AKS Blog

The Cisco Energy Management Cloud delivers powerful, easy-to-use energy management capabilities. This data lets you measure energy usage across your data center and distributed offices. Manage all of your network-connected devices - including PCs, phones, printers, monitors, virtual servers, and more - not just Cisco devices. And do it through the cloud and an easy-to-use web-based interface. Cisco Energy Management Cloud offers robust database, analytics, and reporting features from a single management pane. Cisco EnergyWise began as a Cisco IOS Software-based protocol used to measure and control the energy use of an enterprise's IT network. The Cisco EnergyWise Suite is designed to help you cut energy costs across your distributed office by 35 percent and gain 100 percent visibility into the energy use of every device in your data center.   Source: www.Cisco.com and www.Youtube.com

  Managed Threat Defense provides dynamic real-time detection and remediation against known vulnerabilities as well as advanced persistent threats. Cisco provides the hardware, software and expertise to deliver threat defense in a subscription-based model via a global network of security operation centers. Cyber Threat Defense exposes advanced threats using the following automated capabilities: NetFlow analysis—Identifies suspicious network traffic patterns inside the network File analysis—Performs reputation scoring and dynamic analysis of files traversing the network Deep-packet inspection—Identifies exploits that can lead to system compromise Log analysis—Uncovers stealthy activity that may be spread across days, weeks, or months.   Source: Cisco.com & Youtube

Carnegie Mellon's Chris Harrison demonstrates TouchTools and TapSense, tablet apps he built to explore new ways of that people might interact with screens in the future. Source: YouTube

Cloud computing is a term used to refer to a model of network computing where a program or application runs on a connected server or servers rather than on a local computing device such as a PC, tablet or smartphone. Like the traditional client-server model or older mainframe computing, a user connects with a server to perform a task. The difference with cloud computing is that the computing process may run on one or many connected computers at the same time, utilizing the concept of virtualization. With virtualization, one or more physical servers can be configured and partitioned into multiple independent "virtual" servers, all functioning independently and appearing to the user to be a single physical device. Such virtual servers are in essence disassociated from their physical server, and with this added flexibility, they can be moved around and scaled up or down on the fly without affecting the end user. The computing resources have become "granular", which pr...

  Understanding the Network Terms SSID The terms BSSID, ESSID, and SSID are all used to describe sections of a wireless network (WLAN)—the three terms have slightly different meanings. As a wireless user you are concerned only with the broadcast SSIDs that let you connect to a wireless network. As an administrator, you also need to keep track of BSSIDs and, to a lesser degree, ESSIDs. This topic describes: An SSID is the Name of a Network BSSIDs Identify Access Points and Their Clients An ESS Consists of BSSs     An SSID is the Name of a Network Each BSS or ESS is identified by a service set identifier ( SSID ) - a 1 to 32 byte string. This is normally a human-readable string and thus commonly called the "network name". Because multiple WLANs can coexist in one airspace, each WLAN needs a unique name—this name is the service set ID (SSID) of the network. Your wireless device can see the SSIDs for all available networks—therefore, when you click a wireless icon, t...

  Cisco ® Configuration Professional has two types: Cisco Configuration Professional and Cisco Configuration Professional Express. Both Cisco Configuration Professional and Express are GUI-based device-management tools for Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISRs). Cisco Configuration Professional is a PC-based application that provides the device management for ISRs. It simplifies router, firewall, intrusion prevention system (IPS), VPN, unified communications, WAN, LAN, and basic wireless configuration through easy-to-use wizards. Cisco Configuration Professional Express, a lightweight version of Cisco Configuration Professional, is an embedded device manager that is available on the router flash memory and can be used to configure some of the LAN and WAN interfaces and basic configurations to bootstrap the router. Cisco Configuration Professional tools are valuable productivity-enhancing tools for network administrators and channel partners for deploying routers in medium...

  The Nod ring is a Bluetooth-enabled gesture controller that connects to your smartphone to accomplish a number of input and controller tasks all by using natural motions with your finger. In addition extending the capabilities of your smartphone, the ring can also be connected to other smart devices, such as a smart television and other Internet-connected devices like the Nest. If a device doesn't have Bluetooth capability, you can connect the ring to your smartphone, which will then connect to the device via Wi-Fi. Read more

  MHL Stands for ‘Mobile High-Definition Link’ . It is an industry standard for a mobile audio/video interface that allows consumers to connect mobile phones, tablets, and other portable consumer electronics (CE) devices to high-definition televisions (HDTVs) and audio receivers. The MHL 3.0 standard supports up to 4K (Ultra HD) high-definition (HD) video and 7.1 surround-sound audio, including TrueHD and DTS-HD, while simultaneously charging the connected device. MHL-enabled products include adapters, automotive accessories, AV receivers, Blu-ray Disc players, cables, DTVs, monitors, projectors, smartphones, tablets, TV accessories, and more. Key Features of MHL Technology Real Plug & Play Fast Charging Greater than 900mA power to charge your mobile device Brilliant Resolution HD display with up to 1080p60 video Immersive Audio 8-channel sound Remote Control Interoperable remote control features to navigate your apps on the big screen No Lag Ideal for playing music, vide...

High availability is a system design approach and associated service implementation that ensures a prearranged level of operational performance will be met during a contractual measurement period. Users want their systems, for example hospitals, production computers, and the electrical grid to be ready to serve them at all times. Availability refers to the ability of the user community to obtain a service or good, access the system, whether to submit new work, update or alter existing work, or collect the results of previous work. If a user cannot access the system, it is - from the users point of view - unavailable. Generally, the term downtime is used to refer to periods when a system is unavailable. Read More / Source

Glassdoor.com has done a beautiful job putting these commonly asked questions on their blog. Here are some of them. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Why are you interested in working for [ insert company name here ]? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Why do you want to leave your current company? Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date] ? What can you offer us that someone else can not? What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on? Are you willing to relocate? Are you willing to travel? Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of. Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What is your dream job? How did you hear about this position? What would you look to accomplish in the first 30 days/60 days/90 days on the job? Discuss your resume. Discuss your educational background. Describe yourself. Tell me how you handled a difficult situation. Why should we hire you? ...

  The first Android-connected cars are planned for launch by the end of 2014. The alliance is also developing new Android platform features that will enable the car to become a connected Android device. It would allow the apps and music on Android smartphones and tablets to work better with onboard car systems. Google is inviting more companies to join the OAA initiative and help it build a common platform” for the road. Click the image for more / Source

iOS and Android are great, but they each have their own rules and policies that certainly inhibit the creative efforts of developers. Mozilla has since decided to build a new mobile operating system from scratch, one that will focus on true openness, freedom and user choice. It’s Firefox OS . Firefox OS is built on Gonk, Gecko and Gaia software layers – for the rest of us, it means it is built on open source, and it carries web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3 . Click the image for more info:

  Making parallel computing easy to use has been described as "a problem as hard as any that computer science has faced". With such a big challenge ahead, we need to make sure that every programmer has access to cheap and open parallel hardware and development tools. Inspired by great hardware communities like Raspberry Pi and Arduino, we see a critical need for a truly open, high-performance computing platform that will close the knowledge gap in parallel programing. The goal of the Parallella project is to democratize access to parallel computing. If we can pull this off, who knows what kind of breakthrough applications could arise?  Maybe some of them will even change the world in some small but positive way. For more info click the image below -