A Streamlined UI
For many, the most important part of any mobile operating system is the user interface. Though a lackluster interface can be dealt with, a rigid and counter-intuitive UI can be a death sentence for any mobile operating system regardless of its technical merits. Fortunately, Ice Cream Sandwich boasts a stunning UI that's designed from the ground up to deliver a stellar experience to the user. The crux of the new Android 4.0 UI is the virtual System Bar buttons alongside the bottom of the device's display, which make touchscreen navigation a breeze. 

Resizable Widgets
When you don't have a lot of screen real estate to work with, the ability to customize the layout and appearance of the operating system UI is a pretty big deal. It can make a huge difference in the usability of any platform, which is why Android 4.0's customizable and resizable widgets are such a boon to ordinary users. Even better, live and interactive widgets allow users to stream updates and information directly to the "desktop", mirroring the functionality of Tiles on Windows' Metro UI. It may seem like a small detail, but it's actually one of the most pleasant improvements in ICS.

Home Folders
One of the biggest differences between ICS and Honeycomb is the availability of configurable home screen folders that can be used for the easy grouping and classification of apps. It's an intuitive and user-friendly way to organize programs, especially if you have a lot of software installed. For instance, you can set up one home folder for entertainment, another for office utilities, another for communication tools and so forth. Home folders can be arranged in any manner you please, making them the ultimate in work space customization.

Improved Default Apps
While quite a few manufacturers install custom software on their phones and tablets, the default Android apps included with Ice Cream Sandwich are some of the best in the mobile world. In ICS, they receive a few notable tweaks that make using Android all the more enjoyable. For instance, ICS delivers advanced Data Usage monitoring through the Settings menu for keeping tabs on bandwidth caps. Furthermore, the bedrock apps like Camera, Calendar, Dialer, Contacts and Gallery are all simple, intuitive and powerful while fitting in quite well with the native UI.

The Verdict
Ice Cream Sandwich is more versatile, full-featured and user-friendly than any other version of Android available. The most important difference between ICS and its predecessors is the improvement in performance and responsiveness. Android 4.0 is just flat-out faster than either Honeycomb or Gingerbread, and even more adept at multi-tasking than the aforementioned versions. If you're shopping for a no contract phone or tablet, make sure it's running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the best results possible.

Installing Memory
In order to install a DIMM into the B200 blade server, a user has to follow steps:

Step 1 Open both DIMM connector latches.
Step 2 Press the DIMM into its slot evenly on both ends until it clicks into place.
Step 3 Press the DIMM connector latches inward slightly to seat them fully.

Low-Voltage DIMM Considerations
The server can be ordered with low-voltage (1.35 V) DIMM pairs or standard-voltage (1.5 V) DIMM pairs. Low-voltage DIMM pairs and standard-voltage DIMM pairs can be mixed in the same server. Note that this causes the system BIOS to default to standard-voltage operation (Performance Mode). That is, the server cannot operate in the Power Saving Mode unless all DIMM pairs in the server are low-voltage DIMMs.

There is a setting in the BIOS Setup utility that a user can use to change the DDR memory mode when the server has all low-voltage DIMMs installed. In order to access this setting, a user has to follow these steps:

Step 1 Enter the BIOS setup utility by pressing the F2 key when prompted during bootup.
Step 2 Select the Advanced tab.
Step 3 Select Low Voltage DDR Mode.
Step 4 In the pop-up window, select either Power Saving Mode or Performance Mode.

• Power Saving Mode-Enables low-voltage memory operation. This setting is available only if all DIMMs installed are low-voltage DIMMs.
• Performance Mode-Disables low-voltage memory operation. If a user mixes low-voltage DIMM pairs with standard-voltage DIMM pairs, the system defaults to this setting.
Step 5 Press F10 to save the changes and exit the setup utility, or a user can exit without saving changes by pressing Esc.

Memory Arrangement
The blade server contains 12 DIMM slots—six for each CPU. Each set of six DIMM slots is arranged into three channels, where each channel has 2 DIMMs

DIMMs and Channels
Each channel is identified by a letter—A, B, C for CPU1, and D, E, F for CPU 2. Each DIMM slot is identified by a number, either 1 or 2. Note that each DIMM slot 1 is blue, while each slot 2 is black.

DIMMs can be used in the blade server in either a one DIMM per Channel (1DPC) configuration or in a two DIMMs per Channel (2DPC) configuration.
Each CPU in a Cisco UCS B200 blade server supports 3 channels of 2 memory slots each. In a 1 DPC configuration, DIMMs are in slot 1 only. In a 2 DPC configuration, DIMMs are in both slot 1 and slot 2.

Memory Performance
When considering the memory configuration of the blade server, there are several things a user need to consider. For example:
• DIMMs within the blade server should all be the same type. This goes for both speed and size. Do not mix different sized DIMMs or DIMMs with different clock rates in the same blade server. Doing so will cause a significant loss of performance.
• the selected CPU(s) can have some affect on performance.
• DIMMs can be run in a 1 DIMM per-Channel or a two DIMM per-channel configuration. Each of these arrangements can provide different behaviour.

If a user wants to install or replace a motherboard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) battery, then following steps to be taken into account:

Step 1 Remove a motherboard CMOS battery:
a. Power off the blade, remove it from the chassis, and remove the top cover
b. Press the battery socket retaining clip toward the chassis wall
c. Lift the battery from the socket. Use needle-nose pliers to grasp the battery if there is not enough clearance for your fingers.

Step 2 Install a motherboard CMOS battery:
a. Press the battery socket retaining clip toward the chassis wall.
b. Insert the new battery into the socket with the battery’s negative (-) marking toward the chassis wall. Ensure that the retaining clip clicks over the top of the battery.
c. Replace the top cover.
d. Replace the server in the chassis and power on the blade by pressing the Power button.

Removing a CPU and heat sink
If a user wants to remove a CPU and heat sink then he/she can follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1 Unscrew the four captive screws securing the heat sink to the motherboard.
Step 2 Remove the heat sink (N20-BHTS1 on both M1 and M2). Remove the old thermal compound from the bottom of the heat sink using the cleaning kit (UCSX-HSCK= ) available from Cisco.
Step 3 Unhook the socket latch.
Step 4 Open the socket latch.
Step 5 Remove the CPU or socket protective cover.

Installing a CPU and Heat Sink
Before installing a new CPU in a server, verify the following:
• The CPU is supported for that model server.
• A BIOS is available and installed that supports the CPU/DIMM and server combination.
• The service profile for this server in UCS Manager will recognize and allow the new CPU. This is especially important if you have been using a single processor and install a second processor.

To install a CPU and heat sink, follow these steps:

Step 1 Place the CPU on the base with the notches aligned to the pins on the base.
Step 2 Close the socket latch.
Step 3 Lock the socket latch into place with the hook.
Step 4 Using the tube of thermal compound provided with replacement CPUs and servers (Dow-Corning TC-1996, Intel D54816-0 or an equivalent may also be used), add a protective film of thermal compound to the bottom of the heat sink where it will contact the CPU.
Step 5 Replace the heat sink (N20-BHTS1).
Step 6 Secure the heat sink to the motherboard by tightening the four captive screws.

If a reader has read the article then a user would have gained knowledge and understanding about Installing a Motherboard CMOS Battery and removing a CPU and heat sink.

A user can remove blade server hard drives without removing the blade server from the chassis. All other component replacement for a blade server requires removing the blade from the chassis. Unused hard drive bays should always be covered with cover plates (N20-BBLKD) to assure proper cooling and ventilation. The chassis is omitted from illustrations here to simplify the drawing. Replacing an HDD or SSD with a drive of the same size, model, and manufacturer generally causes few problems with UCS Manager. If the drive being replaced was part of a RAID array, it is recommended that using a newly ordered drive of identical size, model, and manufacturer to replace the failed drive.

Cisco recommends following industry standard practice of using drives of the same capacity when creating RAID volumes. If drives of different capacities are used, the useable portion of the smallest drive will be used on all drives that make up the RAID volume. Before upgrading or adding an HDD to a running system, check the service profile in UCS Manager and make sure the new hardware configuration will be within the parameters allowed by the service profile.

Removing a Blade Server Hard Drive
To remove a hard drive from a blade server, follow these steps:

Step 1 Push the button to release the ejector, and then pull the hard drive from its slot.
Step 2 Place the hard drive on an antistatic mat or antistatic foam if a user is not immediately reinstalling it in another blade server.
Step 3 Install a blank faceplate (N20-BBLKD) to keep dust out of the blade server if the slot will remain empty.

Installing a Blade Server Hard Drive
To install a blade server hard drive in a blade server, follow these steps:

Step 1 Place the hard drive lever into the open position by pushing the release button (see Figure 4).
Step 2 Gently slide the hard drive into the opening in the blade server until it seats into place.
Step 3 Push the hard drive lever into the closed position.

A user can use UCS Manager to format and configure RAID services. refer to the UCS Manager configuration guide for a users software release for details on RAID configuration. If a user needs to move a RAID cluster, refer to the Moving a RAID Cluster section of the “Troubleshooting Server Hardware” chapter of the Cisco UCS Troubleshooting Guide.

Removing and Installing a UCS B200 Blade Server
Before performing any internal operation on a blade server, a user must remove it from the chassis. To prevent ESD damage, wear grounding wrist straps during these procedures and handle modules by the carrier edges only.

After reading the article as user would have gained knowledge and understanding about how to install and remove a Blade Server Hard Drive.

Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers can significantly reduce capital and operating expenses with the converged network fabrics and integrated systems management. The Cisco UCS B200 M2 Blade Server balances simplicity, performance, and density for production-level virtualization and other mainstream data center workloads. Delivering performance, versatility, and density without compromise, the Cisco UCS B200 M3 Blade Server addresses the broadest set of workloads, from IT and web infrastructure through distributed database.

The UCS B250 M2 Extended Memory Blade Server:
• Increases performance and capacity for demanding virtualization and large data-set workloads with up to 384 GB of memory
• Offers a more cost-effective memory footprint for less demanding workloads
The Cisco UCS B230 M1 and UCS B230 M2 Blade Servers combine the performance and reliability of the Intel Xeon processor 7500 and the Intel Xeon processor E7-2800 product family with up to 32 dual in-line memory module (DIMM) slots to:

• Increase capacity for virtualization and data-set workloads with up to 1 TB of memory
• Offer a more cost-effective memory footprint for less-demanding workloads
• Improve virtualization performance and enable more virtual machines per server
• Reduce CPU core and software license costs
• Increase performance on memory-intensive workloads

Use advanced reliability features to optimize availability
The UCS B200 blade server is now only available in the M2 version (the M1 version is no longer sold as of 1/21/2011). The procedures mentioned in this article applies to both versions. The Cisco UCS B200 is a half-width blade with 12 DIMM slots; it supports one adapter. A user can install up to eight UCS B200 Blade Servers to a UCS chassis.

LEDs
The LED indicators indicate whether the blade server is in active or standby mode, the status of the network link, the overall health of the blade server, and whether the server is set to give a flashing blue beaconing indication.

Buttons
The Reset button is just inside the chassis and must be pressed using the tip of a paper clip or a similar item. Hold the button down for five seconds and then release it to restart the server if other methods of restarting are not working. The beaconing function for an individual server may get turned on or off by pressing the combination button and LED. The power button and LED allows a user to manually take a server temporarily out of service but leave it in a state where it can be restarted quickly.

Connectors
A console port is provided to give a direct connection to a blade server to allow operating system installation and other management tasks to be done directly rather than remotely. The port uses the KVM dongle device included in the chassis accessory kit.

The KVM cable provides a connection into a Cisco UCS blade server, providing a DB9 serial connector, a VGA connector for a monitor, and dual USB ports for a keyboard and mouse. With this cable a user can create a direct connection to the operating system and the BIOS running on a blade server.

All-in-one security solutions are designed for businesses with fewer than 100 employees. They combine firewall, VPN, and optional intrusion prevention system (IPS), email, and web security capabilities. Whether in the office or working remotely, your employees can securely access the resources they need, while your business is protected from unauthorized access and Internet threats.

All-in-one device: Combines firewall, IPS, email and web security, and secure access in one box
Secure wireless and remote access: Easily allow mobile workers and branch offices remote, secure access with flexible and easy to use built-in VPNs

Low overhead: Reduce costs associated with deployment and ongoing management and monitoring of the security solution
Affordable service coverage: Deliver service value and peace of mind at a price you can afford

Optional email and web security capabilities:
• Cisco ProtectLink Gateway: Cloud-based service that provides strong, automatically updated email and web security
• VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP): An easy and effective second level of authentication
• Intrusion prevention system (IPS): Identify and take action to stop possible intrusions into the business network
• Peer-to-peer, IM traffic blocking and protocol inspection to help increase network security, employee productivity, and network availability for business traffic

Cisco SA500 Series Security Appliances feature all-in-one security, including:
• Secure remote access to business information with a built-in stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall and VPN capabilities.
• Increased security of remote access: Optional VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP), provides two-factor authentication and one-time-use password access control.
• Reduce deployment and management costs based on a single, easy-to-install, easy-to-use solution.
• Prevent security breaches from email threats or malicious websites that could lead to disruption of business-critical applications and services.
• Optional Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) prevents hackers, worms, and other threats and provides protocol inspection and the ability to block instant messaging and peer-to-peer traffic.
• Increased employee productivity by helping prevent spam, spyware, and inappropriate web browsing with the optional Cisco ProtectLink Gateway.
• Easily deploy and manage: The embedded Security Appliance Configuration Utility offers comprehensive configuration and monitoring of all the services in a single application.
• Small Business Pro Service provides affordable service coverage: The highest level of performance and reliability to keep your business running smoothly.
• UTM all-inclusive bundles offer ease of ordering and affordability by combining both hardware and optional security software, such as IPS, email, and web threat protection.

Common Features
• Combined firewall, VPN, and optional email and web security capabilities
• Easy management and configuration with the Security Appliance Configuration Utility
• Support for optional intrusion prevention system (IPS) for Cisco SA500 Series for intrusion prevention, protocol inspection, and peer-to-peer and IM traffic blocking
• Support for the optional Cisco ProtectLink Websecurity application
• Support for the optional Cisco ProtectLink Gateway combined email and web security application
• Support for the optional VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP) for two-factor authentication Software Vulnerability Update

If a user has read the article then a user would have learnt about Cisco SA500 Series Security Appliances.

First of all, let’s have a look at the Cisci’s electronic grid. The Cisco Field Area Network (FAN) solution brings the first multiservice communications infrastructure to the utility field area network. It delivers applications such as Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), Distribution Automation, and Protection and Control over a common network platform.

The Cisco FAN solution is derived from the overall Cisco Connected Grid Acceleration or GridBlocks and consists of three components:
• Cisco Connected Grid Endpoint reference design is a new open standard based IPv6 RF Mesh that adds security, management, and quality of service at large scale. Cisco will engage with organizations to establish an industry interoperability baseline for the IPv6 RF Mesh.
• The Cisco Connected Grid Router 1000 Series are ruggedized modular platforms designed to provide the foundation for the multi-service Field Area Network supporting use cases such as AMI, distribution automation, and workforce automation. The CGR 1000 Series are designed for outdoor pole-mount and indoor din-rail mount installations in the distribution grid.
• The Cisco Connected Grid Network Management System is a platform focused at providing network operators end-to-end monitoring and control of the network communications. The CG-NMS provides enterprise-class visibility that can scale to manage up to ten million endpoints. The CG-NMS integrates with application layer platforms by providing network layer intelligence to the Enterprise Service Bus through a web-services API.

With this solution, Cisco and Itron, deliver on their strategic alliance announced in 2010. For more on the integrated solution visit Itron’s Openway system, which provides a validated, interoperable solution for utilities.

Reliable Communications for Field Area Networks
Utilities and energy providers can now deploy rugged multiservice routers in secondary substations, on pole tops, and in other harsh environments. Cisco 1000 Series Connected Grid Routers offer a reliable communications platforms for smart metering, distribution automation and remote workforce automation.

Cisco 1000 Series Connected Grid Routers are multiservice communications platforms designed for use in field area networks. The portfolio consists of two models - each designed to operate reliably in various types of harsh environments, ranging from indoor substations to outdoor pole-top deployments. Both models are modular and support a variety of communications interfaces, such as WiMAX, second- and third-generation (2G and 3G), 900 MHz RF Mesh, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.

Features and Capabilities
• Rugged industrial design and compliance with IEC-61850-3 and IEEE 1613 for utility substation environments
• Multi-service features including IPv6, Advanced Routing, IP Multicast, and quality of service
• Comprehensive security capabilities based on open standards
• Highly resilient design that optimizes communications network uptime and availability
• Network and device management tools for easy deployment, upgrades, and remote monitoring

After reading the article, a user would have gained knowledge and understanding on Cisco’s electronic grid and its reliability of communications for Field Area Networks.

Strategy, Planning, and Design Services
Let’s have a look at the strategy, planning and design services.
• Provide the expertise to plan and deploy a Cisco VXI solution that extends the benefits of desktop virtualisation to rich media applications and services, overcoming a common limitation of virtual desktop environments
• Provide secure, flexible user access to business applications anywhere
• Support business continuity, disaster recovery and regulatory compliance goals
• Optimize and automate the virtual desktop operations management
Cisco and our partners help to plan and deploy the solution, using proven methodologies designed to mitigate risks and accelerate the transition to a cost-effective VDI/VXI solution.

Cisco Desktop Virtualization Services includes following:
• Desktop Virtualization Strategy Service: Determine the value a desktop virtualization solution can bring to the organization, and develop the metrics that user needs to validate the investment.
• Desktop Virtualization Planning and Design Service: Decide how to best virtualize the desktop and branch-office infrastructure, and find the most suitable applications, and implement.
• Cisco Desktop Virtualization Optimization: Improve desktop virtualization operational environment by performing regular assessments of operations, application, and infrastructure performance to insure a positive end-user experience.
• Cisco Allied Service for VXI: Provides a single point of contact for technical support across the entire VDI/VXI solution set, including Cisco and third-party partner products.

Desktop Virtualization Strategy Service
The Desktop Virtualization Strategy Service helps a user understand the financial impact and business benefits of migrating to a next-generation desktop architecture, so a user can make informed technology investments.

Components of Cisco Desktop Virtualization’s Strategy Service.
The Cisco Desktop Virtualization Strategy Service has two components:
• Desktop Virtualization business case definition and solution strategy:
Determines how a virtual desktop solution can reduce costs, simplify operations, secure data, and improve the end-user experience and prepares for an in-depth design activity by mapping business and technical requirements to one or more virtual desktop solution models.
• Desktop Virtualization operational readiness assessment:
Promotes the operational aspects of a virtual desktop strategy and business case by undertaking an operational readiness review, defining the operational requirements, and developing a transformation roadmap to an efficient virtual desktop architecture.

After reading the article, a user would have gained knowledge and understanding about Cisco’s desktop virtualization services.

Cisco VXI validated network components include:
• Data center switches: Cisco Nexus
• 7000 and 5000
• Series Switches
• Virtual switches: Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switches
• SAN switches: Cisco MDS 9000 Family products
• LAN switches: Cisco Catalyst
• 6500 and 4500
• Series Switches
• WAN: Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISRs)
• and Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS),
• including Cisco Virtual WAAS (vWAAS), WAAS
• Mobile, and WAAS Express
• Security: Cisco ASA 5580 and 5540 Adaptive
• Security Appliances, Cisco AnyConnect
• Secure
• Mobility Solution, Cisco Virtual Security Gateway (VSG), and Cisco Identity Services Engine
• Collaborative Applications
• Cisco VXI supports unified communications and collaboration solutions (such as Cisco Unified Communications Manager) in virtualized environments.

Solutions include:
• IP communications (Cisco Unified Communications Manager and IP Phones)
• Customer care
• Enterprise social software including Cisco Quad (for virtual teaming) and Cisco Show and Share(video creation and access)
• Conferencing (Cisco WebEx) Cisco VXI Partner Ecosystem
• Hypervisor: Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere
• Desktop Virtualization: Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp, VMware View
• User Virtualization: AppSense
• Optimization: Atlantis Computing, Teradici
• Storage: EMC, NetApp
• Virtual Anti-Virus: McAfee, Trend Micro
• Management: Liquidware Labs, Unidesk
• Clients: WinXP and Windows 7 PCs, Wyse

Services
Cisco VXI includes a comprehensive portfolio of advanced and technical services. Customers who take advantage of the Cisco VXI Audit and Validation Service qualify for Cisco Unified Solution Support, which can help alleviate the overhead associated with deploying and managing complex solutions. In addition, customers can take
advantage of these Cisco Desktop Virtualization Services:

• Desktop Virtualization Advisory Strategy
• Desktop Virtualization Planning, Design, and Implementation

Cisco VXI Roadmap
Cisco has made a long-term commitment to delivering several Cisco VXI initiatives in multiple phases:
• Infrastructure optimized to host virtual desktops with lower cost, increased scalability and security, and simplified management
• Solutions to enhance delivery of multimedia to virtual workplaces
• An expanding range of endpoint solutions
• Integrated virtual services for end-to-end per-user policy and control
These initiatives include technology roadmaps, a broad partner ecosystem, validated system-level designs, and cross-domain professional services

If a user has read the article then he/she would have learnt about Cisco VXI’s validated network components.

Cisco VXI supports the following hypervisors:
- VMware ESX and ESXi
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- Citrix XenServer

• Desktop virtualization: This component virtualizes desktop images for deployment from centralized servers. Connection brokers automate the connection of client endpoints to virtual desktops. Cisco VXI supports the following desktop virtualization solutions:
- Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp
- VMware View

A broad range of additional components have been validated and can be integrated with the Cisco VXI system.
• Storage: Desktop virtualization requires centralized storage for applications and data. Cisco VXI supports both direct-attached and network-attached storage. Cisco VXI validated storage solutions include both EMC and NetApp storage as well as storage
optimization technology from a number of partners.
• Endpoints: These are the means by which hosted virtual desktops are accessed and used. Cisco VXI supports a broad range of thick clients, thin-clients, and zero-clients and mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. The Cisco VXI endpoint portfolio includes the new
Cisco Virtualization Experience Client (VXC) 6215, the first enterprise-ready thin client built with intelligence embedded in the endpoint, which helps provide exceptional voice and video experiences in a virtual environment. The VXC 6215 is complemented by the Cisco VXC 2000 Series zero clients as well as a software appliance, the Cisco VXC 4000 Series, which can help transform a Microsoft Windows PC into a multimedia-capable virtual desktop client. Zero and thin clients from Wyse, Devon IT, and IGEL are also supported.
• Mobility: For mobile users, Cisco VXI also supports the Cisco Cius enterprise tablet, which allows workers to access their virtual workspace from work, at home, or on the road.
• Network: This component consists of routing, switching, and network services products that help ensure optimized handling of desktop virtualization traffic. For example, Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) optimizes bandwidth consumption and reduces latency for virtual desktop traffic. Cisco WAAS also provides zero-touch WAN acceleration for Citrix ICA traffic.

If a user has read the article then he /she would have gained knowledge and understanding about Cisco VXI’s components.