The speed of multi-gigabit networks has largely outpaced the legacy monitoring tools traditionally used by network engineers. Tom Hollingsworth outlines how Barefoot Networks uses their programmable Tofino chipset and the P4 language to provide modern monitoring using their Barefoot Deep Insight solution.
Unmasking Bad Actors with Gigamon
After seeing their presentation from Networking Field Day earlier this year, Tom Hollingsworth reviews Gigamon’s solutions for giving visibility back to your network. They do this via SSL Decryption, which can detect anomalies from a variety of sources. Tom also addresses potential privacy concerns of this approach in the piece.
Dedicated Wireless Troubleshooting Doesn’t Have To Break The Bank
Tom Hollingsworth takes a look at Mojo Networks’ unique approach to wireless analytics in this piece. This is achieved by adding a third radio to each AP to assist with monitoring and analytics. Tom thinks this is an ideal solution to get an ear on traffic without interfering with peak speeds.
Pluribus Networks Is the Definition of “Software Defined”
Tom Hollingsworth looks at how the value of software-defined networking can drive your network forward with Pluribus Networks. For Tom, SDN is about making the hardware less important than what running on top of it. Pluribus showed how their SDN platform can still provide differentiation on newer hardware.
Back In The Saddle Of A Horse Of A Different Color
Do CCIE’s dream of CLI’s? For Tom Hollingsworth, he sees less value in keyboard based inputs of individual network devices, and now focuses on a more architectural level. He uses Aruba’s 8400 ArubaOS-CX as an example of a hard shift away from CLI, it’s still available under the covers, but the switch has been seemingly designed to require minimal keyboard input, while allowing for mass configuration and automation.
It’s Probably Not The Wi-Fi
After Mobility Field Day, Tom Hollingsworth has one important takeaway, “it’s Not The Wi-Fi.” So often problems are blamed on the wireless network or firewall, etc. when that actually was not the case. Tom argues that the solution to this issue is accelerating the time to diagnose and resolve by involving professionals that manage systems that are actually down and telling users to make sure it is actually a wireless issue before proclaiming that its the wireless.
The History of The Wireless Field Day AirCheck
Tom Hollingsworth wraps up Mobility field Day by telling the story of the Wireless/Mobility Field Day AirCheck. Dating back to the first Wireless Field Day, exchanging the AirCheck is a long-running tradition. At the latest Mobility Field Day, Netscout surprised the delegates with a new and improved G2 AirCheck to continue the tradition.
Off The Cuff – Conferences And Social Media For Engineers
The Network Collective Podcast panel at Cisco Live US discusses the career changing value of conferences and social media for network engineers.
Not The Cisco of John Chambers Anymore
Based on his experience at Cisco Live US, Tom Hollingsworth discusses signs of a very different Cisco under new CEO Chuck Robins. Robins’ focus on software over hardware and a more hands on leadership style will lead to big changes within this iconic company.
Don’t Build Big Data With Bad Data
Big data, machine learning, AI. If you were playing buzzword bingo, you just need to throw in IoT to win. But Tom Hollingsworth makes some great points about some of the blind spots that become apparent in these technologies that otherwise engender hagiography. For Tom, it’s an issue of where data comes in for these systems. If the starting point is flawed, either in how it was collected or in a cultural sense, the end result cannot help but be impacted.
Short Take – The Present Future of the Net
Tom Hollingsworth wrote up some quick thoughts from Networking Field Day. He saw Intel really pushing their 5G LTE wireless successor. PNDA really impressed Tom with their potential to change networking data analytics. Finally, VMware talked about the transition from traditional networking to one defined by microservices and application layer intelligence over dinner. Overall, sounds like Tom has a lot of food for thought!
Extreme-ly Interesting Times In Networking
Tom Hollingsworth takes a look at some recent acquisitions by Extreme Networks. Since September, the company bought the data center networking business of Brocade, Avaya’s campus networking portfolio, and Zebra Wireless. For around $155 million, Extreme Networks has made themselves into a full stack networking company. Tom considers the implications.
Datanauts 077: Transitioning To A Less Technical Role
On the latest episode of Datanauts, Tom Hollingsworth joins hosts Drew Conry-Murray and Ethan Banks to discuss the topic of transitioning to less technical roles as you advance in your IT career.
Building Reliability
Tom Hollingsworth looks at the issue of network reliability. At Aruba Atmosphere, he saw some impressive reliability features, including a live non-disruptive controller upgrade during one of the presentations. Tom found it impressive, but thinks a lot of the focus on reliability, is perhaps not seeing the forest for the trees. For Tom, maybe the idea of creating incredibly robust networks that absolve users from error, Tom calls for more limitations and responsibility for people working on and using them. A little knowledge goes a long way to absolving an organization from the expense of designing an implementing the “foolproof” network.
Sorting Through SD-WAN
The SD-WAN landscape can be a little tough to navigate. While the basic idea is easy enough to understand, every company out there seems to have their own implementation and market focus. Tom Hollingsworth thinks the moment of SD-WAN maturity is finally upon us. If anything, Tom thinks there might not be any more room for differentiation for new companies. Overall though, the space is really exciting, as it can only get easier to deploy and extend. 2017 may indeed be the year of SD-WAN!
Bringing 2017 To Everyone
Tom Hollingsworth had a busy 2016. He wrote a small book, ran a Networking Field Day event, and worked with the community to encourage them to write their thoughts. For 2017, he plans to be even busier. As he continues to lead Networking Field Day events, he’s diving deep into the technical knowledge base. Plus, he plans on attending Cisco Live, Interop, and Open Networking Summit. On top of that, look for lots of writing from Tom in 2017. Looks like it’ll be a busy year ahead!
The Power of ONUG And What It Means To You
Tom Holllingsworth takes a look at what makes the Open Networking User Group special. Unlike other interest groups that bully their way into short term solutions in opposition to vendors, ONUG put together groups to solve communally agreed upon issues, to be presented to vendors as a solution, not a demand. Tom lays out the case why ONUG is setup to succeed in the long term, using their success at moving SD-WAN from a tech demo to a full fledged enterprise solution in just a few short years. Give it a read and try not be be excited with what they’ve got coming down the pipe!
OpenFlow Is Dead. Long Live OpenFlow.
Tom Hollingsworth takes a look at the curious life of OpenFlow. This once hyped panacea has found a completely new life from its original purpose of replacing the forwarding plane programming method of switches. Tom compares it to the development of Viagra as originally being intended for high blood pressure. Company’s like NEC have taken OpenFlow, with their ProgrammableFlow derivative, and adapted it to a whole new set of purposes, in this case mitigating the spread of infections within networks. It’s always interesting to see an established tool reimagined with a new purpose.
Nutanix and Plexxi – An Affinity to Converge
Tom Hollingsworth makes the case for why Nutanix should acquire Plexxi. He argues that Nutanix is less concerned about underlying networks, their play is making sure their overlay protocols can just work on top of it. Plexxi Affinities naturally compliment hyperconverged solutions, effectively building fast pathways and interconnects between endpoints where applications need to talk to one another. Tom thinks this would give Nutanix a killer offering in the crowded SDN space.