Product Previews

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F5 bolsters firewall family The latest additions to F5 Networks’ lineup are two new security products announced Monday that are designed for enterprise networks. FirePass 4100 is the latest version of F5’s SSL VPN appliance designed to provide secure remote access to corporate applications and data using a standard Web browser. The appliance secures Web-based remote access to corporate applications and desktops. TrafficShield 4100 is a Web application firewall designed for the application layer of networks that enforces granular security policies to protect Web applications, as well as database information from both random and targeted application security attacks. Prices for FirePass begin at $24,990 for 100 concurrent users, and TrafficShield prices begin at $39,990. FirePass 4100 and TrafficShield 4100 are available this week. FirePass 4100, TrafficShield 4100, F5 Networks

Vivecon does the forecasting math Vivecon this week unveiled its Strategic Component Supply Manager and Tooling and Capacity Manager applications. The products offer forecasting tools for manufacturers such as the automotive industry that are required to make large capital expenditures on retooling years in advance of demand. Vivecon claims techniques taken from financial engineering, such as hedging, real options, and risk management can reduce total sourcing costs by 6 percent. Strategic Supply Manager, Vivecon

Attachmate mixes host systems into SOA recipe Introducing yet another acronym to the services vernacular, Attachmate next month plans to unveil Synapta products for SOH (Service-Oriented Host), which will enable customers to pull host systems into service-oriented architectures. Synapta will help companies streamline host application workflow, create composite applications, enrich the host application with Web services and customer code, transform host data into reusable services for new applications, and create user interfaces for new user groups such as partners and suppliers. Synapta, Attachmate

Microsoft issues XP Embedded with SP2 Hoping to whet the appetite of its developers working in the mobile and embedded markets, Microsoft released a technology review of Windows XP Embedded containing SP2 (Service Pack 2). Like the desktop version of XP with SP2, the product has improved default security and networking. To better compete with Linux in the embeddable markets, Microsoft has also improved the product’s manageability and communications capabilities. The finished version should ship by year’s end, Microsoft said. Windows XP Embedded with SP2, Microsoft

Correction: In these Product Previews, F5 Networks’ FirePass 4100 was incorrectly described. The FirePass 4100 is an SSL VPN appliance. The error has been corrected.