MS server goes down

Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage plan became a genuine disadvantage two weekends ago. The server that verified users went down and began to disable operating systems around the world, reports Fox News.

At least, it disabled the operating systems of computers that checked into the home base to affirm their legitimacy.

The WGA server outage hit a couple of weeks ago, and was finally repaired the next day. It was down for 19 hours.

By adding VOIP and enabling faster video in its computers, Japanese firm NEC is hoping to make server-based computing a more attractive alternative to ordinary desktop PCs, says Inquirer.

NEC Philippines introduced its Virtual PC thin-client system that comes with an optional IP telephony server and supports high-quality video processing.

Thin-client PC systems promise users lower costs, largely because instead of deploying desktops, each terminal, basically just the monitor with a keyboard, derives computing resources from a central server.

For years, IT managers have struggled with trying to configure, manage and secure their sprawling population of Windows desktops, reports Techtarget.

These managers are keeping a close eye on two potential trends that challenge the idea that each end-user needs a dedicated PC, hard drive and copies of Microsoft Windows and Office.

The first trend is about virtualising the Windows desktop as well as applications, and there are several techniques for doing this. Virtualisation can eliminate repetitive jobs such as patching, which usually require a person to visit each end-user's machine to perform on-site maintenance.