Welcome to our annual Network World 200 issue, where we gauge the biggest and the baddest of competitors in the networking biz. This year, in addition to our usual ranking of the top 200 (see Big and Bigger, complete with a downloadable spreadsheet of all our data if you just can't get enough), we also present:

• Up and comers - Companies to keep an eye on over the next year.
• Best practices - Interviews with networking execs who are truly excelling.
• The stalwarts - In-depth looks at some of the key companies and the challenges they face.
• Who's zooming whom? - A scorecard of the dizzying array of mergers and acquisitions in the field.
• What's in a name? - Ever wonder how some of those companies got their names or acronyms?

Who are you keeping your eye on? Let us know in our online forum or by e-mail!