Welcome to our quarterly newsletter. We're looking at servers this time. Helping our clients choose the right servers, while getting the best deals is something we do at Trustco every day. We're always happy to help you make sure you're getting the right equipment at the right price.

In this edition...

• Considerations for server selection
• HP & IBM buyer's guides
• Trends for 2011

We look forward to helping you drive down costs and extending the value of your budget.

Trevor Kennard, Sales Director, Trustco PLC

Part 3 of our series Simplifying the process of virtualisation is now online here. In this edition Trevor looks at the requirements for backup so that you can enable a point in time recovery should a total site disaster occur. Watch the video to get some ideas. Part 1 covered the audit process - watch it here. Part 2 investigated storage issues - you can see it here.

Oracle... Sun

The new combined organisation is settling down but we've had some issues being able to supply Sun hardware to customers. To ensure that we don't let any clients down Trustco is not pursuing an active relationship with Oracle. Of course we'll keep the situation under review in the future.

Call us on 0844 880 1999 to discuss alternatives.

Server Choice Considerations

With all the hype surrounding Cloud Computing you may be forgiven for thinking that the local, on-site server is dead. Nothing could be further from the truth. Clearly the convenience of services in the cloud cannot be dismissed, but neither can the performance, security and immediacy of the local server. The reality is that, for many organisations that have a mix of on-site and mobile staff, a mix of on-site and internet-based servers makes most sense.

Look at six of the main considerations for a server purchase decision here. These include scalability, fault tolerance and price. Read it here.

Buyer's Guides

These useful guides summarise offerings from HP and IBM. HP Server Buyer's Guide HP recently took the lead in server sales from IBM, although there is very little in it. That leap ahead may well be the result of a refresh of the entire Integrity and ProLiant lines, as well as HP making a major play on convergence. Read the HP Buyer's Guide here IBM System x Server Buyer's Guide IBM is demonstrating the latest wave of Intel processors. The message: Intel's Nehalem EX processors coupled with IBM's system engineering talents provide a platform well-suited for virtualisation, consolidation and mission-critical applications. Read the IBM Buyer's Guide here

Five Trends for 2011

The recession is transformational. More is going to be required from the IT department in 2011. Cost savings are still top of the bill. This means that virtualisation, cloud computing and software as a service are all likely to be on the agenda next year. Mobile is exploding. Everyone can see this. But are IT departments focused on the management, support and security challenges that come with mobile computing? The Cloud - All hype or reality? We believe that cloud computing has a place for the smaller organisation and for tactical deployments. However, where's your data? Who's responsible? What happens if your supplier collapses? Enterprise 2.0 will run its course. Crowdsourcing information (the real value of Web 2.0 for the enterprise) is a powerful tool. It's a simple way to help us avoid starting every new undertaking from scratch.

What do you think?

Cloud Computing - Is this for you? Would you use cloud services for email? For processing corporate data? Customer accounts?

Hyper-V - We're seeing interest where 20 or less servers are involved, but not in larger environments... that's VMware territory. What are you looking at? What's your experience?

Reply to this email with your comments. The best will get a bottle of champagne!

Enterprise turns from Microsoft to Linux

Channel Web tracks this trend

Server Watch looks at the growth of Linux

Don't forget the storage!

As the standard issue for a server shifts from that of a physical box to a virtual server, the surrounding network infrastructure is expanding and growing. HDS is introducing its Virtual Storage Platform.
Click here for the full article

HP StorageWorks EVA6400 is going end of life - call us to discuss your upgrade options.
0844 880 1999

NetApp Enables IT to Be More Flexible, Efficient, and Ready for the Future
New Portfolio Delivers Foundation for Shared IT Infrastructure, Accelerates Implementation of Both Private and Public Clouds. There's a whole range of new products announced by NetApp. Read more here

Quantum Releases De-Duplicating Virtual Tape Library.
Features and Benefits include:

• Provides up to 6.4TB/hour performance for faster backup and restore
• Provides from 20 to 200TB usable capacity
• Reduces typical disk capacity and bandwidth needs by 90 percent or more through deduplication
• All software – replication, tape creation, VTL, OST included in the base price
• Enterprise backup system with flexible interface – VTL, NFS, CIFS, OpenStorage (OST) combines deduplication and non-deduplicating shares

Read the coverage on The Register here.

HP is to acquire 3PAR. Combining 3PAR’s leading–edge utility storage products with HP’s existing storage solutions will strengthen HP’s unparalleled storage, server and networking portfolio.
Read the press release here

VMware boost vCloud Director cloud creator

Adds self-service portal and beefs up capacity management

Click here to read the article

Not your copy of the InFocus Newsletter? Click here to register for your own copy - Sign up at the bottom of the page.

For more information about Trustco or any of our technology solutions,
please contact us on 0870 160 1505 or visit this page for alternative contact details.

Trustco Plc is a leading provider of Servers, Storage, Communication & Security Solutions from the very best vendors. Our focus on dedicated specialist account management along with technical resources make us the supplier of choice for a wide variety of businesses across the UK. Our ability to traverse the direct, distribution & reseller channels enable us to retain our competitive price advantage and keep lead times down to a minimum without any compromise on quality of after sales care. Visit www.trustco.co.uk for further information.

PRIVACY POLICY
Trustco Plc respects your privacy. We will not sell or rent your name, e-mail address, physical address or any other identifying information that you give us with any third party without your permission. If you prefer not to receive further newsletters from Trustco, please click on the unsubscribe link below.

Trustco Plc / 12 Riverside Business Centre / Brighton Road / Shoreham By Sea / BN43 6RE
Registered in England, number 3476994. VAT number 704558241