Programmable networks could mean less downtime.

HP is following other big systems makers into the world of software defined networking with a line of 16 OpenFlow-enabled switches. That’s a pretty serious commitment to OpenFlow, a protocol that helps take the intelligence associated with routing packets off of the high-priced switching gear and puts it on commodity servers.

HP not only introduced OpenFlow enabled switches, but said that customers with existing HP switches can download software that will add OpenFlow capabilities to their current gear. This looks like a far bigger committment than IBM’s and NEC’s effort to build out a hardware and services package around OpenFlow and software defined networking from earlier this month, and is a continuation of the trend toward OpenFlow making it into production environments this year.

OpenFlow and software defined networking has been a topic for academics, webscale vendors and carriers, as they seek to do to routers and switches what virtualization did for servers — make them more agile and scalable. OpenFlow is just one tool to build SDNs while Juniper, Cisco and other vendors also offer tools for network virtualization. Of course, most vendors say they will support the OpenFlow protocol as well, including Cisco, the vendor that stands to be hurt the most if OpenFlow ushers in an age of folks buying cheap switches and shifting the networking intelligence to commodity servers.

As we add more devices to the network they have to scale out better, and as IT relies more on on-demand compute and storage, the networking has to become as flexible as the virtualized servers that spin up and down. The network becomes a bottleneck if every time you want to add capacity to your cloud or associate new networking policies with a series of virtual machines, someone has to manually unplug boxes or install new load balancing or firewall gear. Virtualization and software defined networks are seen as the solution.

HP said that so far it has more than 10 million OpenFlow-capable switch ports deployed, which is tiny number compared to the overall switch market. However, it’s not alone in pushing OpenFlow, and it has made quite a commitment with a full upgrade of its existing switches and 16 new ones on offer.

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After weathering some less than enthusiastic receptions to Gmail and Google Reader revamps, not to mention the long awaited launch of a Gmail app for the iPhone, the Google upgrade train just keeps on rolling along. This time out, Mountain View is targeting its real bread and butter: search. Google is harnessing its Caffeine indexing system to offer up fresher results — a change that will apparently affect around 35 percent of the site’s searches. The new results include more up to the minute results, prioritization for recent happenings and more frequent updates.

Google search promises to get fresh with you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man, we hope Gumby’s collecting some royalty checks for this one. One part incredible-stretching toy, and one part DIY robotics kit, the Plick project takes the traditional hobbyist approach to brick-building your own bot and slaps a little rubber all around it. The industrial design prototype from Brazilian engineer Gabriel Paciornik combines programmable robotic parts with an elastic wired connection suitable for strapping your mad scientist creations to everyday objects. So, what can you make? The kit packs a variety of sensor-based circles that react to distance and sound, giving your mod-jobs the power of movement and light. It’s safe to say this not-for-market toy veers far from LEGO Mindstorms NXT territory — and that’s exactly the point. Far out video demo and its 60s beach music soundtrack after the break.

Continue reading Plick hitches an elastic ride on the DIY robotics train (video)

Plick hitches an elastic ride on the DIY robotics train (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audio battlefield would prepare troops for combat or a typical Slayer concert originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 May 2011 08:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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That offer detailed wave within California (or just about anywhere for that matter) and have a child that’s intending to get their driver’s license, you could be keen on getting cheap auto insurance amongst other things. Protecting a new motorist can certainly be expensive. The lack of experience and also age of the motorist will instantly cause them to end up being considered a higher risk, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, age is really a catch 22 with this situation. The driver can really only grow to be more comfortable after they’re genuinely out there among the different drivers which is tough for moms and dads to cope with.

Just what are some things that you can do to help you place your brain at ease whenever your youngster starts out driving? Preferably you will have a very good relationship with your kid and can have some straightforward sit down interactions regarding driving a car, hazards as well as having the capacity to express your own worries.

Ensure that your child has experienced adequate driving lessons. Regardless of whether your son or daughter’s secondary school gives this as an option or it’s an additional investment you need to come up with, the knowledge that your particular kid has had sufficient driving time with an educator will help set your mind at ease. The approved driving instructor must be able to provide you with a good indicator of when he or she thinks that it’s time for your youngster to take the actual driving assessment test.

Spend time driving along with your kid on your own. This may be a bit stressful at first and that applies for both the mother or father and also the motorist. This is often one explanation why it is not essentially the best for the parent or guardian to train the child how to drive. Sometimes the skills and lack of mental relationship is really a far better fit pertaining to something such as this and the child will most likely feel more at ease being taught by a complete stranger. Even so, you will want to invest sufficient time in a car along with your child to be able to feel relaxed when it comes time for them to be driving out on their own.

As soon as your kid has passed the driver’s test and then carries a legitimate driver’s license, be sure you have a good dialogue and understanding in relation to any regulations that you’d like to put in place. Do not be fearful setting particular rules for a motorist. Erring to the side of careful attention could virtually save your kid’s life as numerous fatal auto accidents occur at the hands of younger drivers. Ideas may include just how many passengers can ride in the vehicle, just how late to be driving in the evening and naturally a tough dialogue regarding drinking and driving.

Do remember also to talk about regulations with regards to utilizing the phone when driving a car. Quite a few states use a hand’s free law including California. Because of this a driver must be utilizing a pair of headphones if he or she is conversing on the smartphone. Yet another thing this is certainly more and more extreme may be crashes transpiring while a driver is actually texting on his or her telephone. Being entirely secure, an excellent rule for a teenage driver is to not use the smartphone when driving a car whatsoever.

In Duncan Jones’ new movie, Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a military man who undergoes “time reassignment” in a secret mission to prevent a train bomber from pulling off an even bigger terrorist attack. This exclusive animated video cracks the code on Source Code‘s weird science.

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