NOSes and Server Software Topic Center

Read news, analysis, trend stories and more about network operating systems and server software

Black Hat makes light of accidental password-reset email

A Black Hat volunteer mistakenly sent to 7,500 conference goers a password-reset email that was initially thought to be a phishing attempt.
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Windows Server 2012 to ship in August

Closely following a similar announcement for its Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft also said it will release to manufacturers (RTM) its next-generation operating system for the server, Windows Server 2012, next month.

Red Hat agrees to buy FuseSource

Boosting its line of open-source middleware, Red Hatis in the process of acquiring open-source integration software vendor FuseSource from its parent company Progress Software. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst weighs in on strategy, Oracle and growth

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst is coming up on his five-year anniversary at the helm, following his arrival in December 2007. Under Whitehurst's leadership, Red Hat's revenue has grown from US$523 million in its fiscal 2008 to more than $1.1 billion in its fiscal 2012, without deviating from its core strategy of open-source infrastructure software.

Secunia PSI 3.0 silently deploys Windows security patches

Danish vulnerability intelligence and research firm Secunia has launched version 3.0 of its Personal Software Inspector patch management program, which can silently install security updates for many software applications.

Red Hat releases NoSQL database for enterprise Java

Enterprise open source software provider Red Hat has jumpedinto the emerging NoSQL market, releasing an in-memory data store as part of an update of its JBoss management platform.

Attack code published for two actively exploited flaws in Microsoft software

Attack code for two actively exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft software, one of which has not yet been patched, was integrated into the open-source Metasploit penetration testing framework.

VMware patches arbitrary code execution flaw in desktop, server virtualization products

Virtualization software vendor VMware has released security patches for its Workstation, Player, Fusion, ESXi and ESX products in order to address two vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to compromise the host system or crash a virtual machine.

64-bit OSs, virtualization software on Intel chips vulnerable to hacks

Some 64-bit operating systems and virtualization software programs are vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks when running on Intel processors (CPUs), the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) said in a security advisory on Wednesday.

Exploit available for root-access vulnerability in F5 Networks products

An exploit for a recently patched vulnerability that allows potential attackers to obtain administrative access on network appliances from hardware vendor F5 Networks was added to the Metasploit penetration testing framework on Tuesday.

Block rogue apps with Windows Server -- for free

It is a lot of work to set up policies; it takes trial and some error, too. But the payoffs are huge.

Microsoft server and tool upgrades demand CIOs' attention

CIOs and IT directors tracking the barrage of major upgrades for Windows and Office also need to stay tuned to the refresh cycle for Microsoft's servers and tools, including Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012, System Center 2012 and Visual Studio 11.

Make Web Apps More Manageable With Minimalist for Everything

Google Reader and Gmail are two of the most customizable Web apps available today. Need a different inbox layout? Sure thing. Want to change the colors or visual density? No problem. Still, some interface elements, like the Google Bar at the top of the window, will never go away, no matter what you do. If you wish they did, try free Chrome extension Minimalist for Everything.

Legacy Systems Get a Tuneup

Given economic realities these days, not every company can justify getting rid of systems that are still working, however shakily. Here are some ways to make legacy hardware more responsive to today's business needs. Insider (registration required)

Fundamental Oracle flaw revealed

A design decision made by Oracle architects long ago may have painted some of Oracle's largest customers into a corner. Patches have arrived, but how much will they correct?

Flaw in web app frameworks pushes Microsoft to patch ASP.net promptly

Many web app frameworks are vulnerable to a denial-of-service attack targeting the way they handle hash tables, researchers revealed Wednesday, prompting Microsoft to announce an "out-of-band" patch for its ASP.NET platform just hours later.

The new Novell

Novell, which was acquired by The Attachmate Group in April, wants to regain its status as an IT icon and will try to do so by focusing its efforts on its core assets and rebuilding relationships with its huge installed base. Network World Editor in Chief John Dix recently caught up with Novell President Bob Flynn and VP of Product Management and Marketing Eric Varness for a briefing on their rebuilding plans. Insider (registration required)

10 best new features of Windows Server 8

With Windows Server 8, Microsoft has outdone itself, from a revamped UI to hundreds of new features, including vastly improved virtualization management

Apple's OS X server strategy: Data centers for everyone

In addition to a variety of new features, Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' is getting something all new: Lion Server, which will be bundled with it for free.

Ensuring your business's safety

In the 1995 film "Hackers" the lead character downloads sensitive information to a floppy disk. Today, of course, advances in technology have yielded equally advanced security threats. Consider news reports in the past year about computers compromised by botnets. Businesses face daily threats from these and other cybersecurity dangers that are further enhanced by increased reliance on new business communications and computing tools.