HP Turns Green on Data Storage

HP has introduced what it has dubbed its green storage technology that can cut storage array power and cooling costs in data centers by 50 per cent.

The new offerings feature thin provisioning and performance enhancements for the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) family, tape drives based on the Linear Tape Open (LTO) 4 standard, new DAT 160 tape drives for SMBs, and the first HP StorageWorks tape product developed exclusively for HP BladeSystem c-Class. Through the use of EVA Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM), Vsnap and FATA disk drives, the new EVAs help organizations that are seeking to optimize hard drive utilization, eliminate unnecessary storage purchases, manage IT resources and storage provisioning tasks, and improve power efficiency by up to 45 per cent compared with previous EVAs. Similar to thin provisioning, and leveraging the virtual disk service volume shrink feature in Windows Server 2008, DCM continuously monitors storage utilization and automatically grows/shrinks host volumes to match application needs, thus reducing ongoing storage administration tasks.

The HP StorageWorks LTO-4 Ultrium1840 tape drive targets the mid-sized and enterprise market segment as HP's highest-capacity, fastest-performing and most secure tape backup, while consuming up to 50 per cent fewer watts/GB than previous versions. The LTO-4 technology and AES 256-bit data encryption protects user data from unauthorized access if cartridges are misplaced or stolen.

This tape drive will also be available in HP StorageWorks MSL, EML and ESL E-Series Tape Libraries. The HP Ultrium 448c Tape Blade is a new half-height tape storage blade for the HP BladeSystem c-Class chassis. This blade is designed for customers that are not connected into a SAN, by providing direct-attach data protection for c-Class server blades while taking advantage of the HP Dynamic Power Saving mode to achieve up to a 22 per cent reduction in power consumption. The HP StorageWorks DAT 160 tape drive targets SMBs and features either a SCSI or USB interface, delivers backup speeds of up to 50GB/hour with up to 160GB of capacity on a single cartridge, and consumes fewer watts/GB than previous versions of DAT drives.

In accordance with the continued bolstering of HP's green credentials, each of these updated products prominently feature reduced power consumption per unit of storage not only for disks, but also for tape, which is often thought as an offline or intermittent storage technology. Of course, the most effective way to conserve energy is to not use it in the first place, or at least postpone its use. Through a thin provisioning approach, such as DCM, the dynamic deployment of storage can more closely follow actual needs for capacity at the moment. While some may see this simply as forestalling the inevitable purchase and deployment of storage, it nevertheless reduces capital expenditure in the short term but definitely reduces the power consumed in order to deliver a given storage capacity. Additionally, by leveraging the Virtual Disk Service volume shrink feature in Windows Server 2008, more organizations will likely take advantage of this capability, especially those who may not have been aware of such abilities, or who have considered their deployment and management beyond their organization's scope or ability.

Source:www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/07/11/hp_green_storage/
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Canon Pushes Eco-Friendly Green brand

Canon is bringing its range of eco-friendly printer products and its environmental initiatives under a new brand. Generation Green aims to make it easy for consumers to identify and learn about its green products.

Generation Green is divided into three product classification categories: eco-conscious, eco-standards and eco-friendly. Eco-conscious includes double-sided printing as standard, several packaging changes to boost shipping efficiency and the use of biodegradable limestone packaging material NatureStone instead of wood pulp.

In the eco-standards category, all products that meet the European Union Directive and the US Energy Star standards on hazardous substances will carry Generation Green branding.

The eco-friendly category will include its internal initiatives such as printing user manuals on recycled paper and using some recycled plastic on casings. Canon has also launched a waste recycling programme for toner cartridges.

Source:marketingweek.co.uk
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Five Simple Ways to Speed Up Your PC

"Speeding up your PC is a great way to start of the New Year. Speed is definitely important these days," Agent Smith, the manager of Geek Squad at Best Buy, said.

Microsoft's five steps consist of freeing up disk space, speeding up access to data, detecting and repairing disk repairs, protecting computers against spyware and learning about Microsoft's Readyboost.

"Any one of Microsoft's five steps will significantly speed up any computer. So from Apple to Sony, and Dell to Toshiba, any users of [these steps] can benefit," says Smith.

1.Free up disk space

"You basically want to use Disk Cleanup when you install new programs to get rid of the space the old programs take up on the hard disk," Smith said.

The Disk Cleanup tool identifies and allows users to see files that are safe to delete -- such as items in the Recycle Bin, old programs and temporary files -- from their computers.

How to use Disk Cleanup

1.) Click Start, go to All Programs, then go to Accessories, finally go to System Tools and click on Disk Cleanup.
2.) Once in Disk Cleanup set up select the files you would like to delete.
3.) Clear the check boxes for the files that you do not wish to delete and click OK.
4.) Confirm that you want to delete specified files by clicking Yes.

2.Speed up access to data

A disk defragmenter, according to Microsoft's Web site, is a utility that consolidates a computer's fragmented files and folders so that they occupy only a single space on the disk.

How to use Disk Defragmenter

1.) Click Start, go to All Programs, then go to Accessories, finally got to System Tools and click on Disk Defragmenter.
2.) Select drives you want to defragment and click Analyze.
3.) After the analysis the dialog box will tell you if you need to defragment the selected drive if so click Defragment.
4.) After the process of defragmentation process is complete the results will be displayed, to view these in detail click View Report.
5.) To close program click Close in the View Report dialog box, and then click Close in the title bar of the Disk Defragmenter program.

3.Detect and repair disk errors

By running the Error Checking utility, one may check the files stored on their hard disks for bad sectors and those stored on their file systems for errors.

"Nine times out of 10, if you have bad sectors your computer is failing or will fail. It will only work if you replace the hard drive," Smith said.

How to use Error Checking

1.) Close any open files
2.) Click Start, then click My Computer
3.) Once in My Computer Right Click on the file you want to search for bad sectors then click Properties
4.) Once in the Properties dialog box click on the Tools tab
5.) Click Check Now
6.) Once in the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors, and click Start
7.) Choose to fix bad sectors if they are found


4.Protect your computer against spyware

Spyware is an illegal collector of personal information.Microsoft Windows Defender combats spyware and is free to download for Microsoft XP SP2.

"You want to remember not to have more than one anti-spyware program running at a time, or it will cause major problems in your computer's performance," says Smith.

5.Learn all about ReadyBoost for Windows Vista

According to Microsoft's Web site, ReadyBoost speeds up computers by allowing users to utilize flash memory in an effort to improve performance -- without adding more memory.

ReadyBoost works by using a universal serial bus -- USB -- along with Windows SuperFetch.

How to use ReadyBoost

"If you are not sure how to install ReadyBoost, we recommend that you come in and we will update the system for you," Smith said.

1.) Insert flash drive or secure digital memory card
2.) Windows Vista will check to see if the device is fast enough to work with the ReadyBoost program. If this is so place the amount of the flash drive's memory you want to use to store files and the amount you want to use to speed up your PC.


Source: Steps from Microsoft.com and media.www.technicianonline.com
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HP Aims to Cut PC Energy Use by 25 percent

Hewlett-Packard said Tuesday that it is aiming to cut the energy consumption of its desktops and notebooks by 25 percent by 2010.

The HP announcement, delivered at the Consumer Electronics Show, almost reads like it comes from an auto manufacturer trying to cut the miles per gallon requirements of its fleet.

Technology vendors are increasingly using their green IT initiatives to improve their standing in the market place. It’s becoming difficult to distinguish the marketing from the green technology reality. Indeed, HP touted the number of its products meeting gold and silver ratings under EPEAT (the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool).

What may be more interesting is how HP plans to get to its 25 percent energy reduction. HP said it plans to use more efficient power supplies and lower energy chip sets. That’s a no brainer. But HP also touted the Verdiem Surveyor remote power management agent. Surveyor can measure and manage PC and monitor energy consumption and reduce it accordingly. In plain English, the Surveyor turns off your gear when it’s not in use. Turning off your PC may do more than any fancy chip set will when it comes to energy consumption.

Source: blogs.zdnet.com/
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U.S. to Require Agencies to Buy Green PCs, Monitors

The U.S. government plans to require federal agencies to buy green PCs and computer monitors that are energy efficient and include reduced levels of toxic chemicals -- a requirement that likely will affect corporate users as well because of the government's massive buying power.

The Department of Defense, NASA and the General Services Administration jointly detailed an interim rule on the new purchasing requirements in a notice published in the Federal Register on Dec. 26, and they are accepting comments on the proposal through Feb. 25. The new rule formalizes the use within the government of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, which some agencies and private-sector companies have already adopted.

EPEAT is a three-tiered rating system developed by the Green Electronics Council in Portland, Ore. Under EPEAT, qualifying desktop systems, laptops and monitors are awarded gold, silver and bronze ratings based on how well they meet 51 environmental criteria, such as ease of disassembly and the lack of paints or coatings that aren't compatible with recycling or reuse.

Products are required to conform to 23 of the criteria to get a bronze rating. Earning a silver or gold designation is dependent on meeting more stringent EPEAT standards, such as having 90% of the materials in a system be reusable or recyclable, or using batteries that are free of lead, cadmium and mercury.

The federal government has a total installed base of 6.7 million desktops and laptops across civilian and military agencies, and it buys about 2.2 million new systems annually, according to Shawn McCarthy, research director for government vendor programs at market research firm IDC.

Because the government is such a large user, PC vendors will be hustling to comply with the new federal rule, McCarthy said. And since the vendors don't make PCs specifically for government users, he said, "you will see spillover into other sectors, much as you did once the government pushed Energy Star compliance back in the mid-1990s." Energy Star is an energy efficiency rating system for various products that is being extended to servers by the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Defination of Green Products

Not only is it an interesting question, it's an important one. Vendors and their marketing departments are, of course, keenly aware that organizations have green in their sights and are thus cranking out products and unveiling services touted as being eco-friendly. But how do you know whether an offering is a victim of a vendor's green-washing scheme or if it really is "green"? And that goes back the original question: What defines a green product or service?

Well, I find it difficult to devise a simple and succinct definition on which everyone can agree. On the most extreme end of the spectrum, one might argue that any product or service you can buy off the shelf, via the Internet, or over the phone isn't technically green. The process of transforming a natural resource into something else requires the use of additional materials and energy and, even in a minute way, detracts from the environment. In that realm of thought, a soybean growing in the wild would be green whereas tofu wouldn't.

Now, if businesses were to exercise that level of discrimination in their ambition to invest only in green products, they wouldn't accomplish much. Hence, that definition is pretty useless in the context of commerce or generally going about one's day-to-day life, unless one happens to live in the forest naked, scrounging bark and berries fallen off of trees and bushes.

But here's what I consider a more practical definition that companies might employ to gauge a product or service's "greenness": A green product or service is one that delivers comparable or superior performance, utility, or other benefits to an alternative one while utilizing fewer resources, containing fewer toxic materials, and/or boasting a longer lifecycle.

What about systems management software that lets admins ensure that a server is using just as much electricity as it needs to in order to run effectively? So long as it performs as well as other management software, yeah, that's green. Virtualization, which lets you wring the same amount of work out of fewer machines? Again, green. Electronic document management outgreens paper-based systems. Solar power beats coal power. And the list goes on.

A couple of final thoughts on this subject: First, if a vendor comes to your door hawking what it deems a green product, be sure to ask just what makes it so green.

Second, bear in mind that a product deemed green today will be considered wasteful and eco-unfriendly tomorrow. Technological advancement coupled with relativity is funny that way.

Green products alone simply can't make your company green. A blueprint for long-term sustainability is a must, and the products you employ are but a piece of the puzzle. Deploying virtualization in your data center may very well help you make better use of your resources in the short- or midterm. It may also reduce your company's carbon footprint. But you most certainly need to plan beyond that for the sake of your organization's future prosperity -- as well as for the sake of the environment, if that is, indeed, a concern for your company.

How would you define a green product or service?
Source:weblog.infoworld.com
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More On Recycling, Reusing Electronics

Last week, reporter Tom Abate wrote about places in the Bay Area where you can take your old electronics for recycling, and our readers quickly weighed in with even more options.

Domingo Vazquez, director of curriculum and training for Oakland Technology Exchange West, pointed out that his group collects computers, printers and monitors, refurbishes them, and gives them away to Oakland families and students. Says he: "We are a licensed Microsoft refurbisher, which allows us to install a legal copy of Windows operating system and open-source software. We also provide tech support, extending the life of these machines by many more years."

Meanwhile, Noah Austin of Goodwill Industries brought to our attention that many electronics are accepted at Goodwill sites in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties -- and it's free.

"All electronics are refurbished as part of one of our training programs, or recycled by reputable, domestic recyclers. Our process is regularly audited to ensure that nothing ends up in a landfill either in the United States or overseas," Austin said. "All revenue received from the recycled and refurbished computers supports Goodwill's extensive job training programs in our local communities." For drop-off locations, see their Web site.

Voices from the East Bay, led by Lindsay Blackman of Walnut Creek, chimed in to recommend Alameda County Computer Resource Center in Berkeley. According to their Web site, drop-off is free, and they charge just $10 to "degauss" your disk drives -- that is, to erase all personal info.

To be sure, there are a lot of options out there. Here's one that came in one of my various bills for city utilities: The San Francisco Clean Coalition will be collecting your unwanted electronics over the next couple of weeks, on Jan. 5 at Ocean Beach and the Marina Green, and Jan. 12 at James Lick Middle School in Noe Valley and Lake Merced. Find details here.

Source:sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=19&cat=1499
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