Distribution

Reassurance is the driving force behind a national program that traces food from the farm to the grocery store using computer-based information systems.

Last year we looked at NetSupport TCO from NetSupport Solutions Inc., which offered basic inventory capabilities and remote control. Since then, the company has launched an enterprise-level successor, NetSupport DNA, which adds application and Internet metering, software distribution and remote control. We recently tested this version, and while it still has a few warts, it does a great job of making a system administrator's job easier.

Last year was an eventful one for Linux -- the 2.6 kernel was released, Novell Inc. announced acquisition of SuSE AG, Red Hat stopped supporting its free distribution in favour of its Enterprise distribution, and instead kickstarted the Fedora Project, and the SCO Group Inc. claimed intellectual property rights over Linux.

The effects of the W32.Blaster worm have been felt throughout Microsoft Corp. during August, but they have been particularly painful for Jim Allchin, a self-described perfectionist.

Customers of Sun Microsystems Inc. who are interested in the Linux operating system will soon be able to choose between two leading suppliers of the open source software.

Sun Microsystems Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Pixo Inc., makers of Java-based server technology, to manage distribution of digital content to mobile phones and PDAs.

Sun Microsystems Inc. on Thursday said it has entered into an agreement to acquire Pixo Inc., makers of Java-based server technology to manage distribution of digital content to mobile phones and PDAs.

Microsoft Business Solutions on Wednesday released its Great Plains enterprise resource planning (ERP) software version 7.5.