The VAR Guy

It might be time to say goodbye to the Mac clone market (again). The reason: Apple has won a judgment against Psystar –  the grey-box Mac cloners. Here’s the details…

As Canonical prepares to launch Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) in April 2010, there are signs  Dell will show considerable love to the Long Term Support (LTS) release. Here are some preliminary details about Dell’s look at Ubuntu 10.04.

SugarCRM is the latest open source application provider to jump into Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud. SugarCRM’s move reinforce’s Microsoft’s commitment to make Azure a widely supported cloud — including both open and closed source application partners. Here are the implications for VARs and solutions providers.

Everyone’s looking for the iPhone killer, including Motorola and Verizon. And with the advent of the Droid, competition is alive and well in the mobile smart phone market. I’ve had the Droid for little over a week now, so I thought VARs and MSPs might be interested in know if the new Android phone is a good replacement for their customers’ iPhone or Blackberry.

Ubuntu comes with a nice application called “Hardware Drivers” (a.k.a. jockey-gtk) for installing proprietary drivers for wireless cards and other devices that lack open-source support. This is great, except when your only connection to the Internet is wireless and you have no way to download the driver or firmware you need. Here’s why this situation should change.

When Sophos introduced free data loss prevention (DLP) security software in October 2009, The VAR Guy promised to poke around and get some competitive reactions. Well, our resident blogger is finally back with thoughts from Symantec CEO Enrique Salem and Channel Chief Randy Cochran. Here are their perspectives.

Even as Symantec builds out its SaaS (software as a service) business, the security company is marching forward with traditional channel partners. A recent case in point: Tech Data, the distribution giant, has launched a new 360 square foot solutions room — inside their 6,000 square foot solution center — that focuses entirely on Symantec solutions. Here’s what VARs need to know.

During the Ubuntu 9.10 launch a few weeks ago, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth hinted that Ubuntu may ultimately gain music and entertainment store capabilities — similar to offerings from Apple (iTunes) and Amazon.com. Fast forward to the present, and Canonical appears to be preparing the Ubuntu One Music Store. Here’s why.

Ubuntu developers recently began discussing plans for deploying virtual appliances via Debian packages, a move which would open up exciting opportunities, especially in the server market.  Here’s the scope, with some thoughts.

Juniper Networks has long had a reputation in the networking space as a stalwart, with a product set that is both capable and reliable — kind of like the friend you’ve known since grade school. Recently the company, in its quest to stay in line with the technology curve, introduced a new Junos Trio chipset architecture that will purportedly blow traditional networking equipment out of the water. Here’s second-day look at the strategy.

F5 Networks’ ARX Select program is gaining momentum with key VARs and solutions providers, the company claims. So why are some channel partners jumping on the ARX Select storage bandwagon? Here’s some background.

Wiresoft is reportedly launching quite an intriguing program. “Hack us if you can” starts November 16th 2009. Just sign up for the contest and Wiresoft will fork over $24,000 if you can breach their security in 24 hours. A bold statement indeed. The taunting gesture comes at the launch of their new Unified Threat Management device, “Firegate.” Here’s the deal on Firegate and the SMB implications.

Tech Data, the giant IT product distributor, has opened up another “Specialized Business Unit” (SBU) for the specific purpose of delivering health care technology. Here’s why.

Tech Data, as The VAR Guy expected, is the latest distributor to launch an open source channel initiative. Tech Data’s effort (called Open Tech) follows a Synnex-Red Hat initiative called the Open Source Channel Alliance. But are distributors really ready to support open source in the IT channel? Yes and no. Here’s why.

Everyday there’s a new story about cloud computing and it is an increasing challenge to understand how all of the pieces fit together and how one actually leverages it in a practical and meaningful way. MSPmentor’s recent Cloud Computing Explained in Four Paragraphs did a great job simplifying and explaining cloud computing. But there are some deeper angles VARs need to explore. Here they are.

As part of a “Total-Care” push, Hewlett-Packard continues to expand its SMB product portfolio for channel partners. While the moves aren’t groundbreaking, they could provide numerous upsell opportunities for VARs and managed service providers. Here’s a super-quick rundown…

Digital Signage — otherwise known as electronic advertising — is the fancy name for the technology behind those LCD adverts you may have seen popping up recently. Ingram Micro has thrown its hat in the ring and added another division to an already populated distribution channel. The end-to-end solution comes from a partnership with NEXCOM. Here’s the scoop:

So, how can you find a great mentor? Some of the answers surfaced today at Cisco Partner Velocity in Paris, where entrepreneur Marc Lewis offered 10 rules for finding a great mentor. Alas, The VAR Guy only caught nine of the rules. Here they are:

Cisco Systems concedes that many regional economies remain difficult, but the company believes the worst of the recession is over. So how can VARs and managed service providers begin to focus on growth again? During the Cisco Partner Velocity conference in Paris, Senior VP of Worldwide Channels Edison Peres offers these four tips…

At the Cisco Partner Velocity conference in Paris, Will McInnes (pictured), a social media guru, shared 8 social media commandments with roughly 200 VARs and managed service providers (MSPs). The VAR Guy often yawns when someone claims to be a social media guru. But in this case McInnes is the real deal and his eight tips are pure gold. Take a look.

As he sat at the Cisco Partner Velocity conference in Paris, The VAR Guy pondered news of Hewlett-Packard buying 3Com for $2.7 billion. Does the HP-3Com combo make any sense? And will Cisco Systems return fire by working more closely with Lenovo? Here are some answers.

Cisco Systems realizes some regional economies remain difficult, but the overall message at Cisco Partner Velocity — a conference in Paris — involves a return to growth. Here are some key economic and channel thoughts from Edison Peres, senior VP of worldwide channels at Cisco Systems. Plus, four steps partners can take to accelerate their businesses.

At this Cisco Partner Velocity conference in Paris, roughly 200 VARs and MSPs are taking notes as John Evan-Jones (pictured) — one of Europe’s top executive coaches — shares marketing tips for VARs and solutions providers large and small. Here are his top 12 secrets to marketing success. Plus, four key takeaways for your own personal development.