Corporate migration to Windows 7 may be less about evaluating the new Microsoft operating system and more about how to properly gauge the correct time to get XP off client desktops.
The equation corporate IT pros will have to figure out is how long it will take to get all their XP desktops to Windows 7 before XP support runs out or before application vendors quit producing XP versions of upgrades or new software, which some predict could come as early as 2012.
Windows 7 is the shiny new operating system from Microsoft slated to arrive this fall to replace Windows Vista, which after 30 months has failed in the eyes of IT buyers.
Windows 7 offers a host of tantalizing corporate features such as AppLocker, DirectAccess, Branch Cache and XP Mode, a virtualization technology that should buy time for users who migrate but must hold on to key legacy applications.
Gartner predicts that more than half of the corporate Windows user-base is skipping Vista and aiming at Windows 7.While that means XP users won't have to tangle with Vista in name, it doesn't mean they will avoid the application compatibility issues that gave Vista a black eye right out of the blocks in November 2006. Windows 7 is built on the Vista code base.
"If you are on XP, Windows 7 isn't going to solve a lot of Vista's migration problems," says Brett Waldman, a research analyst for IDC. "Going from Vista to Windows 7 should be a much easier transition than XP to 7."
Users who have deployed Vista have an easier path because Microsoft provides an upgrade option not available to XP users, and because they have already solved their application compatibility issues.
Microsoft says nearly all applications that run on Vista will run on Windows 7 and early testing by users is beginning to validate that claim.
In addition, hardware upgrades made for Vista are relevant for Windows 7 rollouts.
While those rollouts won't be painless for Vista converts, it is those on the XP side who will have to tap into their planning and organizational skills.
The XP equation
The predominant migration questions among those coming off XP are "when" and "how."
"What we are saying is that by the end of 2012 you should be off XP," says Michael Silver, vice president and research director at Gartner. With most large corporations taking 12 to 18 months to test and pilot a new operating system, the migration clock is ticking.
"If I target the end of 2012 to get XP out then you have your migration window," he says. "Organizations really need to be poised to do a lot of migrations on new machines and some existing ones in 2011 and 2012. That will be the mainstream of the migrations."
Silver says Gartner's recommendation is a conservative one that provides a 15-month buffer before XP support ends on April 8, 2014. Mainstream support for XP ended in April 2009, just a year after XP SP3 shipped.
Microsoft for its part told XP users last month (MAY) that if they are just starting to test Vista that they should switch to Windows 7.
Silver recommends users in that boat switch only if it means less than a six-month delay in their current planning. "You don't want to lose momentum. If you have already done lots of testing or might be set to deploy you should continue with Vista," he says. "One of the big issues here is that Vista is a difficult decision politically at this point, but the folks that have migrated to Vista are generally happy."
Hitching the migration horse to the Windows 7 wagon, however, doesn't mean users won't have to take along issues that polluted Vista acceptance.
Applications that were not compatible with Vista won't work on Windows 7. The new XP Mode, available with professional, ultimate and enterprise editions, will give users a bit of a respite, but not a panacea.
With both Windows 7 (the host operating system) and XP (guest) running on a single machine, users will be forced to maintain and patch two operating systems per desktop.
Analysts such as IDC's Waldman and Gartner's Silver say it's a short-term solution..
"To take full advantage of new enhancements in Windows 7, which is what users are paying for, the app needs to be built for Windows 7," Waldman says. He says XP Mode is likely a one- to two-year Band-Aid.
Users are gearing up
"XP Mode might be the way we get around the fact that some of our institutional apps are behind the technology curve; it could be the answer," says Jeff Allred, manager of network services at the Duke University Cancer Center. He said patch management tools will make it easier to manage two operating systems on a desktop and that XP Mode's administrative considerations are not a showstopper
Allred is in the process of testing Windows 7, which he says is faster, more stable and seems leaner than Vista. "We are much happier with Windows 7 RC than Vista in its full shrink-wrap version," he says.
He said a Vista migration would have meant upgrading 60% of his hardware, something he was not prepared to do. With Windows 7 and its smaller footprint, the majority of his hardware is already compatible.
The same is true for Wesley Stahler, senior system consultant at Ohio State University Medical Center, who is testing Windows 7 from an Asus Eee netbook.
He says the medical center is just now beginning migration discussions to move off XP.
"We have some clinical-based apps that work great on [Internet Explorer] 6, but on IE 8 [with Windows 7] not so much. Those are the thing we will have to look into," he says.
He says XP Mode might help, but "as someone who has to maintain the environment I would prefer not to support two operating systems."
Stahler says there are other features that are enticing or will help save money.
"Right now we are using two different products to do what BitLocker can do, so we could save money and administrative headache," he says. BitLocker is a full-disk encryption feature introduced with Windows Vista and available in Windows 7.
Microsoft's input
For its part, Microsoft is offering its range of migration tools to help with a move to Windows 7.
Microsoft also has added tools to its Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK), specifically to ease the management and deployment of Windows images.
The Windows System Image Manager lets users do low-level customization of an operating system image. The tool works with System Center Configuration Manager, which adds an administrative UI that lets users replicate information across their network. Integration with System Center management tools supports rollouts that scale to enterprise deployments.
Windows 7 also features updates to Microsoft's ImageX command-line tool, which lets users capture, modify and deploy Windows images. The tool is rolled into Configuration Manager and given a GUI interface.
Deployment Image Servicing and Management also is part of WAIK and is used to apply updates and drivers to Windows images.
Microsoft also is updating its User State Migration Toolkit with a new feature for hard-link migration, which keeps desktop data on the machine during the operating system upgrade, cutting deployment time from hours to minutes.
And the forthcoming Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 is an updated version of the Business Desktop Deployment Kit that shipped with Vista. It is now integrated with System Center Configuration Manager and builds off WAIK tools. Microsoft will release version 6.0 of its Application Compatibility Toolkit once Windows 7 ships.
"The capability to centralize and bring into one admin console the ability to customize and deploy an [operating system] with applications and updates is where the Windows division with System Center is a great story," says Jeff Wettlaufer, senior technical product manger for System Center.
Now the only other story left to tell is if Windows 7 will deliver on its promises.
Source: John Fontana, Network World
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How to fit 300 DVDs on one disc
A new optical recording method could pave the way for data discs with
300 times the storage capacity of standard DVDs, Nature journal
reports.
The researchers say this could see a whopping 1.6 terabytes of
information fit on a DVD-sized disc.
They describe their method as "five-dimensional" optical recording and
say it could be commercialised.
The technique employs nanometre-scale particles of gold as a recording medium.
Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia have
exploited the particular properties of these gold "nano-rods" by
manipulating the light pointed at them.
The team members described what they did as adding two "dimensions" to
the three spatial dimensions that discs already have.
They say they were able to introduce a spectral - or colour -
dimension and a polarisation dimension.
The scientists used the nanoparticles to record information in a range
of different colour wavelengths on the same physical disc location.
This is a major improvement over traditional DVDs, which are recorded
in a single colour wavelength with a laser.
Also, the amount of incoming laser light absorbed by the nanoparticles
depends on its polarisation. This allowed the researchers to record
different layers of information at different angles.
The researchers thus refer to the approach as 5-D recording. Previous
research has demonstrated recording techniques based on colour or
polarisation. But this is the first work that shows the integration of
both. As a result, the scientists say they have achieved unprecedented
data density.
Their approach used 10-layer stacks composed of thin glass plates as
the recording medium. If scaled up to a DVD-sized disk, the team would
be able to record 1.6 terabytes - that is, 1,600 gigabytes - or over
300 times the quantity stored on a standard DVD.
Significant improvements could be made by thinning the spacer layers
and using more than two polarisation angles - pushing the limits to 10
terabytes per disc and beyond, the researchers say.
Bit by bit
Recent efforts based on holography have shown that up to 500 Gb could
potentially be stored on standard DVD-sized disks.
Holographic methods take all of the information to be recorded and
encode it in the form of a graph showing how often certain frequencies
arise in it.
That means that the recording process is a complex, all-at-once,
all-or-nothing approach that would be difficult to implement on an
industrial scale.
By contrast, 5-D recording is "bit-by-bit", like current CD and DVD
writing processes in that each piece of information is recorded
sequentially.
That is likely to mean that recording and read speeds would be
comparatively slow, but the approach would be easier to integrate with
existing technology.
"The optical system to record and read 5-D is very similar to the
current DVD system," says James Chon, a co-author on the research.
"Therefore the industrial scale production of the compact system is possible."
Now that the method has been demonstrated in custom-made multi-layer
stacks, the team is working in conjunction with Samsung to develop a
drive that can record and read onto a DVD-sized disc.
Dr Chon says that the material cost of a disc would be less than five
cents (£0.03), but there are a number of advantages in moving to
silver nano-rods that would bring that cost down by a factor of 100.
For optical data storage expert Tom Milster, at the University of
Arizona, the beauty of the approach is in its simplicity.
"It's not just elegant - there are a lot of experiments that are
elegant - it's relatively straightforward," he told BBC News.
For the moment, the equipment needed to write the data would make a
commercial system expensive, but that has not stopped the development
of optical storage solutions in the past.
"For example, Blu-ray player is not a real easy system to realise;
they've got some wonderful optics in there," Dr Milster said. "People
thought that would be pretty difficult to do but others managed to do
it."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8060082.stm
300 times the storage capacity of standard DVDs, Nature journal
reports.
The researchers say this could see a whopping 1.6 terabytes of
information fit on a DVD-sized disc.
They describe their method as "five-dimensional" optical recording and
say it could be commercialised.
The technique employs nanometre-scale particles of gold as a recording medium.
Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia have
exploited the particular properties of these gold "nano-rods" by
manipulating the light pointed at them.
The team members described what they did as adding two "dimensions" to
the three spatial dimensions that discs already have.
They say they were able to introduce a spectral - or colour -
dimension and a polarisation dimension.
The scientists used the nanoparticles to record information in a range
of different colour wavelengths on the same physical disc location.
This is a major improvement over traditional DVDs, which are recorded
in a single colour wavelength with a laser.
Also, the amount of incoming laser light absorbed by the nanoparticles
depends on its polarisation. This allowed the researchers to record
different layers of information at different angles.
The researchers thus refer to the approach as 5-D recording. Previous
research has demonstrated recording techniques based on colour or
polarisation. But this is the first work that shows the integration of
both. As a result, the scientists say they have achieved unprecedented
data density.
Their approach used 10-layer stacks composed of thin glass plates as
the recording medium. If scaled up to a DVD-sized disk, the team would
be able to record 1.6 terabytes - that is, 1,600 gigabytes - or over
300 times the quantity stored on a standard DVD.
Significant improvements could be made by thinning the spacer layers
and using more than two polarisation angles - pushing the limits to 10
terabytes per disc and beyond, the researchers say.
Bit by bit
Recent efforts based on holography have shown that up to 500 Gb could
potentially be stored on standard DVD-sized disks.
Holographic methods take all of the information to be recorded and
encode it in the form of a graph showing how often certain frequencies
arise in it.
That means that the recording process is a complex, all-at-once,
all-or-nothing approach that would be difficult to implement on an
industrial scale.
By contrast, 5-D recording is "bit-by-bit", like current CD and DVD
writing processes in that each piece of information is recorded
sequentially.
That is likely to mean that recording and read speeds would be
comparatively slow, but the approach would be easier to integrate with
existing technology.
"The optical system to record and read 5-D is very similar to the
current DVD system," says James Chon, a co-author on the research.
"Therefore the industrial scale production of the compact system is possible."
Now that the method has been demonstrated in custom-made multi-layer
stacks, the team is working in conjunction with Samsung to develop a
drive that can record and read onto a DVD-sized disc.
Dr Chon says that the material cost of a disc would be less than five
cents (£0.03), but there are a number of advantages in moving to
silver nano-rods that would bring that cost down by a factor of 100.
For optical data storage expert Tom Milster, at the University of
Arizona, the beauty of the approach is in its simplicity.
"It's not just elegant - there are a lot of experiments that are
elegant - it's relatively straightforward," he told BBC News.
For the moment, the equipment needed to write the data would make a
commercial system expensive, but that has not stopped the development
of optical storage solutions in the past.
"For example, Blu-ray player is not a real easy system to realise;
they've got some wonderful optics in there," Dr Milster said. "People
thought that would be pretty difficult to do but others managed to do
it."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8060082.stm
Optical disc offers 500GB storage
A disc that can store 500 gigabytes (GB) of data, equivalent to 100 DVDs, has been unveiled by General Electric.
The micro-holographic disc, which is the same size as existing DVD discs, is aimed at the archive industry.
But the company believes it can eventually be used in the consumer market place and home players.
Blu-ray discs, which are used to store high definition movies and games, can currently hold between 25GB and 50GB.
Micro-holographic discs can store more data than DVDs or Blu-ray because they store information on the disc in three dimensions, rather than just pits on the surface of the disc
The challenge for this area of technology has been to increase the reflectivity of the holograms that are stored on the discs so that players can be used to both read and write to the discs.
Brian Lawrence, who leads GE's Holographic Storage said on the GE Research blog: "Very recently, the team at GE has made dramatic improvements in the materials enabling significant increases in the amount of light that can be reflected by the holograms."
More capacity
The higher reflectivity that can be achieved, the more capacity for the disc. While the technology is still in the laboratory stage, GE believes it will take off because players can be built which are backwards compatible with existing DVD and Blu-ray technologies.
In a statement the firm said: "The hardware and formats are so similar to current optical storage technology that the micro-holographic players will enable consumers to play back their CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.."
''GE's breakthrough is a huge step toward bringing our next generation holographic storage technology to the everyday consumer,'' said Mr Lawrence in a statement.
He added: "The day when you can store your entire high definition movie collection on one disc and support high resolution formats like 3D television is closer than you think.''
Micro-holographic technology has been one of the leading areas of research for storage experts for decades. Discs are seen as a reliable and effective form of storage and are both consumer and retail friendly.
However, General Electric will need to work with hardware manufacturers if it is to bring the technology to the consumer market.
The relatively modest adoption of Blu-ray discs sales globally might be an issue with some companies who believe digital distribution and cloud computing is the long-term answer to content delivery and storage.
"This is truly a breakthrough in the development of the materials that are so critical to ultimately bringing holographic storage to the everyday consumer," said Mr Lawrence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8021012.stm
The micro-holographic disc, which is the same size as existing DVD discs, is aimed at the archive industry.
But the company believes it can eventually be used in the consumer market place and home players.
Blu-ray discs, which are used to store high definition movies and games, can currently hold between 25GB and 50GB.
Micro-holographic discs can store more data than DVDs or Blu-ray because they store information on the disc in three dimensions, rather than just pits on the surface of the disc
The challenge for this area of technology has been to increase the reflectivity of the holograms that are stored on the discs so that players can be used to both read and write to the discs.
Brian Lawrence, who leads GE's Holographic Storage said on the GE Research blog: "Very recently, the team at GE has made dramatic improvements in the materials enabling significant increases in the amount of light that can be reflected by the holograms."
More capacity
The higher reflectivity that can be achieved, the more capacity for the disc. While the technology is still in the laboratory stage, GE believes it will take off because players can be built which are backwards compatible with existing DVD and Blu-ray technologies.
In a statement the firm said: "The hardware and formats are so similar to current optical storage technology that the micro-holographic players will enable consumers to play back their CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.."
''GE's breakthrough is a huge step toward bringing our next generation holographic storage technology to the everyday consumer,'' said Mr Lawrence in a statement.
He added: "The day when you can store your entire high definition movie collection on one disc and support high resolution formats like 3D television is closer than you think.''
Micro-holographic technology has been one of the leading areas of research for storage experts for decades. Discs are seen as a reliable and effective form of storage and are both consumer and retail friendly.
However, General Electric will need to work with hardware manufacturers if it is to bring the technology to the consumer market.
The relatively modest adoption of Blu-ray discs sales globally might be an issue with some companies who believe digital distribution and cloud computing is the long-term answer to content delivery and storage.
"This is truly a breakthrough in the development of the materials that are so critical to ultimately bringing holographic storage to the everyday consumer," said Mr Lawrence.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8021012.stm
Windows 7 release date announced
Windows 7 release date announced
By Darren Waters
Technology editor, BBC News website
Windows 7, the next major release of the world's most popular operating system, will be officially available to the public on 22 October.
Microsoft is hoping it can avoid the negative press that surrounded the launch of Vista, the last major Windows release, almost three years ago.
Windows 7 has been designed to be compatible with Vista so users do not have to invest in new hardware.
Customers who buy a new PC with Vista will be offered upgrades to Windows 7.
At the Computex 2009 trade show in Taipei, Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer said: "We've received great feedback from our partners who are looking forward to offering Windows 7 to their customers in time for the holidays."
Mr Guggenheimer said that Microsoft will make an upgrade option available, so PC makers and retail partners can offer customers the ability to purchase a Windows Vista-based PC and install Windows 7 when it is released.
When Vista was launched many users expressed frustration that the operating system did not work with all types of existing hardware and peripherals, or programs used commonly on PCs.
And a Vista compatibility programme for hardware proved to be confusing and, in some cases, somewhat misleading.
Windows 7 will also have "comparable system requirements" to Vista, which should mean that if your PC is capable of running Vista it will also run the new version.
Windows 7 promises a major usability improvement on Vista, and a simplification of security measures which caused frustration for many users.
Beta testers of Windows 7 have reported that it is faster than Vista, especially in terms of start-up and shutdown sequence of the computer.
By Darren Waters
Technology editor, BBC News website
Windows 7, the next major release of the world's most popular operating system, will be officially available to the public on 22 October.
Microsoft is hoping it can avoid the negative press that surrounded the launch of Vista, the last major Windows release, almost three years ago.
Windows 7 has been designed to be compatible with Vista so users do not have to invest in new hardware.
Customers who buy a new PC with Vista will be offered upgrades to Windows 7.
At the Computex 2009 trade show in Taipei, Microsoft's Steve Guggenheimer said: "We've received great feedback from our partners who are looking forward to offering Windows 7 to their customers in time for the holidays."
Mr Guggenheimer said that Microsoft will make an upgrade option available, so PC makers and retail partners can offer customers the ability to purchase a Windows Vista-based PC and install Windows 7 when it is released.
When Vista was launched many users expressed frustration that the operating system did not work with all types of existing hardware and peripherals, or programs used commonly on PCs.
And a Vista compatibility programme for hardware proved to be confusing and, in some cases, somewhat misleading.
Windows 7 will also have "comparable system requirements" to Vista, which should mean that if your PC is capable of running Vista it will also run the new version.
Windows 7 promises a major usability improvement on Vista, and a simplification of security measures which caused frustration for many users.
Beta testers of Windows 7 have reported that it is faster than Vista, especially in terms of start-up and shutdown sequence of the computer.
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