A complex system such as an enterprise network is subjected to many kinds of stresses from a large variety of business applications that have different demand profiles. Dig deeper into any large network and you will see that one solution doesn't solve all problems. Pockets of point solutions are installed to solve problems as they arise, this is rarely efficient in a large network. The big question for IT is whether it is possible to be forward thinking when deploying these solutions through the use of network ensembles.
What is a network ensemble? A network ensemble is an integrated collection of services and functions that are engineered to work together to optimize specific behavior.
Why a network ensemble? Any enterprise has a variety of network needs that are driven by the behaviors of the applications.
For example, there are client facing needs, such as Rich Media eCommerce; large scale file transfers both internal and external; financial transactions requiring high integrity and encryption. The applications that service such needs are engineered to meet those needs, aspects of a large network should be engineered as well, in a deliberate fashion.
Network ensembles are deliberately engineered to meet the operational needs of a set of applications that collaborate heavily while exhibiting similar operational characteristics.
A low latency network ensemble for capital markets trading would emphasize:
A network ensemble for large scale throughput of eCommerce transactions would emphasize:
A network ensemble that provided large scale query services would emphasize:
Any ensemble has to be goal directed, (such as low Latency, high throughput transactions, or information integration), because IT engineering is always about tradeoffs. Any ensemble should be designed using best of breed tested products, and would be delivered and deliberately maintained as a unit so that it is a service to be used. Best of breed is often considered a scary choice, because vendor abdication is always a concern. But the big question continues to be does change happen to you or do you accept that change will happen and attempt to take control? This is a big investment, but it is a conscious one, that very act enables an adaptive approach to network design.
Sheppard and Tony
Tony Bishop is CEO, Adaptivity. He'd previously served as SVP and chief architect of Wachovia's Corporate Investment Banking Technology Group, where his team earned numerous awards for its SOA and utility computing infrastructure. Tony has 19 years' experience and is the recipient of 40 under 40 Most Innovative IT Leaders, Premier 100 IT Leaders as selected (by ComputerWorld in 2007) and a member of Wall Street Gold Book 2007.
Sheppard Narkier is chief scientist and co-founder of Adaptivity. Prior to that, he was head of software portfolio management and IT governance for the Wachovia Corporate Investment Banking Technology Group. Sheppard has more than 29 years of experience in the IT industry. He focuses on cost-effective IT systems and is an acknowleged expert at reusable components (frameworks, programs, architecture), the realtime enterprise, SOAs, messaging and legacy system integration.
Jim Houghton is the Chief Technology Officer and co-Founder of Adaptivity. Jim was the SVP of Architecture & Strategy for the infrastructure organization at Bank of America, where he drove legacy infrastructure transformation initiatives across 40+ data centers. Prior to that he was the Head of Wachovia’s Utility Product Management, where he drove the design, services, and offerings for SOA and Utility Computing for the technology division of Wachovia’s Corporate & Investment Bank. Jim has also led leading-edge consulting practices at IBM Global Technology Services and Deloitte Consulting.
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