See correction at end of article
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES
Best Enterprise Server
IBM eServer OpenPower 710
Multiprocessing powerhouse with excellent fault-tolerance features
Best Industry Standard Server
HP ProLiant DL585
Outstanding out-of-band management and serviceability
Most Innovative Server
Sun Fire T2000
Changes the math for threaded performance and power consumption
Best Blade System
ClearCube PC Blade System
Powerful management software for high-availability workstations
Best Workstation
Apple Power Mac G5 Quad
Impressive hardware specs, sub-$5,000 price tag, and the magic of OS X
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OPERATING SYSTEMS
Best Server Operating System
Mac OS X Server v10.4
A powerful, extensible Unix server with a uniquely robust set of standard features
Best Client Operating System
Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger
A rich and friendly desktop OS built with professional users in mind
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VIRTUALIZATION
Best Server Virtualization
VMware ESX Server and VirtualCenter
Dynamic duo points to new possibilities in datacenter management
Best Workstation Virtualization
VMware Workstation 5.5
Indispensable companion to software developers and testers
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NETWORKING
Best Enterprise Switch
Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Supervisor Engine II-Plus-10GE
Wire-rate 10-Gig switching and granular QoS support for the edge
Best SMB Switch
Dell PowerConnect 3424P
Delivers an array of enterprise-class features in a tidy package
Best WAN Traffic Manager
Packeteer PacketShaper 9500
The Cadillac of QoS for WAN circuits, upholstered with extensive reporting
Best WAN Accelerator
Riverbed Steelhead 3010
Amazing caching and optimization techniques overcome chatty apps and slow links
Best IP PBX
Siemens HiPath 8000 Real-Time IP System
Full-featured, scalable phone system that set the standard for SIP support in our test
Best Network Analysis Tool
Niksun NetVCR 2005
Complete network analysis package that puts complete historical data at your fingertips
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STORAGE
Best SAN
Compellent Storage Center QuickStart
Extensive management, strong performance, great scalability, and superb ease-of-use
Best iSCSI SAN
EqualLogic PS200E
A well-designed and superbly executed storage array, boasting extremely good performance
Best Director Switch
McData Intrepid i10K Director
Fabric partitioning and long-haul connectivity take the sting out of distributed SANs
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect businesscritical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
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