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Problem solve

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

• 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

• 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

• 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 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 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

• 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

• Controlling embedded Wi-Fi device access

  Enterprise IT shops are finding themselves using WPA2-Personal and other authentication methods to manage embedded Wi-Fi devices on the WLAN.Continue Reading

• Live migration networking: Enter long-distance data center bridging

  Live migration networking poses all sorts of challenges, including the potential need for long-distance data center bridging that results in traffic trombones. When it comes to server virtualization networking, is it possible to avoid the pitfalls?Continue Reading

• How to ensure WLAN performance optimization

  To ensure wireless LAN performance optimization, you’ll need to implement new WLAN measurement and testing tools and conduct WLAN performance testing periodically even after network implementation.Continue Reading

• How to set up WAN simulators to test branch application performance

  A wide area network (WAN) simulator is necessary for enterprise IT architects and engineers to ensure acceptable application performance to end users at branch offices. In this tip, learn how to set up any generic WAN simulator to conduct network ...Continue Reading

• How to use an edge firewall for network bandwidth management

  These five tips will help your organization apply quality-of-service controls on a network perimeter firewall.Continue Reading

• How to prepare enterprise WANs for MPLS/VPN integration

  How should IT professionals prepare their enterprise WANs (wide area networks) for an MPLS VPN integration? Find out using the steps described in this tip.Continue Reading

• How is MPLS different from SONET and ATM networks?

  WAN managers face an array of technology possibilities, like SONET, ATM and MPLS, being pitched to them by every service provider. Making sense of these terms, and the differences between the technologies, will enable organizations to make an ...Continue Reading

• 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.Continue Reading

• Disadvantages to a layered approach

  Security expert Michael Gregg discusses the disadvantages to a layered approach to enterprise security.Continue Reading

• Making sure your FTTH GPON installation is ready for turn-up

  Fiber expert David Hashman details what you must know when accepting the fiber installation for gigabit passive optical networks, from testing requirements to reference values.Continue Reading

• What are the specified launched power and receive sensitivity of GPON and PtP networks?

  Fiber expert David Hashman details launched power and receive sensitivity specifications for gigabit packet optical networks and active Ethernet point-to-point networks.Continue Reading

• Access point problems running on PoE

  Powering a wireless access point using Power over Ethernet is usually a straightforward process, but troubleshooting an issue can be tricky. Wireless expert Lisa Phifer steps through some possible solutions and where to look for additional help in ...Continue Reading

• Using virtual appliances and desktop virtualization

  IT organizations are implementing desktop virtualization and virtual appliances for virtual WAN optimization and virtual application delivery, but there are challenges to overcome along the way.Continue Reading

• Extending 802.11n wireless LAN and connecting two WLANs

  Extending 802.11 WLANs inside a large office can be done by bridging access points together, while outdoor mesh solutions can be used to connect two WLANs between buildings on a small campus.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Certificate Authority setup

  If you are deploying an SSTP VPN to secure the remote users on your enterprise wide area network (WAN), then your VPN server must be provisioned with an X.509 certificate. Use these steps to learn how to configure Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 to...Continue Reading

• How to set up an SSTP VPN to secure your enterprise network

  Learn how to set up an SSTP VPN (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Virtual Private Network) connection in order to secure the remote users on your enterprise wide area network (WAN). These instructions explain step-by-step what is required to create ...Continue Reading

• OSS vs. NMS: What are the similarities and differences?

  What's the difference between operations support systems (OSS) and network management systems (NMS)? Telecom networking expert Ivan Pepelnjak has the answer.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between MPLS and normal IP?

  Telecom networking expert Ivan Pepelnjak explains what separates Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) forwarding from standard Internet Protocol (IP) forwarding.Continue Reading

• How to configure Virtual Switch Tagging for vSphere VLANs

  Virtual Switch Tagging is the most commonly used method of 802.1Q VLAN tagging for VLANs for vSphere. In this tip, learn how to configure a switch for VLAN Switch Tagging.Continue Reading

• How to choose ITIL monitoring tools

  ITIL network monitoring requires ITIL monitoring tools that scan network function as well as application performance and have the ability to continually update information in a series of ITIL v3 databases.Continue Reading

• Do I need 802.11n wireless adapters for laptops and PCs to install 802.11n?

  You don't need 802.11n wireless adapters for your laptops or PCs in order to install 802.11n and make use of 802.11n MIMO since most 802.11n APs are backward compatible, but you may need new client hardware.Continue Reading

• What is a WAN manager's role in storage?

  Bandwidth, data deduplication, disaster recovery (DR) and remote site acceleration and optimization are all areas where storage and WAN managers' job responsibilities overlap. This article explains how and answers the question, 'What is a wide area ...Continue Reading

• How to optimize Ethernet for data center networks

  It will take time for super-fast data center Ethernet technologies to evolve, so managers of data center networks must optimize existing Ethernet through a series of strategies that range from choosing very large switches to isolating storage ...Continue Reading

• Telecom's three advantages in selling Everything as a Service

  Cloud computing has ushered in the era of "Everything as a Service." Network operators need to exploit three advantages as they compete with other "X as a Service" providers selling software, infrastructure, platforms and more as a service.Continue Reading

• Should you consider wireless WAN service for your enterprise?

  Learn the advantages and disadvantages of using wireless in your enterprise wide area network (WAN). This article on wireless WAN service considerations explains how 3G and 4G technology developmentsContinue Reading

• Configuring LAN edge switches for network access authentication

  Intelligent edge switches can play a role in network access authentication, but these functions are often overlooked.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between DWDM and CWDM?

  Expert Ivan Pepelnjak explains the primary differences between dense wavelength division multiplexing and coarse wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM and CWDM).Continue Reading

• Five key Evolved Packet Core issues face 4G LTE network planners

  Wireless operators deploying Evolved Packet Core technology in 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks agree on five key issues to address in this unique transition from 3G to 4G networking. Learn from their experience on everything from fiber ...Continue Reading

• Choosing a provider for WAN managed services for your enterprise

  How do you find the right provider for your business's WAN managed services? Ask the right questions. To get a managed service provider (MSP) at the right price with the right offerings and service-level agreements (SLAs), view these tips.Continue Reading

• LAN edge switch security functions: Switch ACLs; filtering port traffic

  LAN edge switch security functions enable network administrators to use switch access control lists (ACLs) to filter incoming and outgoing traffic, as well as port-level traffic filtering and VLAN management for a more in-depth approach to LAN ...Continue Reading

• Five telecom provider benefits of offering cloud computing services

  Cloud computing services, platforms and infrastructure can benefit telecom service providers and provide Web-based applications to enterprise customers if carriers address challenges like security and performance to differentiate themselves and cut ...Continue Reading

• Preparing your wired network for wireless network integration

  Wireless LAN integration means upgrading wired networks with new equipment and traffic prioritization to avoid bottlenecks between the networks and provide QoS for wireless multimedia applications, including WLAN voice and video.Continue Reading

• What is the difference between IP address and machine address?

  Do you know the difference between an IP address and a machine address? Find out in this Ask the Expert response.Continue Reading

• IPsec VPN with Cisco router: Configuration and implementation

  The Cisco IOS implementation of the IPsec suite is an open-standards based framework that provides network engineers with a variety of options to deliver secure VPN communications. This series of articles explains Cisco IPsec VPN configuration ...Continue Reading

• Testing 10 gigabit Ethernet switch latency: What to look for

  Testing 10 Gigabit Ethernet switches means going beyond just speed to examine potential latency. Testing 10 gigabit Ethernet switch latency requires choosing the right switches and testing tools and recreating your track flow in just the right way.Continue Reading

• Unified fabric: Data center bridging and FCoE implementation

  IT organizations planning to deploy a unified storage and network fabric through data center bridging and FCoE implementation must consider a host of components, such as adapters, and configuration plans.Continue Reading

• Frame relay vs. ATM networks: What's the difference?

  Want to know the difference between frame relay and ATM networks? Find out in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How to reach maximum 802.11n speed and throughput

  Vendors promise 802.11n WLAN speed of 600 Mbps, but users find they can realistically reach about 300 Mbps. In order to maximize 802.11n speed and throughput, users find they must have just the right AP configuration and use of antennas.Continue Reading

• Integrating wired and wireless LANs: Making the business case

  With improved 802.11n performance, wireless LAN ports are overtaking Ethernet in the enterprise, and networking teams are pressed to find solutions for integrated wired and wireless network management.Continue Reading

• How to test LAN switch energy efficiency

  Vendors promise energy-efficient networks, but they often can't provide actual measurements for LAN switch power consumption. In this best practices guide, learn methods for measuring LAN switch energy efficiency.Continue Reading

• Testing LAN switch power consumption: A best practices guide

  LAN switch power consumption testing is as crucial as benchmarking speeds and feeds on switches. Enterprises that develop a set of best practices for testing network power consumption will save millions in op-ex annually.Continue Reading

• Telecom network test equipment takes on strategic role

  Telecom network test equipment is becoming a strategic necessity for operators, who want to integrate the NOC with lab- and field-testing equipment to get a handle on network performance and stability issues.Continue Reading

• How can I calculate perimeter firewall throughput?

  Learn how to use a capture filter in Wireshark, to determine network throughput on a firewall by monitoring incoming packets and using a simple equation to find a baseline throughput, from our expert Michael Gregg.Continue Reading

• APs drop connection in WLAN configured as a wireless mesh network

  Learn how to network troubleshoot a Colubris MSC 3200 access point/controller in a 16-access-point networking environment, each with unique static IPs that drop the Internet connection, from our expert Lisa Phifer.Continue Reading

• Selecting a WAN service provider: Keep an eye on SLAs

  Adding new layers on your WAN for application monitoring and optimization can easily increase costs and complexity, which can take a toll on organizations struggling with limited budgets and short staff. The solution may be a managed service ...Continue Reading

• Telecom network operations and infrastructure planning: Outsourcing the challenge

  Next-generation network complexity is causing heavy increases in telecom network operations costs, and finding the skill set needed to integrate and maintain network infrastructure are is increasingly difficult. Telecom carriers are exploring new ...Continue Reading

• Launching a network operations outsourcing project

  Outsourcing telecom network operations is becoming more common as next-generation network increase in complexity and IT focus, but a successful launch should include specific planning steps.Continue Reading

• Telecom outsourcing: Network Planning and operations guidelines

  Next-generation networks are increasingly complex, and the number of telecom infrastructure devices to manage is increasing pressure in the network operations center. Outsourcing network operations may be the answer, but first network operators must...Continue Reading

• Supply chain revolutionary: AT&T leads procurement zone adoption

  Changing the telecom procurement processes to make equipment vendors more responsible for integration and network operations has been discussed for months, and now it's a reality, with AT&T leading the way with its Domain Supplier program.Continue Reading

• How to plan for 802.11n wireless LAN upgrades

  802.11n WLAN upgrades mean more than just implementing new antennas and access points. 802.11n network requirements include the need for more power and controller capacity, as well as complex management and monitoring tools.Continue Reading

• Is there VLAN software recommend for Realtek NICs?

  Find out which VLAN (virtual local area network) software recommendations and device drivers are the best solutions for your Realtek NIC, from our expert, Lindi Horton.Continue Reading

• Deploying 802.11n access points: Best practices

  802.11n access points offer greater speed, footprint and ability to support demanding applications than their 802.11a/b/g counterparts, but they require different configuration, monitoring and management. Learn strategies for 802.11n deployment.Continue Reading

• How can I hide my WLAN's SSID in an Aruba AP-61?

  Learn the pros and cons of hiding your access point (AP) service set identifiers (SSIDs) on an Aruba AP-61, from our wireless network expert, Lisa Phifer.Continue Reading

• WLAN QoS and SLA monitoring with 7/24 Wireless Quality Assurance costs

  Learn how 7/24 Wireless Quality Assurance compares to traditional network monitoring methods in terms of cost effectiveness, in this expert response from Lisa Phifer.Continue Reading

• Windows Server 2008 IP routing configuration: Static and dynamic RIPv2

  With the removal of OSPF in Microsoft Windows Server 2008, your IP routing options are static routing or dynamic routing with RIPv2. In this tip, learn whether you should use static or dynamic routing, and see the IP routing configuration of each.Continue Reading

• Cisco Unified Computing System vs. VMware vSphere 4

  In the Cisco Unified Computing System vs. VMware vSphere 4 battle, find out which company is more likely to be the first to bring private clouds to data centers.Continue Reading

• Wireless AP SSID and channel configuration for a distribution network

  Multiple access points (AP) on a wireless network require careful configuration. Learn how channel frequency and Service Set Identifiers (SSID) should be set up for seamless transition between APs.Continue Reading

• GRE tunnel vs. IPsec tunnel: What is the difference?

  Encapsulating a packet for secure transportation on the network can be done using either GRE or IPsec protocols. This tip explains under what circumstances each protocol works best.Continue Reading

• Router virtualization: Developing effective networking strategies

  As new router and network virtualization technologies become a reality, telecom carriers need to weigh lower capital costs against realistic operations costs to see whether it's worth replacing parallel networks.Continue Reading

• Satisfying the need for WAN speed

  Improving the performance and throughput of a WAN usually starts with a basic understanding of speed limitations and capacity. While the common view is faster is better, in the land of WANs and other areas of networking, it is all about distance, ...Continue Reading

• How 802.11n wireless APs in Greenfield mode affect nearby networks

  802.11n high throughput (HT), or Greenfield mode is an efficient method of communication across the wireless LAN that 802.11a/g devices don't recognize. Lisa Phifer explains in this expert response.Continue Reading

• How to find an SSID and identify neighboring WLANs

  Wireless network expert Lisa Phifer explains what an SSID is and how to identify and differentiate between neighboring WLAN identifiers in this expert response.Continue Reading

• WAN capacity planning: Building a methodology

  Successful WAN capacity planning depends on many factors and how they work together. This article provides network managers with a starting point for understanding how to measure and predict network capacity and provides a 10-step methodology to ...Continue Reading

• 802.11n's impact on WLAN security

  802.11n wireless LANs offer many benefits over 802.11a/b/g for not only performance but also network security. However, 802.11n can also bring new security threats. As businesses move full steam ahead toward bigger, faster WLANs, many factors must ...Continue Reading

• Profiling -- and protecting against -- network problem users: The Internet Novice

  With this first entry in a new series about network problem users, SearchNetworking.com looks at the Internet Novice. Though well-meaning, Internet novices can pose a significant threat to the corporate network. Education and smart policies can ...Continue Reading

• Configure network monitoring for optimal performance

  Networking monitoring systems can use a lot of bandwidth to accomplish their task of monitoring the network. The more devices you monitor and the more up-to-date you want that monitoring to be, the more bandwidth your monitoring system will eat away...Continue Reading

• Using NAT Traversal and IPsec Passthrough together

  NAT Traversal and IPsec Passthrough are two different solutions to tunneling encrypted packets through an NAT-ing device like a firewall. Learn to configure them without conflict.Continue Reading

• Understanding the network application environment

  Understanding the network application environment is critical to application performance management. In this tip, learn how application discovery and classification, network analysis, and business drivers affect your network application environment ...Continue Reading

• Configuring a VRF

  Doug Downer demonstrates how to configure a VPN Routing and Forwarding (VRF) in an instance where a service provider needs to keep Internet services separate for two different clients on shared devices.Continue Reading

• Difference between circuit-switching and packet-switching in examples

  What is the difference between a circuit switching and packet switching? Our networking fundamentals expert gives examples of packet switching and circuit switching in this response.Continue Reading

• VLANs versus IP subnets: Why use a VLAN over IP subnetting?

  A virtual local area network (VLAN) is better than IP subnetting because its advantage is security. Learn what a VLAN is and how it differs from creating IP subnets, in this expert response from our networking fundamentals expert.Continue Reading

• Virtualization to fundamentally change telecom networks

  Virtualization will be the new model for service provider network infrastructure, and if it is effective, carrier revenue will increase while capex and opex decrease. Juniper is leading the way with a new router virtualization switching fabric that ...Continue Reading

• How to use Netsh WLAN to configure Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista wireless connections from t

  Learn how to configure wireless networking connections, specifically, Windows Server 2008 Windows Vista wireless connections, from the command line interface (CLI) using Netsh WLAN. Figure out how to add or delete profiles and connect or disconnect ...Continue Reading

• Can neighboring 802.11n and 802.11g networks avoid coexistence problems?

  After an 802.11n migration, our wireless networking expert explains how to avoid coexistence problems with neighboring businesses that still use 802.11g.Continue Reading

• Server virtualization and the impact on network configuration

  Server virtualization delivers sophisticated capabilities that affect performance, scaling and connectivity needs. Solutions have evolved from enabling partitioning of a single computer into multiple virtual servers to enabling virtual servers to be...Continue Reading

• What is the difference between packet fragmentation in IPv4 and IPv6?

  In this Q&A, our IPv6 expert explains how packet fragmentation differs in IPv6 compared to IPv4.Continue Reading

• The year's 5 hottest telecom topics and editor's picks

  The past year in telecom was a lot more than ominous recession forecasts and survival tips. From BGP and MPLS to flexible service provisioning, optics and wireless broadband, telecom pros were intensely focused on next-generation networking this ...Continue Reading

• Calculating subnets for IP addresses in IPv6

  Understand how subnetting in IPv6 differs from that of IPv4 and what you need to do in order to calculate the subnet of an IP address in IP version 6.Continue Reading

• Are there beginner certifications to take before Cisco's CCNA exam?

  Even though Cisco's CCNA certification is a beginner course, if you're new to networking, passing this exam is daunting. Try the starter certifications our Cisco expert suggests in this piece of advice.Continue Reading

• Why do Linksys WMP300N wireless cards have three antenna connectors?

  Before you make a larger antenna for your wireless network card, know how the Linksys WMP300N connects to its antenna, and understand why it has three connectors.Continue Reading

• HTTP error code troubleshooting, Part 2: How to use IIS tool WFetch

  You can understand what's causing an HTTP error by looking at the error code, but sometimes that's not enough. In this tip, learn how to use network analysis tool WFetch, from Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Resource Kit, to ...Continue Reading