Chris Gonsalves

Intel’s new quad-core server processors may have been engineered to target high-end, compute-intensive tasks. But taken in combination with last month’s chip price cuts, quad-core-based servers could now be an attractive option for system builders and solution providers of almost any stripe. The chip maker today extended its multicore-processor lead over rival AMD with the […]

These are heady times for managed services platform vendors. The software makers responsible for supplying the essential underpinnings of remote monitoring and managed services are riding a wave of popularity, even as the MSP market they serve progresses in fits and starts. In the past week, popular platform vendors N-able Technologies and Level Platforms both […]

CompTIA issued Aug. 10 a new set of Standard Error Codes to help service technicians better diagnose, analyze and solve problems on PCs and related IT equipment. The new codes let techs assign numeric values to most attributes of a service incident, including primary operating system, mode of failure (intermittent, continuous, etc.), actions taken by […]

Aruba Networks inked its third distribution deal of the year today, announcing an agreement with Avnet Technology Solutions to distribute the vendor’s complete line of mobility and wireless LAN products to North American solution providers. Aruba gear–including its Aruba Mobility Controllers, wireless LAN access points, Remote Access Point and Secure Enterprise Mesh software, ArubaOS Mobility […]

Level Platforms is readying changes to its flagship managed services platform—including bolstering reporting tools and adding support for Microsoft Vista—that will enhance usability, security and performance, especially for MSPs looking to join forces on customer engagements, according to officials. The Ottawa-based vendor will announce on August 7 version 6.0 of its Managed Workplace MSP (managed […]

When it comes to providing managed services for small and midsize businesses, the killer app is usually speed. MSPs (managed services providers) that get bogged down in the configuration process—spending hours setting up each seat for monitoring and management—are rarely the most profitable. Finding a managed services platform that eases the process of bringing new […]

Tech Data on Aug. 1 formally launched its Tech Data Services Desk, aimed at speeding and simplifying the often complicated chore of managing manufacturers’ service agreements and warranties. The ultimate goal of the Services Desk, according to Tech Data officials in Clearwater, Fla., is to keep resellers from leaving money on the table by helping […]

Distribution heavyweight Ingram Micro has introduced a set of new, flexible extended-warranty plans for solution providers looking to bolster sales with ongoing repair services for laptops, desktops, servers and peripherals. Ingram also announced several new additions to its EMC storage offerings. Jason Beal, director of sales at Ingram Micro Services, said the extended warranties come […]

Fortinet is rolling out a three-tiered partner program to help link solution providers with vendors whose wares are impacting increasingly complex unified threat management systems. The new effort, dubbed the Global Alliance Partner Program, will be announced on July 30 and already includes such infrastructure players as Unisys, Alcatel-Lucent, AMD, ArcSight and ProCurve by HP. […]

After months of uncertainty sparked by corporate scandal, Computer Associates International Inc. earlier this month embarked on a new era, naming CEO-elect John Swainson to his official post as president and chief executive. A veteran of IBM’s software division, Swainson said he comes prepared to restore credibility and accountability at CA by paring offerings to […]

D-Link Systems this week is unveiling a business-class 802.11g access point that boasts new management and security features as well as POE for spots far from electrical outlets. The D-Link AirPremier Access Point DWL-2200AP complies with 802.1x user-based authentication and supports WPA, AES encryption and the upcoming 802.11i security standard, said officials. The DWL-2200AP supports […]

Computer Associates International Inc. made it official this morning, naming independent board member Kenneth Cron to the interim CEO spot vacated late last week by the demotion of former CEO and Chairman Sanjay Kumar. The move is part of a mini-shake-up in the midst of scandal-driven turmoil that has roiled the Islandia, N.Y., software maker […]