Hyper-V has been released for download
On June 27th, 2008 Sergio wrote on the subject of Technology.
Microsoft has released for download Hyper-V version of Windows Server 2008, this component will allow IT users to run different virtual machines on one physical machine without the need of running a full Host OS.
With server virtulization you can cosolidate work loads of underutilized machines onto smaller number of servers reducing energy and hardware costs and maximizing performance of all your servers.
Other beneifts with virtualization is the ability to take snapshots of a running machine wich can then be easily revert to a previous state improving the overall recoverability your Virtual Machines. The ability to easily test upgrades and service packs prior to upgrading the production machines without the need of purchasing new hardware. Migrating Virtual MAchines from one physical host to another with minimal downtime.
Alan Stevens from Zdnet has written an excellent article on the topic of Hyper-V�
VDI – Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
On June 27th, 2008 Sergio wrote on the subject of Technology.
With more and more companies outsourcing work abroad or even having their work force located around the globe and many roaming users that want access to their full system as if they where in the office.
IT professionals or facing huge challenge in maintaining client’s desktops and backing up all this dispersed data. For example you are a software company that has just been awarded a new project and you need 10 more developers, these developers needed to run Visual Studio, WebSphere, Full MSSQL and other office applications.
We all know how hard it is to source developers based in one location but if you recruited developers from around the world your task would be much easier other than the fact that you would need to purchase, install and maintain these desktops. The cost of buying the equipment would be high given that once the project is finished it would be difficult to return the machines back to base.
Other solutions would be setting up Citrix Presentation Server Infrastructure which is far too expensive or the VMARE VDI Approach which uses too many system resources for memory storage and CPU.
I recently came across software that would certainly fit the bill for the above solution.
By using Virtuozzo’s virtual desktops you are able to install windows 2003 deploy virtual desktops which are connected via IP using remote desktop you can change the look and feel of the OS to behave just like a desktop.
The foot print of each Virtual Desktop is so small in comparison to VMware as only one host OS is installed and furthermore you are able to share the full resources of the Server between all Virtual Servers e.g. if you installed Virtuozzo on a Quad Core Server with 16 GB of ram each user could use up to 16 GB of ram depending how much other Virtual desktops where using so you could end up with a virtual desktop that is much faster than your local machine.
Management of the virtual desktops is more simplified as you only have one host to manage and deploying different software in each Virtual Desktop is as simple as ticking the package you want each use to have.
This is still a new concept and not widely used but that was the same for server virtualization just 5 years ago not many companies used this technology and know it’s one of the most talked about topics.
There are still several drawbacks that need to be resolved for this to hit the mainstream and become more widely used.
- Firstly thin clients are still to expensive (Most users would be using the personal machine anyway)
- The graphics for multimedia users leave a lot to desire
So for any business that find themselves in a similar situation this is a would be a worth considering as the initial investment is very low compared to other options.
This the latest news in Virtuozzo’s Efforts to make VDI a reality
Design tools
On June 25th, 2008 Rachel wrote on the subject of Design,Web Technology.
Recently there has been a lot of talk about what software designers should use, or whether they should just skip the entire process and go straight to HTML & CSS. The debate continues, but I want to echo some of the responses made and emphasise that design software in any form is just a tool, and that which tool you use hugely depends on what you are trying to achieve.
We have a huge variety of clients and design needs here at Datadial. Over the last month I have used Photoshop, Visio, the good ol’ fashioned pen and paper and in one case I did go straight to HTML/CSS. What method do I like to use? It all depends on the client’s needs! The project that I went straight to HTML with had a very minimalistic layout that is hugely dependant on typography. The ones I use pen & paper on require a large level of creativity and speed that you cannot get from going straight to a computer. Photoshop is very flexible and creative, likewise for Illustrator.
I don’t think the tool really matters either. As long as the end result is what the client is after and works for their audience, then whether or not you use Photoshop doesn’t come into the equation. The tool is not going to make a successful website – that comes to understanding who is using the site and designing for them.
Google Is More Than A Search Engine 10 Tools You Should Know
On June 24th, 2008 Matt wrote on the subject of Internet Marketing.
As well as being the United Kingdoms most used search engine with almost a 90% search share, Google also spend a considerable amount of time developing and making available free tools that will help a small business owner to develop and market their website. Below is a rundown of the more useful tools, an overview of how they work, and links to more in-depth tutorials and analysis.
Google Sitemaps (Webmaster Tools)
What is it? Google Sitemaps, recently renamed to Google Webmaster Tools is a control panel that enables you to access a multitude of information about your site and how it performs in the search engines. You are able to check when Google has visited your site, if there were any errors found while trying to index your pages, you are also able to submit a sitemap, download lists of internal and external links pointing at your pages, view search queries that people used to find your content, set a geographic location and a preferred domain. Signing up to this really is a must considering the extra data and functionality that it gives you access to.
Key Benefits: Quickly diagnose indexing problems with the site, add a sitemap.
Further Reading:
Google Webmaster Tools – A Quick Start Guide
Google Webmaster Tools – A Comprehensive Guide
Google Trends
What is it? A good way to comparatively track keyword search volume over time. Not sure which keywords people search for more? Just enter them into here and you’ll know within seconds. Data is also given about the geographic regions that search for terms the most and also how often they appear in Google news.
Key Benefits: A quick check to ensure that you’re targeting the correct keywords.
Further Reading:
Using Google Trends For Search Engine Optimisation
Using Google Trends To Help Guide Your SEO
Using Google Trends To Research Your Brand
Google Trends For Sites
What is it? A very similar tool to Google Trends, though this can be used as a competitive analysis tool. You can check to see traffic levels for sites as well as some basic visitor data such as geographic location, top searches and additional visited sites.
Key Benefits: Competitive analysis
Further Reading:
Google Trends For Websites
A New Layer To Google Trends
Google Trends Comes To Websites
Google AdWords Traffic Estimator
What is it? Another good way of seeing how much traffic certain keywords can potentially send. Although this is aimed at people using the Google PPC service, you can also use it to estimate how many visitors you will receive from the natural results.
Key Benefits: Access to Google keyword search data
Further Reading:
The Traffic Estimator
Google AdWords Traffic Estimator Explained
Google Analytics
What is it? A free web traffic analytics package. By adding a short snippet of code to your page Google will track important visitor data including metric such as visitor numbers by date and time, referring sites, keyword data, geographic location and content analysis amongst others. In terms of gathering important marketing data about your site getting this installed is a must.
Key Benefits: Access to important visitor metrics
Further Reading:
Google Analytics Setup Guide
Google Analytics Video Tutorials
Advanced Use Of Google Analytics
Google Analytics Relaunched
Google Alerts
What is it? Google alerts monitors the web for mentions of a keyword that you define, and then sends you an email when it picks up on mentions of this keyword. Where this comes into it’s own for a business is you can define your business name, products, brand names and key staff as keywords and then monitor your companies reputation online and take action if there is any negative publicity, or simply monitor what people are saying about you. How about also monitoring your competitors to see what they’re up to?
Key Benefits: Instant notification of brand mentions
Further Reading:
Using Google Alerts For Intelligence Gathering
Google Alerts Tutorial To Help You Stay Ahead Of The Curve
8 Unique Ways To Use Google Alerts To Capture New Customers
Google Maps
What is it? As well as being an ingenious way of finding your way around, getting directions and spying on the neighbours, Google Maps can also be used to find local business and therefore have people find you. Go here to assign a geographic location for your business. These also show up in the main Google search results.
Key Benefits: Have people find your website while doing geographic location searches.
Further Reading:
How Do I Add My Business To Google Maps?
Google Maps – A Primer For Small Business
Google Reader
What is it? Don’t use RSS feeds to keep up-to-date with your industry news? Then you’re missing a trick. RSS feeds provide a great way of saving time by having news come directly to you rather than having to go to websites to read it yourself. Most websites these days offer RSS feeds, simply copy the RSS feed URL, add it to Google reader and every time a website is updated you’ll know about it instantly.
Key Benefits: Industry news sent directly to you as it happens.
Further Reading:
How To Get Started With Google Reader
A Beginners Guide To RSS And Google Reader
Get More From Google Reader
Feedburner
What is it? Acquired by Google last year, Feedburner is a tool that enables you to track subscriptions to your RSS feed – if you publish one on your website. It also offers some nice stats and good ways of promoting your feed.
Key Benefits: Understand more about your feed subscribers
Further Reading:
Feedburner Help Centre
What Is Feedburner And Why Should I Use It?
The Beginners Guide To Using And Building Traffic With Feedburner
Google Website Optimiser
What is it? This gives you the ability to fine-tune your website, comparing the performance of different content and pages, A/B testing these page versions and then offering results and reporting.
Key Benefits: Ensuring that your pages are generating the highest possible conversion rates
Further Reading:
Quick Start Guide
A First Look A Google Website Optimiser
Valuable resources for web designers
On June 23rd, 2008 Rachel wrote on the subject of Design,Web Technology.
My bookmarks toolbar in Firefox is full with great websites at my fingertips to keep up to date with what is happening in the web design industry. I have recently moved to London from New Zealand and I accidently left my great list of resources behind – whoops! I really should get into online bookmarking!
So I’ve had to rebuild my bookmark collection and thought it would be nice to share some them with you here (in no particular order…)
- Web Designer Wall – perhaps my favourite website of all, the mixture of news, tutorials and resources is just spot-on! And the site looks so pretty
Spoon Graphics and Design Reviver are in a similar vein with that magic combination of content. - Best Web Gallery is a great spot for research and inspration. I really like it how this gallery doesn’t discrimate about the technology used on the featured site, like there are Flash sites mixed in with Web Standards sites – but they are all chosen because of their outstanding design.
- A List Apart – the authority and cutting edge on web standards developments. Publishing techniques like the Faux Absolute Positioning is just invaluable, and illustrations are just so gorgeous…
- Which brings me to illustration websites. Unfortunately most of the great illustration sites I used to have bookmarked were ones I’d stumbled upon by accident, but Keven Cornell’s site is a superb website that inspires me before I even read a word!
- Signal vs. Noise is a must read for anyone in the web world. Likewise for other blogs by the industry leading guys such as Douglas Bowman, Jeff Croft, Mark Boulton and John Hicks. I still miss Andy Clarke’s old blog, but keep an eye out for the occassional post at Stuff & Nonsense
- Design Float is a great website that collates other blog posts about web design.
- Other design resources like ColourLovers (perfect for fleshing out colour schemes), Photoshop brushes, free fonts and more tutorials.
- Viget Inspire is a great blog by the web designers at Viget, addressing many issues regarding web design.
- And last but by no means least is the Web Standards Group email list. Over the last year or so I’ve found that the list itself can be rather tedious at times, but then once a week Russ Weakley puts out the Links for Light Reading which is a summary of what’s going on around the blogosphere and in the web design/standards world.
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