Thursday, April 10, 2008

Connected Real Estate Summit

DSW, along with Cisco Systems, and our partners will co-host a Connected Real Estate seminar at Yellowpages.com in Glendale, CA. Connected Real Estate comprises solutions that focus on the convergence of IT and building systems onto a common IP infrastructure, reducing operating costs and improving productivity. Key topics at the seminar include both business and technology ranging from understanding the value of connected buildings, energy efficiency, green facilities, building – IT convergence, current architectures, existing and upcoming technologies to name a few.

Cisco Connected Real Estate (CCRE) is a framework designed to create value and opportunity for building developers, owners and occupiers within the construction, real estate and property services sector. An 'intelligent' connected building uses an integral network to reduce capital and operating expenditures for key stakeholders over the building's lifecycle and creates more productive and flexible workplaces through scalable collaboration, mobility and remote connectivity tools.

DSW and Cisco will demonstrate how IP technology can:

• Reduce the capital expenditure on constructing a new building

• Reduce the costs of building operation

• Increase security and staff productivity

• Offer owners and tenants flexible and adaptable working environments

• Generate new revenue streams

• Green buildings

Aimed at business decision makers, the day will consist of key speakers from DSW and Cisco, along with demonstrations of technology. Customers will learn how the IP network is emerging as the 4th utility, delivering more services and increasing productivity while also reducing costs.

In addition, important updates on Cisco Unified Communications, Video Surveillance and Digital Signage will be provided, as well as Ethernet and Wireless networking technologies.

For more information about dates and times, please contact your DSW representative.


Monday, April 7, 2008

Cisco sets last sale date for PIX firewall

ASA 5500 UTMs to replace the old gear

Cisco is sweeping aside its long-standing PIX firewall appliances in favor of its newer ASA 5500 appliances that perform the same functions as the discontinued devices plus more.

The last day to buy the devices is July 28, and support for them ends July 27, 2013, according to end-of-life notices posted this week by Cisco. The models involved are the PIX 501, 506E, 515E, 525 and 535.

PIX appliances were fated for termination when the company introduced its ASA 5500s in 2005. These devices support firewall and VPN just like the PIX but with better performance, SSL VPN support, VoIP security. It has modules for antivirus, antispam, antiphishing and URL filtering.

Last February, Cisco stopped selling its other competing firewall/VPN devices, the VPN 3000 series concentrators.

CheckPoint, Juniper, TippingPoint/3Com, Nokia, and Sonicwall also offer devices that combine multiple security functions such as VPN, firewall and intrusion-detection/prevention systems.

DSW offers special financing for those who need to replace their equipment. Contact your DSW rep for more information.

By Tim Greene , Network World , 02/01/2008 < http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/020108-cisco-pix.html?t51hb>