Stop the SQL Slammer Worm
Ecora is offering a free SQL Worm Prevention Kit to protect network infrastructures from the SQL Slammer, or Sapphire, worm. The SQL Slammer worm enters networks through the Internet, looks for unpatched SQL Server 2000 databases, replicates itself, and starts sending out data that results in Denial of Service (DoS) failures. The free kit includes Ecora PatchLite, the patch to close the Slammer worm, recommended CERT guidelines, and step-by-step instructions about how to apply the patch. You can download the SQL Worm Prevention Kit at Ecora's Web site at http:// www.ecora.com/worm.
Detect Missing SQL Server Patches
Shavlik Technologies is providing free tools that can detect which SQL Server security patches are missing from your computers and servers and can guard against the SQL Slammer worm. You can download HFNetChkLT and HFNetChk.exe from the company's Web site. You can use the tools to determine which machines in your network are missing crucial patches. HFNetChk.exe is especially important because it searches for the SQL Server patches that Microsoft Windows Update doesn't support. Contact Shavlik Technologies at 651-426-6624, 800-690-6911, info@shavlik.com, or http://www.shavlik.com.
COLLABORATION UTILITY
Collaborate About Projects and Tasks
SiteScape announced SiteScape Enterprise Forum 7.0, collaboration software that lets employees, customers, business partners, and suppliers easily communicate and share information in a Web-based environment. You can host online discussions, share and revise documents and files, chat, schedule meetings by using shared calendars, and organize tasks. You can set start and due dates, prioritize tasks, and monitor the progress of each task. Bookmarks provide you one-click access to frequently accessed discussions, documents, and calendars. The software now runs on SQL Server 2000, Oracle 8i, and FrontBase databases. Pricing is $99 per user. Contact SiteScape at 910-256-5038 or http://www.sitescape.com.
QUERY AND REPORTING TOOL
Drop Tables and Columns from Your Database into Multistep Queries
Austin Sierra Technologies announced Query Studio 1.1, a multistep visual SQL builder for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET that supports cross-database queries and cross-schema queries for database servers. You can drop tables and columns from your database into multistep queries without writing SQL or ADO.NET code. The software supports SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Advantage Database Server, IBM DB2, Oracle, and Sybase databases. Query Studio is available in two editions: Desktop and Developer. The Desktop Edition is available as a standalone application and costs $99. The Developer Edition integrates with Visual Studio .NET and costs $249. Contact Austin Sierra Technologies at 425-885-2100, info@austinsierra.com, or http://www.querystudio.com.