2010 – The year of network and application optimization

03/17/10

Each year for most of the last decade we have heard that this is the year of VoIP. The reality is that in our industry, something as broad-based and complex as the adoption of VoIP does not happen in a year. That being said, it can take a big step forward in a year. With that definition in mind, we think that this is the year of network and application optimization – the year that it takes a big step forward.

The arithmetic of ADCs

03/15/10

Previous newsletters have discussed the role of application delivery controllers (ADCs) as well as the key functionality they provide. This newsletter will quantify the difference between the value of a server load balancer (SLB) and the value of an ADC.

More ABCs of ADCs

03/10/10

In our last newsletter we began the discussion of the types of functionality provided by an Application Delivery Controller (ADC). We will continue that discussion in this newsletter by outlining some additional functionality provided by ADCs.

The ABCs of ADCs

03/08/10

In our last newsletter, we discussed the role of an Application Delivery Controller (ADC) and highlighted the fact that ADCs offload computationally-intensive, communications processing off of servers. In this newsletter we will discuss some of the specific functionality provided by an ADC.

The role of ADCs

03/03/10

In our last newsletter, we discussed some of the IT initiatives that provide significant value, but which often result in unacceptable application performance. We also mentioned that one way that IT organizations respond to these challenges is by implementing an Application Delivery Controller (ADC) from companies such as F5, Citrix, Cisco, Brocade, A10, Crescendo or Radware. In this newsletter we will discuss how an ADC differs from a traditional server load balancer.

Application Delivery 2.0 and ADCs

03/01/10

As discussed in recent newsletters, driven by factors such as virtualization and cloud computing we have entered a new generation of application delivery challenges and solutions – an era that we refer to as Application Delivery 2.0. We are going to use the next few newsletters to discuss the role that Application Delivery Controllers (ADC) play in improving the performance and lowering the cost of application delivery.

Data, information, knowledge and wisdom

02/24/10

We assume many of you are familiar with the work of Clifford Stoll, author of both "The Cuckoo's Egg" and "Silicon Snake Oil." The latter, which was written 15 years ago, stated, "the Internet provides a vast amount of data. But there's a wide gulf between data and information. There's a long distance from information to knowledge."

Characterizing cloud computing

02/22/10

Given the impact that cloud computing is already having, and will continue to have, on the WAN, this is the third in a series of newsletters on cloud computing. In the previous newsletter we discussed why we think that attempting to define cloud computing is not worthwhile. In this newsletter we will continue our discussion of the primary characteristics of a cloud computing solution.

The goal of cloud computing

02/17/10

In our last newsletter we pointed out how some industry purists believe that the phrase private cloud computing is an oxymoron – that cloud computing by definition implies the use of services provided by a third party. We stated that in our view the phrase private cloud computing is perfectly legitimate and that we feel that way because the majority of IT professionals that we talk to feel that way. With that as a backdrop, we are going to use this newsletter to identify what we believe to be the goal and one of the primary characteristics of cloud computing.

Private cloud computing is not an oxymoron

02/15/10

As we pointed out recently, the use of cloud computing services will increase the amount of traffic that transits the WAN. As IT organizations begin to plan for how they will cope with that additional WAN traffic they face a curious challenge. That challenge is that there is a lot of ambiguity relative to what IT professionals mean when they use the phrase cloud computing. With that in mind, we will use this and the next two newsletters to help remove at least some of that ambiguity.

IPDR – Is it a blessing?

02/10/10

In an on-going discussion at Webtorials, Gary Audin enumerated some of the features that are becoming available for IPDR (IP Detail Recording) for cable service providers.

VoIP troubleshooting – The network or the PBX?

02/08/10

Now that VoIP has become the de facto voice solution for most corporations, the hard part has begun. In particular, determining whether a problem is in a local PBX or in the network is much more complicate than it was in the "good old days" of TDM-based voice.

The cloud may not be the Internet

02/03/10

In our last newsletter we distinguished between public and private cloud computing and discussed some of the challenges associated with supporting both forms of cloud computing over a WAN. In this newsletter we will continue that discussion and will also discuss how IT organizations intend to respond to those challenges.

Cloud networking

02/01/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is cloud computing. As noted in one of Jim's recent reports on cloud computing, the goal of cloud computing is a significant improvement in the cost effective, elastic provisioning of IT services. We will use this newsletter to discuss the impact that achieving that goal will have on the WAN.

When is a standard a standard?

01/27/10

With all of our years in the industry, one of the most fascinating topics has been what makes a "standard" a "standard"? We all say we want "standards," and, at least in theory, having a standard leads to interoperability. But what does it take to make something a standard?

Future-Net 2009 archives available for download

01/26/10

With our current economic situation being as it is, most companies have slashed training budgets, and especially the budgets for attending conferences requiring travel have been decimated. Consequently, one of the greatest avenues for continuing education has seen a lot of roadblocks.

IPv6 address management

01/20/10

Whether you like it or not, it appears that IPv6 is in your future sooner or later. And if you thought address management was a headache for IPv4, hold on to your hat!

The case for virtualized WAN optimization controllers

01/19/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is virtualization. This is the sixth in a series of newsletters that discusses how we think that virtualization will dramatically shape 2010 and beyond. Whereas previous newsletters discussed virtualized servers and virtualized desktops, this newsletter will discuss virtualized WAN optimization controllers (WOC).

The other side of desktop virtualization

01/13/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is virtualization. In our last newsletter we discussed the interest that we see in desktop virtualization and what we see as the drivers of that interest. We also pointed out that there are two primary forms of desktop virtualization, client-side and server-side, and discussed the challenges associated with client-side virtualization. We will use this newsletter to discuss the challenges associated with server-side virtualization.

Bringing virtualization to the branch office

01/11/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is virtualization. This is the fourth in a series of newsletters that discusses how we think that virtualization will dramatically shape 2010 and beyond. This newsletter and the subsequent newsletter will focus on the challenges associated with implementing virtualized desktops.

The fractal data center

01/06/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is virtualization. This is the third in a series of newsletters that discusses how we think that virtualization will dramatically shape 2010 and beyond. This newsletter will focus on the management challenges associated with the ongoing virtualization of data center servers.

The requirement for a dynamic IT infrastructure

01/04/10

In a recent newsletter we introduced the concept of Application Delivery 2.0, a major component of which is virtualization. This is the second in a series of newsletters that discusses how we think that virtualization will dramatically shape 2010 and beyond. The last newsletter discussed how the use of server virtualization will increase in 2010. This newsletter will discuss how one of the key benefits of server virtualization will be difficult to achieve in 2010.

2009 – A look back

12/23/09

In this, our final newsletter for 2009, it seems appropriate to look back at some of the major products, services, and trends for the year. And what a challenging year it has been!

Cisco? HP? IBM? Choose one and only one

12/21/09

In the last couple of newsletters we discussed some of the long-standing concepts that underlie cloud computing. We also discussed a few somewhat newer concepts, such as the dynamic movement of virtual machines (VMs). In this newsletter we will discuss how the concept of dynamically moving VMs is causing us to loose sleep.

All things old are new again

12/16/09

In the last newsletter we pointed out that some people dismiss cloud computing as being a bunch of rehashed ideas. We also pointed out that it is rare to come across a fundamentally new concept in IT and that most concepts recycle over time. For example, sometimes it makes sense to deploy IT resources in a centralized fashion and sometimes it makes sense to deploy those resources in a decentralized fashion. In this newsletter will we continue the discussion of both key IT concepts and cloud computing.

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Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. Jim Metzler is vice president of Ashton, Metzler & Associates.