Articles by Mark Cox

Cloud

Cloud enhancements highlight five new Datto product enhancements

June 16, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cloud enhancements highlight five new Datto product enhancements
These include a ‘born in the cloud’ router, a sync and share partnership with ownCloud, a new Backupify for Office 365 solution, a new Linux agent and an enhanced partner portal.

Cloud

New Silver Peak virtual network overlay aims to displace MPLS networks – gradually

June 15, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Silver Peak virtual network overlay aims to displace MPLS networks – gradually
Unity EdgeConnect, which builds on the Unity fabric Silver Peak announced last year, is a virtual network overlay which leverages broadband to connect users to applications, while also letting them retain their existing routers and firewalls and move to a broadband WAN at their own speed.

Hardware

Connected Data augments NAS with Transporter Network Storage Connector

June 15, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Connected Data augments NAS with Transporter Network Storage Connector
The free Connector front-ends a NAS device, allowing the Transporter appliance to sync important files and folders seamlessly to users’ laptops and mobile devices, to overcome NAS’s limitations with mobility.

Hardware

Microsoft Surface Hub large-screen collaboration device available July 1

June 11, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft Surface Hub large-screen collaboration device available July 1
Partners who have been selling A/V gear should like the Surface Hub, which Microsoft is touting as a product that will make traditional high end conferencing systems and displays obsolete, as well as replace projectors, wireless receivers and digital whiteboards.

Solution Provider News

ACCEO Solutions expands smaller retail footprint with Multipost acquisition

June 11, 2015 Mark Cox 2
The Québec-based solution provider continues its strategic acquisitions by buying Markham ON-based Multipost, which makes POS software for smaller retailers. ACCEO also indicated that more acquisitions are coming in the next few weeks.

Managed Services

LogicNow introduces new per-device pricing for MAX Backup

June 10, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on LogicNow introduces new per-device pricing for MAX Backup
The company formerly known as GFI MAX is introducing a new DRaaS pricing option that charges by the device instead of data usage, something they believe will especially appeal to partners serving larger customers.

Cloud

Veeam to add cloud-based VM replication to Veeam Availability Suite v9

June 10, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Veeam to add cloud-based VM replication to Veeam Availability Suite v9
The new functionality will also let service providers provide their customers with cloud-based disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRaaS) through the new Veeam Cloud Connect Replication for Service Providers offering.

Storage

Dell expands Dell XC Series Nutanix offerings

June 9, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell expands Dell XC Series Nutanix offerings
Scheduled to roll out in Q3, the updates to the portfolio address specific use cases. They are: support for KVM, including Nutanix’s new KVM-based hypervisor; a storage-heavy Lite-Compute node; a new appliance that provides Nvidia GPU support; and a short-depth, 1U form factor appliance.

Data Centre

Nutanix makes ‘biggest announcement ever’ with platform for simpler, cheaper virtualization

June 9, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nutanix makes ‘biggest announcement ever’ with platform for simpler, cheaper virtualization
Acropolis combines Nutanix’s flagship Distributed Storage Fabric with their own hypervisor and a new app mobility fabric which will decouple apps from their hypervisor, let users use the Nutanix hypervisor, and massively cut their virtualization costs. Prism complements it with simple management. Acropolis and Prism make up the new Xtreme Computing Platform.

Data Centre

Intel Security launches solution for east-west traffic in VMware datacentres

June 8, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Intel Security launches solution for east-west traffic in VMware datacentres
This solution, using the McAfee Network Security Platform, starts with market leader VMware, but will eventually cover the others in the space. And while this Intrusion Prevention solution is the first to be rolled out, the plan is to extend the platform to cover Intel Security’s other virtual infrastructure products.