Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Despite its advantages, what are the top disadvantages of SD-WAN?

  Cost, complexity, security, training, troubleshooting and software bugs are some of the top disadvantages of SD-WAN. See how these issues affect SD-WAN deployment.  Continue Reading

• How is service mesh architecture different from SDN and NFV?

  Service mesh separates itself from SDN and NFV approaches with its clear focus on managing the communication and forwarding between multiple microservices.  Continue Reading

• What is hybrid cloud networking and how is it evolving?

  With help from telecom providers and connectivity, hybrid cloud networking enables organizations to add network capacity by tapping into public cloud infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between a router, switch and hub?

  Although a router, switch and hub all help direct network traffic, the devices transmit packets in different ways. Discover the differences among these network devices.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between an edge router vs. core router?

  Clearly, an edge router and core router are placed in different parts of the network, but their routing roles are more complex than their physical locations.  Continue Reading

• Will 5G networks require new network engineer skills?

  The 5G network will likely affect network engineer skills in areas such as security, physical appliances and software. But enterprise teams won't see too much change, for now.  Continue Reading

• What are private 5G networks and could they emerge as a major trend?

  In some network environments, businesses may need broader connection options for devices and automation. Private 5G networks, at some point, might be the answer.  Continue Reading

• What are edge computing challenges for the network?

  Edge computing can reduce processing times and improve application performance, but the technology has its issues. Here are six challenges edge computing creates for the network.  Continue Reading

• What is network traffic analytics and how does it enhance security?

  Network traffic analysis has evolved to incorporate machine learning techniques that help identify network security threats in real time and expedite a response.  Continue Reading

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of CLI and GUI?

  An old-fashioned command-line interface still has some advantages over its counterpart, the graphical user interface, when managing network devices. See how CLI and GUI stack up.  Continue Reading

• Fog computing vs. edge computing: What's the difference?

  Fog computing vs. edge computing -- while many IT professionals use the terms synonymously, others make subtle but important distinctions between them.  Continue Reading

• SD-WAN with IoT enables the enhanced network edge

  In a world teeming with IoT devices -- and the resulting data -- SD-WAN and SD-branch can provide the security, visibility and connectivity the IoT edge requires.  Continue Reading

• What are the 5 types of network firewalls and how are they different?

  As they monitor and filter network traffic, some firewalls can provide some pretty advanced security controls. But added packet inspection can slow network performance.  Continue Reading

• What is a programmable data plane and where does P4 fit in?

  A programmable data plane presents a versatile way to forward packets and supports various formats and protocols. The P4 language is used to configure the forwarding actions.  Continue Reading

• What is Cisco Smart Licensing and how might it benefit my business?

  Cisco Smart Licensing, the networking vendor's fairly new approach to software licensing, aims to provide customers with more visibility and control over their licenses.  Continue Reading