News, Analysis and Opinion for Networking - Page 25

April 06, 2011 06 Apr'11

Mobile WAN optimization arrives for enterprise Android tablets

Despite the scarcity of mobile WAN optimization clients for tablets and smartphones, WAN managers must still ensure reliable, high-performance connectivity for users.

April 05, 2011 05 Apr'11

Alcatel-Lucent debuts monster data center switch fabric architecture

Alcatel-Lucent debuted a data center switch fabric that rivals leading vendors for scale, density and ultra-low server-to-server latency.

March 31, 2011 31 Mar'11

ASA firewall services module for Catalyst 6500

For networking pros who want to segment and secure internal traffic, the Firewall Services Module (FWSM) for the Catalyst 6500 chassis has been a workhorse. But given that it's based on Cisco's old ...

March 31, 2011 31 Mar'11

Service providers must optimize IPv6 performance for service parity

There isn't anything inherent to IPv6 that makes its transport slower than IPv4. But the reality of IPv6 performance for service providers is more complicated than that.

March 31, 2011 31 Mar'11

Multihop FCoE highlights Cisco's data center network product blitz

Multihop FCoE highlighted a laundry list of new Cisco data center network products, inching the market closer to data center network convergence from the edge to the core.

March 30, 2011 30 Mar'11

AT&T plan to merge networks with T-Mobile faces few technical hurdles

If an AT&T/T-Mobile merger is approved by the FCC, the path to merge networks should face few technical challenges, thanks to a common technology heritage between the two carriers.

March 24, 2011 24 Mar'11

Aruba's unified network architecture addresses consumerization of IT

Aruba's new unified network management architecture aims to solve the consumerization of IT conundrum. With employee-owned mobile devices flooding the network, Aruba is advocating unified, policy-based, identity-aware network access control across ...

March 17, 2011 17 Mar'11

ISP simplifies acquisition consolidation with network discovery tool

A wholesale ISP that has grown by acquisition has deployed a network discovery tool to simplify network mapping for its hodgepodge of inherited network devices.

March 16, 2011 16 Mar'11

Cloud-based networking hardware: Coming to a wiring closet near you?

Cloud-based networking hardware has gained traction in the wireless LAN market, but now vendors are developing wired network devices that are cloud-managed, too. Will cloud-based network infrastructure fill up your wiring closets?

March 16, 2011 16 Mar'11

Look beyond WAN application delivery to improve user experience

WAN managers must improve user experience by spending as much time listening to end users as they do optimizing WAN application delivery, according to recent research.

March 09, 2011 09 Mar'11

Why you shouldn't care that Cisco is more expensive than competitors

Asked multiple times at the Cisco Partner Summit last week what the channel and users should do about the fact that Cisco switches are more expensive than the competition, Cisco execs basically ...

March 09, 2011 09 Mar'11

Riverbed cloud performance Q&A: Demand more visibility, better SLAs

Riverbed's cloud guru Steve Riley tells SearchEnterpriseWAN.com about what to expect and demand from cloud providers in terms of cloud performance, visibility and SLAs.

March 02, 2011 02 Mar'11

Using network management tools to catch mistakes of non-engineers

Sometimes the biggest network disasters are caused by non-engineers doing things they shouldn't. Network management tools, including network monitoring, configuration management and network discovery software can help you clean up someone else's ...

February 24, 2011 24 Feb'11

New mission for metro networks adds IP to Ethernet connections

Operators caching content close to users and handling more mobile broadband traffic are finding that the mission of metro networks is changing enough to benefit from increased IP connections in addition to traditional Ethernet connections in ...

February 24, 2011 24 Feb'11

Juniper's Project Stratus reinvents data center network architecture

Juniper Networks lifted the veil off its new data center network architecture. Project Stratus is now QFabric, a giant, abstracted data center switch that connects all storage and compute elements in a data center.

February 23, 2011 23 Feb'11

Can 4G wireless WAN links serve as more than a backup?

WAN managers have used 3G as a backup. But bandwidth gains and new IT services associated with 4G wireless WAN links have inspired optimism over its potential as a primary circuit.

February 23, 2011 23 Feb'11

MetroPCS deploys new subscriber Web portal to raise mobile ARPU

As MetroPCS launched its LTE network last year, it revamped its legacy mobile Web portal with artificial intelligence to improve subscriber loyalty and boost mobile ARPU.

February 22, 2011 22 Feb'11

Virtualization security: Juniper integrates Altor acquisition into SRX platform

In data centers virtualization has created a bit of a network security black hole for engineers. Firewalls have no problem applying and enforcing security policies to server-to-server traffic in a ...

February 16, 2011 16 Feb'11

New Cisco network security architecture has next-generation firewall

With its new network security architecture, SecureX, Cisco tries to transcend next-generation firewall hype by focusing on more than application awareness. It's all about the context of who, what, where, when and how network connections are ...

February 16, 2011 16 Feb'11

Cloud networking services boost public cloud performance sans hardware

Cloud networking vendors are developing hardware-free services that use their global points of presence to improve public cloud performance.

February 16, 2011 16 Feb'11

Small cells, partnerships fuel mobile location-based services market

Small cells pinpoint subscribers' locations more precisely than macrocells, enabling more sophisticated mobile location-based services that generate revenue through partnerships.

February 10, 2011 10 Feb'11

Long distance vMotion = traffic trombone, so why go there?

Server admins swear by long-distance vMotion and the ability to move applications dynamically across data centers, but this only results in traffic trombones and lots of other network nightmares. Fast Packet blogger Ivan Pepelnjak explains why.

February 09, 2011 09 Feb'11

Cisco, Extreme join OpenStack to address cloud network technology gap

Cloud networking has taken a back seat to compute and storage in the cloud computing industry, but vendors like Cisco and Extreme know that cloud network standards are essential to successful enterprise deployment of public and private clouds.

February 09, 2011 09 Feb'11

Developing a wide area network disaster recovery plan for civil unrest

Egypt's recent Internet shutdown highlights the need for some WAN managers to develop a wide area network disaster recovery plan for branches in areas at risk of civil unrest.

February 07, 2011 07 Feb'11

Extreme offers software workaround for spanning tree bandwidth trouble

As the IETF and the IEEE finish baking their similar, but competing standards - Transparent Interconnects of Lots of Links (TRILL) and Shortest Path Bridging (NPB) - Extreme Networks is offering a ...

February 04, 2011 04 Feb'11

Using hardware load balancers for Web-based apps: One school’s story

When a large school system launched a Web-facing student information server, its IT organization deployed its first hardware load balancers within its data center network.

February 03, 2011 03 Feb'11

DDoS remains top telecom security threat, firewalls and IPS targeted

In addition to escalating DDoS attacks, hackers have turned some of the very devices designed for telecom security into attack vectors, according to a recent survey.

February 03, 2011 03 Feb'11

Cisco Live London: Uncle John promises to fix Cisco security strategy

Fast Packet blogger Greg Ferro reports from Cisco Live London where (after a marketing exec was stripped down by orphans!) Uncle John promised a stronger focus on Cisco security strategies as well as network automation and management. Strangely, ...

February 01, 2011 01 Feb'11

Time to unplug MPLS? IT pros consider broadband for WAN connectivity

Looking to cut WAN costs associated with expensive private circuits, enterprises are considering standard broadband as a primary means of WAN connectivity for select branches.

January 28, 2011 28 Jan'11

TRILL versus Shortest Path Bridging: Hard feelings?

Is TRILL a "terrible idea?" Does Shortest Path Bridging rule? I have no clue. TRILL (Transparent Interonnection of Lots of Links) and 802.1aq (AKA Shortest Path Bridging or SPB) are very similar ...

January 27, 2011 27 Jan'11

Switching fabric may be the answer to converging storage and data networks

In trying to figure out which vendor to choose when it comes to converging data center and storage networks, network managers might just find the answer lies in the provider that lets you to use ...

January 27, 2011 27 Jan'11

Next-gen telecom testing tools evolve for NGN services, IMS networks

NGN services will require next-generation telecom testing tools that are flexible, customizable and focus on applications rather than the bits underneath them.

January 27, 2011 27 Jan'11

Wireless IPS must detect non-Wi-Fi wireless LAN security threats

Wireless IPS has traditionally policed Wi-Fi frequencies for wireless LAN security threats, such as rogue and misconfigured access points, but many enterprises need these products to look beyond Wi-Fi into interfering activity from cellular networks...

January 26, 2011 26 Jan'11

WAN optimization vendors improve WAN video delivery with eCDN features

Networking pros struggling to improve WAN video delivery can reap the benefits of enterprise CDNs with equipment they may already have: WAN optimization controllers.

January 26, 2011 26 Jan'11

10 GbE optimization: Hardware alone won’t help

Before you throw more hardware at preventing latency, try improving 10 Gigabit Ethernet performance by fine tuning what you already have. Fast Packet blogger Michael J. Martin explains how.

January 17, 2011 17 Jan'11

Firewall management software simplifies firewall rules

Firewall management software allowed an information security executive to clean up firewall rules within his organization and impose firewall change management policy.

January 13, 2011 13 Jan'11

New Cisco 8-port switch series simplifies campus network design

Cisco's new line of Catalyst C-Series switches promise to simplify campus network design. The 8-port switches offer advanced management and security features beyond the wiring closet.

January 11, 2011 11 Jan'11

Changing branch networking needs reshape the branch office box

Choosing a branch office box has become more complex. Branch office designs and requirements are changing, vendors offer widely different approaches, and server virtualization offers a do-it-yourself method on standard server hardware.

January 11, 2011 11 Jan'11

Cisco ASA and BGP peering problems: Command line tips

If you run into BGP peering problems because of a Cisco ASA or PIX firewallin the middle, there are a few simple command line fixes that will quickly solve the problem. Fast Packet blogger Brandon Carroll explains.

January 05, 2011 05 Jan'11

Networking outlook 2011: Network virtualization, wireless, security

Leading analysts share their predictions for top networking trends in 2011, including data center networks, wireless LANs, network security and network management.

January 04, 2011 04 Jan'11

New data center network management concerns arise: Are you prepared?

In a world where data centers are denser and heavily virtualized, network management can take on a life of its own. Are you prepared?

January 04, 2011 04 Jan'11

WAN outlook 2011: 4G and iPads drive mobile VPN, branch offices grow

WAN pros will see more demand for mobile VPNs on a broader range of devices, continued growth of branch offices and improvements to branch office VPN products in 2011.

January 04, 2011 04 Jan'11

WAN outlook 2011: MPLS networks become a luxury, WAN op-as-a-service

Industry analysts predict what changes WAN pros will see this year in WAN optimization, VPNs and carrier services, such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networks.

December 22, 2010 22 Dec'10

vCloud and VEPA both fail in virtualization networking

vCloud and VEPA both fail to address the problem with networking for virtualization. The goal of network-aware virtualization is to enable a flat Layer 2 network and networking functions within the virtualized environment, but neither approach ...

December 22, 2010 22 Dec'10

Combining network configuration and IP address management tools

A large convention center and hotel dumped unwieldy spreadsheets and whiteboards to adopt network configuration management and IP address management tools. With NCM and IPAM, the networking team was able to support the ever-evolving needs of ...

December 16, 2010 16 Dec'10

Used network hardware vendor sees green shoots in 2011

Network Hardware Resale (NHR), the leading reseller of used Cisco gear, says that companies are unfreezing their budgets and investing in new networks. The firm thinks that this is an early ...

December 15, 2010 15 Dec'10

Top networking news 2010: Data center networks and multi-vendor mania

In our review of top networking news of 2010, see how we covered the rise of the multi-vendor network, major changes in data center networks and security, the emergence of ubiquitous wireless LAN and the challenges networking pros face in building ...

December 09, 2010 09 Dec'10

Multi-vendor networks more prominent than ever

With HP Networking and Juniper showing Cisco legitimate competition, multi-vendor networks are increasingly a key element for network vendor management best practices.

December 09, 2010 09 Dec'10

Professional services emerge for IPv6 migration, perhaps a bit early

Service providers are angling to sell consulting services to aid the IPv6 migration process. Their usefulness will depend on the project's size and the level of in-house expertise.

December 08, 2010 08 Dec'10

WiMax and LTE: Sometimes complementary, not competitive

Unlike Asia-Pac operators who view WiMax and LTE as complementary, WiMax may only play a supporting role for smaller U.S. operators.

December 02, 2010 02 Dec'10

Video, telecom network management still challenge fixed line operators

Qwest CTO Pieter Poll sheds light on the telecom network management challenges that rapid broadband traffic growth and streaming video present for fixed line operators.

December 01, 2010 01 Dec'10

Cisco Dynamips and Juniper Olive: A little clarity on router emulators, please

Have you ever noticed that networking vendors rarely address the subject of emulators built with their router software? To some degree, network engineers seem fine with this. As long as Cisco looks ...

December 01, 2010 01 Dec'10

Stop everywhere Wi-Fi hotspots and guest wireless networks!

The rapid rise of enterprise guest wireless networks and public Wi-Fi hotspots are only leading to anti-social behavior and a host of WLAN security problems that include identity snooping using Firesheep. Opening up guest networks and public Wi-Fi ...

December 01, 2010 01 Dec'10

NetFlow v9 is powerful, so why isn’t anyone using it?

NetFlow v9 has been around for a few years and is far more powerful than previous versions of the protocol, but few people are using it. NetFlow collector and analyzer vendors and networking pros are still learning how to work with the technology, ...

November 23, 2010 23 Nov'10

Zero day protection with network access control, intrusion prevention

A global executive relocation service provider improved its zero-day protection capabilities with a combination of network access control and an intrusion prevention system.

November 22, 2010 22 Nov'10

Tata bets on core Carrier Ethernet Provider Backbone Bridging

Tata Communications is future proofing its global Ethernet network using Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) in hopes of scaling up for point-to-multipoint Ethernet growth and better serving its wholesale customers.

November 17, 2010 17 Nov'10

Brocade rolls out first switches for Layer 2 data center fabrics

Enterprises see large Layer 2 data center fabrics as the future of virtual server networking. Data center network infrastructure vendors are inching toward delivering this technology. Brocade's VDX switches are the first to market.

November 10, 2010 10 Nov'10

WAN pros welcome, question vendor claims to improve cloud performance

WAN optimization vendors have begun to tackle public cloud performance -- a move that WAN managers welcome, although some question whether efforts go far enough.

November 05, 2010 05 Nov'10

Motorola on the future of the wireless LAN controller

Recently Motorola announced a significant change to its wireless LAN architecture with its WiNG 5 announcement. With WiNG 5, Motorola is running identical firmware across its wireless LAN ...

November 05, 2010 05 Nov'10

USENIX LISA 2010: Special coverage

USENIX LISA 2010 is a conference covering large installation systems administration. Keep up-to-date on all SearchNetworking.com coverage from San Jose here, and don't miss a single update from USENIX LISA 2010.

November 03, 2010 03 Nov'10

Telecom VoIP CDR analytics improve service quality assurance, cut MTTR

An advanced analytics engine for VoIP call detail records (CDRs) enabled Momentum Telecom to improve service quality assurance, slash troubleshooting time and pursue new business opportunities.

November 03, 2010 03 Nov'10

40 GbE uptake will ride 10 Gigabit server adoption wave

40 GbE will make its way into data center networks as enterprises adopt large numbers of racks with 10 GbE server connectivity. 10 Gigabit servers will drive up port density and eventually force enterprises to take the 40 GbE plunge.

October 28, 2010 28 Oct'10

Carriers must support legacy 2G/3G gear long after 4G networks go live

Even after most major carriers launch 4G networks based on Long-Term Evolution (LTE), service providers are still going to have to support subscribers on 2G/3G legacy networks for years to come.

October 26, 2010 26 Oct'10

Network security infrastructure consolidation: What's your strategy?

Network security hardware and software vendors are offering enterprises options to consolidate network security infrastructure so that they can reduce management overhead and power consumption in the data center. But enterprises must avoid adding ...

October 21, 2010 21 Oct'10

Yankee Group calls early leaders among 4G wireless operators

A new Yankee Group report ranks 4G wireless operators as leaders, followers or somewhere in the middle in these early days of 4G network deployments and urges operators to change their 3G wireless strategies to increase brand and service awareness.

October 21, 2010 21 Oct'10

Rushing 4G backhaul network planning carries high costs, delays

4G backhaul network planning is an important and at times underestimated piece of LTE or WiMax migration strategies. If telecoms rush their 4G backhaul network planning, they will pay the price of high costs and disastrous delays.

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Interop New York: Virtualization past the talk and into the walk

Interop New York will host actual virtualization users this time around. But the Interop virtualization track will have to address the management and networking nightmares that can come along with virtualization implementation.

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Data center network convergence? Not yet, but worth the conversation

At the Interop New York 2010 conference, data center network convergence strategies will be discussed, but users aren't yet ready to invest or even choose which data center network convergence strategy they believe in.

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Interop wireless: Jury's out on TV white space, all-wireless enterprise

At Interop New York, vendors will be touting new wireless LAN architecture and the introduction of TV white space spectrum to enable the all-wireless enterprise. But Interop wireless conference track experts don't agree on whether the all-wireless ...

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Interop New York: Cloud conversation … still a bit foggy

The Interop cloud computing track will include lots of information about moving applications to the public cloud, but users will be more concerned with trying out the private cloud as a first step. Interop cloud conference sessions will address pain...

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Interop New York technology trends: Hype or ripe?

Which Interop New York technology trends are ripe and which are hype? Interop New York experts will be discussing, virtualization, converged data center networks, cloud computing, and the all-wireless enterprise, but only some of these technologies ...

October 19, 2010 19 Oct'10

Interop New York: Flat networks and the end of spanning tree

The move to flat networks and away from spanning tree will continue at Interop New York where each networking vendor will try to convince users that their specific technology is the best for a dynamic cloud environment.

October 13, 2010 13 Oct'10

How will wireless LAN equipment vendors use freed up TV white spaces?

The TV white spaces spectrum released by the FCC will lead to a new wave of wireless LAN equipment innovation with wireless LAN access points capable of operating in traditional Wi-FI frequencies as well as the new low-frequency white space spectrum...

October 08, 2010 08 Oct'10

Motorola smartens access points, pulls back WLAN controllers

The role of the wireless LAN controller appliance is shifting dramatically. The days of the dumb access point are severely numbered. Motorola became just the latest WLAN vendor to deemphasize the ...

October 07, 2010 07 Oct'10

Cisco Borderless Networks: Complete solution or marketing hype?

Cisco's Borderless Networks strategy promises customers a new paradigm for supporting enterprise mobility and ensuring mobile network security. However, network engineers are struggling to understand how a seemingly disparate collection of products ...

October 06, 2010 06 Oct'10

VDI over the WAN: How latency affects virtual desktop performance

VDI performance problems can plague global deployments, thanks to latency. But WAN optimization, QoS and WAN monitoring tools can help VDI over the WAN.

September 30, 2010 30 Sep'10

Home network labs can buff up a network engineer resume

Network labs in the home or in the office are essential to building your networking skills. If you want a strong network engineer resume, you need access to a network lab full of routers and switches.

September 29, 2010 29 Sep'10

Can WAN managers improve application performance in the cloud?

Cloud computing providers can't offer SLAs for the Internet. But WAN managers are still expected to support and improve application performance for cloud-based applications.

September 23, 2010 23 Sep'10

Next-generation firewalls not ready to replace all legacy firewalls

Application-aware firewalls enhance network security by offering deeper visibility, but enterprises will hang on to old-style firewalls.

September 22, 2010 22 Sep'10

WAN application performance management: Automate or control?

Some IT pros like WAN monitoring tools that alert them to poor WAN application performance but stop there. For others, appliances that automate the fix make troubleshooting easier.

September 17, 2010 17 Sep'10

Forrester's Zero Trust security model

Forrester Research Inc. is proposing a new mantra for IT security. In his report "No More Chewy Centers: Introducing the Zero Trust Model of Information Network Security," Forrester analyst John ...

September 16, 2010 16 Sep'10

Networking vendors aim to improve server virtualization security

Server virtualization security is no longer guaranteed by creating physical security zones for different classes of virtual machines on host servers. Networking and network security vendors are introducing virtual security products that apply ...

September 16, 2010 16 Sep'10

Selling enterprises on IPv6 migration: Like getting kids to eat veggies

Carriers must pitch the IPv6 migration to enterprise customers as a gradual process and focus the conversation on enabling business continuity rather than simple scare tactics.

September 15, 2010 15 Sep'10

WAN management: Look at application performance management, not uptime

Riverbed vice president Paul Brady explains why and how WAN managers should look beyond Layer 3 and provide WAN application performance management for key business applications.

September 15, 2010 15 Sep'10

Cisco, Brocade continue data center network convergence push

Data center network convergence remains on the agenda for networking vendors. Cisco's new Nexus 5500 switches offer FCoE port provisioning options while Brocade's new network management software unifies storage and data network management.

September 09, 2010 09 Sep'10

One city goes mesh wireless on a private fiber optic ring network

Replacing its WAN with a private fiber optic ring network, the city of Alexandria, La, laid the foundation for a Wi-Fi-based wireless mesh network and improved its security and compliance posture.

September 08, 2010 08 Sep'10

Some more advice on using commodity switches at the LAN access layer

Last week I wrote a story about how some enterprises save money by using commodity network switch vendors at the access edge of their local area networks. These low-cost vendors use merchant ...

September 02, 2010 02 Sep'10

Using cheap network switches from commodity vendors in your LAN

Cheap network switches from commodity vendors that use commercially available silicon can help you save money in your LAN network design when budgets are tight. Some networking pros are considering these low-cost vendors as a viable alternative to ...

August 27, 2010 27 Aug'10

Virtual Private LAN Service: Extending the LAN over a dumb WAN

Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) enables multipoint-to-multipoint communication over carrier-based MPLS/IP networks, basically enabling enterprises to extend LAN segments over long distances. In ...

August 26, 2010 26 Aug'10

Cable operators look to Wi-Fi hotspots as customer retention strategy

U.S. cable operators are making free Wi-Fi hotspots in select cities part of their customer retention strategy -- a move expected to eventually evolve into revenue-generating services based on or tied to Wi-Fi.

August 26, 2010 26 Aug'10

Cisco network security strategy: Where is it going?

The Cisco network security strategy goes under the microscope as we attempt to move past the FUD and help dubious networking pros understand the future of Cisco security products in a rapidly changing technology world.

August 25, 2010 25 Aug'10

WAN application performance: Does it need its own department?

A formal or informal WAN application performance advisory group can provide a systems-wide perspective long before faulty apps go into production and the WAN takes the blame.

August 19, 2010 19 Aug'10

New traffic shaping feature offers simple wireless QoS

A new application-aware wireless traffic shaping feature from wireless LAN vendor Meraki simplifies wireless QoS for enterprise customers, allowing network admins to set bandwidth utilization policies based on application, content and user.

August 18, 2010 18 Aug'10

WAN security: Block peer-to-peer traffic in favor of FTP server

A crackdown on Facebook and IM usage revealed a gaping WAN security hole for one enterprise. Users had been swapping corporate data via peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing sites, leading its WAN pros to block P2P traffic and redirect users to the ...

August 12, 2010 12 Aug'10

Fibre Channel over Token Ring: Converged storage dilemma solved

The FCoE debate is over. At last there is an answer to converged storage networking that leaves tiresome Ethernet behind: Fibre Channel over Token Ring (FCoTR). The newly launched FCoTR Alliance is ...

August 12, 2010 12 Aug'10

Telecom GIS tools assess behavior, demographics for network planning

Legacy telecom geographic information systems (GIS) keep track of operators' physical plant. But smaller, more database-centric telecom network planning tools that evaluate demographics, usage behavior and local bylaws enable carriers to be smarter ...

August 11, 2010 11 Aug'10

Building an outdoor wireless LAN for a roving worksite

The crew of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built a new Wi-Fi network with outdoor wireless access points. It travels with them across the country.

August 09, 2010 09 Aug'10

HP CEO transition: Media hand-wringing and internal HP morale

When something like the Mark Hurd scandal happens, we in the media spend a lot of time quoting pundits about what impact the event could have on the markets we cover. For instance, ITWorld Canada ...