Google Apps takes on MS

Web search leader Google took another step towards direct competition with Microsoft by recruiting IT resellers to market its Web-based applications to business clients, states Reuters.

From the end of March, authorised resellers will be able to sell, customise and support premium versions of Google Apps, which includes word processing, spreadsheets, calendars and e-mail.

Google Apps is broadly similar to Microsoft's top-selling Office package, except Apps is completely Web-based and is part of Google's push into cloud computing or software as a service.

Third Brigade recently unveiled the sixth version of its server-based host firewall and intrusion detection/prevention software, Deep Security, adding functionality for file-integrity monitoring, log inspection and connectivity with VMware's vCenter management server, says Network World.

Deep Security 6.0 now includes a method for file-integrity monitoring based on digital-hash technology, according to Bill McGee, founder and VP of product services.

"For registry and file programs, you can configure it to exclude changing certain files. And you may want to know if unauthorised software has been installed," McGee says.

Top makes of data centre blade and rack-mounted servers could be managed through a single interface, after supplier Raritan put out an upgraded version of its management software, reports CBR Online.

The management software release for the Dominion KX II KVM-over-IP switch system has been developed to present administrators with all types of server assets, set in a hierarchical display that offers a more complete view of the data centre estate.

Raritan said the software can now be used to manage blades from leading server manufacturers, including IBM, HP and Dell.