PerfectDisk Blog from Raxco.com| Defrag Software

Interop: consolidate; but get the performance management right

                            

Writing in the Information Week Analytics Blog, Art Whittmann writes this week about a panel discussion on the future of the data center at this week's Interop show in Las Vegas. The panel consisted of leaders from Cisco, Brocade, Juniper and Riverbed, and Art points out that they all agreed on an overlying message -- now is the time to be consolidating servers, networking, storage and even data centers. With the result "a highly responsive environment that takes far fewer resources to manage."

Art then gets into the management aspect of the virtualized data center, and asks if the right vendors ("the usual suspects") are the right ones to handle this new virtualized world. Of course, at Raxco we're often pointing out that one aspect of management that sometimes gets overlooked is defragmentation. And virtualization defragmentation is just as important as physical defrag. Actually, for businesses placing more and more emphasis on virtual solutions such as ESX and Hyper-V, it could be argued that it is even more important than ever. Which is why we have virtual aware defrag solutions with PerfectDisk. The old school defraggers won't cut it in this new world.

Consolidate. Go virtual. And keep on defragmenting to get performance right.

                           

Defrag SQL Server 2008 FILESTREAM systems automatically

              

Database and SQL administrators deal with structured data -- defined and preset tables and the like that follow definite patterns and rules. But a lot - or most - of the data that "regular" users are creating and modifying is unstructured. For example, regular text documents, images, and videos and music files don't have a set format. This unstructured data is typically stored outside of the structured database, resulting in extra complexity for the data management. If the data is associated with structured storage, file streaming and performance can take a hit.

             

FILESTREAM is a new data type available with SQL Server 2008 which allows data to be stored outside of the SQL server data tables and then be handled by NTFS. FILESTREAM integrates the SQL Server Database Engine with an NTFS file system by storing varbinary(max) binary large object (BLOB) data as files on the file system. Transact-SQL statements can insert, update, query, search, and back up FILESTREAM data. FILESTREAM uses the NT system cache for caching file data, helping to reduce any effect that FILESTREAM data might have on database engine performance. The SQL Server buffer pool is not used, leaving this memory available for query processing.

The Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN), of which the PerfectDisk development team is a long-standing member, lists 6 "Best Practices" for FILESTREAM Physical Configuration and Maintenance. Number 2 on the list? "Regularly defragment FILESTREAM computer systems." Another instance where automation -- whether background processing or via an automated schedule -- and defragmentation come together to improve system performance.

Get your stream together.                        

 

The first month

                      

We're just under a month in, and even our high expectations have been exceeded by the response we've received on PerfectDisk 10. Even as the opening night has passed, it's been a record-breaking month here for product downloads as well as favorable reviews. Here's just a sampling:

• "improves performance big time"
  "raised the bar for all competitors, leaving them behind."
  Softpedia
• "buy PerfectDisk 10. Period."
  "it's faster than any other defragmentation program...an inexpensive tool that just works." about.com
• "nothing comes close"
  "I highly recommend PerfectDisk 10...I will be using it."
  Colin Brown, Microsoft MVP
• "the defrag equivalent to a Harvard student on a caffeine high before his finals"
  "overall, I would recommend PerfectDisk 10 to anyone desiring any sort of performance and capacity increase on their computer, as it completely puts any other defrag program I've ever utilized to shame..." 
  OCModShop
• "Go get it. Love it."
  "...among the very few pieces of software I recommend everyone actually purchasing, rather than finding freeware versions that are similar."
  2PhatGeeks.com

To see full articles and reviews,click here.

               

We'll keep raising our bar.

Virtualization Buyers Guide Now Online -- defrag included

                          

Redmond Magazine has a sister publication called the Virtualization Review. Last November, it published its first annual Virtualization Buyer's Guide, covering all kinds of products and topics in the virtualization space. It's a good source whether you're looking at applications, desktop or server virtualization products,power and cooling issues, and a lot more. The management and optimization category covers virtualization defrag and more. I'm calling your attention to it now because the guide is now online, and it can be downloaded at the Virtualization Review's website here.

We're happy that PerfectDisk is the lone defrag solution in the guide, with specific solutions for  virtualization defrag. Because of the timing of the Buyers Guide and the launch of PerfectDisk 10, the new PerfectDisk 10 Virtual Edition, with its exclusive virtual awareness for environments like VMware ESX Server and Microsoft's Hyper-V, is not listed. But PerfectDisk for VMware is, along with our previous ESX defrag solution.  

                         

Wherever you are in your virtualization project -- just getting going or knee deep into it, I would recommend checking out this guide to help you in your product selections.

2009 tech trends -- Gartner misses a little, eWeek hits it...PerfectDisk plays

   It's that time of the year -- 4th quarter -- when the pundits and analysts are rolling out their predictions for what will be the big technology trends in 2009. Industry analyst giant Gartner analyst group weighed in with its top 10 strategic technologies for 2009:

• virtualization
• cloud computing
• servers
• enterprise mashups
• specialized systems
• social software
• social networks
• unified communications
• business intelligence
• green IT.

It's hard to argue with Gartner's list -- all highly visible and important issues. Many dubbed 2008 the year of virtualization. I think 2009 is going to go after that title as well. Our virtualization solutions have been well-received out of the box in early 2008 and have continued to pick up steam throughout the year. Developers and administrators both see the value. In line with Gartner, our server business has also been thriving this year. Servers are running all aspects of business, are crucial, and need to perform flawlessly and optimally.

Yet despite Gartner's nice list, in this week's edition of eWeek magazine, Eric Lundquist, editor in chief, has put together The 10 techs Gartner missed, that acknowldges Gartner's strong list but also points out some other very important ones. I'm with Eric - he definitely hits on some key ones that I see evidence of here in our somewhat smaller world view that is disk defragmentation.

                            

Number 3 on Lundquist's list is "Tune-up." He says "look, 2009 is going to be tough on the budget. Companies are going to want to extend systems through overhauls and tune-ups rather than through new purchases." Choir here, Eric - nice sermon! Indeed, we've actually seen increased activity across our business lines since the economic meltdown over the last several weeks. The IT adminsitrators and managers in the trenches understand that the money for a bunch of new shiny hardware isn't coming through. But by spending a little bit on software that can extend their existing PCs, laptops, and servers lives as well as boost their performance to make their users more productive and happy, they can be literally heroes in their organization. Same thing for small businesses and same for consumers. They are looking to get the most our of what they have. Enter good ol' tried and true, boring defragmentation. Like every other recession.

                                                           

Number 10 on Lundquist's list is "New green." He's not talking about marketing hype that is everywhere these days. Lundquist says "the biggest cost savings is the system that is turned off..." That's doable with PerfectDisk's flexible scheduling options that allow for completely defragmenting your entire drives and completely consolidating free space...and shutting off your machine. Other not-so-smart solutions might never get the job done if you actually turned them off to save some energy.

There's also going to be a lot from us in 2009. For the latest, follow PerfectDisk on Twitter.

PerfectDisk ROI in a Server Environment

We have a new white paper out entitled PerfectDisk ROI in a Server Environment. The paper summarizes some of the ways an organization can proactively save time and money with PerfectDisk, including:

• Better end user productivity
• Shorter backup times
• Improved server availability
• Maximized hardware investments
• Improved performance in virtual environments
• Reduced system administration time
• Life cycle extension.

You can see the entire white paper in the PerfectDisk Press Room under Product Information - White Papers.

            

In these times, ROI is more important than ever.

PerfectDisk ready for Hyper-V launch next week, defragmenting Hyper-V systems today

Microsoft will launch Hyper-V and expand on its virtualization strategy in Bellevue, Washington on September 8th. And while this may be another instance of Microsoft not being the first to a big party (think Internet, think search, think lots of things), this is another one where they want to attend in a big way. They want to be a part of virtualization that extends from the data center to the desktop, and in another move we've seen before, are shaking the market up, starting with pricing. It's already caused changes, starting with industry leader VMware's pricing, strategy and CEO change.

                     

PerfectDisk 2008 Server, which was certified by Microsoft for Windows Server 2008 upon PerfectDisk's launch at the beginning of this year, has been running on Hyper-V since that time. At the time, Windows Server 2008 certification did not include Hyper-V (Chapter 6, if you're keeping score). So while that certification is a formality, we are in the process of receiving that certification now. 

Hyper-V certification requirements are pretty basic. They include:

• Recovery after Save state and Start of the virtual machine
• Recovery after a Pause and Resume of the virtual machine
• Do not prevent shutdown
• Recovery after a Snapshot is taken and applied.

So basically, a Hyper-V certified application has to be installed in the Guest OS and adhere to the above list, which PerfectDisk does. This Hyper-V chapter now goes along with all the rest of the Windows Server 2008 certification requirements. PerfectDisk's official certification for Hyper-V will occur shortly.

Here's a screen shot of a perfectly defragmented Hyper-V system from our labs here: 

 

We'll let Microsoft and VMware battle it out for virtualization supremacy, along with all the other players vying for a piece of the action.

              

And PerfectDisk, with its family of products that includes PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware and the PerfectDIsk 2008 for VMware ESX Bundle, will defragment them all - hosts and guests.

Ready, able...and performing today.

New today -- PerfectDisk 2008 Command Center, PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware ESX Bundle, PerfectDisk 2008 in German and French

We're excited to be making several major announcements today:

• The PerfectDisk 2008 Command Center is now available for sites requiring a centralized management console. It includes a much-improved user interface, new reports, enhanced reports, improved performance, new deployment options, new installation options, and more. One thing has not changed - it is still offered for free, as we believe centralized management is something businesses should expect in the most robust enterprise defragmentation solution.

          

• PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware ESX Bundle, a turnkey solution that provides a simple yet robust performance optimization solution for sites running VMware ESX Server.

• German and French versions of PerfectDisk 2008 are now available. Click on FR (French) or DE (Germany) in the upper-right hand corner of the Raxco Software website to obtain information and the products in the respective languages.

              

Still more is coming in 2008 - stay tuned.

Ah - so now Dell's listening -- very good

I was interested - and glad - to see Dell's announcement yesterday that the company is providing more server power for small and medium businesses at prices "previously available only in more expensive systems." Dell's announcement of the PowerEdge R300 and T300 servers for SMBs says these servers will provide significant performance gains over similar HP and IBM models, provide better high-availability and have better memory capacities.

The message resonates with us here at Raxco Software -- “Customers want faster performing systems to run their already taxed computer networks at a price that won’t break the bank,” said Frank Muehleman, vice president and general manager, Dell Small and Medium Business. “We listened, and our new R300 and T300 servers deliver the kind of technology innovation our customers care about – more performance and reliability without more cost.” 

We listen to our customers also and try to do everything we can to meet their needs. Do we always succeed? No. But we do take every comment, suggestion and complaint to heart. That's why we moved to a $99 server model for PerfectDisk, no matter how big your server is, no matter how big your drives are, no matter how much data is on them. We did this at the same time we were gaining market share. But we talked to customers and came up with what we believe is a very fair price for a robust, commercial-grade disk defragmenter. Same thing with our management console. We've got some of the largest companies in the world running PerfectDisk on their servers and workstations, along with the Command Center management console. And we don't charge for it.

Maximum defrag performance, thoroughness and reliability - without trying to stick it to people or companies.

Good move, Dell.

         

PerfectDisk 2008 -- Go!

Welcome to PerfectDisk 2008

• PerfectDisk 2008 Professional
• PerfectDisk 2008 Server
• PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware Workstation
• PerfectDisk 2008 for VMware Server
• PerfectDisk 2008 for Exchange
• PerfectDisk 2008 for Windows Home Server

www.raxco.com