Networking's 50 greatest arguments range from routing vs. switching to frame relay vs. VPNs to IBM vs. DEC. But I know there must be more to debate around managing today's advanced IP networks.

Network World recently laid out the arguments in a huge package of stories -- of which I was only assigned two: frameworks vs. point products and agent vs. agentless technologies. While I was curious as to how I got so lucky to only be assigned two debates, I also wondered if maybe I should have pointed out a few more issues to the arguments package. These two debates have the two debates have sparked controversy over the years, but I think there must be some new debates hitting IT shops today.

For instance, it occurred to me that many IT managers are currently wrestling with the idea of implementing best practice frameworks vs. staying with their current approach to ad hoc processes. The perceived popularity of frameworks such as ITIL is tempered with an equal amount of fear, uncertainty and doubt around overhauling IT processes. 

And what about pitting the management vendors against each other? An argument such as HP vs. IBM would get a few people verbally scrapping. Both vendors are massive at this point and rival each other across several product sets. But who would win in a head-on battle over network and systems management products? HP recently came out fighting with an overhaul to its popular Network Node Manager product and industry watchers wonder what IBM is doing with all its network management buys. Arguably both companies are flush with cutting-edge technologies. Couple the rich technologies with big bank accounts and large customer bases, and the battle is on.

Another debate I think worth having is around vendors that maybe don't come to mind at first when you think of management, such as Cisco, EMC, Microsoft, Symantec and others. To start, network equipment maker Cisco has made it very clear it wants in on the network management market. EMC just pumped its network management related properties -- which to date include Smarts and nLayers -- with the acquisition of Voyence. Microsoft has been upgrading its management products and is expected to differentiate its virtualization technology with management capabilities when it is released. And Symantec recently discussed its plans to expand its management capabilities -- many of which the company obtained through acquisitions such as that of Altiris. 

Those are a just a few thoughts as to developing arguments of the ages. What do you think are some issues that need to be hashed out in the pages of Network World? Let me know, or comment online in our community section here. 

Editor's note: Starting the week of Nov. 12, you will notice a number of enhancements to Network World newsletters that will provide you with more resources and more news links relevant to the newsletter's subject. The Network/Systems Management newsletter written by Network World Senior Editor Denise Dubie will be merged with the Network/Systems News Alert and will be named the Network/Systems Alert. You'll get Denise's analysis of the network/systems management market, which you will be able to read in full at NetworkWorld.com, plus links to the day's network/systems management news and other relevant resources. This Alert will be mailed on Mondays and Wednesdays. We hope you will enjoy the enhancements and we thank you for reading Network World newsletters.

Denise Dubie is senior editor with Network World.