We’ve been working on updating our network monitoring and management software RSP to version 2.3. This release focuses on making it easier for new users to start using the software (especially for those who aren’t necessarily interested in setting up a full-blown monitoring infrastructure). If you haven’t tried it out yet, download the trial version and let us know what you think! We’re constantly looking for feedback on our efforts.

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Well, it’s been a while since there was a post to this blog. We haven’t forgotten about it: many other things have simply been vying for our time recently. One of which, was a big move to new offices.

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Thought I’d take a minute to talk about the latest version of RSP we just released today, version 2.2. If you’re not already familiar with RSP, it’s a cross-platform server monitoring and analysis program (and, as of 2.2, now has hardware tracking) with a web interface. Systems administrators, webmasters, and just about anyone else who has a server can (and should) use a monitoring system like RSP so they know if there’s anything affecting their users’ performance.

For version 2.2, we’ve been focusing on a new aspect to the software: hardware tracking. Using the RSP agents, we’ve been able to collect an extensive amount of hardware information (CPU models, SCSI controllers, hard disk types, network cards, etc). This info can then be sorted and compared against other data. So why would this be useful? Consider a shop that has only a set amount of money to spend on upgrades: the best use of this money is for the systems that are most crucial to users’ performance: you can quickly see what hardware is installed on each of your crucial systems and decide what to upgrade. There are many other uses too, of course.

Additionally, we’ve added several new interface enhancements, including a new page for each individual server: kind of like a dashboard on a per-server basis. It shows the current performance, the hardware installed, any ongoing problems with it (using the incident tracking features); you can even leave comments. One of the big pushes we’ve been making is for a real Web 2.0 interface: we use a lot of AJAX and slick interface effects to keep the interface as intuitive and simple as possible.

Be sure to check out RSP 2.2 – we’re very proud of it, and hope you find it useful.

I’ve just put the finishing touches on a new “logo” for RSP. I decided to put it together after noticing that small, rectangular logos are the rage for a lot of tech companies (something that’s easy to recognize, easy to add to a blog, etc). Be sure to let me know what you think.

Thought I’d post a quick teaser about the new version of RSP (version 2.2, if you’re keeping track). First, there’s going to be a big focus on hardware management. We’ve been especially interested in tying performance data to the underlying system resources of a computer system. This should prove especially useful for capacity planning and figuring out what needs to be upgraded (i.e. a web server with 2 gigs of RAM that’s heavily used might better benefit with another 2 gigs of RAM, rather than upgrading a backend database that’s still chugging along on an older CPU).

Second, we’ve done a number of cosmetic improvements to the interface. We’re big fans of the new Web 2.0 visualization technologies (such as tying AJAX with slick UI effects), and we’ve spent a lot of time trying to make the interface as easy to understand and use as possible.

We’re looking to release the new version of RSP early next week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. More details be out then (and in the meantime, you can let me know what you think about the logo).

I love the Fourth of July. One of my favorite things is BBQ, and nothing beats a hot grill on a warm Fourth. If I couldn’t be in IT, I think I’d be a professional BBQ griller (maybe for a restaurant). One of the cookbooks kicking around here, called Weber’s Big Book of Grilling, has a fantastic article in it, and a great lesson for all you entrepreneurs and salespeople out there. Here’s an excerpt from “A Firehouse Turkey Tale” (p. 274):

Firefighters typically worked long shifts for 10 straight days, then had several days off. In this downtime, many picked up odd jobs to supplement their income. So I would drive up to a firehouse, remove a shiny, fire-engine red Weber charcoal kettle grill from my car, wheel it up to the firehouse, and go find whoever was in charge (if they hadn’t already appeared to chase me off the property). After finding the usually suspicious watch commander, I would volunteer to cook a turkey for the crew and leave the grill behind for their use. I was generally regarded as insane, but the prospect of a tasty meal usually earned me the green light. After all, if there were any unintended pyrotechnics, they could handle it.

As I lit the charcoal, I’d tell the firefighters stories about folks who didn’t follow lighting instructions and some of the crazy things that could happen. I’d invariable hear about someone in their district who had used gasoline or another forbidden fire starter and unintentionally torched a lawn or deck.

While the turkey was cooking, someone would ask why Weber had sent me out to cook a turkey and give away a grill. I’d explain that we needed demonstrators who could set up a Weber charcoal grill for Indirect cooking, safely light a fire, prepare a turkey for roasting, and then talk about the grill while the turkey was cooking. Since they had just witnessed a guy show up from nowhere and do all of this, they know it was pretty much a no-brainer. When I explained that they could earn a daily fee doing it, three or four firefighters usually applied for the job right on the spot.

The only thing that ever sidelined my recruiting efforts was a fire alarm. One such time I was in Des Moines, Iowa, chatting up a firefighter who was a natural for the job. He could tell a story, he was the firehouse cook, and he needed some culinary help with his job. His name was Stewart Leathers, but his nickname was Shoe-Leather, obviously a jab at his firehouse steaks, which he cooked in a cast-iron skillet on the stove. I was just at the point of recruiting Stu when the bells went off and the men – Stu included – scrambled into their gear, jumped onto fire trucks, and roared off.

About two hours later, they returned, grinning and … mischievous. Evidently they had just answered a call at a burning horse barn. Fortunately, no one was injured, but one of the firefighters had picked up a horribly scorched saddle as a trophy. Now, after washing off the smoke, they assembled near my grill to present it to Shoe-Leather. There was a raucous speech about the saddle being more edible than Stu’s firehouse cuisine and everyone laughed. Bit it lit a fire under poor Stu.

The turkey was ready just as the “ceremony” ended. Everyone raved about how juicy and flavorful it was, and quickly reduced the bird to bones. No one asked more questions about how to grill a turkey than Stu. Before my firehouse visit ended, Stu and two other firefighters had signed up to demonstrate our grills.

One of the best parts about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to be creative in your job. “Cooking” up new ideas to reach folks who can solve problems using your products is the whole point of going into business, and one of the things I’m always on the watch for. Have a great Fourth!

The latest version of RSP (now at 2.1) has just been released and is available for download. Some of the things that have been updated include:

• The ability to manually create tickets
• Fine-grain control over messages you receive
• An automated check-for-updates feature so you can more easily stay in sync with the latest version
• Several bugfixes and other minor changes

We’ve also put up a link to our new product brochure for RSP.  Enjoy!

To all you father’s out there, today is the day to kick back, relax, and have your kids do the yard work.  And be sure to check out Engadget’s list of Father’s Day gifts, just in case you forgot….

The founders, Costa and Ryan, have set up this blog as a medium to share our thoughts and opinions on current technology trends, interesting development information, and entrepreneurial information.

We’re two tech entrepreneurs who founded Draconis Software three years ago to develop and sell our network monitoring/management software, RSP. Over the years, we’ve realized there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on around us that we’d like to share with you. Hopefully you’ll be able to pull something interesting out.

Some of things we’re most interested in are Web 2.0 technologies and start-up information (i.e. how to create your own company), and we’re hoping to keep a steady stream of this info coming.

So enjoy! And be sure to let us know what you think.