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• 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

• Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)

  Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is the part of the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) that supports service data flow detection, policy enforcement and flow-based charging. Continue Reading

• Mininet

  Mininet is a software emulator for prototyping a large network on a single machine.  Continue Reading

• Distributed Control Plane Architecture (DCPA)

  A Distributed Control Plane Architecture (DCPA) is a network architecture that makes it possible to allocate control protocol functions across multiple processor levels in the network system. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
  • Network layer
  • SD-WAN (software-defined WAN)
  • wireless mesh network (WMN)

  • 3G (third generation of mobile telephony)
  • WAN (wide area network)
  • firewall as a service (FWaaS)
  • CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)

  View All Definitions

• Floodlight

  Floodlight is a Java-based OpenFlow controller.Continue Reading

• ODIN (Open Data Center with an Interoperable Network)

  ODIN (Open Data Center with an Interoperable Network) is a reference architecture that describes best practices for creating a flat, converged, virtualized data center fabric based on open industry standards.  Continue Reading

• Path Computation Element (PCE)

  Path Computation Element (PCE) is a network component, application or node that can apply computational constraints and compute a network path or route based on a network graph. The PCE has access to topology information for the entire network and ...Continue Reading

• SDN application (software-defined networking application)

  An SDN application is a software program designed to perform a task in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. SDN applications can replace and expand upon functions that are implemented through firmware in hardware devices in a ...Continue Reading

• Network functions virtualization primer: Software devices take over

  With network functions virtualization (NFV), engineers replace network devices with software on basic servers for flexibility and cost reduction.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

• hybrid SDN

  A hybrid SDN (software-defined network) is a network where both traditional networking and SDN protocols operate in the same environment.Continue Reading

• OpenStack Neutron (formerly called Quantum)

  OpenStack Neutron is a cloud networking controller and a networking-as-a-service project within the OpenStack cloud computing initiative.Continue Reading

• Trema

  Trema is an open source framework for developing OpenFlow controllers for software-defined networking in the Ruby and C programming languages.Continue Reading

• Plexxi

  Plexxi is a Cambridge Massachusetts company that makes software-defined networking (SDN) software. The company was founded with venture-based funding in 2011. Plexxi's management team is composed of networking professionals.Continue Reading

• application-defined networking

  Application-defined networking (ADN) is a networking scenario in which applications have the ability to adapt network environments to meet their needs, rather than having resources allocated by the network.Continue Reading

• OpenFlow controller

  An OpenFlow controller is an application that manages flow control in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment.Continue Reading

• OpenFlow switch

  An OpenFlow switch is a software program or hardware device that forwards packets in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment.Continue Reading

• OpenFlow Consortium

  The OpenFlow Consortium was a collaborative group of university researchers and network administrators that developed the original specification for the OpenFlow protocol.Continue Reading

• network intelligence (NI)

  Network Intelligence (NI) is the capacity of a network to examine data packets continuously and in real time.Continue Reading

• FlowVisor

  FlowVisor is an experimental software-defined networking controller that enables network virtualization by slicing a physical network into multiple logical networks.Continue Reading

• campus network

  A campus network is a proprietary local area network (LAN) or set of interconnected LANs serving a corporation, government agency, university, or similar organization.Continue Reading

• Arista Extensible Operating System (Arista EOS)

  Extensible Operating System (EOS) is a scalable network operating system (OS) that offers high availability, streamlines maintenance processes, and enhances network security.Continue Reading

• POX

  POX is an open source development platform for Python-based software-defined networking (SDN) control applications, such as OpenFlow SDN controllers.Continue Reading

• NOX

  NOX is an open source development platform for C++-based software-defined networking (SDN) control applications.Continue Reading

• application-aware networking (app-ware networking)

  Application-aware networking is the capacity of an intelligent network to maintain current information about applications that connect to it and, as a result, optimize their functioning as well as that of other applications or systems that they ...Continue Reading

• SDN overlay (software defined networking overlay)

  An SDN overlay is a deployment method for network virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN) that involves running a logically separate network or network component on top of existing infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Nicira Inc.

  Nicira is a network virtualization and SDN (software-defined networking) company that Martin Casado, Nick McKeown and Scott Shenker founded in 2007.Continue Reading

• data plane (DP)

  The data plane (sometimes known as the user plane, forwarding plane, carrier plane or bearer plane) is the part of a network that carries user traffic.Continue Reading

• control plane (CP)

  The control plane is the part of a network that carries signaling traffic and is responsible for routing.Continue Reading

• Big Switch Networks Big Virtual Switch

  Big Virtual Switch is a data center network virtualization application that runs on Big Network Controller, the SDN controller for the Open Software-Defined Network (SDN).Continue Reading

• Big Switch Big Network Controller

  Big Network Controller is the SDN controller for the Open Software Defined Network (SDN), a product suite for network virtualization released in November of 2012 by Big Switch Networks.Continue Reading

• Big Switch Networks

  Big Switch Networks is a network virtualization and SDN (software-defined networking) company that was founded in 2010.Continue Reading

• Big Switch Networks Big Tap

  Big Tap is a network monitoring application that runs on Big Network Controller, the SDN controller for the Open Software-Defined Network (SDN).Continue Reading

• VXLAN gateway (Virtual Extensible VLAN gateway)

  A VXLAN gateway is a solution that allows a virtual extensible LAN (VXLAN) to communicate with another network, particularly a virtual LAN (VLAN).Continue Reading

• Green cloud computing quiz: Raise your energy efficiency grade

  Take our green cloud computing quiz to see if you are doing enough to conserve energy. Reducing energy use helps the earth and saves you money.Continue Reading

• A primer on northbound APIs: Their role in a software-defined network

  This primer explores the concept of SDN northbound APIs, their key benefits, who's using them and why.Continue Reading

• Floodlight primer: An OpenFlow controller

  In software-defined networks, engineers use Floodlight controllers to manage physical and virtual devices -- and each traffic flow running between them.Continue Reading

• Big data initiative essentials: Adopting analytics strategies

  This guide contains what you need to know for devising big data initiatives and analytics strategies.Continue Reading

• VPN UTM vendor comparison: Evaluating secure remote access features

  View this VPN UTM vendor comparison and understand how to manage your virtual private network infrastructure as part of a unified threat management solution.Continue Reading

• ‘Computer Networks' PDF: Free chapter download

  Download this computer networking PDF excerpt from "Computer Networks," a book that addresses the key principles of computer networks. In Chapter 1, Foundation, learn how local and wide area networks (WANs) are now built to connect more than ...Continue Reading

• Wide Area Application Services (WAAS)

  Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) is a Cisco Systems technology that improves the performance of applications on a wide area network (WAN). (Continued...)Continue Reading

• enterprise WAN

  An enterprise WAN is a corporate network that connects geographically dispersed users areas that could be anywhere in the world.Continue Reading

• MHz

  The megahertz, abbreviated MHz, is a unit of alternating current (AC) or electromagnetic (EM) wave frequency equal to one million hertz (1,000,000 Hz).Continue Reading

• The ultimate network monitoring software? A Splunk primer

  With machine data search capability plus monitoring and management tools, Splunk is the ultimate network monitoring software.Continue Reading

• OpenFlow protocol primer: Looking under the hood

  We know the OpenFlow protocol can be used to abstract the network control plane from underlying physical infrastructure, but how exactly does the protocol work?Continue Reading

• Microsoft Network Access Protection (NAP)

  Network access protection (NAP), introduced with Windows Server 2008, is Microsoft’s approach to controlling access to a network based on a determination of each device’s health.Continue Reading

• A DevOps primer for network engineers

  DevOps is a movement promoting better collaboration between developers and system administrators. In this primer, we explore how it might affect networking pros.Continue Reading

• Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)

  Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a simple protocol that encapsulates packets in order to route other protocols over IP networks, as defined by RFC 2784.Continue Reading

• darknet

  A darknet is a routed allocation of IP address space that is not discoverable by any usual means.Continue Reading

• dynamic multipoint VPN (DMVPN)

  A dynamic multipoint virtual private network (DMVPN) is a secure network that exchanges data between sites without needing to pass traffic through an organization's headquarter VPN server or router.Continue Reading

• context-aware network access control

  Context-aware network access control (CANAC) is an approach to managing the security of a proprietary network by granting access to network resources according to contextual-based security policies.Continue Reading

• Cisco Integrated Service Routers Generation 2 (ISR G2)

  ISR G2 is a second generation Integrated Services Router (ISR) from Cisco Systems, Inc.Continue Reading

• Wireless wide area networks: A primer on WWAN technology and uses

  A wireless wide area network (WWAN) has several possibilities for uses and comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Learn about the WWAN in this primer.Continue Reading

• Hotspot 2.0 primer: Another step toward Wi-Fi/cellular integration

  Hotspot 2.0 and the IEEE 802.11u protocol could allow mobile device users to securely roam between Wi-Fi and cellular networks without stopping to authenticate.Continue Reading

• NVGRE standard primer: More VLANs and isolated tenants in the cloud

  Microsoft's NVGRE standard offers competition to VMware's VXLAN standard, promising to create more VLANs that stretch across Layers 2 and 3 for multi-tenant cloud networks.Continue Reading

• Storage virtualization benefits and challenges: A primer

  Storage virtualization benefits abound, but along with the ability to implement dynamic storage provisioning for the cloud come some complications…including latency.Continue Reading

• VXLAN standard primer: Extended VLANs, long-distance VM migration

  The VXLAN standard aims to solve the long-distance VM migration dilemma by enabling extended VLANs across geographically dispersed data centers for a multi-tenant cloud network.Continue Reading

• vSphere vSwitch primer: Design considerations

  It takes the right kind of vSphere vSwitch design to implement segmentation for traffic manageability, security, redundancy and failover in a virtual environment.Continue Reading

• link-load balancer (link balancer)

  A link load balancer, also called a link balancer, is a network appliance that distributes in-bound and out-bound traffic to and from multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) links.Continue Reading

• shortest path bridging

  Shortest path bridging, or 802.1aq, is the IEEE’s specification for enabling multi-pathing in the data center. Shortest path bridging is similar conceptually to its IETF counterpart, Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL).Continue Reading

• Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL)

  Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) is the Internet Engineering Task Force’s specification for enabling multi-pathing in the data center. The protocol is intended to replace the spanning tree protocol.Continue Reading

• mean opinion score (MOS)

  In voice communications, particularly Internet telephony, the mean opinion score (MOS) provides a numerical measure of the quality of human speech at the destination end of the circuit.Continue Reading

• Virtual branch office in a box (vBOB) devices may replace hardware

  As you introduce your enterprise WAN to virtualization, a virtual branch office in a box (vBOB) may take shape in remote offices. Learn in this tip how BOBs are being reinvented.Continue Reading

• OSGi (Open Service Gateway Initiative)

  OSGi (Open Service Gateway Initiative) is Java framework for developing and deploying modular software programs and libraries.Continue Reading

• loose coupling

  Loose coupling is a method of interconnecting the components in a system or network so that those components, also called elements, depend on each other to the least extent practicable... (Continued)Continue Reading

• Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

  Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is a flat architecture that provides a converged voice and data networking framework to connect users on a Long-Term Evolutio (LTE) network.Continue Reading

• Layer 3 VPN architectures

  This guide serves as an introduction to Layer 3 VPN architectures. As you consider different virtual private network types for your enterprise WAN, such as MPLS, IPsec, SSL and remote, be mindful of the traffic you want to transmit (data, voice, etc...Continue Reading

• patch antenna

  A patch antenna is a wafer-like directional antenna suitable for covering single-floor small offices, small stores and other indoor locations where access points cannot be placed centrally.Continue Reading

• AARP (AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol)

  AARP (AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol) is a way to map between the physical hardware addresses of computers, such as those known to an Ethernet or token ring local area network, and their temporarily assigned AppleTalk network addresses.Continue Reading

• AAUI (Apple attachment unit interface)

  An AAUI (Apple attachment unit interface) is the 14- or 15-pin port or connection interface on earlier models of Macintosh computers that allowed it to be connected by a short interface cable (or "transceiver") to an Ethernet cable.Continue Reading

• average bouncing busy hour (ABBH)

  In designing and assessing telephone networks, one approach is to measure the average bouncing busy hour (ABBH) traffic in various network trunks or trunk groups of the network.Continue Reading

• modem lights (AA)

  This page provides a description of the abbreviations and meanings of each of the lights that describe the "handshaking" between a computer modem and the UART chip in a computer.Continue Reading

• Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS)

  Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) is a broadcasting and communications service that operates in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) portion of the radio spectrum between 2.1 and 2.7 GHz.Continue Reading

• plain old telephone service (POTS)

  POTS is a term sometimes used in discussion of new telephone technologies in which the question of whether and how existing voice transmission for ordinary phone communication can be accommodated.Continue Reading

• software-defined radio (SDR)

  Software-defined radio (SDR), sometimes shortened to software radio (SR), refers to wireless communication in which the transmitter modulation is generated or defined by a computer, and the receiver uses a computer to recover the signal intelligence.Continue Reading

• WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

  WiMAX is a wireless industry coalition whose members organized to advance IEEE 802.16 standards for broadband wireless access (BWA) networks...(Continued)Continue Reading

• Classes of MPLS services: Find the best MPLS/VPN service for your WAN

  Despite the many names given to MPLS/VPNs by marketers, there are only three classes of MPLS-based VPN services with very distinct characteristics. If you’re able to map their service descriptions into one of these classes, you’ll immediately ...Continue Reading

• fiber to the x (FTTx)

  Fiber to the x (FTTx) is a collective term for various optical fiber delivery topologies that are categorized according to where the fiber terminatesContinue Reading

• 802.11s

  802.11s is a proposed amendment to the 802.11 wireless networking standards that will provide a vendor-neutral way to build wireless mesh networks over wireless LAN (WLAN) products.Continue Reading

• I/O Virtualization and Converged I/O: Understanding the basics

  I/O virtualization and converged I/O are crucial to enabling converged data center networks and avoiding the bottlenecking that arises in virtualized environments. In this primer, learn about I/O virtualization appliances and software, as well as ...Continue Reading

• Virtualization networking guide: Managing virtualization

  Networking professionals must understand how server virtualization affects the network. This virtualization networking guide examines capacity planning for virtual server networking, managing virtual networks through distributed virtual switching, ...Continue Reading

• MPLS VPN basics

  In this review of MPLS VPN basics, discover the differences between MPLS VPN and traditional virtual private networks, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this newer service provider offering.Continue Reading

• What's the value of ITIL foundation certification?

  The ITIL foundation certification sets the baseline for understanding the move to an IT service management model. Whether it is required by your organization, for personal resume enhancement, or even to move into another type of IT role, an ITIL ...Continue Reading

• Primer: Multi-tenant network for the private cloud

  The push for private cloud computing networks is creating new security and management challenges for network managers. The first step is to build a multi-tenant network to isolate applications and data; next come application-aware networks.Continue Reading

• throttled data transfer

  Throttled data transfer, also known as data transfer throttling or lean data transfer, is the deliberate regulation of the data transfer rate in a communications system... (Continued)Continue Reading

• WAN bandwidth optimization tools and techniques

  WAN bandwidth optimization tools and techniques are explained in this primer on getting the most out of your business wide area network links. This introduction to WAN technologies discusses methods and products that accelerate traffic so that your ...Continue Reading

• Wide Area Ethernet (WAE)

  Wide Area Ethernet (WAE) or Ethernet WAN (also sometimes referred to as fiber or LAN extension service ) is a network carrier service that delivers high-speed wide area network (WAN) connectivity, utilizing Ethernet as the connection method. ...Continue Reading

• CCNA quiz: Test your skills from routing configuration to VLANs

  In this CCNA quiz, you can test yourself on a number of skills found in the CCNA certification study guide, ranging from Cisco IOS router configuration to setting up VLANs with Cisco switches and monitoring spanning tree protocol operation.Continue Reading

• Wireshark filter tutorial: A Wireshark guide from Laura Chappell

  This Wireshark guide from Laura Chappell examines the open source network monitoring tool and its many uses. Use this Wireshark filter tutorial to find out what the network analyzer can do for your network.Continue Reading

• Smart grid tutorial: What IT managers should know

  This smart grid tutorial explains what enterprise IT managers should know about the technology and how it will be applied to your business's wide area network (WAN).Continue Reading

• 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE)

  100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) is a standard in development that will enable the transfer of Ethernet frames at 100 gigabits per second (gp/s). The 100GbE standard is for core switching. A 40GbE standard, in development simultaneously, is designed ...Continue Reading

• Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)

  The Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is an Internet protocol that provides a way for an Internet computer to report its multicast group membership to adjacent routers.Continue Reading

• How do I...choose a VPN for my small business?

  A virtual private network (VPN)is a way to use a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet,to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organization's network.Continue Reading

• device relationship management (DRM)

  Device relationship management (DRM) is enterprise software that enables the monitoring, managing, and servicing of intelligent devices over the Internet.Continue Reading

• Web SSL VPN introduction

  This Web SSL VPN introduction answers the question "What is a Web SSL VPN?" and explains SSL VPN advantages in remote access environments. Understand how they evolved from their lesser IPsec VPN counterparts, how they protect against hackers, how ...Continue Reading

• wireless WAN (Wireless Wide Area Network)

  A wireless WAN is a wide area network in which separate areas of coverage or cells are connected wirelessly to provide service to a large geographic area.Continue Reading

• What is a sensor network?

  This technology overview answers the question "What is a sensor network?" It defines the term and explains why network managers need to know about it in the enterprise space, especially IT professionals dealing with wide areaContinue Reading

• Using LAN edge switch security features for network defense-in-depth

  Enterprises are turning their focus to the largely unused LAN edge switch security features that can enable the use of ACLs and VLANs for port management and traffic monitoring. LAN edge switches also support network access authentication and can be...Continue Reading

• Types of cloud computing services WAN managers should consider

  WAN managers can benefit greatly from understanding the different types of cloud computing services available to them. Understand how SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, security, network, systems, and project planning services can be used to benefit your enterprise ...Continue Reading