What is an RSS Feed?

March 12, 2009

The dictionary’s definition…

 

Main Entry: RSS

Part of Speech: n

Definition: any of various XML file formats suitable for disseminating real-time information via subscription on the Internet

Example: RSS has become a popular technology for bloggers and podcasters to distribute their content.

Etymology: Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication

Usage: computing

Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)

Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC

 

Our definition…

 

RSS Feed is an internet tool used to deliver regularly changing web content. Many news-related websites, blog sites, and online publishers will have their site content connected to an RSS Feed so that the site’s readers can “subscribe” to their RSS Feed in order to receive notifications anytime that specific site updates or adds information.

 

FYI: While in the past, the word “subscribe” was known to have a dollar amount attached…when you “subscribe” to a feed, there is no cost involved.

 

Benefits of using RSS Feed…

 

-         Allows you to easily access the latest content from the sites you enjoy most

-         Saves time by delivering the information directly to you rather than you visiting multiple sites to receive information

-         Helps you secure your privacy more since there isn’t as much of a need to sign up for email newsletters

 

So…now that you know, feel free to subscribe to our blog via RSS Feed!

Leave a Comment » | News and Press Releases, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by jessicaisfalt

No faces on Facebook?

March 11, 2009

You’ve read about the Ma.gnolia failure and this month’s Journalspace incident.

Here is yet another tale of storage failure and the subsequent downtime for users. This time it was Facebook that faced simultaneous drive failures, affecting 10 to 15 percent of uploaded photos. Although Facebook assures none of the information has been lost, it will take them a week to recover all photos. In some industries, one week of recovery time means you’re out of business.

Read the full article from Beth Pariseau

Leave a Comment » | backup, datacenter, Storage | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Shonal Narayan

Make any IP Camera Wireless

March 10, 2009

Looking to make your IP camera(s) wireless? Check out this guide from Security Info Watch.

http://www.securityinfowatch.com/blog/2009/02/17/wireless-ify-any-ip-camera/

**If link above does not work, try the alternate link (no pics)**: http://www.securityinfowatch.com/root+level/1310286 

Was the link helpful? Do you plan to go wireless for your next project? If you know alternative methods to “wireless-ify”, please share with us.

3 Comments | digital video, IP Surveillance, Tutorial | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Shonal Narayan

3 data recovery tales

March 9, 2009

Found this interesting article from Network World about three unusual data recovery cases.

Lessons:
1) Backup, Backup, Backup!
2) Encryption is necessary.
3) Some data is better than no data.

Any unusual backup/recovery stories you’ve dealt with? Drop a line.

1 Comment | backup, DNF Storage, StoneFly, Storage | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Shonal Narayan

How to choose an iSCSI device during EBS installation

March 6, 2009

Having trouble accessing an iSCSI drive during EBS (Essential Business Server) setup?

Check out this step-by-step guide courtesy of Technet.

http://blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver/archive/2009/02/25/choosing-an-iscsi-device-during-ebs-installation.aspx

Leave a Comment » | IP SAN, iSCSI, StoneFly, Tutorial | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Shonal Narayan

Chicago and integrated municipal systems

March 5, 2009

How are cities using surveillance technologies to improve public safety and public image?

Lagos, Nigeria has installed 10,000 cameras and a centralized network for public safety and emergency response.

Now Chicago is in the middle of perfecting their recently deployed system in time for a 2016 Olympic bid.  Stephen Russell has a great post covering Chicago’s installation, challenges and improvements.

Some highlights:

  • Covers the challenges in building an integrated municipal network
  • Emergency response can be improved with real time footage
  • Verifying all systems are functioning as expected is a full time job

Leave a Comment » | digital video, facial recognition, IP Surveillance | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jame Ervin

SSD for IP Surveillance? Stay Tuned.

March 3, 2009

SSD (solid state disks) are all the rage in storage:  from netbooks to laptops to arrays to IP storage.

On paper, these disks look like the best way to solve all of the storage problems:  power consumption, disk performance and disk reliability.

But the catch:  these disks are much more expensive than standard disks, and have far lower capacities.

On an up note, these disks can be used as part of tiered storage  — aka different classes of disk for different purposes.  In a single system you might combine high performance disks for same day recordings:  to record the data quickly, and make it easy and fast to review the day’s footage.  Then offload the data to slower, cheaper disks for a longer term archive.  And after a few months move the footage to storage facilities, and turn off the live system, to save energy and reduce storage requirements by using tape.  (Learn about using tape for movable storage)

So today, we are investigating which surveillance applications are a good fit for SSD, and so are our partners like Milestone.  Stay tuned for our results and recommendations.

Leave a Comment » | digital video, IP Surveillance | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Jame Ervin

No backup plan, no data. Big problem.

March 2, 2009

Last month’s backup lesson came from Ma.gnolia, who lost all of their customer account data.

This month, JournalSpace.com learned a valuable lesson about backups.

JournalSpace’s IT guy had scripts to protect the PHP scripts on the front-end servers but relied on mirrored drives to protect the database server.

The result?

Data corruption –> No database –> No business!

Key lessons:

1. RAID and snapshots should not be used as substitutes for backups
2. Create a viable backup plan

Read the full story on InformationWeek’s blog

1 Comment | backup, datacenter, IP Surveillance, Storage | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Shonal Narayan

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