Problem solve

Problem solve

Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.

• Four ways providers can improve cloud computing energy efficiency

  Although environmental issues might not be a priority for some providers, improving cloud computing energy efficiency is a great operational strategy. Continue Reading

• Ensuring wireless network optimization for application performance

  Wireless LANs are faster than ever, but engineers must still ensure wireless network optimization for maximum application performance. Continue Reading

• Essential elements in an internal SLA

  An internal SLA helps enterprise IT teams set the parameters for Quality of Service and uptime. Continue Reading

• Hardware vs. software WAN optimizers: Advantages and disadvantages of each form factor

  What are the advantages and disadvantages of hardware vs. software WAN optimizers? Find out in this tip. Continue Reading

• Tools to improve wireless video performance

  Seeking to improve wireless video delivery? The answer could be in proprietary network enhancements and WLAN performance measurement tools. Continue Reading

• WLAN design for optimized Wi-Fi video delivery

  Wi-Fi video can tax networks, so engineers should use a number of WLAN design tactics to optimize wireless video delivery for enterprise users.Continue Reading

• Cloud monitoring tools: Troubleshooting with Wireshark in the cloud

  As traditional network monitoring tools slowly evolve into cloud monitoring tools, Wireshark moves gingerly into network troubleshooting in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Calculating mobile application bandwidth requirements

  Learn how to calculate the bandwidth of your mobile applications to determine your cost of wide area network operations.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

• 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

• Network traffic analysis in a virtualized environment

  There's no need to toss out SNMP, NetFlow and packet analysis when doing network traffic analysis in a virtualized environment.Continue Reading

• OpenFlow tutorial for cloud providers

  In this OpenFlow tutorial, networking expert Tom Nolle shows how OpenFlow can be a competitive advantage and outlines steps for providers to test it.Continue Reading

• Securing the Internet-connected branch office

  Consider appliance, cloud and hybrid approaches when you're deciding how to secure your Internet-connected branch office.Continue Reading

• 10 essential questions to ask potential cloud computing vendors

  Cloud providers getting ready to make decisions on cloud infrastructure products should ask potential cloud computing vendors these 10 essential questions before buying.Continue Reading

• Five challenges in private cloud networking

  To achieve application performance in private cloud networking, cloud networks must tackle dynamic address mapping and access security, creating several network challenges.Continue Reading

• Cloud's dirty secret: Its effects on data center energy consumption

  Cramming scores of VMs onto fewer servers has its benefits, but it's not without drawbacks -- particularly in terms of data center energy consumption.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

• IPsec transport mode: How it works

  This article explains what virtual private network (VPN) IPsec transport mode is and how it works, using diagrams, illustrations and easy-to-understand language.Continue Reading

• IPsec tunnel mode: How it works

  Learn what IPsec tunnel mode is and how it works across your virtual private network (VPN).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

• Defining Workplace as a Service: Supporting BYOD customers with cloud

  The bring your own device (BYOD) trend has caught many enterprises off-guard, but cloud providers have an opportunity to present a solution: Workplace as a Service.Continue Reading

• Where are top Internet service providers with IPv6?

  In light of World IPv6 Launch Day, we've investigated the top Internet service providers (ISPs) of the U.S. to determine where they are with IPv6 support.Continue Reading

• Deep packet inspection vendors: Quite the diverse crew

  Deep packet inspection vendors can vary from traditional network infrastructure vendors to third-party specialists. Here we run down a smattering of providers and their offerings.Continue Reading

• Deep packet inspection tools: Proxy vs. stream-based

  As more enterprises consider deep packet inspection tools, network managers must choose the technique that works best for them.Continue Reading

• Selling SaaS: Evaluating DevOps tools and models for cloud providers

  Without using DevOps tools and principles, the task of building and sustaining SaaS applications can quickly create an operational nightmare for cloud providers.Continue Reading

• Ethernet advantages and disadvantages for WAN connectivity

  Learn the advantages and disadvantages of Ethernet in WAN environments -- Ethernet advantages include low costs and disadvantages like more resources needed.Continue Reading

• MPLS advantages and disadvantages for WAN connectivity

  MPLS advantages include reliability and quality of service (QoS) compared to other WAN connectivity options. Learn other pros and cons in this tip.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

• Is OpenStack architecture really the best choice to build IaaS clouds?

  The OpenStack architecture could alter the relationship between cloud computing and the network, but is it over-hyped? That is a critical question, but it's hard to answer.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

• The storage hypervisor: Virtualization is about more than the server

  Implementing a separate storage hypervisor can make it easier to manage both wide-scale storage virtualization and the server virtualization environment.Continue Reading

• Improving cloud computing performance: A path for revenue growth

  Instead of seeing customers' cloud-computing-performance concerns as a barrier, providers should regard it as an opportunity to offer application acceleration services.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

• Myth vs. Reality: Cloud-managed Wireless LAN

  New cloud-managed wireless LAN services have many users wondering whether Wi-Fi management as a service is dependable. Wireless expert Lisa Phifer goes on a myth-busting mission.Continue Reading

• Cisco Nexus 5500: A viable core switch for the midsized enterprise?

  As virtualization and new storage arrays place greater demand on the network, engineers may find that the Cisco Nexus 5500 is a better core switch than the Cisco Catalyst 6509.Continue Reading

• Cloud storage management: It's more than just capacity planning

  Enterprises are eying cloud storage to support ongoing data growth. This presents a clear opportunity for providers, but only if they can master cloud storage management.Continue Reading

• Leasing data center space: How it may affect cloud service delivery

  Rather than spend millions building out their own facilities, more cloud providers and MSPs are choosing to lease data center space. But how will that affect service delivery?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

• Cisco switch configuration for a Cisco 3560 switch

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

• How to optimize voice over WAN

  Enterprises must learn how to architect their wide area networks in order to optimize voice over WAN environments.Continue Reading

• How to use iPerf to measure throughput

  Learn how to use iPerf, a network testing tool to measure throughput and benchmark your WAN links.Continue Reading

• How to calculate the cost of VPN links

  Do you need to upgrade the bandwidth of your virtual private network (VPN)? Calculating link capacity will help control the cost of VPN links.Continue Reading

• Hardware vs. software VPNs: Choose the right enterprise solution

  Deciding between hardware vs. software VPNs is the first step in narrowing down the best VPN solution for your enterprise.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

• How to design and tune a WLAN to support mobile VDI clients

  In order to support tablets and smartphones as mobile VDI clients, engineers will have to build WLANs with plenty of bandwidth and as little interference as possible.Continue Reading

• Testing VDI network performance to avoid application meltdown

  Ensuring VDI network performance is central to providing a good VDI user experience, so engineers must start by testing the impact of VDI on bandwidth and traffic flow.Continue Reading

• Cloud access: Alternatives to Internet connectivity

  The Internet's unreliability and questionable security keep many enterprises from adopting cloud services. But companies can consider these alternative cloud access options.Continue Reading

• First-hop security in IPv6

  Understand the concept of first-hop security and the challenge of trying to apply the techniques currently enforced in IPv4 networks to emerging IPv6 deployments.Continue Reading

• Optimizing network performance for WLAN real-time applications

  Transitioning to WLAN calls for network infrastructure upgrades, making supporting real-time applications tricky. This guide explains strategies for optimizing network performance.Continue Reading

• Private cloud network VLAN problems: Is OpenFlow the answer?

  In order to create dynamic private cloud networks, engineers will turn to software-defined networking and control planes that integrate virtual and physical switching.Continue Reading

• What are the types of MPLS VPNs?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders breaks down the types of MPLS VPNs and explains their differences.Continue Reading

• The art of cloud balancing: Interconnect data centers to be one cloud

  Cost-effectively load balancing, or "cloud balancing," traffic among multiple data centers carries implications for cloud provider networks, storage and management.Continue Reading

• Why am I experiencing issues with VoIP over VPN?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders discusses why one may experience issues with VoIP over VPN and offers solutions to solve the problemsContinue Reading

• How secure is a PPTP VPN in comparison with other types of VPNs?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders discusses the lack of safety associated with PPTP and offers these safer VPN solutions.Continue Reading

• Hadoop enables distributed 'big data' processing across clouds

  The Hadoop framework enables distributed 'big data' processing across servers that can improve application performance and offer up redundancy.Continue Reading

• Video conferencing bandwidth requirements for the WAN

  In this tip, learn to calculate video conferencing bandwidth requirements for all of the sites in your company across the enterprise wide area network (WAN).Continue Reading

• Wi-Fi and LAN issues: Attaining simultaneous network connections

  Wi-Fi and LAN connections may be difficult to run together using Windows XP and Windows 7, yet Wireless Expert, Lisa Phifer offers advice on simultaneous network connections.Continue Reading

• Ping latency test results: How slow is your WAN link?

  Understand your ping latency test results to determine whether your WAN link needs WAN optimization, QoS or other technologies.Continue Reading

• What does IPv6 mean for IPsec VPNs?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders discusses what IPv6 means for IPsec VPNs.Continue Reading

• What is VPN-as-a-service and how does it work?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders discusses what a virtual private network as a service (VPNaaS) is and how it works.Continue Reading

• What is a cloud virtual private network (VPN)?

  In this Ask the Expert response, VPN expert Rainer Enders discusses what a cloud virtual private network (VPN) is and what its benefits are.Continue Reading

• IPv6 firewall security: Fixing issues introduced by the new protocol

  As IPv6 gets rolled out on enterprise WANs, so will IPv6 firewalls. However, IT should be aware of IPv6 security loopholes to adequately protect WANs.Continue Reading

• Preparing your WAN for 10 GbE implementation

  Where can 10 GbE be used in a wide area network (WAN) and how can you prepare the WAN for such an implementation? Read this article to find out.Continue Reading

• Measuring WAN Latency

  In this tip, learn how to measure wide area network (WAN) latency to determine whether the WAN is the source of network slowness complaints.Continue Reading

• Cloud automation, orchestration vital to run seamless cloud services

  The need for cloud automation and orchestration in complex, on-demand environments is a critical issue that affects cloud providers of every size.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

• Cloud computing server architecture: Designing for cloud efficiency

  Optimizing cloud computing server architecture requires cloud providers to classify applications by their resource needs and evaluate them against their cloud business plans.Continue Reading

• Ad hoc network creation: Overcoming personal wi-fi hotspot competition

  Ad hoc network creation is rising due to personal wi-fi hotspots from smartphones and computers. Addressing its impact on your WLAN is key to overcoming potential interference.Continue Reading

• VDI over WAN: Performance preparations

  Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) over WAN environments causes slow performance. To prepare your WAN, learn in this tip how to monitor traffic and update your network design.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

• Using QoS to limit bandwidth

  Quality of Service may be the simplest and cheapest fix to a real-time application performance problem. Learn in this tip how using QoS to limit bandwidth can decongest WAN links.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

• When military radar causes fixed broadband wireless interference

  Military radar may cause fixed broadband wireless interference. This expert tip explains tests and ideas to check if this is the case and how to address this interference.Continue Reading

• Fixing CRC errors: Know your wireless router coverage area boundaries

  Distance between devices may cause interference in your wireless router coverage area and CRC errors to pop up. This expert tip offers advice for fixing CRC errors.Continue Reading

• Unauthorized network access: Neighbors pose a network security threat?

  Unauthorized network access from a corporate neighbor or employee poses a serious network security threat and is considered theft of service. This tip explains why.Continue Reading

• Identifying flexible cloud technology models: A primer

  Until the perfect cloud technology model is identified, providers are building services using servers, storage, software and networking tools that give them the most flexibility.Continue Reading

• Cloud infrastructure services: Balancing high availability and cost

  Building cloud infrastructure services to high-availability (five 9s) standards will make them too complex and expensive. Ivan Pepelnjak looks for a reliable compromise.Continue Reading

• Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) challenges over the WAN

  Many virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) challenges present themselves over wide area networks (WANs). Here is how you can prepare your WAN for VDI while the technology matures.Continue Reading

• vSwitch architecture best practices

  vSwitch architecture varies depending on the type of traffic being managed and how many physical NICs are connected. Learn these best practices.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

• Network energy efficiency starts in the LAN closet

  Many look to data center servers and storage to cut power use, but network energy efficiency can start inside the LAN closet with switches, routers and security devices.Continue Reading

• Virtualization security challenges are plentiful: What's the answer?

  The network plays a role in addressing virtualization security challenges, but typical firewalls are not necessarily part of the solution.Continue Reading

• How do content provider networks and service provider networks differ?

  Optical networking expert and ACG Research managing partner Eve Griliches breaks down the differences between content provider networks and service provider networks.Continue Reading

• Best practices for connecting virtualization hosts to DMZ networks

  DMZ networks can be used to protect virtualization hosts, but best practices must be considered, including combing virtual and physical firewalls and locking down virtual switches.Continue Reading

• How to connect virtual environments to DMZ network architecture

  Connecting virtualized environments to DMZ network architecture creates new challenges. Network managers must learn new design methodologies to protect virtual traffic in the DMZ.Continue Reading

• Wi-fi replacing Ethernet? An expert weighs in on the possibilities

  Wireless expert, Lisa Phifer addresses a query regarding Wi-Fi replacing Ethernet. Lisa provides analysis, advantages and disadvantages, and future expectations of both.Continue Reading

• Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for the enterprise

  Businesses have taken notice of the mobile Wi-Fi hotspots trend and have invested in mobile hotspot devices. Question is, which of several options is most suitable for business?Continue Reading

• Enterprise energy management: IT and building management systems meet

  As IP-based building management systems emerge, networking teams will control integrated IT and building resources as part of an overall enterprise energy management strategy.Continue Reading

• New service needs drive changes to telecom data center architecture

  The need to deliver content, mobile and cloud services and compete with OTT providers is driving a three-phase change to telecom data center architecture for network operators.Continue Reading

• Multiple access point configuration: Distinguish transmitted signals

  Lisa Phifer explains multiple access point configuration when a device tries to differentiate transmitted signals from each point and explains potential issues.Continue Reading

• How does your WAN intersect cloud services?

  Where is the line between cloud service and the wide area network? In this tip, Tom Nolle breaks down information flows to recommend the best WAN connectivity for cloud computing.Continue Reading

• How to integrate your WAN with Internet cloud services

  Learn what issues are involved with integrating your wide area network (WAN) with Internet cloud services and how to solve problems around Internet-based cloud services.Continue Reading

• Expert advice for file server troubleshooting

  Network administration expert, Lindi Horton answers a query regarding file server troubleshooting. She explains potential reasons for file server issues, and things to check to solve the problem.Continue Reading

• Three business drivers promote operator cloud/network integration

  Three technology and business drivers provide the impetus for network operators to work toward tight cloud and network integration to monetize expensive and valuable network assets.Continue Reading

• What advantages do 4G wireless networks have over 3G networks?

  Yes, 4G represents a technological step beyond its 3G predecessor. But how exactly are 4G wireless networks more advanced than 3G networks? Telecom expert Mike Jude breaks it down.Continue Reading

• Understanding gigabit Wireless LAN: 802.11ac and 802.11ad

  Just when enterprises are getting comfortable with 802.11n technology, enter gigabit wireless LAN standards 802.11ad and 802.11ac, which could produce draft products in a year.Continue Reading

• How to build a scalable IaaS cloud network infrastructure

  Attempts to scale Infrastructure as a Service cloud network infrastructure often involves workarounds, but providers should look to IP-over-IP transport and invest in design.Continue Reading

• T1 circuit or MPLS network: How to choose

  The venerable T1 circuit is making way for the high-speed, easy to manage MPLS network. While the carriers are not ripping out T1 connections, they are pressuring WAN managers to abandon them.Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of MPLS VPN/VPLS connections?

  Telecom networking expert Ivan Pepelnjak breaks down the speed, bandwidth and security benefits of moving from a simple cable Internet connection to an MPLS VPN or VPLS connection.Continue Reading

• Packet vs. circuit switching data networks: An expert explains the differences

  Network administration expert, Lindi Horton answers a query regarding packet vs. circuit switching in regards to data networks by using an analogy to help explain the concept of both.Continue Reading