Brocade Releases SAN Router Offering for Mid-Sized Businesses - You can upgrade its functionality to the 7500 via software

Network specialist Brocade Communications announced its new product, the Brocade 7500E SAN Router, a Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) extension solution dedicated to entry-level remote data
replication. The 7500E model is based on the Brocade 7500 extension and routing technology, but the E termination shows that the device had some of its features stripped down in order to keep an affordable price.

Shortly put, the E version will result in a lower initial port density and bandwidth capacity, while supporting redundant power supplies, Fast Write, compression, SO-TCP and fabric isolation for greater resiliency. Should the company need more functionality, the Brocade 7500E can be upgraded immediately to the full Brocade 7500 capability via a software license upgrade. The product is especially suitable for growing businesses, as additional functionality can be achieved when the need arises.

"A primary advantage we see with the Brocade 7500E is that it is an easy and affordable data protection solution-and the fact that it provides enterprise-class features without added complexity," said Steve TenBarge, Vice President, Global Product Marketing, Hitachi Data Systems. "Our customers will benefit from the Brocade 7500E in supporting small business and remote office disaster recovery, business continuity, and data migration initiatives."

The 1U router comes with just four activated ports, namely two 4Gb/s Fibre Channel and two 50Mb/s Ethernet ports. The company can upgrade immediately to its full functionality: 14 additional Fibre Channel ports, and Ethernet speeds of 1Gb/s, just like the Brocade 7500.

The Brocade 7500E solution is fully compatible with the company's portfolio of data center infrastructure products, such as the newly-introduced Brocade DCX Backbone. However, the networking capabilities the stripped-down E version router lacks are hardware encryption support, FICON over metro, FC routing between fabrics, as well as the call home feature.

The device can now be purchased from Brocade and Hitachi Data Systems, and it will become available through Brocade's independent channels starting in March. Other OEM distributors will start shipping the router sometime during the second quarter, although the company did not announce an estimative selling price.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 - Just around the corner

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 will be synonymous with the first build of the browser available outside of Microsoft. The Redmond company has been dogfooding early pre-alpha and alpha builds of IE8 throughout 2007, and it looks like the successor of Internet Explorer 7 has hit the Beta 1 milestone. At the end of the past week, a selected pool of testers were invited to join the IE8 Beta 1 program. Emails from the Internet Explorer team pointed IE8 testers to Microsoft Connect for the Beta 1 bits in what it referred to as a limited technical beta program. According to Microsoft, the IE8 Beta 1 test driving is a limited program, accessible through
invitation only. But at the same time, the company is making headway toward the public availability of a Beta version of Internet Explorer 8. For the time being however, IE8 test driving is limited to web developers only.

"We are nearing the launch of Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 and we will be making it available for the general public to download and test. IE8 Beta 1 is focused on the developer community, with the goal of gaining valuable feedback to improve Internet Explorer 8 during the development process. We have identified you as a qualified beta tester and we would like to offer an opportunity to join our limited technical beta program for Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1. Participation in the Technical Beta will enable you to evaluate a common release of Windows Internet Explorer 8, the ability to submit feedback, post bug reports, download software answer surveys on product quality as well as vote on top bugs filed by others from the technical beta program. This is a very exclusive program, by invitation only," reads an excerpt of the email sent out by the Internet Explorer Team via ActiveWin.

Despite the fact that the email mentions the public availability of Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1, this is not the case for the time being. Dean Hachamovitch, IE General Manager, did promise that the first public Beta of IE8 would hit by mid 2008. Also, Hachamovitch is scheduled to speak during the opening keynote address at MIX08 in early March, and he will give the first taste of the browser. So far, Microsoft indicated that the new features built into IE8 would be showcased next month at its web-centered conference in Las Vegas. But there is still no definitive word on when the general public will be able to get the bits for Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1.

"The only way to submit feedback is to enroll in the Windows Internet Explorer 8 Technical Beta program. As such, we would be happy to have your participation. To accept this invitation and to apply to become a member of this program, follow this link (If this link does not work for you, copy the full link and paste it into the Web browser address bar.) Follow the steps shown to you by that program to apply to become an active participant. You may be asked to take a survey, or submit other preliminary information. To report a problem or to ask a question, visit the Contact Us page (found at the bottom of every page). We hope to see you in the technical beta! Best regards. The Internet Explorer Team," is also stated in the email.