Cisco presented its Cisco Crosswork Network Controller at Networking Field Day last fall. Tom Hollingsworth takes a look at this networking solution and states: “In short, the Crosswork Network Controller helps make your multivendor network environment homogeneous.” For more information and Tom’s thoughts, check out his post on GestaltIT.com!
Riverbed Wants You to Stop Being the Network Superhero
You might fancy yourself a superhero: running around, solving all the problems around you just in time to save the day. But doing all that can be exhausting and hard to keep up. Instead, Tom Hollingsworth thinks you should be a Supervillain…just hear him out! At Tech Field Day last year, Riverbed presented on how you can move away from being a “wrench turner” and instead become a “conductor.” With Riverbed harnessing the power of AI and machine learning, you too can have your own minions focus on the wrench turning while you focus on the scheming. Check out Tom’s thoughts on GestaltIT.com and the Riverbed presentation from Tech Field Day on our website.
Operationalizing Zero Trust Security With Illumio
Is zero-trust networking and security just marketing hype? Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom Hollingsworth says no. He writes that zero-trust is a tool that you can and should consider to make your network more secure and easier to manage. One specific version of zero-trust that Tom writes about is that from Illumio, who highlighted some specific use cases at Tech Field Day in December. Check out Tom’s thoughts on zero-trust security and Illumio’s offering on the Gestalt IT website!
Cisco Tetration Helps Keep Security From Getting Left Behind
Most technology companies are simultaneously dealing with two competing priorities: the need to move quickly in development and the need ensure to your projects are completely secure. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom Hollingsworth says that the Cisco Tetration analytics platform can help you do both by helping creating and enforcing policy for app developers. Check out Tom’s thoughts on Cisco’s Tetration offering and how to “shift left” in your organization on the GestaltIT.com website.
Troubleshooting in an Isolated World With PathSolutions
Tom Hollingsworth went through the troubleshooting gauntlet when he worked at an inbound tech help desk. Troubleshooting can be tough enough in person, and the work from home environment has been even more challenging for many employees. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom explores the PathSolutions RemoteView Client Testing product that can quickly give you a look into anyone’s network who might be having issues. They presented the functionality and usefulness of this offering at Networking Field Day 23 last year. Be sure to head over to GestaltIT.com to check out Tom’s thoughts and for more information on the PathSolutions RemoteView Client Testing product.
Keeping SLAs Honest With Broadcom
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are agreements between network providers and you about network reliability and performance and can help to keep those providers in check to ensure that you are getting what you were promised. There’s just one problem, how can you prove if you’re not getting the service that you agreed to? Broadcom has come to the rescue here with Broadview+, which is a solution that helps you monitor your SLAs and keep your provider accountable. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom Hollingsworth says that Broadview+ “gives you the capabilities of monitoring connections to meet SLAs and service level objectives (SLOs) and gives you the ability to see things that haven’t been visible before.” Broadcom presented all about their BroadView+ solution at Networking Field Day 23. Be sure to check out Tom’s thoughts on the Broadcom offering or head over to our website to check out their presentations!
Taking a Network Mulligan With Apstra
Tom Hollingsworth knows how handy rolling back changes can be when troubleshooting. At Networking Field Day in October, Apstra’s presentation caught his attention. During its presentation, the company highlighted its Apstra Time Voyager, which allows network-wide rollbacks. This concept is exciting, as Tom says, “I was quite literally hopping up and down in my chair when I saw this section.” See what else Tom had to say about Apstra Time Voyager on GestaltIT.com!
Top-Notch Troubleshooting With Arista and Cloudvision-As-A-Service
Arista Networks highlighted its CloudVision-as-a-Service during Networking Field Day in September. CloudVision-as-a-Service is the latest Arista feature that can further assist with troubleshooting issues. When contacting Arista support with an issue, they can quickly collect the information needed about your network from the database that CloudVision builds. Find out more in Arista Networks’ presentation on its CloudVision-as-a-Service on the Tech Field Day website!
Wide Area AI Networking With Juniper
WAN networking has traditionally been difficult to troubleshoot. At Networking Field Day in September, Juniper Networks discussed its latest advances in traditional networking technologies, which includes the integration of Mist AI and Mist’s Marvis AI system. Check out Juniper Networks’ presentation on its Marvis AI application on the Tech Field Day website and see how Marvis can change the way we look at WAN networking!
Gestalt IT Rundown: December 16, 2020
It’s Rundown time! In the latest edition of the Gestalt IT Rundown, Stephen Foskett and Tom Hollingsworth break down the latest stories in the tech world. On the docket for this episode, they talk about the SolarWinds Orion platform being hacked, Oracle moving to Texas, Intel’s Memory and Storage Moment, and more! To hear their takes on all of these hot button issues and more, head over to GestaltIT.com or the Tech Field Day YouTube channel.
Tomversations: Episode 11 – Data Processing Units (DPUs)
In the latest episode of Tomversations, Tom Hollingsworth takes us through the various types of chips that you might find in modern computing, from the workhorse x86 CISC chips favored by Intel to the specific ASICs and FPGAs that help in purpose-built devices. Along the way, Tom helps frame the discussion around DPUS and why they’re not just for networking traffic any more.
Ending Wireless Eavesdropping With Wi-Fi Enhanced Open and Cisco
Ever wonder how secure public WiFi networks are? Writing for GesaltIT.com, Tom Hollingsworth focuses on how Mobility Field Day presenter Cisco is combatting security concerns on publicly available WiFi networks including with their “Wi-Fi Enhanced Open” offering. Next time you’re using your coffee shop internet, remember that Cisco is working to make your connection that little bit more secure.
The Value of Synthetic Testing With Catchpoint
Catchpoint was one of our presenters at Networking Field Day 23 earlier this year, where Tom Hollingsworth got to see them present on their platform which included a demo that showed some synthetic testing. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom explains the potential benefits of synthetic testing and how Catchpoint uses it to help their customers implement more effective networks.
Challenging the Status Quo With CBRS and Celona
Celona has been a presenter at the last two Mobility Field Day events, and they are working hard to disrupt the typical wireless world. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom Hollingsworth says that Celona’s utilization of CBRS has alot of potential for areas where wireless is typically problematic. CBRS, a hybrid of cellular and wireless technology, is something Celona is working to bring to market more fully. For the full breakdown, be sure to check out Tom’s post and the Celona presentations on our website!
Nothing but the Truths With IP Fabric
Tom Holligsworth event lead for the Tech Field Day events series looks at how IP Fabric bridges the two truths of a network
The Truth Will Set You Free With NetBox
Truth is subjective – or at least it is when it comes to Networking, says Tom Hollingsworth. Writing for GestaltIT.com, Tom writes about NetBox and how Networking Field Day sponsor Network to Code is utilizing it. NetBox is a unique solution that helps take the subjectivity out of your network and help establish a single source of truth. Check out Tom’s article and the Network to Code presentations on NetBox on the GestaltIT website!
Ring Around the Datacenter With Airvine
When installing cabling in a modern building, it is usually as easy as making a hole in some drywall, but what if you are in a historical building where walls cannot be damaged or are made of stone or concrete? Enter Airvine! Airvine presented its wireless non-cabled connectivity solution at Network Field Day 23, and Gestalt IT networking expert Tom Hollingsworth took a look at what it was all about.
SD-IoT With VMware Nyansa
What do analytics have to do with SD-WAN? Simple really. How do you know that your SD-WAN is operating efficiently and effectively if it can’t tell you how it’s doing? Nyansa’s analytics tie in perfectly, giving companies the visibility to ensure that SD-WAN devices are operating correctly with the best possible configurations. Tom Hollingsworth dives into how Nyansa works to improve your network and how it is enhancing and promoting the growth of IoT.