Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Understanding your wireless LAN controllers

  WLAN is often described with three planes: data, control and management. The role of the control plane, and the wireless LAN controllers, is the most difficult of these to understand. Continue Reading

• Merlin Project conjuring up a new network management tool

  The Merlin Project, part of the Frenetic Project, hopes to help IT managers oversee complex networks with a new network management tool. Continue Reading

• WLAN 2016 technology trends

  As we look ahead in the new year, wireless LAN 2016 technology trends include 802.11ac Wave 2, analytics, 2.5/5/10 Gbps, LTE conflicts and the Internet of Things. Continue Reading

• Is it time for enterprises to use SDN in the data center?

  Software-defined networking (SDN) gained early traction in companies like cloud providers with the resources to launch it and a need for its benefits. Quick to use SDN to make networks programmable, scalable and more flexible, they were up for ... Continue Reading

• How does Open Network Operating System's 'Emu' update CORD?

  ONOS' latest release, called "Emu," includes updates to the Central Office Re-architected as Datacenter. Analyst Dan Conde explains what they entail. Continue Reading

• Container networking: SDN systems designed for developers

  New SDN projects like Flannel and Weave Net are developer-friendly and Docker-compatible. Analyst Dan Conde explains why you might want to consider the new kids on the SDN block.Continue Reading

• EMC-Dell merger good for open SDN?

  The EMC-Dell merger has plenty of people wondering what will become of VMware NSX. But could the deal, counterintuitively, actually be good for open SDN?Continue Reading

• How to work successfully with WLAN controllers

  Today, WLAN controllers are among the most important systems for modern users, but they do present challenges. Watch this webcast and learn how to overcome them.Continue Reading

• My MPLS service contract expires soon -- should I renew?

  The rise of SD-WAN has many asking: Do we really need MPLS connectivity? Expert John Burke explains what factors to consider before renewing your existing contract.Continue Reading

• 2016 telecom trends: As NFV goes, so goes carrier cloud

  In 2016, evolving trends in telecom will reveal whether the cloud, NFV and SDN can be effective business-level options for operators that need operations and management automation.Continue Reading

• What does 'open network' really mean today?

  One of the Open Networking User Group's most important conclusions of 2015: "Open networking" now means user choice, not a particular protocol or open source project.Continue Reading

• Has the time for wireless enterprise networks arrived?

  Is it time for Wi-Fi to become the primary access method for enterprise users?Continue Reading

• Should a Wi-Fi Internet service become your primary access?

  The notion of access from anywhere and the advent of higher-speed Wi-Fi service standards have fueled the development of wireless networking. Increasingly, employees are working from everywhere and often use Wi-Fi Internet even when in the corporate...Continue Reading

• Network security basics: A Buyer's Guide

  Getting network security basics right is critical. This SearchNetworking Buyer's Guide helps you purchase the best products for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• Harnessing wireless controllers to reduce costs

  Wireless controllers can help meet a rising demand for WLAN services in the era of post-recession budgets.Continue Reading

• NIA awards: A look back at innovative technology products

  As 2015 draws to a close, we look at the innovative technology products that garnered a SearchNetworking Network Innovation Award.Continue Reading

• Cisco Identity Services Engine: Security product overview

  The Cisco Identity Services Engine network access control system can be deployed as an appliance or virtual machine in a private cloud and offers compatibility for BYOD devices.Continue Reading

• ForeScout NAC: Network security product overview

  ForeScout NAC products can be deployed as hardware appliances or virtual machines. Designed for both small and large enterprises, they can support up to 10,000 end devices.Continue Reading

• Bradford NAC: Network security product overview

  Bradford Network Sentry products can be deployed as on-premises hardware appliances, virtual machines or cloud-based services, and they support connection of BYOD devices.Continue Reading

• Opportunity for SDN deployments in developing IT economies

  The relatively young IT systems found in developing economies could prove the perfect stage for SDN growth, with major opportunities for forward-thinking network engineers.Continue Reading

• IO Visor challenges Open vSwitch

  An alternative to Open vSwitch aims to execute software upgrades without disrupting network services. Expert Keith Townsend explains how the technology works.Continue Reading

• Zscaler gateway product overview

  Equipped with advanced security features such as cloud intelligence, botnet detection, sandboxing and more, the Zscaler Web gateway is deployed solely through the cloud.Continue Reading

• Cisco ASA firewall: Network security product overview

  Cisco ASA firewall products are Cisco's offering in the growing NGFW market. With FirePower intrusion prevention, they support deployments in small, medium and large businesses.Continue Reading

• How to meet the challenges of NFV orchestration

  Orchestration challenges are slowing NFV adoption, with a number of factors hindering deployments. Expert Lee Doyle explains and offers advice for service providers.Continue Reading

• Palo Alto firewall: Network security product overview

  Equipped with mobile security and endpoint protection solutions, Palo Alto firewall products are suitable for a range of deployments, including large and small enterprises.Continue Reading

• Next-gen firewalls: Check Point NGFW product overview

  The Check Point NGFW comes with firewall throughput of up to 70 Gbps and support for up to 3 million connections per second. It can be deployed in SMBs and large enterprises.Continue Reading

• Advent of IoT cloud services to fuel embrace of HTTP

  The evolution of IoT means the birth of IoT cloud services, and that means IT administrators will have to view their networks in new ways.Continue Reading

• Blue Coat ProxySG: Secure Web gateway overview

  With features like authentication and Web filtering, the Blue Coat ProxySG secure Web gateway can be deployed as a physical appliance, a virtual machine or a cloud-based service.Continue Reading

• Websense Triton: Secure Web gateway overview

  Available as an appliance, a VM and a cloud service, the Websense Triton Web gateway offers a number of features, including integration with other Websense security products.Continue Reading

• Searching for the right WAN connection type

  WAN connection types have evolved from T-1s and ISDN links to dynamic pipes capable of supporting bandwidth-intensive applications. What's next?Continue Reading

• Open Networking User Group debate: The pro-hardware transcript

  Check out the pro-hardware side of the Open Networking User Group debate at its Fall 2015 conference where hardware squared off against software.Continue Reading

• ONUG 'Great Debate': The pro-software transcript

  Check out the pro-software side of ONUG's debate at its Fall 2015 conference in a hardware versus software faceoff.Continue Reading

• Triton AP: Websense sandbox product overview

  Websense sandbox products come as physical appliances, software virtual machines, and cloud services. They also integrate with Websense's Web gateways and email security tools.Continue Reading

• Palo Alto WildFire: Malware sandbox product overview

  Tightly integrated with existing Palo Alto next-generation firewalls, the Palo Alto WildFire cloud-based malware sandbox service supports both public and private cloud deployments.Continue Reading

• FireEye AX series: Sandbox product overview

  The FireEye AX series sandbox products are capable of up to 16,000 analyses per day, are available for multiple OSes and come with 24/7 support for mission-critical deployments.Continue Reading

• Filtering IPv6 extension headers is sometimes necessary

  IPv6 extension headers cause public Internet servers to drop packets, but such filtering is sometimes necessary for security purposes.Continue Reading

• Network engineer qualifications trump coding hype

  Is the network engineer job as we know it at a crossroads as the need for developers accelerates? Not a chance. Network engineer qualifications embrace coding -- and have for a long time.Continue Reading

• Why SDN is gaining traction in the enterprise

  Software-defined networking isn't just for carriers, cloud providers and hyper-scale Web companies. Instead of asking "Why SDN?", some mainstream enterprises are asking "Why not?"Continue Reading

• What are the WLAN benefits of 802.11ac vs. 802.11n?

  In analyzing wireless 802.11ac versus 802.11n, our expert says the advantages of 802.11ac are many, but the engineering has to be spot on.Continue Reading

• New WAN tools, techniques and methods you need to know

  Today's WAN is a new sort of wide area network, and is quickly evolving. Learn why and in what ways -- and how -- networking pros should respond.Continue Reading

• Google's Ubernetes assists with software container management

  Ubernetes -- part of Google's evolving container management project -- uses network virtualization to unite container clusters across virtual and physical locations.Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi Aware and its impact on the enterprise

  Wi-Fi Aware offers application-driven, personalized, proximity-based services that detect local capabilities. What does the new face of Wi-Fi innovation look like?Continue Reading

• AT&T's NetBond offers secure transit via network cloud

  AT&T's NetBond service, geared toward providing secure data transfer through multiple cloud providers, offers some compelling benefits.Continue Reading

• SDN orchestration with Anuta Networks' NCX platform

  Anuta Networks' NCX allows for orchestration in a multivendor environment. Expert Keith Townsend says that makes it one of the more interesting SDN products on the market.Continue Reading

• SDN and OpenFlow improve broadband deployment

  Broadband deployment is time-consuming and complicated, but SDN and OpenFlow could change that. Networking expert Nick Buraglio explains.Continue Reading

• Is 25 Gigabit Ethernet the cure for data center oversubscription?

  With reduced hardware costs and more flexible lanes in the physical architecture, 25 Gigabit Ethernet may offer answers in oversubscribed data centers.Continue Reading

• Is it time to 'software define' your wide area network?

  Software-defined WAN aims to make WANs simpler and less expensive to design, build and operate. But is it right for your network? This technical guide defines SD-WAN, explains its pros and cons, and helps networking professionals decide if it's ...Continue Reading

• DLP tools essential to sensitive data protection strategy

  Data loss prevention tools that guard sensitive data are a security administrator's friend. But what exactly do they do?Continue Reading

• SDN monitoring can help meet new network visibility demands

  To keep pace with the demands of next-generation networks, management systems must be scalable, dynamic and intelligent. Expert Lee Doyle says SDN monitoring tools can help.Continue Reading

• Do wide area networks need to get software-defined?

  Should you upgrade your wide area network to SD-WAN? Learn what factors you should consider before making the leap.Continue Reading

• Wireless LAN technology: A buyer's guide

  This SearchNetworking buyer's guide explores wireless LAN technology to help you buy the right wireless LAN equipment for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• Switch software plays bigger role in data center networks

  Hardware still matters, but it isn't just about speeds and feeds anymore. Switch software is an increasingly important factor in data center networks.Continue Reading

• What role does the end-to-end principle play in SDN?

  The end-to-end principle was a core tenet of the early Internet, but where does it fit in the software-defined network? Analyst John Burke explains.Continue Reading

• Why you shouldn't overlook Microsoft SDN

  Microsoft SDN may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of software-defined networking, but don't write it off quite yet.Continue Reading

• Can the NETCONF protocol give OpenFlow a run for its money?

  OpenFlow is no longer the undisputed king of the SDN castle, with alternative standards like the NETCONF protocol challenging its hegemony.Continue Reading

• VMware's NSX use cases are missing in action

  Ask network admins why they think NSX use cases are few and far between and this is what you'll find.Continue Reading

• The role of ARM in NFV platform development

  Semiconductor manufacturer ARM wants to be one of the top two sources for NFV platform silicon. Networking analyst Lee Doyle says the company and its partners will likely succeed.Continue Reading

• Ruckus SmartZone wireless access points: Product overview

  Ruckus SmartZone wireless access points and controllers are designed for a wide range of environments, including indoor and outdoor AP deployments.Continue Reading

• Meraki wireless access points: Product overview

  Meraki wireless access points support management from the cloud and are suitable for indoor and outdoor deployments, including environments with physical obstructions.Continue Reading

• Aruba wireless access points: Product overview

  Aruba wireless access points consist of three product lines designed for small, midsize and large businesses.Continue Reading

• Aruba wireless controller: Product overview

  The Aruba wireless controller product line is designed for small, midsize and large enterprise deployments.Continue Reading

• Cisco Aironet wireless access point: Product overview

  Cisco wireless access points target a wide range of deployments, including small and midsized businesses, large enterprises, and warehouse or manufacturing environments.Continue Reading

• Cisco wireless controllers: Product overview

  Cisco wireless LAN controllers are designed for a wide range of environments, including small and midsize businesses and large enterprises.Continue Reading

• Aerohive HiveManager: Access point product overview

  To support cloud-controlled wireless LAN architectures, Aerohive access points can be managed both from the cloud and from an on-location controller.Continue Reading

• IPv6 filtering threatens impact of new protocol

  IPv6 extension headers give the protocol additional versatility, but widespread IPv6 filtering is threating the new protocol's ability to survive in the public Internet.Continue Reading

• Virtual routers find evolving carrier network uses

  Virtual routers work well in some parts of carrier networks, but not everywhere. Now, mobile, cloud and SDN offer evolving uses for virtual routing.Continue Reading

• Which SDN protocol should I use?

  At the dawn of software-defined networking, there was one SDN protocol: OpenFlow. Today, users can select from a growing number of options.Continue Reading

• How to make yours a cloud-ready network

  Network managers today must get ready, fast, for the cloud. This technical guide reviews what networking professionals must consider in their move to the cloud: security, availability, software-defined networking and more. Networking pros must get ...Continue Reading

• Using quality of experience to boost mobile user experience

  Quality of experience is a handy way to measure mobile users' experience with application performance. But understanding all of the components that comprise QoE is another task entirely.Continue Reading

• How to find the best network management tools today

  Finding the best network management tools today can be a challenge. Here's guidance on how to proceed.Continue Reading

• Is a hybrid WAN architecture right for you?

  Hybrid WANs have a lot of benefits, but make sure you understand how they can work in your organization.Continue Reading

• Do managed software-defined WAN services make sense?

  By offering managed software-defined WAN services -- and potentially hastening MPLS' demise -- are providers sabotaging themselves? Our expert says no.Continue Reading

• How will software-defined WANs impact the enterprise?

  SD-WAN has a lot of potential for enterprises, especially as developers cobble together custom services and capabilities.Continue Reading

• Choose your own network operating systems? IT pros weigh bare metal

  Enterprise networking pros tend to favor uptime over innovation. Many see bare-metal switches with third-party network operating systems as risky. Can they be swayed?Continue Reading

• Cisco CCNA quiz: Take Part 2 of the advanced practice exam

  In this CCNA quiz, we present you with 10 questions on a variety of advanced CCNA topics, including IPv6, OSPF, router security, NAT, GLBP and more. Make sure you answer all 10 questions and assess your readiness to take the CCNA exam.Continue Reading

• Container networking: How does Docker relate to SDN?

  Networking expert John Burke tackles container networking in this edition of Ask the Expert, explaining how a Docker container relates to SDN.Continue Reading

• What's the status of SDN deployments in the enterprise?

  When it comes to widespread SDN deployments in the enterprise, are we there yet? Networking expert Lee Doyle says not quite… but we're on the way.Continue Reading

• The case against SDN implementation

  Networking expert and SDN enthusiast Patrick Hubbard plays devil's advocate, arguing against SDN implementation and exploring why it may be a bad idea.Continue Reading

• Data center-class switches: A buyer's guide

  This SearchNetworking buyer's guide explores the evolution and need for data center-class switches, and lays out how to procure and buy the right products for your organization.Continue Reading

• SDN monitoring means new transitions for engineers

  SDN network management means tools are transforming from listening mode to active mode.Continue Reading

• Do software containers spell trouble for SDN?

  In the brave new world of software containers, you might not notice SDN, but that doesn't mean it isn't there.Continue Reading

• SDN business case: How software-defined WANs save money

  Build a strong SDN business case in the wide area network, with potential for significant return on investment in both savings and performance.Continue Reading

• How can SDN and NFV change the telecom central office?

  SDN engineer Darien Hirotsu discusses the benefits of the Central Office Re-architected as Datacenter concept for the telecom central office.Continue Reading

• Big data impact on network operations probed in study

  Big data is big news, but it's also influencing networking pros' capacity planning, according to an Enterprise Management Associates study.Continue Reading

• When will software-driven networks become the new normal?

  SDN engineer Darien Hirotsu explains what it will take for SDN to become the industry standard, with software-driven networks outnumbering their traditional counterparts.Continue Reading

• ALU, HP and Juniper virtual router review

  How do virtual routers from Alcatel-Lucent, HP and Juniper stack up? See where they might fit in your organization.Continue Reading

• The tools that network cloud managers need now

  If the trend continues, enterprises could have more than half of their applications in the cloud by 2020. Increased cloud adoption introduces the issue of how to manage the network for high-quality performance across a variety of access links. This ...Continue Reading

• SDN and Openflow: Is the protocol dead?

  SDN and OpenFlow were once practically synonymous, but today the protocol is conspicuously absent. Its evolution offers an important lesson for networking pros.Continue Reading

• The improbable rise of Cisco UCS servers

  Small and medium-sized businesses appear to love Cisco UCS, said Patrick Hubbard. So does this mean convergence is finally succeeding?Continue Reading

• SN blogs: Cybersecurity vendors the new Pets.com?

  Analysts say the addition of Cisco and Accenture will help efforts to standardize IoT wireless efforts, but hurdles remain.Continue Reading

• Masergy's NFV platform: An app store for virtual network functions

  Masergy's new NFV platform acts like an app store for virtual network functions. One possible hurdle: Convincing enterprises the software is secure.Continue Reading

• Successful NFV platforms hinge on middleware selection

  When selecting NFV platforms, communication service providers should look for highly reliable middleware that allows them to adapt their networks over time.Continue Reading

• What is the relationship between east-west traffic and SDN?

  SDN engineer Darien Hirotsu explains how SDN can help solve the challenges presented by east-west traffic flow in the data center.Continue Reading

• SN blogs: Ensuring access point security remains puzzle

  Industry analysts discuss steps to protect WLANs against honeypot APs and how Juniper's alliance with Ruckus could shake up the market.Continue Reading

• SDN blogs: Arista SDN cloud release could work

  This week, analysts discuss Arista's new SDN controller for cloud networks as well as SD-WAN's effectiveness in computing best path.Continue Reading

• Juniper introduces peering router for content providers

  Juniper Networks has introduced a compact peering router aimed at service providers looking to speed up content delivery.Continue Reading

• ICYMI: Dynatrace APM tools bolstered with Keynote combo

  Dynatrace expands while Extreme adds role-based policy management to its Summit line of enterprise and data center switches.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between hybrid, virtual and SD-WAN?

  An expert explains the differences between hybrid, virtual and software-defined WANs and tells how they are each related.Continue Reading

• Cisco, Brocade virtual router review

  Virtual routers can be measured by platforms, features and price. Kevin Tolly reviews VRs from Brocade and Cisco.Continue Reading

• SN blogs: New Cisco CEO Robbins' strategy praised, panned

  An analyst says incoming Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins' move to prioritize strategies will help the vendor. But there are areas that still need attention.Continue Reading