ManageEngine's Server & Application Performance Monitoring Software

ManageEngine Applications Manager is offering software that would help businesses ensure high availability and performance for their business applications.

 

The hope of the availability and performance monitoring program is to ensure that enterprises' servers and applications have high uptime. According to the makers, the application performance management capability includes server monitoring, application server monitoring, database monitoring, web services monitoring, virtualization monitoring, cloud monitoring and an array of other application management capability that will help IT administrators manage their resources. The software is avilable for a 30-day trial at ManageEngine's Web site.

Nigeria - A High Tech Savvy Country

Nigeria is a West African country that has a stupendous endowment of natural resources and intellectual power. With a population of more than 150 million – Nigeria recently surpassed Bangladesh to become the 7th most populous country on earth. 


Nigeria’s intellectuals, both at home and in the diaspora, have marked their presence all over the world. They have excelled in physics, mathematics, medicine, engineering, computer technology and other imperative areas of modern human endeavor. 

Granted, Nigeria has some serious social and economic challenges. But none of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges is actually unique to it. 

While it will be foolhardy for me to make any excuses for Nigeria, I must nonetheless note here, that the well-publicized problems of corruption, fraud, threats of terrorism, political and religious rigidities as well as beleaguered economic machineries are ubiquitous. Even the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and other talk-of-the-town nations have their fair share of these ills of humanity. To illustrate, data by Infobase Limited, a California-based database and geospatial data company indicates that the US, the UK, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Italy and India all have higher authenticated crimes rates than Nigeria. Another database provided by data360 – another California-based database company – containing UN’s global crime trends covering several years, did not show a disproportionate reason for worry for those interested in exploring Nigeria. The top 40 most worrisome countries, included Swaziland, Columbia, South Africa, Jamaica, Guatemala, Russia, Mexico, Paraguay, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Thailand, Philippines, Barbados, Argentina, Poland, the USA, India, Germany, England, France, Portugal, Canada, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Pakistan (in that order).

No! Not Nigeria. Some critics might be surprised that Nigeria was not there. But indeed, Nigeria was not there.

Therefore, no one should allow any real or perceived shortcomings of Nigeria to hoodwink him or her into losing sight of the enormous potentials that Nigeria offers. Nigeria is emerging global economy. Those who recognize this, and get in early, and contribute to the good of the country will stand to benefit.
 
This begs the question: How does one reach Nigeria and harness the potentials of its people?
 
There are many profound ways in which the world can benefit from the energy and enterprise of Nigerians. Nigerians have embraced technology more rapidly and more intensely than most other developing countries. Internet and mobile devices – which are the main drivers of today’s economic performances, have permeated the Nigerian society. Nigeria’s cities and its suburban towns are heavily connected to the global information superhighway. Nigerians of all cadres are online – the rich, the man, the woman, the poor, the educated, the not-so-educated; everyone. In fact, even elderly local women in Nigeria – living in the vast countryside are now connected, with their handsets often tied to their wrappers as they go to the market or their farms.

Here are the statistics showing Nigeria’s connectivity:

Internet Usage

Nigeria, has over 44 million active Internet users, and ranks 10th in the world, according to data from Internet World Statistics. See the graph below:

Nigeria ranks 10th in the world in internet usage; and by far, surpasses other populous developing countries such as Indonesia (population 237,556,363 with 30 million internet users), Mexico (population 112,336,538 with 27 million internet users) and Philippines (population 95,000,000 with 27 million internet users). Pakistan, which has a population of 176,603,000, has less than 20 million internet users.

Mobile Phone Subscription

Nigeria has over 91 million mobile subscribers, and also ranks 10th in the world, according to aggregated data from CTIA-The Wireless Association® - an international organization of the wireless communications industry, the Hong Kong Government’s Office of the Telecommunications Authority, the Industry Statistics-Subscriber Data by the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) based in Geneva, Switzerland, and more.

Only China, India, the United States, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Germany and Pakistan have more mobile phone subscribers than Nigeria.

Given these high numbers of hi-tech adoption by Nigeria, as shown above, there is no doubt that many global companies and investors will do well for themselves as soon as they “discover” and explore Nigeria.
 

The smart companies will begin to find that they can actually profit by locating many operational bases in Nigeria and by linking them to their other hubs, through technology. These companies will save money due to reduced costs of labor, physical plant, insurance and taxes. Yes, they’ll save money, even over the operational bases they may already have, or may be contemplating to establish in India, China, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa and Egypt. Yes, they’ll find that Nigeria is truly a land of economic opportunities. They’ll be baffled by the amazing returns they’ll rake in, just like they were bamboozled when they discovered China and India, and started investing heavily in those countries. These intelligent global investors, who were originally ridiculed upon moving into China and India – countries that were discounted as impoverished third world nations – are now making huge fortunes from the get-up-and-go disposition of the two Asian tigers that are now somewhat stagnating. 

And now this: Nigeria is the African tiger. Nigeria is still waiting for the smartest, world-shattering and most alert global entrepreneurs who must now look outside Asia and South America for greener pastures. 

Nigeria also offers tremendous opportunities for those that want to expand their global market.
 

The most recent economic data, from an unclassified CIA database, shows that the commercial value of Nigeria to the international community is very significant to the prosperity of many global companies, prospective global investors, and ultimately, to the development of the economies of various nations.

The CIA data implies that with Nigeria’s estimated population of over 150 million people, and again, the 7th in the world (and the 8th most populous country just a few months ago), the nation has a lot of potential customers for businesses that are serious with international commerce.
 

What’s more? With an estimated GDP (purchasing power parity) of $353.2 billion in 2009, Nigeria ranks 2nd in Africa (behind South Africa, ahead of Egypt) and 33rd in the world. Although the nation’s GDP real growth rate, which was estimated at 3.8% in 2009, showed constant decline within the previous five years, indications are that the aggressive policies of the current administration would likely raise the GDP in 2 years.

What all these boil down to is that if you into global business, Nigeria can help produce and deliver your products and services, and Nigeria can help buy and use them.

The most effective way anyone can reach and rally the Nigerian people in this information era is through ingenious Web and mobile technologies. After all, many goods and services are now being delivered wirelessly. These technologies offer businesses effective tools to build a large and strong workforce or customer base. They also offer both Nigerian and foreign public officials or international organizations effective tools to build large and strong grassroots movements, or to expand and solidify their grassroots support. 

But there’s a problem that must be tackled head-on.

It is apparent that while the massive adoption of high technologies by Nigerians have its blessings to the country and the international community, it also presents significant challenges to peace loving citizens of Nigeria and the world. 

Perhaps the most critical aspect of Nigeria's hi-tech usage is its national security implications. Terrorists and other terrible people have also discovered the Internet and wireless communications.

The Internet and other hi-tech systems truly have significant ramifications on the security of Nigeria at a time when these systems are routinely deployed to make contacts, recruit and mobilize networks of radicals and troublemakers around the world. There is no wonder why the United States of America and many other countries are now investing heavily in understanding and monitoring the reach, uses and power of the new and ever dynamic Internet and mobile technologies. 

Dr. Linton Wells, a distinguished research professor at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, sums up the national security challenges posed by the internet and other high technologies:

"This is not just techie-geeky stuff, but serious stuff with national security ramifications."

 
Indeed, in a globalized environment, Nigeria and other peace-loving nations and organizations must work closely together, with mutual respect for each other, to ensure that international criminals are effectively monitored, so as not to undermine the blessings and opportunities bestowed upon modern society, by modern high technologies to facilitate international commerce and peace.

* Mr. Nwankama Nwankama is an information technology strategist. He is a Nigerian, and resident in Maryland, USA..

Africa's Leadership Problems

I read Mr. Godsway Yaw Sappor's article published in GhanaWeb with great interest. It was entitled: The Failure Of African Leadership, Cause Of Africa's Problems

Africa has 10% of the world's oil and gas deposits, and according to Mr. Sappor, Africa also has 50% of the world's gold, most of the world's diamonds and chromium, 90% of the cobalt, 40% of the world's potential hydroelectric power, 65% of the manganese, millions of acres of untilled farmland, as well as other natural resources.

It's disappointing to note that in spite of Africa's natural wealth, it is home to the world's most impoverished and abused people.

Mr. Sappor, further observed that many African leaders are quick to blame Africa's continued struggles on the legacy of colonialism. Others accuse its neo-colonial dimension, and some others pose culture, climate and bio-geographic factors as the explanation to the reasons of Africa's myriad problems.

It is true that colonialism and Western imperialism did not leave, and has not left any African country in good shape, but Africa must look internally and stop blaming outside powers for their own internal failures and lack of leadership. In fact, many African leaders have treated their brothers and sisters a lot worse than the colonial masters, and many are playing into the hands of their current foreign masters.

I urge African leaders to look internally at the failures in the leadership they have offered Africans and stop blaming outsiders.

AFRICA! Unity Might be the Solution!

In spite of all the criticisms about him, or mistakes he may have made, there's one thing I admire about Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi -- his pan-Africanism. He has been calling for a united African nation for decades.

Some might argue that I support a united Africa since I am Nigerian, and since it is likely that Nigeria, being the most populous African country, will dominate. The truth about my reasons cannot be farther. In fact, Nigeria's tradeoffs in pursuit of a united Africa, will be enormous.

Back to Gaddafi. He has argued that an African unity government is the only way Africa can develop cohesively and consistently, and without interference by outside powers. However, many African leaders and technocrats have resisted the idea of a united Africa. They say it will encroach on their sovereignty. Some of these African leaders and elites say they cannot be expected to cede sovereignty to any African bloc just decades after they wrested it away from their colonial masters.

Other people have doubted the practicality of a unity African government. Incidentally, some of the biggest skeptics have not even given fair consideration to the idea. Rather, they have hastily dismissed it as an unrealistic dream.

Some others have said that the idea of Africa as a single nation is dead since it hasn't happened, after decades of speeches, discussions and arguments. They cite the difficulties and disappointments experienced within Arab nationalist movements, especially the collapse of the United Arab Republic (UAR) that President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt formed with Syria, and which Iraq was said to have considered joining. The cynics also cite the demise of the United Arab States (UAS), a short-lived confederation of the United Arab Republic (UAR), and North Yemen.

A few other people (mainly non-Africans) have accused Colonel Gadaffi of being a power-hungry man who wants to rule the whole of Africa. But, this might be a very disingenuous supposition on the part of these critics. While, like other politicians, Gadaffi may want to hold on to power for as long as possible, he has not given any indication that he wants to rule the whole of Africa. In actual fact, there may be other Africans that may clamor for him to lead. And by the way, Colonel Gadaffi is not the only African that is seriously committed to pan-African movement. I have included a list of forty-six other major pan-Africanists in the later part of this article. They cannot be accused of being motivated by a quest for personal political power. The fact is that many pan-Africanists do not have personal political ambitions. Therefore, it would be wrong to accuse Colonel Gadaffi or other pan-Africanists as power-hungry barons.

I submit to everyone that the idea of a single African nation is very essential, very workable and that is not dead. If anything at all, Africa can learn from the mistakes of the UAR and UAS movements, and the disillusionment their failures caused pan-Arabists. This would be necessary so as to craft better strategies for the African cause. So, I submit that the idea of a united Africa will not die until it is realized.

One can only imagine the level of progress Africa would have made by now if the various nation states had united (even if they had just confederated) and pulled their resources together.

Despite all the the negativities, Colonel Gadaffi's ideas of this single African state have been supported by many Africans owing to his extraordinary reputation, tenacity and pragmatism in parts of the continent.

One of his supporters, Maliviwe Bata stated on July 29, 2010:

"On Africa in unity, this dream will one day soon be a reality. The skeptics will swallow their tongues."

Maliviwe Bata's belief in Brother Leader Colonel Gaddafi's ideas of a single African state is not isolated. In fact, there are calls for improved ties between the single Africa bloc and South American countries. Johan Pieterse, another supporter of Brother Leader Gaddafi, and who also supports closer African/South American cooperation, added on September 27, 2009;

"... I think it's innovative and a step towards self-empowerment. I'm tired of rich nations buying all the economic rights to natural resources of the poorer countries. I'm convinced that EU and US policies are designed to keep them (the US and EU) in a position of power and economic strength."

Hundreds of millions of Africans, including Africans in the diaspora, share Maliviwe's and Pieterse's beliefs in the pragmatism of Brother Leader Gaddafi's ideas. As a matter of fact, mathematical projections show that there could be 300 million - 500 million Africans who believe in Colonel Gaddafi's ideas and regard him as their hero. Indeed, his words and ideas are well treasured by a majority of Africans (and quite a sizable part of the international community including the United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia).

I urge African nations to seriously consider forming a unity government.

And, I'll say that a united Africa is critical and very realistic.

Great Potentials!

Africa is endowed with enormous natural resources. The region accounts for nearly 10% of the entire oil and gas reserves in the World. It also accounts for a sizable percentage of deposits of diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, woods and tropical fruits.

Africa has lots of its natural resources undiscovered or barely tapped.

The geography of Africa comprises of vast waters and lands that abound with sea creatures, wild life and arable lands. Africa contains many of lakes and rivers, allowing for small fishing industry for the natives. The deep rivers of Africa have significant hydroelectric value. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans allow further enterprises such as large scale fishing mining and offshore oil drilling. Its coastlines are teeming with fish and other sea life.

Without imported pollution and dangerous greenhouse gases emanating from Western and Asian nations, African nations will have the most serene environments in the world. But, with more unity and greater power, Africa can resist such imported pollution.

Africa is the second largest continent. With a population of 1 billion people, only China and India have more population than Africa. As a single nation, it would be the third largest country.

But the diversity and richness in Africa has neither translated to commensurate prosperity nor strength. Africans are too fractured. They fail to realize that there is great strength in numbers, and continue a downward spiral as a result of disunity.

Africans are still beholden to their colonial masters who created arbitrary maps on them. And, Africa's neo-colonial masters are still mapping out how Africa should be divided and exploited.

To understand what the West might have in mind for Africa, one needs go no further than some recorded words about the thoughts of America and Britain about our Arab brothers and sisters.

Daniel Yergin's masterpiece called "The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power", written in 1991 recalled the words of American President Franklin D. Roosevelt as he addressed a British Ambassador in 1944.

Here's what the American president told the Briton:

"Persian oil …is yours. We share the oil of Iraq and Kuwait. As for Saudi Arabian oil, it’s ours."

Obviously, there were no Arabs; no Persians, no Iraqis, no Kuwaitis and no Saudi Arabians in that meeting that decided who was going to own their oil. Logically, there would be no Africans in a meeting on the allocation of their land and resources among the world powers. Maybe after the decision has been made overseas, African leaders would be manipulated, intimidated or enticed into helping to implement the schemes. No doubt, a more united Africa will preclude such an insult on a great people and give them more say over how foreign nations can participate in tapping their resources.

A fragmented Africa plays into the hands of those seeking to dominate it perpetually.

Of course, divide-and-rule strategies have been classical strategies to maintain stronghold on a people. The colonial masters craftily employed divide-and-rule strategies and it worked very well for them. Conversely, they amalgamated tiny disparate entities to foment internal discord so they can maintain their central powers while the subjects -- Africans quarreled among themselves.

But it's a shame that Africans have not been able to extricate themselves from the dubious divide-and-rule legacy of the colonial masters. Consequently, African countries and some of their leaders have continued to undermine each other. By contrast, the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA), the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are all cooperating more closely to preserve their interests than the African Union (AU) (and the Arab League) are doing.

In Africa, the leaders and certain elements of the society are actually perpetuating divisiveness to preserve their narrow interests. This internal rancor has also been fueled by some Western powers that have installed or sustained tyrannic dictators in Africa, in order to emasculate the people and keep the oil, gold and diamonds flowing yonder.

The effect of Africa's decentralization is that, in spite of the formation of the African Union, African countries still cannot resolve such serious matters as backwardness, hunger, disease, religious and ethnic conflicts.

Africa - Maybe, It's Time to Seriously Consider Colonel Gaddafi's Ideas
(Please note that this blog was written before the disturbances in Libya)


Various African statesmen and influential personalities from around the World have advocated the transformation of Africa into a single federation or at a minimum, a confederation, with a single currency, and one all-African army.

The most energetic of these statesmen has been Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Continued at WordPress

Server & Application Performance Monitoring Software

ManageEngine Applications Manager is offering software that would help businesses ensure high availability and performance for their business applications.

 

The hope of the availability and performance monitoring program is to ensure that enterprises' servers and applications have high uptime. According to the makers, the application performance management capability includes server monitoring, application server monitoring, database monitoring, web services monitoring, virtualization monitoring, cloud monitoring and an array of other application management capability that will help IT administrators manage their resources. The software is avilable for a 30-day trial at ManageEngine's Web site.