Glo Networks Technical Blog (Glo Blog)

Symantec have recently released Backup Exec 2010 with some nice new features, with more systems going virtual can save a lot of time with backups and restores of virtual hard drives -

• Support for Exchange 2010
• Support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7
• Enhanced support for Microsoft Hyper-v R2
• Continuous Data Protection for Exchange, File and SQL Servers

Hyper-V R2 support

Now from a single-pass backup, administrators will experience automated Log Truncation of a virtual machine applications. From that single backup, administrators can then easily recover either the virtual machine or granular application data such as Exchange mailboxes, messages, calendar items, and individual Active Directory user accounts or objects.

Continuous data protection for Exchange

Integrated Exchange 2010 support for the new Database Availability Group (DAG) in Exchange 2010 and enhanced granular recovery support provides fast recovery of individual email and mailboxes while eliminating the need to perform an additional mailbox-level backup.

Of course everything with Backup Exec is optional, you will need to buy the agent for each extra part you want to use.

Posted by Dave in Operating Systems, Servers | No Comments »

Anyone that does work on networks will at least a little but understand subnets. In days gone by people would work out subnets on scientific calculators. Now there are a multitude of websites offering different ways to do it.

The website we use is subnet-calculator.com, not very pretty by does exactly what you want in a clear interface.

Posted by Chris in Operating Systems, Operating Systems | No Comments »

Core Parking is a new feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 designed to cut energy usage without impacting on system performance.

Made for systems with multi-core processors, it is able to reduce energy consumption by moving all processing to just a few of the cores (or even just one) if they are able to handle the load, and putting the other cores into a ‘Parked’ or inactive state. While in this parked state the cores use less energy but are still ready to resume normal use pretty much instantly!

The energy savings when dealing with systems with 2-4 cores will not be too dramatic, however with more cores (Server 2008 supports up to 256 cores!) this could soon add up.

Posted by James in Desktops and Laptops, Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Servers | No Comments »

With Windows 7 in the RC stage and Windows Server 2008 R2 recently gone RTM we felt now would be a good time to discuss a couple of the features of this next generation of operating systems which may provide potential benefits both for businesses and end-users.

‘Direct Access’

With both OS’s being built from the same code tree it is unsurprising that some useful features are only available for business’s  using both OS’s together. One such feature is ‘Direct Access’, a new networking feature which provides an improved  remote access experience for users, eliminating the need for a VPN to be connected and logged in to access remote resources. This also makes managing remote clients easier and more efficient for administrators.

‘BranchCache’

Another feature which is only available when using both Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 is ‘BranchCache’. This is a feature which allows Windows 7 client PC’s in a remote location to cache copies of files from a server running Server 2008 R2 and send them directly to other Windows 7 PC’s using a peer-to-peer architecture. This could be very useful for businesses who’s servers aren’t in their main office location, or who have several users working in the same remote location which does not have a local server, as a file which has been downloaded from the server by one client PC can then be downloaded by other Windows 7 PC’s from the ‘BranchCache’ on that PC rather than from the server again.

Of course as well as features that require both Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 there have been new features and improvements included in the OS’s separately. Administrators will likely enjoy the new Active Directory Recycle Bin and a new version of Hyper-V included with Server 2008 R2 whereas users will find the visual improvements included in the Windows Vista OS have been taken and improved on once again with Windows 7, as well as a generally faster, more responsive user experience.

Posted by James in Operating Systems, Operating Systems, Servers | No Comments »

Well it appears that Windows Server 2008 R2 is finished as it’s gone RTM (Release To Manufacturing). When something is labled as RTM that means that it’s finished. There will be no futher changes or tweeks to the program now, effectively it’s locked code.

We’re currently upgrading our servers from the RC (Release Candidate) to this final release and not finding any issues yet. More info can be found here or please get in touch with us.

Relase notification from here.

Posted by Chris in Operating Systems, Servers | No Comments »