Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• What is the role of hardware in network overlays and virtualization?

  Jason Edelman explains the role of hardware in network virtualization and network overlays.  Continue Reading

• Does Rackspace offer OpenStack-based cloud services?

  Rackspace was developmentally lacking when it came to offering OpenStack-based cloud services, but this may have changed. Learn more in this response.  Continue Reading

• When it comes to BYOD security risks, which VPN is best, IPsec or SSL?

  By 2016, 40% of the workforce will be mobile. IPsec VPNs are being widely discussed for BYOD security. But should we also be talking about SSL VPNs?  Continue Reading

• SDN network interoperability: Integrating with existing networks

  Derick Winkworth outlines whether it's possible to reach SDN network interoperability.  Continue Reading

• What was the point of decoupling OpenStack Nova and networking?

  Some things don't work better together, such as OpenStack Nova and networking. Find out the significance of their decoupling in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Why should I care about software-defined networking?

  Expert Jim Damoulakis weighs in on the potential of software-defined networking, or SDN, and why you should care.  Continue Reading

• Can providers or app developers simplify cloud bursting?

  Providers can help simplify cloud bursting for customers, but it's the app developers who have the most impact, says CIMI Corp. President Tom Nolle.  Continue Reading

• Will bring your own device security make you sacrifice convenience?

  Employee-owned devices can seriously undermine security. But bring your own device is probably here to stay. So what should IT do?  Continue Reading

• Why we still need network fabrics with software-defined networks

  Lisa Caywood outlines how fabric resilience and automation can free administrators to concentrate on learning and optimizing new SDN environments.  Continue Reading

• Can your existing tools juggle so many external services?

  You need to make sure you have the right tools to effectively monitor so many new externalized services. Expert Henry Svendblad shows you how.  Continue Reading

• Is it time to consider FCoE adoption in your storage network plan?

  Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) adoption is growing. But is it right for your organization?  Continue Reading

• How long does the IPv4 to IPv6 transition take?

  Various factors, including financial burden, will influence how long the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 will take, says IPv6 expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• The first step to ensuring effective IT service delivery management

  Expert Henry Svendblad reveals the first steps you need to take to ensure proper IT service delivery management.  Continue Reading

• The future of SaaS: What do we need for SaaS monitoring nirvana?

  Network Management expert Henry Svendblad explains what is needed to make IT monitoring worry-free in a software-as-a-Service environment.  Continue Reading

• Understanding IPv6: Who should be included in your training programs?

  Understanding IPv6 is important, and there are several groups in your company that you should focus on during training, says IPv6 expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• How can you maximize the ROI for IPv6 training?

  Have a well-thought-out plan for IPv6 training before you start, says IPv6 expert Ciprian Popoviciu, and follow these tips after schooling begins.  Continue Reading

• Is it more useful to jump into IPv6 testing or master IPv6 theory?

  Mastering the theory behind IPv6 and the act of IPv6 testing are both important, but one is more helpful long term, says cloud expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• Should your IPv6 deployment mirror your IPv4 strategy?

  Your IPv6 deployment should be distinct from your IPv4 strategy in several ways, says IPv6 expert Ciprian Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• Using public cloud when provisioning enterprise IT services

  Using public cloud services requires diligent enterprise IT management of the cloud provider to make it a success.  Continue Reading

• Can network security devices replace firewalls?

  There are many new network security devices on the market today. Expert Chris Partsenidis opines on whether these can replace firewalls.  Continue Reading

• How is the cloud influencing IT infrastructure strategy today?

  The IT world faces three major inflection points -- including cloud -- that are reshaping IT infrastructure strategies.  Continue Reading

• What kind of security protections does a cloud service provider offer?

  Amy Larsen-DeCarlo writes that enterprises can expect similar security protections from cloud providers as they get from traditional hosting services.  Continue Reading

• How do I go about choosing a cloud provider for my company?

  Choosing a cloud provider for your company can seem impossible until you compare your needs to a provider's core business.  Continue Reading

• How does IPv6 affect support for hybrid cloud services customers?

  Hybrid cloud services customers have specific needs surrounding IPv6 support, and many providers aren't meeting them, Ciprian Popoviciu says.  Continue Reading

• What are the best use cases for public cloud services?

  Enterprises increasingly see public cloud services as secure and stable enough for specific non-core applications if they have effective SLAs.  Continue Reading

• Running IPv6 over low-power devices with limited resources

  Expert Silvia Hagen explains what v6LoWPAN does and how it’s used.  Continue Reading

• ICMPv6: New message types and functionalities

  Expert Silvia Hagen explains what ICMPv6 is, and how it differs from ICMPv4.  Continue Reading

• Integrated mobile application, device management best approach

  Administrators don't have to worry about interoperability; integrated mobile application and device management is the best approach.  Continue Reading

• Why do I need to manage my VPN client software?

  Ensuring that the client software itself is up to date is just one of many reasons why it's critical to oversee VPN clients.  Continue Reading

• What security issues arise with IPv6 and IPv4 in a multi-tenant cloud?

  When supporting IPv6 and IPv4 in a multi-tenant cloud, the attack surface for this type of environment is increased, says IPv6 expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• How can cloud providers offer sensitive data protection?

  Cloud expert Mooney Sherman offers tips on how to evaluate various security architectures to provide optimal sensitive data protection in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Maintaining mobile device security: How to prevent user breaches

  To ensure mobile device security, VPN expert Rainer Enders explains that it is crucial to monitor changed states and block software modifications.  Continue Reading

• Preventing mobile hacking: Must you take precautions?

  Service providers do a good job of blocking mobile hacking -- to a point. VPN expert Rainer Enders offers tips on how to extend device security.  Continue Reading

• Should I use the OpenFlow protocol in software-defined networks?

  The OpenFlow protocol isn't required for SDN, although the Open Network Foundation recommends it, which means networking vendors have options.  Continue Reading

• Why do I need SDN technology?

  SDN is valuable, but uses extend to other parts of the network for increased network flexibility, dynamic traffic flow, decreased latency and QoS.  Continue Reading

• Specialized SDN controllers: Are they necessary?

  An SDN controller, with or without OpenFlow, is not required for a software-defined network, and SDN architecture vendors take different approaches.  Continue Reading

• Is SDN a centralized or distributed network architecture?

  A software-defined network can have a centralized or distributed network architecture in the data center, LAN and WAN, depending on business needs.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between an overlay network and SDN?

  A software-defined network can be deployed as an overlay network to a physical network or natively as the primary network to improve flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Does software-defined networking require special SDN switches?

  Software-defined networks do not require special SDN switches; instead, vendors offer a variety of SDN controllers, network fabrics and hardware.  Continue Reading

• Where do network fabric and SDN technologies intersect?

  Networks can use a network fabric and SDN technologies together, and vendors' SDN architectures integrate them in a variety different ways.  Continue Reading

• Why you need a hybrid network while migrating to SDN

  While migrating to software-defined networking, hybrid SDN and traditional networks must support both physical and virtual switching environments.  Continue Reading

• The role of northbound APIs in an SDN environment

  Northbound APIs on SDN controllers enable applications and orchestration systems to program the network and request services from it.  Continue Reading

• SDN, network virtualization: Are they the same?

  Despite differences, SDN and network virtualization share common elements to direct network resources to VMs and segment or consolidate networks.  Continue Reading

• Do I need to use an SDN controller for software-defined networking?

  An SDN controller, with or without OpenFlow, is not required for a software-defined network, and SDN architecture vendors take different approaches.  Continue Reading

• When does cloud federation require Layer 2 connectivity?

  Depending on the scenario, Layer 2 connectivity may be a critical component for enabling cloud federation, says networking expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• Developing data security policy for BYOD

  Expert Rainer Enders offers tips for a data security policy that will ensure personal data remains secure on enterprise devices -- and vice versa.  Continue Reading

• What to consider when choosing an MDM system

  Choosing an MDM system can be a complicated process, but expert Rainer Enders breaks down the considerations into straightforward terms in this tip.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of data center consolidation for cloud providers?

  The benefits of data center consolidation for cloud providers cover a range of optimization opportunities, according to cloud expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• How do cloud elasticity and cloud scalability differ?

  Cloud elasticity and cloud scalability are both characteristics of cloud services, but support different goals, says cloud expert Chip Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• Do we need full-stream reassembly in network-based monitoring?

  Network management expert Jesse Rothstein explains the concept of full-stream reassembly and why it's necessary for network performance monitoring.  Continue Reading

• What steps can IaaS providers take to stand out in an evolving market?

  How IaaS providers react to increasing commoditization might determine which players succeed and which fail, according to TM Forum CEO Martin Creaner.  Continue Reading

• Is WEP cracking still a worrisome WLAN security issue?

  Wireless expert Lisa A. Phifer explains to what extent WEP cracking remains a worrisome issue. It all depends on your company's WLAN security policy.  Continue Reading

• Application performance management should include packet capture

  Expert Jesse Rothstein explains the importance and challenges of packet capture abilities in application performance management (APM) solutions.  Continue Reading

• What are the biggest risks of BYOD?

  Do you have remote workers using mobile devices in the office? Before you invoke a bring-your-own-device policy, learn about the risks of BYOD.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of IPv6 in SDN and network virtualization?

  One of the benefits of IPv6 is that it makes software defined networking and network virtualization scale easily, IPv6 expert Ciprian Popoviciu says.  Continue Reading

• Is 802.1X authentication good enough for WLAN access control?

  Wireless expert Lisa A. Phifer explains why you shouldn't stop using 802.1X authentication methods for enterprise WLAN access control.  Continue Reading

• What are some of the challenges of running a dual-stack IPv6 cloud?

  When running a dual-stack IPv6 cloud, you must remember that the two protocols share infrastructure resources, says IPv6 expert Ciprian Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• How the 802.11ac standard impacts security

  The upcoming 802.11ac standard is an improvement over 802.11n, but how could security be impacted? Wireless expert Lisa A. Phifer explains.  Continue Reading

• What's the best type of VPN for connecting an acquired company?

  What happens when your organization acquires a company? How should you connect sites and what type of VPN setup works best? Our expert responds.  Continue Reading

• How can IaaS providers keep their services from becoming a commodity?

  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers may be fighting a losing battle against their fate as commodities, says TM Forum CEO Martin Creaner.  Continue Reading

• How can incorrectly configuring VPN clients lead to a security breach?

  Our virtual private networking expert explains how misconfiguring VPN clients can lead to security breaches in this Ask the Expert response.  Continue Reading

• Can WAN optimization controllers do VoIP compression?

  Expert Howard Hooper explains whether WAN optimization controllers can do VoIP compression in this Ask the Expert response.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between WAN optimization and WAN acceleration?

  Expert Howard Hooper compares and contrasts WAN optimization and WAN acceleration in this Ask the Expert response.  Continue Reading

• Is cloud scalability one of the advantages of IPv6?

  The advantages of IPv6 -- from its vast address space to its use of multicast -- can boost cloud scalability, says networking expert Ciprian Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• Wireless network setting considerations for Android troubleshooting

  Wireless expert Lisa Phifer addresses Android troubleshooting and the ways that changing wireless network settings could solve connectivity problems.  Continue Reading

• How can an IPv6 implementation improve our cloud services?

  There are several ways an IPv6 implementation can simplify network operations for cloud providers, and more use cases are likely to emerge.  Continue Reading

• Should cloud providers be concerned with IPv6 readiness?

  IPv6 readiness is essential to the scalability of a cloud provider's infrastructure, explains cloud networking expert Ciprian Popoviciu.  Continue Reading

• How cost-effective is top-of-rack switching?

  Expert Carrie Higbie explains that top-of-rack switching may mean higher costs due to an oversubscription of ports that you don't need and can't use.  Continue Reading

• Does a VPN reconnect feature require specific security protocols?

  Understanding how a virtual private network (VPN) works with a firewall will allow you to get full connectivity through the correct network ports.  Continue Reading

• Will FCoE architecture replace Fibre Channel?

  There's been much hype over Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) architecture; expert Carrie Higbie doesn't think it will ever replace Fibre Channel.  Continue Reading

• How can I ensure the corporate VPN works with our firewall?

  Understanding how a virtual private network (VPN) works with a firewall will allow you to get full connectivity through the correct network ports.  Continue Reading

• Prevent potential wireless interference during mobile device testing

  Wireless expert, Lisa Phifer explains methods and steps to prevent potential wireless interference during mobile device testing for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, on a wireless network.  Continue Reading

• Are active-active network configurations possible over MPLS?

  Telecom expert Mike Jude explains how to create an active-active network configuration for load sharing and backup in an MPLS implementation, in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Obtaining wireless access control for personal devices

  Lisa Phifer explains methods for wireless access control to allow employees certain but not full access to a company’s network and maintaining network access protection.  Continue Reading

• How will the move to usage-based billing affect ARPU?

  Switching from a subscription-based billing model to a usage-based one could affect ARPU, says Managed services expert Lauren Robinette explains how to predict these changes.  Continue Reading

• Who needs application performance management?

  Expert Jesse Rothstein says IT organizations accountable for the uptime and performance of core applications can benefit from application performance management solutions.  Continue Reading

• What WAN connectivity options are better than MPLS VPNs, overall?

  Learn what WAN connectivity options are better than MPLS VPNs in terms of cost, availability and reliability.  Continue Reading

• Can I compare performance metrics of an MPLS VPN to another network?

  Is it possible to calculate the network performance metrics of an MPLS VPN and compare it to other networks? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• What areas should we focus on when building a cloud data center?

  Building a cloud data center requires a lot of planning, and certain areas will receive more attention than others, says managed services expert Lauren Robinette.  Continue Reading

• Creating Wi-Fi policy: Elements to consider before implementation

  Wireless expert, Lisa Phifer offers advice regarding a Wi-Fi policy for a school preparing for implementation, including proper Wi-Fi security considerations and appropriate usage.  Continue Reading

• Overcoming wireless network interference in public venues

  In public venues, unplanned personal hotspots can cause wireless network interference. Wireless expert, Lisa Phifer explains how to overcome this and maintain Wi-Fi coverage.  Continue Reading

• How can I allow and restrict user access on my VPN client?

  Rainer Enders explains how to allow certain users to access a VPN client while restricting others.  Continue Reading

• Network application performance monitoring reveals visibility issues

  When conducting network application performance monitoring, network admins can face network application visibility issues due to increasingly complex and distributed networks.  Continue Reading

• How do remote access VPNs compare with other types of VPNs?

  In this Ask the Expert response, Rainer Enders explains what a remote access VPN is and how it differs from other virtual private networks.  Continue Reading

• Network-based application performance monitoring for better visibility

  Network-based application performance monitoring differs from old approaches by examining network traffic passing through the data center in real-time to spot and solve issues.  Continue Reading

• How can I make sure my VPN is encrypted and working properly?

  In this ask the expert response, Rainer Enders explains how you can tell whether your VPN connection is encrypted and working properly.  Continue Reading

• How do I disable VPN passthrough? What are the pros and cons to disabling it?

  In this Ask the Expert response, Rainer Enders explains how to disable VPN passthrough and what the benefits and drawbacks are.  Continue Reading

• Blade server switches may ease density problems in the network

  When trying to remove density in the network, using blade server switches may help solve the problem, as well as offer latency advantages. Expert Carrie Higbie weighs in.  Continue Reading

• Defining the importance of application performance management

  Increases in network complexity can cause network health to suffer, but network-based application performance management offers admins better visibility to improve performance.  Continue Reading

• Will 10GBASE-T switches eliminate copper cabling?

  Is the rise of 10GBASE-T switches the end of using a copper cabling system in the network? Data Infrastructure expert, Carrie Higbie provides an answer.  Continue Reading

• Why must businesses custom design their network security solutions?

  In this Ask the Expert response, Rainer Enders explains the importance of customized network security solutions.  Continue Reading

• Why am I able to ping but not do tracepath over my Layer 3 VPN?

  Our VPN expert explains why a Layer 3 VPN can ping but not do a tracepath from the client in this response.  Continue Reading

• Converged network infrastructure bids cost and communication benefits

  Expert Carrie Higbie explains the various network convergence benefits including communication between systems and less network equipment needed to run across the network.  Continue Reading

• Cisco switch configuration for a Cisco 3560 switch

  Get configuration guidelines for a Cisco 3560 switch in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Top-of-rack switches growth: Demise of copper structured cabling?

  A push for top-of-rack switches in the data center may bring questions about the demise of copper structured cabling to surface. Expert Carrie Higbie puts these concerns to rest.  Continue Reading

• Taking WPS attack precautions can reduce unauthorized WLAN access

  Admins should take WPS attack precautions to avoid unauthorized WLAN access, yet understanding the WPS protocol and its own vulnerabilities is key to complete network protection.  Continue Reading

• Using wireless network bandwidth monitoring to stay within data caps

  Wireless network bandwidth monitoring is important for users who must remain within data caps that are often broken by smartphone/tablets and cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Do Layer-3 MPLS VPNs need to have BGP-4 support?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders explains why BGP-4 support is necessary when configuring a router for a Layer-3 MPLS VPN.  Continue Reading

• Are ADSL VPNs a type of MPLS VPN?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders explains the key differences between ADSL VPNs and MPLS VPNs.  Continue Reading

• Is it possible to use a VPN to bypass my ISP bandwidth usage limit?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders explains why it is not always possible to use a VPN to bypass an ISP bandwidth usage limit.  Continue Reading