New Technology Reviews!.: Where

In Depth: Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc120-200-200.jpg"> Ever think about where your stuff is stored? Perhaps you use Dropbox. Or Mobile Me. Or Gmail or Hotmail. Although the talk is always of storing things "in the cloud", everything still has to be kept on a physical drive somewhere. And that storage produces a lot of heat, takes a lot power and needs an awful lot of processor cores. And then there's redundancy – if one server or even a whole data centre was to go down, there's always a backup. So we went to Germany to visit some of Europe's largest data centres, owned by web host 1&1. The company is huge – especially in its home country – delivering five billion non-spam emails a month and having 11 million domain names on its books. The company has 9.44 million paid-for contracts and 26.6 million free accounts. Just over a million of its customers are in the UK. It all started with just one Windows desktop PC in Karlsruhe, Germany and now the company has over 70,000 servers at several different data centres in Europe and the US. All have used green electricity since 2008. The first of two data centres we visited was at Baden Airpark, an ominous property at a former air force base that remains a monument to the Cold War (albeit one that's now a sparsely populated business park). <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc12-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The base was formerly occupied by French and Canadian air forces before it was finally closed in 1993, and the runway is now a small provincial airport, as demonstrated by the Ryanair planes flying in. The data centre building is a former engine workshop with huge two-foot thick metal doors. These house a giant airlock that you feel like you might never get out of. We climbed the stairs and entered one of the server rooms. The noise and heat hits you while the rows of strip lights flash on automatically. Each server is identified by its own QR code. There are occasional gaps or unconnected cables where servers need to be changed or repaired. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc118-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Believe it or not, this whole facility is unmanned and any maintenance requests flash up at 1&1's control centre in Karlsruhe. Each room also has comprehensive power management and cabinets dedicated to keeping the temperature constant. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc115-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The Airpark building has 2,000 square metres of floorspace with 30,000 servers. There's nothing else here apart from the racks and a roof full of cooling equipment. The noise from the coolers is the only indication from outside that something sensitive lies within. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc17-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc116-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> There are a whole lotta cables, too. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc14-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The servers are mostly systems sourced from a local manufacturer, but there are some HP and Dell units in certain cabinets. One large cabinet hosts the entire of 1&1's GMX email system. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc16-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc1/dc15-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The second data centre we visit – Karlsruhe Brauerboulevard – is in a much more urban setting, and looks more like a standard office building – albeit with some fairly comprehensive cooling on the 1,000 square metre roof and 25,000 servers in the basement. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc22-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This setup cost £15 million and boasts 11 separate computer rooms with 660 racks. It uses 8MW of power – the city it's in consumes just 361MW as a whole. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc215-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Everything is built with redundancy in mind, so there are two complete cooling systems to remove the hot air. There are eight cold water sets and 61 air circulating coolers. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc23-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc26-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc24-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If the power should fail, massive battery rooms can power the servers for up to 20 minutes. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc217-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> In reality, it takes mere seconds for the diesel engines on the roof to power up and take over. As it is, the engines look virtually unused – because they are. In fact, they've only come on-stream once, two years ago, and for a very "short period of time". Five of these massive 39 tonne units also sit atop the roof. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc27-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc210-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Again, there are redundant engines on standby and, should there be a major power problem for days on end, 1&1 has arrangements with diesel fuel suppliers as a contingency. The building also has early fire detection with gas extinguishing systems so that the servers are not harmed if a small fire is detected. The building also has incredible security. Not only are there 190 cameras, but access controls at all points and a man trap to gain access to the server rooms themselves. Before TechRadar visited, we had to provide our weight to 1&1 so we wouldn't get caught in the mantrap. <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc219-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc220-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc211-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <img alt="Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/1and1/dc212-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Soon, though, these data centres will be dwarfed by a new sibling. 1&1 is also building a data centre (see below) with space for over 100,000 servers at Hanau. Work started two years ago in a building that was a nuclear fuel factory to produce mixed oxide rods from enriched uranium and plutonium, but it never became operational. It'll be huge. <img alt="Data centres" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/internet-and-broadband/data_centres/oneandonenuclear-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG>

In Depth: Ever wondered where your stuff is stored?

Ever think about where your stuff is stored? Perhaps you use Dropbox. Or Mobile Me. Or Gmail or Hotmail. Although the talk is always of sto...

Online Safety Tips - Where Hackers Like to Hide

The main goal of any hacker is to get some personal information or to use PC resources to send spam and viruses. I guess you have already got some viruses on your PC and, of course, any of us reinstalled Windows at least once because system efficiency became very slow. That is the result of viruses.So, how hackers deliver viruses to your PC?You always know how, but never follow simple rules:1) Do not visit URLs that you receive through IM or Email messages (even from friends, colleagues and family members). Make sure that they have sent you that first.2) Do not surf the sites with illegal content (adult sites, warez sites, etc.). It is much safer to order a paid product to escape problems with your Personal Information identity in future.3) Never download unknown files from the Internet because they can contain a for your antivirus software virus. It will not scan it and your PC will be infected.Recently, US specialists (CRN group and some others) found out that hackers can use VoIP services to hide Dos-attacks. Thousands of infected PCs transfer tons of traffic to a particular server very fast. The aim is to reboot it or to turn if off.The technology of VoIP services cannot be blocked by firewall of ISP that is why this is a high effective method for nowadays. Usually hackers use IM protocols for such purposes.Millions of people receive ICQ spam daily. This is the most widespread method that spammers use to deliver ads. But hackers use this technology too, so you should be very careful as it can contain a virus. While spammers just send advertisement messages, hackers in their turn send friendly texts to hook the attention of the user.Today, there are no any effective techniques to fight ICQ spam for full. You just may use different spam filters that are usually not effective at all. So, the best way to protect yourself from viruses and identity theft is to keep an eye open for the content in your messages. Check it twice before replying.So, where are hackers like to hide? In ICQ messages, in Skype and Vonage. They love all new technologies that are not secured in a proper way.All in all, hackers hack only those who are not prepared for their visit. So, be armed at all points and surf the Internet easily and freely.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Stephen Ward is writing in the Internet for more than 4 years and would like to suggest you to try out brand new <a href="http://www.smarthide.com" target="_new">Hide IP</a> software that can help you to be sure online 24 hours a day.

Online Safety Tips - Where Hackers Like to Hide

The main goal of any hacker is to get some personal information or to use PC resources to send spam and viruses. I guess you have already...

The Alternative Workplace - Changing Where and How People Work

I was visiting with an agent recently, and he was talking about losing a key employee that was moving because their spouse was transferred to California. He was talking about not wanting to deal with the hassles and challenges of replacing someone he had finally trained to do a great job. Their responsibilities in the agency included office manager and Account Manager for large Commercial accounts.My suggestion was to keep the person, and allow them to work from California. His first response was to point out that the person was not licensed in California. However, the idea was not to write new business in California but to continue their current job from a remote location. Although it took some time, this owner came to realize what is becoming a national trend - the migration to Alternative Workplaces. When, where and how people work is changing on a daily basis.If your agency is considering Alternative Workplaces, here are 6 questions you will need to answer as you make your decision.Question #1Do You Have A Business Reason For Considering An Alternative Workplace? Working virtually is not "benefit" or a "perk". Creating an Alternative Workspace is no different than any other decision regarding the operation of your agency. Moving to a virtual way of doing business requires a business decision that supports how your agency does business. Here are some valid reasons to consider virtual staff:o	Difficulty in finding qualified staffo	Alternative to brick and mortar due to limited workspaceo	Desire to retain qualified staffAs with any business decision, "do the math" and determine potential revenue (such as new/retained business), anticipated expense (such as the cost of expanding workspace or building a new office) and projected ROI (based on income earned or expenses saved). If you don't have a definite business decision that will make the agency money - do not consider an Alternative Workspace at this time.Question #2Does Your Agency Have An Open Culture and Proactive Management? Rigid agency cultures will have a difficult time adjusting to the transition to an Alternative Workplace. Even though you explain why some staff are able to work from home and others must come to the agency every day, your decision can still create resentment. If your agency is considering an Alternative Workspace, a good time to begin is immediately. Agency culture is not changed overnight. Having a flexible culture is essential to working virtually. Here are some milestones that indicate an open culture and proactive Management:o	Staff feels safe approaching Management with suggestions and concernso	Staff has a strong level of trust in Managemento	Management feels safe confronting staff with areas of needed changeo	Management has created a consistent method of communication with the staff such as regular staff meetingso	Management informs staff of their plan to introduce new ways of doing business, such as changing to Alternative WorkplacesQuestion #3Are You Willing To Establish Clear Ways To Monitor Staff Productivity? One of the first questions I am asked is, "How do you monitor performance for staff that work from home?" The answer is actually quite simple. Every staff position needs, and deserves, a clear job description that includes measurable requirements, expectations and boundaries. The old stand-by where owners want staff that "are mature enough to know the right thing to do and just do it" is an excuse for leadership that is not willing to lead.When it comes to virtual staff, job descriptions and expectations are even more critical. Looking over their work during the day is not possible. Instead, Alternative Workplaces require structures such as:o	Well defined job descriptions that include measurable expectations and productivityo	Well defined consequences that includes both positive and negative resultso	Scheduled reports to Management that provides accountabilityo	Regular communication with the virtual staff so they have regular feedback on the quality of their workQuestion #4Does Potential Virtual Staff Have A Home Office Environment Suitable For A Professional Way Of Doing Business?Just as an Alternative Workspace needs the right person, it also requires the right work environment. A clean desk and professional workspace is important in the agency; and it is even more essential for virtual staff. The kitchen table is not an appropriate work environment. Before implementing an Alternative Workspace, Management will want to establish clear guidelines for working virtually. Some of these guidelines might include:o	A dedicated workspace with a desko	No indoor pets, such as dogs, that can create distractions and inappropriate interruptions during business phone callso	Adequate lightingo	No young childrenQuestion #5Is Management Willing To Invest In Tools, Training and Technology Required For Alternative Workplaces? Alternative Workplaces require a considerable investment in tools, training and technology. Some agencies may try to limit their expenses by asking staff to use their own computers. However, privacy laws and computer liabilities such as viruses and hacking make it essential for an agency to have equipment it can monitor and control its use.Here are some investments needed to implement successful Alternative Workplaces:o	Computer/Monitor (If dual monitors are used in the agency, it should also be part of a virtual office)o	Printero	Dedicated Phone Lineo	Web Camo	Internet Accesso	A virtual private network (VPN) is a private communications network often used by companies or organizations, to communicate confidentially over a public network. A VPN can send data e.g. voice, data or video, or a combination of these media, across secured and encrypted private channels between two points.o	DSL: DSL stands for digital subscriber line. It uses ordinary telephone lines and a special modem to provide an Internet connection that can transmit high-bandwidth information to a user's computer. A DSL line can carry both data and voice signals. The data part of the line is a dedicated connection to the Internet and does not interfere with use of the telephone. DSL is high speed and is always connected to the Internet.o	Cable Internet: Cable Internet uses your local cable TV line to receive broadband Internet content. This data rate far exceeds that of modems and is about the same as DSL. Your local TV cable company is typically the cable Internet service provider.o	Dial-up access: Although Dial-Up may be available and reduce expenses, it is not recommended for an Alternative Workplace. Slow performance will affect the quality of work provided by your staff.o	Satellite Internet: If cable or DSL aren't available in your area, or if the slow dial-up access speeds are not acceptable, consider using satellite internet. It's available to you if you live in the Northern Hemisphere and have an unobstructed view of the southern sky. The service is expensive and the data rate is not as fast as a direct line, but it is a good connectivity alternative if you live in an isolated location.You will also want to consider additional resources such as:o	Online Agency Management System (such as TAM Online or AFW Online)o	Computer Trainingo	Cell Phoneo	Soft Skills Training Including:o	Effective Letter Writingo	Email Etiquetteo	Public SpeakingAn important consideration for any agency is consistency in how files are stored, applications are configured, etc. The reason is so that, if a staff member is out because of illness, termination, etc, any other member of the staff can easily slide into their position. This is also true with your virtual staff.Some items to establish consistent methods include:o	Outlook - How folders and signature is set upo	Paper Port - If your agency uses Paper Port, the folders should be set up the sameo	Voice Mail messageo	How activities are recordedQuestion #6Is Agency Management Aware Of Legal Implications Of An Alternative Workplace? Tax laws are always a consideration when dealing with changes in how you manage staff. But Alternative Workplaces have created new considerations for staff working offsite. Many of these changes have been brought about by the Gramm, Leach, Bliley Privacy Act (GLBA). Some areas to consider include computers, cell phone, PDAs and other electronic devices:o	Protection of NPI (Non-Public Information) and other client datao	Method of destroying data stored at the Alternative Workplaceo	Method of backing up and restoring dataBecause of the legal aspects of Privacy Laws, you are advised to consult with your attorney and E&O carrier to determine your risks and resolutions.Tips For Staying FocusedYou may have up-to-date technology and training, but you must have also effective strategies that help your employee stay focused. Here are some tips that will help them:o	Start working at the same time. Treat telework days like regular workdays: get up, get dressed, and be "at your desk" at the usual time.o	Establish a schedule. Keep work hours similar to the ones you would keep if you were working at your office. Your manager and your co-workers will appreciate knowing when you'll be available.o	Limit distractions. Be careful not to replace office-based interruptions with home-based ones (such as children, neighbors, and friends).o	Plan ahead. Take the appropriate work home. Some work may be better suited for the home office than other work, so be sure to plan the telework a day ahead.o	Take breaks. Plan time to get up and move around. Consider going for a walk or a run during your lunch break to keep your mind fresh.o	Focus on objectives. Work with your manager and colleagues to define clear goals and objectives against which your performance can be objectively measured.o	Consider using instant messaging. Similar to a chat room, IM is a fast means of communicating with one or more people in real time over the Internet. IM gives you a way to show and update your communication status throughout the day. For example, when you need a couple of hours of undisturbed concentration, set your status as "Busy" and let everyone know that you'll be slower than usual to reply to e-mail messages and phone calls.	 	 		 			 				 					 						Ted Baker is the president of Advanced Automation, which for 17 years has offered agency consulting services addressing a variety of management and agency development issues. He also is an author and frequent conference speaker. Ted can be reached at <a href="mailto:questions@advancedautomation.com">questions@advancedautomation.com</a>

The Alternative Workplace - Changing Where and How People Work

I was visiting with an agent recently, and he was talking about losing a key employee that was moving because their spouse was transferre...

Where Antivirus Software Does Not Protect You

Anti-virus software is not panacea for all that ails your computer. Anti-virus software will help you with many of the threats that attack your system, but there are some types of threats that all anti-virus software doesn't protect against.Behavior blocking: Behavior blocking is a term used to describe technologies that block malicious applications from accessing parts of your operating system. Since all anti-virus application detect, clean, and prevent infections by using definitions that are signatures of threats, these must be updated before they can protect you against a new threat. An example of behavior blocking technologies would be to prevent a virus that sends emails to everyone in your address book from being able to access your address book. Another example of behavior blocking would be to keep a virus from terminating key processes that protect your system.In memory threats: Most viruses infect a file, and the viral code runs when the application is running. Anti-virus scanners work by scanning files on the file system looking for virus. Some infections like W32.Slammer infect an application when it is running and are never written to disk. Since antivirus solutions scan for infections in files instead of memory that the application uses, they don't detect these types of infections. If an application is known to have an in-memory security exploit, the application should be disabled or terminated and patched immediately.Hacking: Everyone has heard about hackers. Unfortunately, anti-virus software doesn't protect you against this type of attack. To protect yourself against these types of attacks, you need firewalls, intrusion detections systems, and constant vigilance. In the future, it is likely that these measures will be more tightly coupled with anti-virus software. One application that currently has an integrated suite of anti-virus, firewall, and intrusion detection system is Norton Internet Security.Spy-ware: Spy-ware is a type of application that records information about how you use your computer. This is a problem that has been gaining more awareness in the past few years. Currently, most anti-virus solution don't scan for these types of threats. In order to detect or remove spy-ware, you need a spy-ware cleaner.	 	 		 			 				 					 						To get more information about all these problems and how to remove them, check out our website: Spyware Removal [http://www.greatestreview.com/removal-spyware]

Where Antivirus Software Does Not Protect You

Anti-virus software is not panacea for all that ails your computer. Anti-virus software will help you with many of the threats that attac...