Tips

Tips

• 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

• IP over dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM): Metro and core issues

  Providers pressured to increase network throughput while reducing costs can look to IP over DWDM in some metro network situations, such as saving money on residential Internet backhaul. IP expert Ivan Pepelnjak also walks you through the ...  Continue Reading

• Wireless or Ethernet LAN? An apples-to-apples cost comparison

  Now that 802.11n has made wireless LAN faster and more reliable, network administrators are wondering: Wireless or Ethernet LAN? Until now Ethernet replacement hasn't been feasible, but 802.11n WLAN benefits are much more tangible now.  Continue Reading

• Top five telecom industry trends for 2010: Market transformation ahead

  Five telecom industry trends for 2010 show clear signs that the coming year may well bring a market transformation unlike any the telecom industry has seen in quite some time.  Continue Reading

• Deep packet inspection: Who needs it for network traffic management?

  Using deep packet inspection (DPI) is a great way to analyze Internet traffic and bandwidth use beyond the TCP headers, when its use doesn't violate network traffic management regulations. Carriers may find that if they don't embrace DPI, their ...  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

• Three major issues face telecom on cloud computing services adoption

  Service providers must address three important cloud computing services issues – security, reliability and portability – if enterprise customers are going to adopt the new model, and the TM Forum is aiming to take a key role in the ...  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

• Desktop virtualization network requirements

  CIOs have fallen in love with virtual desktop infrastructure, so networking teams must meet desktop virtualization network requirements that include network bandwidth management and traffic prioritization for real-time communications.  Continue Reading

• Is the future of 4G LTE wireless networks in cloud computing?

  4G LTE wireless networking will drive low-revenue data business to carriers, so the key to making a profit is to bundle cloud-enabled managed services with basic communications.  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

• Procurement zones become telecom network infrastructure strategy

  Telecom carriers are changing their traditional network technology procurement procedures and looking at vendor-led "procurement zones" to ensure equipment and solutions interoperability and get around delayed standards issues in an increasingly ...  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

• 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

• 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

• Distributed network management means no more hard NOCs

  Distributed network management with out-of-band networks enables enterprises to move away from network operations centers, becoming eco-friendly and spending less.  Continue Reading

• FTP accelerator may be more of a quick than long-term fix

  One of the top challenges for many companies is transferring large files between network locations, so they are looking for ways to simply speed up the transfer of files from one point to another. FTP or file acceleration alternatives not only solve...  Continue Reading

• Effective service delivery platforms: Are we there yet?

  Service delivery platforms (SDPs) can play an essential role in making sure telecom carriers aren't relegated to transport-only status and instead can increase revenue by serving customers and over-the-top (OTT) partners using flexible multimedia ...  Continue Reading

• Preparing metro networks for 4G LTE backhaul

  Wireless operators must ensure their metro network infrastructure is optimized to handle 4G wireless broadband LTE voice and data, because the backhaul capabilities determine how much data the cell can support.  Continue Reading

• 4G LTE wireless transition: Examining the services advantages

  In the transition to 4G wireless broadband networks, mobile operators need to analyze the business opportunities and customer drivers of 4G LTE networks. For providing revenue-generating services, LTE has three main advantages over 3G, including ...  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

• Telecom industry trends hint at big changes to come

  Telecom industry changes stemming from network convergence and interest in driving IT-oriented service-level architecture could cause upheaval in the equipment-buying and management process, vendor professional services requirements and CIO/CTO ...  Continue Reading

• Service delivery platforms enable service differentiators

  Deploying software-based service delivery platforms (SDPs) can allow network operators speedy service deployment and validation and offer differentiated services that increase revenue and customer value.  Continue Reading

• Deep packet inspection: Controversial but valuable traffic management tool

  Deep packet inspection (DPI) may be controversial from a customer privacy and net neutrality standpoint, but the technology has valuable Internet traffic management capabilities to help service providers prioritize and deliver types of traffic, and ...  Continue Reading

• New managed network services can increase service providers' revenue

  Thanks to their economies of scale and changes in enterprise networking needs, telecom service providers have an enormous opportunity to grow their managed services revenue with new cloud-based, WAN, IT and security services at effective price ...  Continue Reading

• Self-organizing networks could be next-gen OSS model

  The concept of self-organizing networks emerging from LTE and IMS technology may offer service providers a new telecom OSS model for broad service operations management that automates processes and enables lower operations costs for high-volume, ...  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

• Remote, branch office VPN access with DSL

  Connecting multiple branch or remote offices to the main office can be done easily over DSL with a typical IPsec VPN solution; explore the options, including using a Cisco router.  Continue Reading

• VPN, remote access security best practices

  Keeping workers connected to the corporate network increasingly requires greater reliance on virtual private networks. Find out more about site-to-site VPN and connecting mobile and remote workers, as well as what protocols are used.  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

• IT networking certifications and career paths for aspiring professionals

  Here you'll find network career training and Cisco certification guidance for the aspiring IT professional. Find a career path for you before and after earning your degree, with these expert responses.  Continue Reading

• Determining IPsec tunneling, bandwidth capacity

  VPN router tunnels, including IPsec tunnels, are demystified in this tip as well as bandwidth management and determining bandwidth capacity for router tunnels.  Continue Reading

• Reduce TCP congestion, packet loss on the WAN with SACK and FACK

  TCP robustness and packet loss can be reduced with the use of the SACK and FACK algorithms on the WAN. Find out how these algorithms can help reduce congestion on the network.  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

• Interpreting bandwidth utilization graphs

  Network bandwidth utilization graphs can help determine if an enterprise has the right amount of bandwidth. Find out more about interpreting the graphs and finding the solution the fits the 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

• VPLS: A secure LAN cloud solution for some, not all

  VPLS can be the right solution for enterprise customers using non-IP protocols and for disaster recovery scenarios, as long as service providers and customers understand the security implications and don't get swept away with the hype.  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

• Converged Enhanced Ethernet: New protocols enhance data center Ethernet

  10 Gigabit Ethernet performance in the data center is improving. Network traffic and packet loss issues are being solved with new, more efficient protocols.  Continue Reading

• Carrier Ethernet: Big picture issues for carrier deployment

  Carrier Ethernet standards were designed to address Ethernet technology's shortcomings in access and core networks and in site-to-site transport to bring Ethernet to carrier grade. This tip addresses additional telecom service provider issues in ...  Continue Reading

• Three 4G business models emerge for LTE and WiMAX

  4G evolution talk is all the rage, but the best business models for wireless broadband technologies aren't in sharp focus yet. Wireless operators have to decide whether to deploy WiMAX or LTE for their 4G networks, and knowing their customers' ...  Continue Reading

• WAN design: What to consider

  WAN design includes taking many factors into consideration. Network managers must start with business goals and technology requirements, then use techniques including discovery, network analysis, and simulation to determine the network architecture ...  Continue Reading

• Questions to ask to determine WAN bandwidth requirements

  When addressing bandwidth management, business and technical issues cannot be overlooked. This means that as a network manager you must identify all the key factors that affect bandwidth usage and requirements. This article walks through collecting ...  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

• FTTx: Three considerations for deployment planning

  Fiber may be the most effective way to deliver high-speed bandwidth, but three main FTTx deployment considerations for service delivery will affect each provider's cost/benefit analysis. Find out what network operators need to consider in selecting ...  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

• Choosing customer MPLS VPN routing protocols

  Providing customers with MPLS VPNs puts the issue of which IP protocols to use in the network front and center. Telecom service providers prefer BGP, but enterprise customers often prefer other options. This expert article looks at a range of ...  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

• How the NetFlow protocol monitors your WAN

  Learn how the NetFlow protocol, developed by Cisco and recently opened as an IETF standard, can monitor your WAN traffic and perform a number of other network monitoring tasks.  Continue Reading

• A new vision for telecom network transformation

  To maintain revenue from transporting bits over their networks, telecom operators must adopt a new vision of transformation, plus a new model to monetize network investment. Think supermarket, with basic supplies and premium products, which means ...  Continue Reading

• How to monitor and manage your data center network

  A large part of designing and building a good data center network is making sure you can monitor and manage it effectively. This tip covers some issues that complicate managing data center networks and provides an overview of the monitoring options ...  Continue Reading

• Building the network infrastructure in your data center

  The network architect must help contribute to an energy-efficient and cost-effective data center network design -- without sacrificing performance. This can be accomplished by choosing optimal networking equipment. This tip discusses some ...  Continue Reading

• Power and cooling considerations for data center network design

  The network architect involved in data center design needs to be aware of issues that factor into networking the data center beyond the network itself. This tip will introduce physical facilities considerations of data center design, such as power ...  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

• Redundant routers and network segmentation

  This tip investigates a routing configuration using a router for each switch -- or redundant router architecture -- on the WAN, and discusses a common failure scenario that is somewhat difficult to defend against: a segmented network.  Continue Reading

• Redundancy on the WAN: Routers for backup circuits

  When improving redundancy with a backup WAN circuit between two sites, the network architect must decide whether there should be two routers, with one for each circuit, or whether both circuits should plug into the same router. In this tip, Tom ...  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

• IPsec VPN clients

  Here's a list of IPsec clients that run on many systems. See what they have to offer and what they are often missing.  Continue Reading

• The VPN Expert: VPN client alternatives, part 2 -- PPTP

  Lisa Phifer discusses one widely available type of "free" client: those used in Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol VPNs.  Continue Reading

• Advanced OpenVPN configuration

  This article deals with some features of advanced OpenVPN configuration like protecting clients through a firewall behind a tunnel, distributed compilation through VPN tunnels with distcc and authentication methods.  Continue Reading

• Modeling can be key to capacity planning

  Planning for the future of your network sometimes requires rigorous planning and modeling. In this tip, Ed Tittel shows how a free modeling tool just may come to your rescue.  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

• Network planning: Bandwidth utilization

  Network planning is explained in this tip on bandwidth utilization.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting WAN performance issues

  Isolating the root cause of a WAN performance issue is critical, and having the right tools or managed services in place is imperative. Those tools can help determine whether the root cause of the problem lies in the application; the carrier network...  Continue Reading

• Disabling IPv6 in Windows Vista -- Pros and cons

  Windows Vista features a dual stack, running IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously. If your organization is still using only IPv4, there are IPv6 performance and security problems that can be countered by simply turning off IPv6. But there are also reasons ...  Continue Reading

• Application performance management: Developing a strategy

  Application performance management is a critical task because application delivery can play a critical role in both revenue generation and corporate functionality. In this tip, learn how to develop a strategy for managing applications on your ...  Continue Reading

• Bandwidth: Calculate current and future requirements

  Increased bandwidth, and factors influencing the need for it, are considered in this tip. Network engineers will discover best practices for estimating current and future bandwidth needs.  Continue Reading

• Broadband VPN bandwidth issues

  VPN bandwidth presents a serious challenge when the VPN is connected over broadband Internet connections. Vendors tout the ability to provide bandwidth controls and QoS, but you must consider that the traffic will be in the same queue as any other ...  Continue Reading

• Using MPLS TE to avoid core network congestion

  Telecom service providers with high-bandwidth core networks inevitably face link congestion. To help you deal with router architecture proactively, IP expert Ivan Pepelnjak offers advice on reintroducing virtual circuits in the core IP network using...  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

• Telecom operators need vendor help to justify new investment benefits

  Telecom network operators need to justify the value of new equipment purchases, and vendors need to help them define the benefits if telecom revenue is to recover now that voice is no longer king. The question is: Will vendors step up to the plate ...  Continue Reading

• Network performance and throughput in server virtualization environments

  Network performance and throughput are crucial areas where server virtualization can affect the data center network. These need attention from networking professionals. As organizations expand their use of server virtualization, the data center ...  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

• Telecoms must address three SOA implementation challenges

  To successfully implement SOA, telecom providers must be clear on the main deployment challenges, and keep high performance, scalability, efficient applications automation and boundaries from third parties' top of mind.  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

• How to avoid the WPA wireless security standard attack

  The latest crack in wireless Internet security, specifically, the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security standard, can threaten the safety of enterprise networks and company information or data. This tip shows the best way to avoid being victimized ...  Continue Reading

• Top Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripting books, websites

  Once you've learned how to write Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts to manage various aspects of Windows-based networks, check out the top resources recommended for your study. In this tip, Mitch Tulloch lists the best books and ...  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

• Five steps to a next-gen network transformation plan

  Creating a network transformation plan establishes a solidly outlined plan to get the most out of a service provider's next-generation network investment. Networking expert Tom Nolle presents the essential five steps needed to create a flexible ...  Continue Reading

• HTTP error code troubleshooting, Part 3: Disabling IE friendly error messages

  To troubleshoot an HTTP error code, you may need to disable Internet Explorer's friendly error messages. In this tip, learn how to do this and discover the reasons why you may continue to see the same friendly error message.  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

• MPLS QoS: Implementing the best model for guaranteed service

  Adding Quality of Services (QoS) guarantees for MPLS VPN services using DiffServe is a significant engineering undertaking, but advanced planning will help you choose the right QoS model for the project.  Continue Reading

• The TPM chip: An unexploited resource for network security

  The TPM chip developed by the Trusted Computing Group is installed in most new desktops, laptops and servers. It can be used to strengthen user login authentication, protect against unauthorized software modification, and fully encrypt hard disks ...  Continue Reading

• HTTP error code troubleshooting, Part 1: HTTP status codes defined

  To troubleshoot HTTP error codes, you must first understand HTTP status codes. Any time a client issues an HTTP request to a Web server, the server returns a response code. In this tip, learn the 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 Series response status ...  Continue Reading

• IEEE 802.11w protects wireless LAN management frames

  The IEEE 802.11w wireless encryption standard builds on the 802.11i framework to protect against subtle attacks on wireless LAN (WLAN) management frames. It will increase the confidence of network managers that applications such as wireless VoIP can...  Continue Reading

• 3 recession survival steps for telecom service providers

  As the economy settles in for an extended recession, telecom service providers can prepare their businesses to not only survive the global economic downfall, but to pull through in a strengthened position. CIMI Corp. President Tom Nolle offers three...  Continue Reading

• Properties of Windows Management Instrumentation: Managing Windows networks using scripts, Part 12

  Learn how to display all properties of any Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) class in this tip on how to manage Windows networks using scripts.  Continue Reading

• Measure wireless network performance using testing tool iPerf

  In this tip, learn how to measure wireless networking performance with iPerf -- a tool that calculates TCP/UDP, throughput, loss and delay. Eliminate jitter, isolate bottlenecks of traffic, or monitor Wi-Fi or AP performance using this open source ...  Continue Reading

• OSS service delivery platforms: New services launch pads

  Service delivery platforms (SDPs) bring together many OSS/BSS disciplines and provide a unified view of subscriber data, service configuration and device-level information that strengthens every link in the service fulfillment chain.  Continue Reading

• Tackling next-gen network OSS/BSS challenges

  Use OSS/BSS to help manage packet-switched, content-driven telecom networks so the right packets reach the right customers, and service providers capture the revenue.  Continue Reading

• Packet optical: Differing views on network elements

  Packet optical networking solutions may be the biggest new thing for replacing or migrating away from TDM-based SONET/SDH optical networks. Telecom service providers are looking at both single and multiple network element solutions, depending on ...  Continue Reading

• How to achieve server virtualization in your network

  Learn how to virtualize the physical servers in your network in order to reduce hardware costs and ease network management in these step-by-step instructions.  Continue Reading

• More remote scripting tricks: Managing Windows networks using scripts, Part 11

  Learn a remote scripting trick and how to use Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) to remotely query for local administrators in this tip from the series Managing Windows networks using scripts.  Continue Reading

• 802.11s mesh networks

  802.11s mesh technology, currently under development by the IEEE, will bring a number of advances to 802.11 wireless networking.  Continue Reading

• 3 reasons to speed legacy to next-gen network migration

  It's about revenue flow. Telecom providers have three good reasons--customer demand, economics and network equipment--to speed their transition from legacy to next-gen telecom networks. Here's how to go about it.  Continue Reading

• Avoiding private IP security risks in public networks

  A shortage of public IP addresses for new services looms, but service providers should avoid the dangers of using private IP addresses and Network Address Translations to fix the problem.  Continue Reading