Category: Blog
IDG Contributor Network: How NFV and interconnection can help you think outside the ‘box’
Networking used to be all about specialized “boxes,” but that era is fading fast. By a specialized box, I mean a piece of hardware that was built to perform an individual function. Physical firewalls, routers, servers, load balancers, etc., are all examples of these different boxes, and they are still everywhere. But new technology […]
The cloud continues to drive network evolution
It’s fair to say that there has never been a bigger driver of network evolution than the cloud. The reason for this is the cloud is a fundamentally different kind of compute paradigm, as it enables applications, data, and architecture changes to be done seemingly instantly. Cloud-native infrastructure is what enables mobile app developers to […]
How converged infrastructure can accelerate the AI journey
The technology that powers businesses is evolving faster than ever before, allowing us to do more than we ever thought possible. Things that were once only seen in science fiction movies are actually coming to life. One of these areas is the field of artificial intelligence (AI). We’re on the verge of having machines diagnose […]
What is the Open Compute Project?
The Open Compute Project began in 2011 when Facebook published the designs of some homebrew servers it had built to make its data centers run more efficiently. Facebook hoped that other companies would adopt and adapt its initial designs, pushing down costs and improving quality – and they have: Sales of hardware built to Open Compute […]
SD-Branch market expected to reach $3 billion by 2022
As long as I have been an industry analyst, network engineers have tried to build multifunction boxes that are capable of addressing a wide range of network functions. These all-purpose network boxes have been lost to history as single-function platforms optimized for network performance (e.g., router or WAN optimization) dominated the market. The branch network […]
AI can be a game changer for WI-Fi management
There’s no question that Wi-Fi networks continue to grow in importance for most companies. Workers rely on it to do their jobs, students are being educated on mobile tablets, doctors are pulling up records at a patients’ bedside, and millions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices are now being connected to Wi-Fi. Wireless is no […]
Does the Cisco 4000 router series redefine the traditional role of routers?
Last month it was Catalyst 9000 switches, and this month its routers. Yes, my project engineering staff have had a surprising amount of inquiries regarding routers. Routers vital to enterprise networks When looking at distribution for an enterprise network, well-planned routing is the key to success. Routers can be absolutely vital for networks, as they […]
Cisco emboldens its disaggregation strategy
The notion of disaggregation – separating the operating system and applications from the underlying hardware – has always been a conundrum for Cisco. In a nutshell, why would the company risk losing all of the millions of dollars in development and the key networking features tied up in current Cisco hardware and software packages? But […]
REVIEW: Network test tools from Fluke, NETSCOUT and SignalTEK
It’s not good enough to run cables and just hope they work, or simply say it’s all good if they provide a working network connection to the computer or device. You should double-check by testing or qualifying the cable runs before you call the job complete. You should use a tester to check if all […]
Cisco continues its CSR efforts, invests $50M in Destination: Home
Cisco is well known for many things. It’s the world’s largest networking vendor, it has typically been the bell weather for IT spending, as it’s often predicted upticks or downticks in spending before other vendors, and its ability to catch market transitions has been remarkable, which is why it has a market leading position in […]