Quick Takes update from March 2003

NetSupport Manager
NetSupport has released version 8.0 of its NetSupport Manager desktop-management tool, enchancing hardware and software inventory functions and adding an Internet gateway. You can use the remote-management tool to inventory clients, find hardware problems, verify licensing and check for up-to-date fixes. The software also provides real-time information on application status. You can set up the Internet gateway behind a firewall without making changes to the firewall's configurations. Support for Linux and Apple Macintosh remote control have also been added.

$99. NetSupport, (888) 665-0808, (770) 205-4456. www.netsupport-inc.com

NetPro Secure ADLS
NetPro promises to help you achieve 24x7 availability and enhanced security for Microsoft Active Directory and the applications that depend on it with its Secure Active Directory Lifecycle Suite (ADLS). In addition to modeling and managing Active Directory's deployment and growth, ADLS employs DirectoryLockdown to prevent the replication of unauthorized ActiveDirectory updates. The DNSAnalyzer tool from Men & Mice is included and integrated in ADLS, providing monitoring and alerting of close to 200 DNS alert conditions.

$37 per user. NetPro Computing, (480) 941-3600, (800) 998-5090. www.netpro.com

SMC Networks Barricade
SMC Networks has joined the 802.11g party with a host of new 802.11g products. Its Barricade G 2.4-GHz 54-Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Broadband Router and Wireless Cardbus Adapter Wireless PCI Card are both backward compatible with and five times faster than 802.11b products. The Barricade G is platform-independent and sports a four-port dual-speed 10/100-Mbps switch and a 54-Mbps 802.11g draft-compliant access point. Security is provided via a Stateful Packet Inspection firewall and VPN support. You can also block by URL or keyword. The Barricade G includes NAT support, IP or MAC address filtering, 64/128-bit WEP, support for 802.1x authentication and Wi-Fi Protected Access.

$139.99. SMC Networks, (800) SMC4YOU, (949) 679-8000. www.smc.com

Array Networks Array SP
The Array SP provides "borderless control and inspection for Web and SSL traffic," according to Array Networks. Made to stand alone or to complement the company's other application management products (see our sneak of Array Traffic Manager), this forward-facing proxy device caches, decrypts, examines and re-encrypts both internally and externally originated SSL traffic, and caches and inspects all Port 80 traffic. Additional features include traffic-management functions and acceleration of both inbound and outbound content.$14,995 to $49,995. Array Networks, (866) 692-7729, (408) 378-6800. www.arraynetworks.net