TechwiseTV is running a webinar on UC and collaboration, together with real-time conversation via Twitter, (under the tag #twtv). Registration for the Webinar is here:

Pushing the Boundaries of Collaboration 
http://www.cisco.com/go/semreg/twtvnovuc/168204_30

I’ll update this post with my notes at the end of the show!

David  ran through the WebEx infrastructure - the data centres and interconnects, and how they monitor and manage it. The MediaTone network, which is the backbone for Webex, was discussed in reasonable detail. 9 datacenters (globally) run the WebEx CDN, which is a real-time optimized network.

One of the challenges of any Internet based service is that, no matter how good the application provider’s networks, you are still at the mercy of the ISP providing you access - something to bear in mind when choosing your ISP. That last few hops will always be from there.

Cisco have now added Wiki functionality into the team space offering (a nice way to reduce email dependency), which is nice to see. Wiki’s are an excellent way to collect and consolidate information. The team room can be customized (there is a widget framework to enable custom collaborative applications).

Network learning gamesfor CSENT? certification. CCIE, still positioned as an elite qualification. The Cisco 360 training was discussed (here) - slightly amusing hosted by Jive). Go learning network is looking for the next real IT star, to build a documentary around, as they follow their path to certification. Kind of a talent competition with audience voting: Apply for your 15 minutes of fame here. go/interact

When I last spoke with  F5 Networks (F5 Networks - A Case of Applications and the Network) it was clear that they were getting more focussed on the higher application layers. Our discussion touched on Secerno, a specialist database security company based out of the UK. Today the two companies have announced a joint solution which should be of interest to anyone building web-based applications that have a database back-end. [more...]

Yesterday was spent huddled up in a Dockland’s hotel in London, discussing issues of identity management. The Whitehall Media IDM2008 event brought together public and private sector experts to talk about the big, and little, challenges of identity assurance in today’s IT infrastructures. 

From document management to remote access, compliance to shiny web 2.0 style portals, identity management is central to running a secure and efficient IT infrastructure. All the more distressing that it is also one of the most problematic elements of business IT architectures, with forests of directory trees and multiple ‘authoritative’ information sources. Now is the time to get that sorted out. [more...]

Another hosting provider that exhibited at eCommerce Expo in London was NetBenefit. Mark Stephens and Kristel Scattergood of NetBenefit were kind enough to spend some time in conversation about where they see the challenges and opportunities for users of hosting.

NetBenefit are part of the publicly listed Group NBT plc (LSE:NBT) and have a broad customer base. They first came to my attention for their domain registration services, but also offer managed hosting and co-location. They have started to provide virtualization services, based on VMWare technology, and I’m sure we’ll hear more about that later this year. [more...]

Rackspace (UK site here) has been in the news, and rattling around the blogosphere a fair amount these last few weeks. Not just because they are the top dedicated hosting provider (see Gartner report), but because of their recent adventures:

 

• Acquired on-line storage company Jungle Disk.
• Acquired specialist hoster Slicehost. (see Rich Miller’s post)
• Struck a CDN Deal with Limelight Networks (detail at CloudPundit)
• And launched a cloud strategy with Cloud Sites, Cloud Files and Cloud Servers.

I think they’ve rather swallowed this cloud computing thing, and swept in talent from the space. This week’s ecommerce expo in London gave me the chance to catch up with Fabio Torlini, Marketing Director of Rackspace. [more...]