The best products of 2004

Hardware and Software Platforms

Best Server Hardware

Apple Xserve G5

Tightly integrated hardware/OS combo that raises the bar for other server makers Best Blade System

HP Consolidated Client Infrastructure

Combines popular management tools with unrivaled reliability and scalability Best Operating System

Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)

Still sets the bar for simplicity and ease-of-use among 64-bit-capable OSes Best Virtual Server

VMware ESX Server 2.1.1

Enables an extraordinary array of high-availability services and management capabilities

Networking

Best Networking Hardware Extreme Networks BlackDiamond 10808 Excellent performance paired with a powerful and flexible operating architecture

Best WAN Accelerator Riverbed Steelhead 2000 Reduces file-transfer times via WAN links by several orders of magnitude

Best IP PBX Zultys MX250 Enterprise Media Exchange Not the most scalable or feature-rich, but the best truly standards-based solution we tested

Best Wireless LAN Solution Trapeze MX-20 Mobility System Takes the gold for polish, flexibility, granular management, and seamless roaming

Storage

Best SAN Solution Dell/EMC AX100 Simple to set up, easy to manage, comprehensive in capabilities, and competitively priced

Best Storage Router Brocade Silkworm Multiprotocol Router Consolidates multiple SAN islands regardless of transport protocol

Best IP Storage Router Stonefly Networks i3000 Storage Concentrator Provides a safe, easy migration path from direct-attached storage to IP SANs

Best NAS Solution NetApp FAS270C Manageable, scalable, high-performance, close to the ideal multipurpose storage solution

Systems and Network Management

Best Systems Management Solution Novell ZENworks 6.5  Improves support for handhelds, reaches out to Linux

Best Network Management Solution Rendition Networks TrueControl 3.0 Feature-rich, broad in scope, excels in change management and reporting

App Dev

Best Web Services Development Tool Mindreef SOAPscope 3.0 Must-have testing and analysis tool for developers working with Web services

Best Java Development Tool Agitar Agitator 1.5 Automates unit testing to the proper degree by recognizing when it needs human help

Best Application Testing Tool RadView TestView Powerful, sophisticated Web application testing tool accessible even to nonprogrammers.

Best Software Change Management Solution IBM Rational ClearCase 6.0 Boasts easy setup and tight integration of development tools

Databases & Data Management

Best Database Oracle Database 10g Leads in innovation, packed with features that ease admin burden

Best Mobile Database IBM DB2 Everyplace Enterprise 8.1.4 Easy to set up, straightforward to manage, and plenty of room to grow

Best Content Management Solution CrownPeak Advantage CMS Complete, powerful, extensible system that won’t confound business users

Enterprise Apps & Integration

Best Enterprise Portal Plumtree Enterprise Web Suite Scores top marks in the most critical test: ease of integrating with other applications

Best CRM Application Salesforce.com Winter ’05  Flexible, easy to use, manageable, feature-rich, and unrivaled in extensibility

Best Process Automation Solution Microsoft BizTalk Server 2004 Brilliantly executed, puts BPM in the hands of businesspeople

Best Web Services Integration Solution Grand Central Business Services Network 4.0 Provides BPEL support that sets this Web services integration and management solution apart

Collaboration Software

Best Enterprise IM Solution IBM Lotus Instant Messaging and Web Conferencing 3.1 Covers all the bases, including secure communication with other IM communities

Best IM Management Solution IMlogic IM Manager 6.0 Brings flexible enforcement policies and strong security to all types of IM

Best Team Collaboration Solution Groove Virtual Office 3.0 Full-featured, still the leader in shared workspaces

Security

Best Firewall SonicWall Pro 2040 Setup wizards, easy VPNs, global management, and optimization for VoIP traffic set it apart

Best Network IDS Lancope StealthWatch 4.0 Fueled by anomaly-based detection technique that bested signature-based solutions in our tests

Best WLAN Security Product AirDefense 4.0 Provides excellent monitoring capabilities, flags deviations from configurable policy thresholds

Best Host-Based IDS McAfee Entercept 5.0 Combines straightforward management with effective protection of servers and desktops

Best Anti-Spam Solution Symantec Brightmail Anti-Spam 6.0 Sets standard in filter performance by combining accuracy with minimal false positives