Using Microsoft SCOM to Monitor VMware

Hi folks! So you have Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) and you want to monitor not just Hyper-V but VMware vSphere too?

Some people are content to use a myriad of tools under multiple panes of glass, but If or one prefer the single pane of glass for my monitoring. Well the good folks at Veeam have developed a management pack that plugs right into SCOM and provides VMware monitoring right back into that single pane of glass.

The product is called Veeam nWorks and it is the cat’s meow. There are other solutions that can achieve similar goals, but in my opinion none go as deep as Veeam. Veeam also has their own custom metrics that they can alert on that make it an even more attractive solution.

Check it out and give it a try!

-RP

SOPA

Hi folks! So this past month was quite exciting. RIM had changes in the upper echelons, CES 2012 came and went. Obama made a big speech and SOPA was temporarily defeated.

The Stop Online Piracy Act really was only going to hurt the people it shouldn’t have hurt, and not really affect the pirates anyways. I’m glad the people of the world banded together and staged website blackouts in demonstration. Unfortunately not enough people did it, so even though we have temporary relief from the situation, it’s bound to rear it’s head in another ugly form.

Mark my words, nobody is going to support it in an election year. All the right words will be said leading up to the election. But after that, the hammer will come down and no doubt somebody will pass a SOPA type bill in another form.

We really need to do more if we want to keep the Internet the way it is. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like that is going to happen.

-RP

RIM’s Changes

Hi folks! So if you were hiding under a rock you might not have heard this news. But earlier this month Thorsten Heins took over as CEO of RIM.

Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis took a step back but still reside on the board. What does this mean for RIM? Apparently nothing if you listen to Thorsten Heins. He feels that there are no changes needed.

This obviously didn’t sit well with investors and the stock price for RIM is a definite indicator of that. Here’s hoping Thorsten changes his tune and starts making the drastic changes necessary to make RIM viable in the market again.

-RP

A KeyBoard for the BlackBerry PlayBook!

Hi folks! So for those of you that haven’t made a run for the border away from RIM yet, and actually bought a PlayBook, we have good news for you.

There is a keyboard coming out for the PlayBook! Tablets are great and everything with their touch screen keyboards, but sometimes you need to be able to type faster than a touch screen will allow.

Tablet external keyboards are great for these times when you need to blast out a quick document without the slow hindrance of a touch screen.

You can read more here.

-RP

How Private is Your Social Networking?

Hi folks! So I’ve been following a number of stories out there on the Internet regarding social networking and a disturbing trend is beginning to emerge.

This probably ain’t news to most of you, but the Government is beginning to use social networking as evidence in court. So basically anything you post, even if it’s in your “private” area of your social network web site can be summoned as evidence if the court deems it’s necessary.

This is just another step in the wrong direction for online freedoms. Expect this trend to continue, and remember to be careful what you post. One day it just might come back to haunt you!

-RP

TouchDown e-mail App for Android!

HI folks! So if you’re like me, you hate the built-in mail app for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. I tried using the app but just can’t stand it.

I find that the app lacks a ton of features and is just too kludgy to use. I started speaking with different people using the same tablet as me and I found that a few people were using an app called TouchDown made by NitroDesk.

So I gave it a download from the Android Market (free trial) and I have been testing it out. Needless to say, I love it! It’s got everything I wanted in an email app and the user interface for it just feels more efficient than the default app that came with my Galaxy Tab.

If you’re having the same problems as me, I suggest you give it a try.

-RP

HP’s New Ultrabooks

If you have been keeping an eye on the Ultrabook scene, you’ve probably been seeing all the commercials for HP’s ultrabooks. From the Folio, to the Envy to the Spectre. HP has something for everyone.

However once you go past a 13″ screen, I don’t know if you can really still call it an ultrabook. In my opinion they should keep that category at 13″ and smaller for the ultrabook segment.

Having said that, HP has released the 13″ Folio Ultrabook which is touting the longest battery life of any ultrabook on the market. That’s nothing to sneeze at. The battery life alone will help HP sell tons of these laptops. Good job HP!

You can read more here.

-RP

Ultrabook faceoff, MacBook Air vs Acer Aspire S5

Hi folks! So after CES 2012, many announcements were abound, but the most interesting thing in my opinion, was the ultrabook announcements.

Of all the anouncements, I found the Acer Aspire S5 to be the most interesting. This ultrabook stands the best chance based on it’s hardware specs, to go head to head with the MacBook Air hardware. Notice I say hardware, not software.

This is because when it comes to operating systems, you’re always going to have one side loving Apple and the other side loving Windows. So if you’re a loyalist either way, the hardware might not make a difference to you. However if you are willing to use either Mac OS X or Windows 7, then I suggest waiting for the Acer Aspire S5 to hit stores and giving it a try.

You can check out more details here.

-RP

RIM CEOs step down!

Hi folks! So this just in! Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis have stepped down as co-CEO’s of RIM! They have named Thorsten Heins as the new President and CEO. He has also been appointed to the board!

All I can say, is it’s about flipping time! RIM was on a roller coaster ride into oblivion this past year, and they needed a change and fast!

Now with this announcement, hopefully RIM can begin the healing process and concentrate on churning out good products instead!

You can read more here.

-RP

Cool Top Apps for the iPhone

Hi folks! So now I have finally upgraded to iOS 5! I have to say it’s not that bad, especially now that the jailbreak is out for it.

I am running iOS 5 on an iPhone 4, so I don’t have Siri yet. I don’t feel that the iPhone 4S is a big enough upgrade from my iPhone 4, so i’ll be waiting for the iPhone 5 before I make the switch.

So in the meantime, what are the cool apps for the iPhone? Well there are many, but some of them you’ll need to jailbreak for so you can access the Cydia app store.

You can check my list of cool top  apps for the iPhone here.

-RP