of more than 100 CA products for Windows XP across major solution areas:
Enterprise Management – including Unicenter Network and Systems Management, which manages the full range of Microsoft platforms, including Windows XP and Windows servers, as well as heterogeneous enterprise environments, including UNIX, Linux and mainframe systems.
Storage – including BrightStor Enterprise Backup and other leading BrightStor solutions for Windows XP that manage, protect and restore critical eBusiness data with unmatched speed and simplicity of administration.
- Security – including eTrust Antivirus and other leading eTrust products for Windows XP that secure the extended eBusiness environment with a complete range of defense, access and management solutions.
- Transformation and Integration – including COOL:Joe, ERwin, CCC/Harvest and Ingres, to ensure the disciplined development, deployment, and ongoing management of eBusiness applications and code in the Windows XP environment.
- Portal and Knowledge Management – including Jasmine Portal, Jasmine Reporter and Forest & Trees to better customize the presentation and delivery of Windows XP client information.
- Predictive Analysis and Visualization – including Neugents predictive technology and Aion Business Rules Expert for developing and deploying intelligent eBusiness solutions, for Windows XP in Internet time.
Training
InfoSource has released “Getting Started with Windows XP,” available from InfoSource as part of the How To Master online training library. Online training memberships are available for individuals as well corporate, education, and government entities. Course materials for instructor-led training classes are also available from InfoSource for organizations looking to present classroom training for Windows XP.
Converged Communications
Ubiquity Software Corporation, a global provider of carrier-class end-to-end Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) solutions, announced that it is demonstrating for the first time a suite of SIP-based communications services running on XP Professional. Combining the enhanced SIP-supported features of Windows XP with the integrated communications capabilities of Ubiquity’s Helmsman Express, the demonstration leverages Siemens enterprise telephony products to demonstrate the power of driving converged IP communications from the desktop.
Aladdin Knowledge Systems announced that Microsoft is integrating Aladdin’s USB-based eToken authentication device into its international Windows XP launching event today in Brazil. Attendees of the event register and identify themselves by inserting Aladdin’s eToken into registration PCs located at the event’s entrance in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Palace Hotel.
Migration
ON Technology Corporation joined the XP launch to discuss an end-to-end software management solution that automates enterprise-wide migrations to Windows XP Professional. This automated approach allows enterprises to cost-effectively deploy as well as provide ongoing support for Windows XP environments from centralized management servers, without incurring the time and labor costs of sending technicians to all end-user locations to manually install and configure software.
Caffeine Without the Java
Microsoft’s decision to eliminate Java support will force users to download a third-party Java Virtual Machine (JVM) before they can view applications and Web sites that use the (otherwise) cross-platform language. eHelp Corporation announced that the newest versions of RoboHelp Office and RoboHelp Enterprise now support Windows XP and claims those are the only Help authoring tools that address Microsoft’s elimination of Java from XP. The new XML-based Navigation and Pure HTML Navigation in RoboHelp Office 2002 and RoboHelp Enterprise 2002 will allow developers, Help authors and technical writers to create cross-browser Help systems for Windows XP without having to rely on Java applets, the Java Virtual Machine or ActiveX controls at deployment.
