This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ now-defunct Ignition site on September 17, 2019. I have a lot of respect for people who focus on network automation and the people at Network To Code are top notch at helping and giving to open source. However, I do mostly disagree with this take on…
About Greg Ferro
The Best Outcome Of Automation? Visibility
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ now-defunct Ignition site on October 28, 2019. I was recently asked a question about the best business outcome of automation. My immediate thought was improved speed of operations by mechanizing operational tasks, like automated software upgrades, creating VLANs, updating ACLs or routing, and so forth. This…
Is Security A Feature Or A Product?
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ Ignition site on July 9, 2019. Premise: I would be cautious about a vendor who sells security as a product or a critical/primary feature. Security-as-a-product is coming to an end. We need to return to making the things we already have work efficiently. There is only so…
Possible Impacts Of Covid-19 On Data Networking
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ Ignition site on April 22, 2020. In this post I review what might happen to networking when we return to work. We won’t return to normal, but we will be back at work. To start, here are nine ideas about the pandemic’s impact, divided into two…
Analysis: Will Your Security Infrastructure Be Determined By Your Cyberinsurance?
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ now-defunct Ignition site on October 1, 2019. Insurance companies that offer cyberinsurance policies are looking at ways to reduce their risk (and improve profit margins) by discounting for companies that deploy reviewed and approved technologies. Company executives will make decisions about the cost and value of…
Reading: The Case for a Mostly Open Internet
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ Ignition site on January 14, 2020. There is a slow but steady trend for Governements’ to take back control of internet in their countries. For China the “great firewall” is now a rigid access control on content. Russia has been progressing changes to to be isolate itself…
Optics Are More Important Than Your Switches At 400G
This post originally appeared on the Packet Pushers’ Ignition site on January 9, 2020. This slide from the Cisco Live BRKOPT-2006 presentation on “Preparing for 400 GbE” jumped out at me. I recommend you download the whole presentation and keep it for future reference. It’s an excellent resource with lots of useful information. Optics…
Network Architecture 2021: Old Network Technologies Remain Relevant
Solved problems are still there but they don’t need attention
Complexity Of Networking Architecture In The 2020’s
Get the parts of network strategy right today is a daunting task when you think about it
We Live At Work Now. Get Your Audio And Video Right
With video conferencing as the common medium of business communication, you’re going to be judged on how you look and sound. It may not be fair, but how you present yourself will be taken as a measure of your professionalism. Here’s some tips for better audio and video.
The Analyst Hype Cycle Is The Same as Grief Cycle or Buyers Remorse
There is a lot of analysis and strategy content that is formulaic, tedious and unimaginative. I’m guilty of it from time to time because producing intelligent and rational thinking is harder than it looks. Also writing it down. I saw some images go past on my twitter (@etherealmind) feed today that reminded me that the ‘hype…
Thunderbolt As A Data Network Technology
Thunderbolt is a networking technology because it extends the PCIe network to external peripherals. It connects devices over short distances, and has end points and nodes. It’s not obviously a network, but here is a mental exercise to consider Thunderbolt in that way.
Switch SPAN/RSPAN Is Not Legal Forensic Quality
SPAN ports are not suitable for forensic grade or legal proceedings and, at best, are a least resort debugging tool.
Why Your On-Switch Packet Capture Doesn’t Work Or Is Not Correct
Capturing packets on a switch is bad idea. But why ? Because unpredictable performance is normal.
I’m Concerned For The Future Of An Open Internet
The influence of governments over standards bodies inside and outside the United States may jeopardize the open protocols that drive the Internet.
Network Hardware Upgrades and The Environment
Why shorter ownership cycles could be the right thing.
Segment Routing is Many Different Things.
My struggle with SR continues.
Cancelling Data Caps for Customers or Cost ?
US Broadband company removes data caps. Nice but why ?
Facebook 2Africa – Why Aren’t Telcos Doing This ?
Thoughts on why Facebook is building out its subsea cable networks.
Business Without Labor, Automation Without Workers
First posted in Human Infrastructure Magazine, a weekly newsletter from Packet Pushers. Sign up for free here It’s fashionable in enterprise IT to reduce headcount. This reflects a wider enterprise fashion of “business without labor” that chases the dream of “profits without cost.” You see, investors watch revenue-per-employee or profit-per-employee. numbers, so IT managers feel…
Gartner Cancels Conferences losing >260MM in 2020 revenues
Cancelled or postponed all conferences scheduled through August 2020.
COVID-19 Vendor Offers Tracking Page
A number of tech vendors are offering extended trials periods and delayed payments for software and tools. We’re keeping a list here in case it’s helpful to anyone.
Invitation: Packet Pushers Virtual Happy Hour – March 2020
A chance to be nice to each other, blow the Corona blues away.
Why Vendor Products Are Unreliable And Insecure
Until customers demand more reliable and secure products, vendors have little incentive to deliver them.
SMB over QUIC: Files Without the VPN
Do Windows/Office users need to move files around in bulk ?
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