Tips

Tips

• Seven steps to a Microsoft Hyper-V test network

  Networking pros can use Microsoft Hyper-V networks for multi-tenant cloud environments, but first they'll have to learn the ropes in testing environments. Here are simple steps to building a Hyper-V test network.  Continue Reading

• What do we need from NFV orchestration?

  NFV orchestration is about much more than just provisioning and managing virtual features, such as firewalls or load balancers. Instead, NFV orchestration must address the entire service-chaining process.  Continue Reading

• Using the Link Layer Discovery Protocol to reveal disparate devices

  The Link Layer Discovery Protocol is a helpful tool when you need to know what's connected in your network -- regardless of vendor.  Continue Reading

• Juniper OpenContrail vs. Cisco ACI: Making an SDN decision

  Juniper and Cisco have radically different SDN strategies. Here's some crucial information about the Cisco ACI vs. Juniper OpenContrail decision.  Continue Reading

• Options abound for OpenStack implementation

  Integrating OpenStack within your existing data network takes some careful planning, but there are plenty of tools to help.  Continue Reading

• What to look for when gauging MPLS performance

  Quality of service and service-level agreements are just a few of the considerations enterprises must keep in mind when assessing global MPLS providers.  Continue Reading

• GENEVE primer: The answer to network virtualization interoperability?

  The GENEVE network encapsulation protocol is more flexible than VXLAN and NVGRE. Will it bring interoperability to network virtualization overlays?  Continue Reading

• GENEVE primer: A universal network encapsulation protocol?

  The GENEVE network encapsulation protocol is more flexible than VXLAN, NVGRE and STT and does everything they can do. Will it replace them entirely?  Continue Reading

• Cisco iWAN marries MPLS and Internet for WAN aggregation

  With Cisco iWAN, engineers optimize WAN performance by dynamically aggregating MPLS and Internet resources.  Continue Reading

• The simple facts behind antenna basics

  No matter how expensive your wireless system may be, its performance depends on the strength of its antennas.  Continue Reading

• Content distribution network outdoes traditional cloud services

  Content distribution network services facilitate content distribution at a lower cost and with higher performance than traditional cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Content distribution networks: Separating fact from hype

  Content distribution networks can accelerate cloud applications and services, but only if companies know what they're looking for.  Continue Reading

• How wireless works: The tech behind the magic

  Beginning with the electromagnetic spectrum, analyst Craig Mathias details the foundation supporting wireless communications.  Continue Reading

• WLAN AP reviews: Aruba instant access points

  Aruba's series of IAP-225 access points promises quick provisioning and quick configuration, analyst Craig Mathias writes.  Continue Reading

• WLAN AP reviews: Meru access points

  This 802.11ac product review of Meru Networks AP822 WLAN access points focuses on the advantages of high-capacity and plug-and-play capabilities.  Continue Reading

• How to buy: What to look for in 802.11ac access points

  If you're in the market for 802.11ac access points for your wireless LAN, find out what features are essential when it's time to buy.  Continue Reading

• Building a hybrid network with SDN, network virtualization

  SDN and network virtualization are new and still largely misunderstood technologies. Here's how they can combine to build a modern hybrid network.  Continue Reading

• Wireless expense management shouldn't spook employees

  Tom Nolle discusses the dos and don'ts of wireless accounting and the steps enterprises must take to address BYOD expense management.  Continue Reading

• Good BYOD expense management hinges on clear telecom expense policies

  A cohesive telecom expense management program must be based on clear policies governing how employees are reimbursed for using their own devices.  Continue Reading

• How to manage bandwidth hogs of the mobile device age

  Personal mobile devices will hog your network resources unless you are prepared. Here is what network admins must do now.  Continue Reading

• PSTN-to-VoIP evolution poses identity, authentication challenges

  Going from PSTN to VoIP services, this two-part series looks at the evolution of voice and its challenges, from enabling 911 to user identification.  Continue Reading

• Five software-defined data center tips to consider before investing

  The software-defined data center combines programmable networks, servers and storage. But these SDDC tips show you what to look for beyond basic flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Software-based routers on x86 servers are becoming reality

  With stronger processing power and advanced software features, software-based routers are becoming a reality -- but only in some cases.  Continue Reading

• Using dynamic ARP inspection to stop sniffing attacks

  Expert Michael Gregg discusses how dynamic Address Resolution Protocol inspection helps prevent hackers from penetrating enterprise switches.  Continue Reading

• Expert discusses must-haves for secure VPN implementations

  Expert lists strong encryption settings and security policies, among others, as ways to use security and design to strengthen VPNs.  Continue Reading

• In SDN optical networks, centralized control and scalability

  Technology for SDN optical networks is emerging and with it comes centralized control and dynamic bandwidth provisioning in the WAN.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V logical networks: The answer to scalability

  When it comes time to scale Microsoft virtual environments, engineers must use Hyper-V logical networks, which enable wider connectivity.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V networking: The three virtual switches that fuel connectivity

  In this Hyper-V networking primer, learn about the three virtual switches behind Microsoft virtualization connectivity.  Continue Reading

• Brocade SDN certification: What to know about its product credentials

  Brocade now offers two SDN certification credentials focused on its virtual router product platform. Here's what you need to know.  Continue Reading

• Next-stage high-density switch options: What's right for you?

  All major switch vendors have rolled out new high-density, low-latency data center switches. Expert Glen Kemp looks at what makes them special.  Continue Reading

• White box switches: Understanding the basics

  White box switches are finally emerging, offering a choice in network OS as well as flexibility. Are they poised to take over your network?  Continue Reading

• SDN essentials: Why network orchestration and virtualization?

  The goal of SDN is dynamic networks, so it's crucial to understand the concepts of network orchestration and virtualization -- the keys to flexibility.  Continue Reading

• SDN basics: Understanding centralized control and programmability

  Network engineers who want to learn about SDN basics must begin with the concepts of centralized control and network programmability.  Continue Reading

• How SDN and NFV simplify network service chain provisioning

  SDN and NFV simplify service chain provisioning, making it easier and cheaper to spin up applications in enterprise and service provider networks.  Continue Reading

• Securing from anywhere: Your mobile device VPN strategy

  Virtual private networks have long secured remote users. Learn how a mobile device VPN factors into your security strategy.  Continue Reading

• Network programming languages Frenetic and Pyretic simplify OpenFlow

  OpenFlow can simplify networks, yet the protocol itself is complex. Network programming languages Frenetic and Pyretic streamline OpenFlow SDN.  Continue Reading

• Wireless security options don't have to break the bank

  Security expert Michele Chubirka shares low-cost and free options available to help your company guard its wireless LANs against threats.  Continue Reading

• WAN aggregation: Why you should consider this application delivery optimization technique

  What is WAN aggregation, and how does it work? Our expert explains why all companies should consider this type of application delivery optimization.  Continue Reading

• Mulling enterprise SDN deployment? Not so fast

  Although SDN offers some compelling advantages, enterprises would be ill-advised to deploy the technology until it gets more mature and standardized.  Continue Reading

• Take steps to defend your network using DHCP snooping

  Learn how to enable DHCP snooping to secure your network against common breaches including man in the middle attacks and ARP poisoning.  Continue Reading

• Getting cloud capacity planning right in the face of oncoming growth

  Cloud capacity planning requires accurate knowledge of a cloud provider's existing infrastructure, future plans and the growth plans of its customers.  Continue Reading

• Identifying and mitigating cloud computing vulnerabilities

  How successful a cloud provider is in growing its business depends on its ability to dispel customer concerns about data security and privacy.  Continue Reading

• Will the cloud exchange be the next big ecosystem player?

  An emerging branch of the cloud ecosystem, the cloud exchange, has the potential to address many concerns about the cloud broker model.  Continue Reading

• Six ways hackers try to break Secure Sockets Layer-encrypted data

  Security expert Michael Gregg discusses steps enterprises should take to ensure their SSL-encrypted data remains secure.  Continue Reading

• Overcoming network functions virtualization implementation challenges

  Carriers need network functions virtualization implementation prespecification, so they'll look to TM Forum and cloud management models for help.  Continue Reading

• Selling SaaS: Operational requirements for consumers vs. businesses

  The key to successfully selling SaaS across all market segments is addressing the different operational requirements among various buyer groups.  Continue Reading

• Where SDN and DPI technology meet: Centralized control and automation

  When SDN and DPI technology meet, network engineers can apply monitoring and management policy to the whole network instead of individual components.  Continue Reading

• IETF SDN: I2RS uses traditional routing protocols in software networks

  The IETF SDN strategy relies on centralized management and distributed decision making with traditional network protocols -- departing from OpenFlow.  Continue Reading

• Selling government cloud services: FedRAMP vs. FISMA

  Even if a cloud provider isn't planning to sell government cloud services, it's still important to have a basic understanding of FedRAMP and FISMA.  Continue Reading

• Cloud bursting: How will it affect your billing requirements?

  Cloud bursting attracts many customers to public cloud services, but tracking these dynamic resources for billing becomes problematic for providers.  Continue Reading

• Virtual overlay networks: Tunneling protocols enable multi-tenancy

  Virtual overlay networks use tunneling protocols to extend isolated network segments between servers for multi-tenant data center networks.  Continue Reading

• Wide area network resiliency best practices

  Learn about network resiliency best practices to keep your wide area network (WAN) services running during technical difficulties and outages.  Continue Reading

• IT service-level agreements and SDN: Assuring virtualization performance

  With SDN with network virtualization, service providers can improve server virtualization performance and offer improved service-level agreements.  Continue Reading

• Building cloud-ready applications: What changes?

  To maximize profits, providers must understand cloud-ready applications, learn how to meet their unique requirements and offer facilitating services.  Continue Reading

• IPv6 benefits: Making the IPv6 business case

  Depleted IPv4 addresses are not enough for many enterprises to deploy IPv6. Use these IPv6 benefits to make a business case for your IPv6 migration.  Continue Reading

• IPv6 cost considerations

  Before you make the switch to the new Internet Protcol, it's important to understand these IPv6 cost considerations.  Continue Reading

• SDN security strategies for network attack prevention

  With a deeper level of visibility and granular control, SDN security strategies can better prevent a wide range of network attacks.  Continue Reading

• IPv6 addressing requires special attention to ensure security

  IPv6 auto-configured addresses raise concern about privacy and the protocol's vulnerability to host tracking attacks, and more.  Continue Reading

• In the SDN WAN: Network programmability, provisioning and high availability

  The SDN WAN's network programmability and automated provisioning addresses the demands placed on the wide area network by the cloud, SaaS and BYOD.  Continue Reading

• Understanding the relationship between SDN and NFV

  SDN and NFV are not part and parcel to each other, but when the two sets of technology meet they advance each other's capabilities.  Continue Reading

• In mobile networks, SDN and NFV mean service orchestration

  In mobile networks today, it can take months to deploy infrastructure and services, but SDN and NFV allow for orchestration and dynamic provisioning.  Continue Reading

• Unlocking the potential of SDN controller applications

  Three broad sources for route information could drive SDN controller applications: provisioning instructions, "route sniffing" and path computation.  Continue Reading

• SDN's missing links: Five barriers blocking SDN adoption by providers

  As more providers move to deploy SDN, adoption is being hindered by crucial gaps in device standards and tools for network control.  Continue Reading

• Using big data analysis to harness your network operations

  Big data is all the craze, but analyzing big data intelligently can help network administrators pinpoint potential problems.  Continue Reading

• How network functions virtualization will revolutionize architecture

  Using NFV, engineers can virtualize devices and services in large networks to make their architectures cost efficient and flexible.  Continue Reading

• Easier ways to troubleshoot network routing issues

  Expert Patrick Hubbard shares how you can make your life easier by alleviating some annoying network routing issues.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud networks face challenges, but SDN may be the answer

  Customers have misgivings about hybrid cloud, but enhancing cloud networks with software-defined networking may help allay many concerns.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise wireless standards: The basics

  Glen Kemp discusses the standards and protocols that support enterprise-class wireless deployments and how they differ from consumer configurations.  Continue Reading

• FISMA compliance through continuous monitoring: Tips for cloud providers

  Continuous monitoring for FISMA compliance must shift from its static approach to a cyclical, more dynamic strategy for near real-time risk awareness.  Continue Reading

• Parsing through the software-defined storage hype

  Software-defined storage can be many technologies, but most aim for decoupled software, automated provisioning and non-proprietary systems.  Continue Reading

• How to make Network as a Service a real option

  Networking as a Service may be the future of networking, but virtual network overlay and device-based NaaS has challenges to solve first.  Continue Reading

• Virtualization management: What you need to know about the Nexus 1000v

  Cisco's Nexus 1000v platform gives network administrators some familiar tools to oversee virtual networks.  Continue Reading

• Three models of SDN explained

  In this tip, networking expert Tom Nolle outlines the three models of SDN, explaining the basic goals, mechanisms, benefits and drawbacks of each.  Continue Reading

• OpenFlow configuration protocols: Understanding OF-Config and OVSDB

  OpenFlow directs network packet flows, but OpenFlow configuration protocols, OF-Config and OVSDB, form relationships between controllers and switches.  Continue Reading

• Network security assessment: Test firewalls, IDS in multiple ways

  Network administrators need to test internal systems such as firewalls and IPS/IDS devices to ensure their networks are safe.  Continue Reading

• Use business service management to optimize application performance

  To optimize application performance in the network, many companies are using business service management software and tools to automate IT services.  Continue Reading

• Network security assessment: 10 tools you can't live without

  The top 10 tools to protect your network against security breaches.  Continue Reading

• SSL certificate management: A practical guide

  Certificate management is faced by many but understood by few. This guide provides a refresher of the basics and covers common tasks.  Continue Reading

• How data center network fabric and SDN intersect

  SDN and data center network fabrics both enable converged networking and the ability to manage many switches as one. Where do the two intersect?  Continue Reading

• OpenStack vs. CloudStack: What's the best approach?

  When it comes to OpenStack vs. CloudStack, IT managers need to understand the difference between the open source cloud-computing management architectures.  Continue Reading

• Five ways applications benefit from enterprise WAN optimization

  These are five ways enterprise WAN optimization technology helps overcome productivity and application issues organizations face in today's workforce.  Continue Reading

• Application performance monitoring tools: Three vendor strategies

  Application performance monitoring tools match user transaction time to network flow information to identify problems. But APM tools differ widely.  Continue Reading

• Centralized vs. decentralized SDN architecture: Which works for you?

  Two SDN architecture models -- centralized and decentralized -- have much in common, but key differences center on the use of the OpenFlow protocol.  Continue Reading

• Network functions virtualization primer: Software devices take over

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

• Software defined networking security enables granular policy control

  Software defined networking introduces network programmability and granular traffic management, which could contribute to enhanced SDN security.  Continue Reading

• Promote cloud adoption with extensible, policy-driven cloud governance

  Providers can help enterprises tackle cloud governance by providing them the tools to create application-specific policies for dynamic environments.  Continue Reading

• Basic wide area network optimization techniques

  Adding bandwidth to your network does not always fix slow applications problems. Consider these WAN optimization techniques first.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating business and technology needs for a robust enterprise WLAN

  It is crucial to assess business and technology issues driving the need for a robust and capable enterprise WLAN to support a new mobile workforce.  Continue Reading

• Evaluating wireless LAN requirements: What to consider before buying

  When considering a WLAN solution for your enterprise, you'll have to start by assessing the wireless LAN requirements necessary.  Continue Reading

• Ten questions to ask WLAN vendors when evaluating WLAN solutions

  Once IT professionals have developed a mobility plan, it is crucial to address particular questions with WLAN vendors when assessing WLAN solutions.  Continue Reading

• RFP process steps for selecting network carriers and equipment vendors

  These RFP process steps detail everything organizations need to include in a request for proposal to new network carriers and equipment vendors.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of WLAN infrastructure as the primary access network

  Many companies see the benefits of WLAN infrastructure as primary access network, but some need it more than others. Understanding the gains is key.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 skills SDN vendors will be looking for

  One of SDN's pioneers, Nick McKeown, offers his advice about the top skills for a job in software-defined networking.  Continue Reading

• How to manage service providers on your own

  IT professionals who handle global networks need to know how to manage service provider relationships. This article explains how to be your own MSP.  Continue Reading

• WAN file protocol optimization: Three ways to accelerate CIFS and NFS

  View these three tips for accelerating file protocols CIFS and NFS over WAN.  Continue Reading

• Floodlight primer: An OpenFlow controller

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

• QFX3500 vs. EX4550: Juniper's two top-of-rack switches

  Juniper's QFX3500 and EX4550 are both capable 10 Gigabit Ethernet, top-of-rack switches. Deciding which to buy may mean choosing between traditional and fabric architectures.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of mobile optimization and cloud optimization

  IT research analyst John Burke discusses the pros and cons of mobile optimization clients and cloud optimization services.  Continue Reading

• Three SSL acceleration questions answered

  SSL acceleration requires making changes to traditional WAN optimization tools so that they can read through encryption.  Continue Reading

• VXLAN monitoring: How to gain virtual network overlay visibility

  Network pros need VXLAN monitoring tools for new network overlays. Until these tools arrive, they'll have to adapt existing monitoring strategies.  Continue Reading