Manx Upgrades Web Server (2002)

Manx has provided hosting services to many of our clients on a dedicated server leased from CommuniTech for several years now. While the server has been rock-solid in terms of reliability (thanks to its Lunux operating system) and network speed (thanks to CommuniTech's excellent connectivity), recently it's showing its age in terms of performance.

Rather than leasing another server (an expensive option over time), we decided to purchace and configure our own. After much research, we decided on a Dell PowerEdge 2550 running Linux. The server itself sports some impressive hardware, all geared towards greater reliability and improved performance:

• Intel Pentium III processor (1.26GHz)
• 512MB RAM
• 1GB Ethernet
• hot-swappable Ultra 160 SCSI hard drives
• RAID disk controller for drive mirroring and striping
• dual (redundant) power supplies

The new server is now up and running, colocated with Hurricane Electric at their new colocation facility in Fremont, California.

Our New Web Site (2002)

After months of hard work, Manx's new Web site has finally been launched. (This was the classic case of the cobbler's children running barefoot?we were so busy with all our clients' sites that we'd neglected our own.) The new site (what you're looking at now) features a new look and feel and improved navigation.

But the changes aren't merely cosmetic.

Under the hood, we've moved to a database-driven site. We're also making extensive use of server-side includes to ease future updates and expansion. As a flagship for Manx, this site attempts to incorporate all the site design best practices we've acquired over the years.

Of particular note is the new-and-improved Portfolio section. Not only is this an example of a dynamic, database-driven site design, but the methods for previewing and displaying the portfolio projects incorporate highly advanced DHTML. With a view towards cross-browser compatibility, we've also used server-side detectors to deliver up the most efficient DHTML for the browser you're using.

We hope you enjoy the new site!

Manx Takes On the Biotech Industry (2001)

Many biotechnology companies today, as they start to bring products to market, are going through a transition period: shifting their focus from research and development to sales and marketing. Since it's a major tool in marketing strategies, not to mention an oft-overlooked conduit of communication with potential investors and shareholders, a biotech company's Web site must undergo a similar transition.

With our Web marketing expertise, we believe we can assist these companies in redesigning their Web sites and establishing a more marketing-focused presence on the Internet. "We are identifying the specific market challenges within the biotech arena and bringing our Web marketing and development resources to the task of getting these products to market," says Manx co-founder and CEO Brooks White.