Network management and monitoring
Network management and monitoring are vital components of modern IT operations that help businesses run effectively and efficiently. Network observability also provides added visibility into the end-user experience. Find out how innovations such as AI, machine learning, network analytics and network automation are shaping the future of network management and monitoring.
Top Stories
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Answer
18 Nov 2024
Network security management challenges and best practices
A comprehensive and scalable network security management plan is more important than ever in the face of ever-rising threats and attacks orchestrated by bad actors. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Nov 2024
5 principles of change management in networking
Network change management includes five principles, including risk analysis and peer review. These best practices can help network teams reduce failed network changes and outages. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2021
BGP vs. OSPF: When to use each protocol
BGP and OSPF are two of the most common routing protocols. While BGP excels with dynamic routing for large networks, OSPF offers more efficient path choice and convergence speed. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jul 2021
AIOps network management requires vendor-buyer teamwork
Before buying AIOps tools, network managers should work closely with vendors to ensure they collect the correct network data and use relevant algorithms. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Jul 2021
ping
A ping (Packet Internet or Inter-Network Groper) is a basic internet program that enables a user to test and verify if a particular destination Internet Protocol (IP) address exists and can accept requests in computer network administration. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jul 2021
2021 networking trends for a post-pandemic enterprise
In 2020, the pandemic threw the best-laid IT plans into chaos. As enterprises find their footing again, here are four network trends defining the second half of 2021. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Jul 2021
time-to-live (TTL)
Time-to-live (TTL) is a value for the period of time that a packet, or data, should exist on a computer or network before being discarded. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jul 2021
How to use iPerf3 to test network bandwidth
In this in-depth tip, learn how to use iPerf3, a network testing tool to measure throughput and benchmark your WAN links to ensure effectivity. Continue Reading
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Answer
06 Jul 2021
Static vs. dynamic routing: What is the difference?
Static routing uses preconfigured routes to send traffic to its destination, while dynamic routing uses algorithms to determine the best path. How else do the two methods differ? Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2021
Five-nines availability: What it really means
Learn what five-nines availability means and discover the steps enterprises should take to make sure network services are fully accessible. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jun 2021
3 best practices for network observability
Research shows a correlation with NetOps success and network observability. Following best practices of network observability can facilitate this success. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
Cisco DNA Center update tackles customer headaches
The latest DNA Center upgrade simplifies deploying the campus network controller and scaling the platform to handle more endpoints. Cisco plans to release it in mid-June. Continue Reading
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News
27 May 2021
Juniper ships first major Apstra release
Juniper said the latest update to its recently acquired Apstra network automation product sends a message to customers that the company is committed to multi-platform support. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 May 2021
bandwidth (network bandwidth)
Network bandwidth is a measurement indicating the maximum capacity of a wired or wireless communications link to transmit data over a network connection in a given amount of time. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 May 2021
Cloud-based network management leads 2021 network investments
A recent ESG survey shows that many enterprises speeding their digital transformation plans are also increasing 2021 network investment, emphasizing cloud-based network management. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 May 2021
An introduction to Go network programming
This chapter excerpt from 'Network Programming with Go' dives into logging and metrics, while also providing Go code examples and best practices. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 May 2021
Best practices and strategies for logging in Go
Author Adam Woodbeck discusses how network teams can use the Go programming language for logging and metrics. One tip: Log prudently, and use metrics generously. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2021
How to prepare networks for the return to office
Network teams should evaluate their UC strategies, VPN capacity and even air conditioning requirements as employees start to return to office environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Apr 2021
A glimpse into Python network automation and APIs
This chapter excerpt from 'Mastering Python Networking' dives into the importance of APIs and network state when working with Python network automation and intent-based networking. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Apr 2021
Advice on intent-based networking and Python automation
In his book, 'Mastering Python Networking,' Eric Chou provides network practitioners with the concepts they need to understand APIs, intent-based networking and automation. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Apr 2021
Ansible vs. Terraform vs. Vagrant: What's the difference?
Ansible, Terraform and Vagrant are common infrastructure automation platforms with specific use cases, benefits and drawbacks. But choosing a platform doesn't need to be confusing. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Apr 2021
The role of network observability in distributed systems
Network observability sounds like a new term for an existing practice, but is that the case? This chapter excerpt lays out what observability is and everything you need to know. Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2021
Arista simplifies network management in latest CloudVision
Arista's CloudVision 2021 has better analytics for spotting network congestion and a dashboard for monitoring Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace and other applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Apr 2021
How cloud-based network monitoring tools expand visibility
Organizations have become even more distributed and virtual in the wake of COVID-19. Cloud-based network monitoring is well suited to keep tabs on network performance. Continue Reading
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Answer
02 Apr 2021
How are network operations center responsibilities changing?
If your network operations center responsibilities haven't changed yet due to evolutions like DevOps and edge computing, they likely will soon. Here's what you need to know. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Apr 2021
Best practices for VPN traffic monitoring
VPNs are still a critical part of many enterprise remote access strategies. Networks teams that monitor VPN traffic should look at factors like application usage and overhead. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2021
Perform a network health check with network testing
Network engineers can use myriad network testing approaches to ensure their networks are efficient and reliable. The key is incorporating them into a regular maintenance cycle. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2021
Key tasks in a network maintenance checklist
Network technologies and devices might change over time, but certain maintenance tasks, such as data backup and device inventory, will always be essential for network teams. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Mar 2021
3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaborative project between a group of telecommunications associations with the initial goal of developing globally applicable specifications for third-generation (3G) mobile systems. Continue Reading
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Quiz
10 Mar 2021
Test your knowledge of socket programming in Python
In this quiz, review the fundamentals of socket programming in Python, including port scanning, TCP and UDP, and how to enable different methods from the socket module. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Mar 2021
Explore this ultimate socket programming guide for beginners
In this socket programming guide preview, learn how sockets work, the role of socket programming in enterprise networks and the ins and outs of socket programming in Python. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Mar 2021
How to get started with socket programming for beginners
To understand socket programming for beginners, basic network and security concepts are critical -- and having Python skills won't hurt, either. Learn more in this expert Q&A. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Mar 2021
NOC performance metrics for optimal operation
NOC best practices include using standardized network designs and automation. But don't forget to identify performance metrics that help track and measure operational success. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Feb 2021
Future of NOC transformation unifies IT teams
NOC transformation could lead to unified IT operations with cross-domain teams, but not all enterprises need radical change when smaller upgrades and modernization do the job. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2021
How to monitor home network traffic for added security
When addressing home network monitoring, track all connected devices, and take advantage of open source tools, like packet capture, to sniff out malicious traffic. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2021
The tradeoffs and cost of network redundancy
Network redundancy costs vary depending on enterprise use cases, but the determining tradeoff usually depends on how long a company can sustain network downtime. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jan 2021
Cloud networking complexity includes visibility and security
Enterprises are deploying more workloads in cloud environments. But the visibility, security and management required for those extensions of IT infrastructure can get complicated. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jan 2021
How the SolarWinds vulnerability affects networking
The SolarWinds attack resulted in a bevy of network vulnerabilities, like masked traffic and backdoor access. Network teams should take the time to review their security strategies. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Jan 2021
SolarWinds: Lessons learned for network management, monitoring
In this roundup of networking blogs, experts reveal the critical lessons learned from the SolarWinds hack in regard to network management and monitoring capabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2021
10 network security tips in response to the SolarWinds hack
From perimeter protection to persistent patching, enterprises should regularly review, update and test their network security plans, especially in response to the SolarWinds hack. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jan 2021
Considerations for SASE management and troubleshooting
SASE opens new territory for network and security management and troubleshooting. Ultimately, teams should look for system usability and visibility into traffic flows and policies. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Dec 2020
5 networking startups helping enterprises adapt and prepare
Even in a global pandemic, these five networking startups continue to impress. Learn how their innovative technologies can help enterprises prepare for unforeseen challenges. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Dec 2020
Ensure network resilience with redundancy and skills
Ensuring network resilience doesn't just mean building redundancy in network infrastructure. It should also include planning contingencies for people and skills. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Dec 2020
Building an effective security operations center framework
An effective security operations center framework combines monitoring and analysis platforms and threat intelligence services to help organizations respond to risks quickly. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Dec 2020
Network performance issues are IT pain point amid COVID-19
Network performance is a top issue among IT teams and remote workers amid the pandemic and can correlate with other technical issues, such as cybersecurity and hardware problems. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2020
Cloud automation use cases for managing and troubleshooting
Cloud automation use cases highlight the benefits these tools can provide to companies evaluating how best to manage and troubleshoot their cloud connections. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2020
How to use ChatOps to automate network tasks
Integrating team collaboration chat systems with network automation results in the ability to automate tedious workflows, enabling faster problem resolution and streamlined operations. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2020
VMware updates vRealize Network Insight, NSX-T
Launched at VMworld 2020, the latest version of vRealize Network Insight has verification technology that lets managers see the impact of network changes before deploying them. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Sep 2020
Network monitoring market converges with security analytics
As cyber attacks increase and enterprise networks require threat detection and protection, network monitoring and security analytics are converging for more comprehensive visibility. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Sep 2020
Tips and tools for home network security monitoring
Homes now have more connected devices, which could become targets for hackers. Consequently, work-from-home employees should take certain steps to safeguard their networks. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2020
Home SD-WAN will redefine next-generation WAN
The need for home-office SD-WAN won't end when the pandemic does. Learn how best to provide this essential tech to your organization's at-home employees. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Aug 2020
Benefits of intent-based networking for modern networks
Intent-based networking can benefit network teams working remotely with increased workloads due to COVID-19. Benefits include reduced human error and automated manual tasks. Continue Reading
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News
20 Aug 2020
Arista will charge a premium for CloudVision as a service
Arista's CloudVision as a service will have a higher subscription price than the on-premises version. The vendor says the new product will have better network analytics. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Aug 2020
The future of networking jobs in the new normal
Soft skills will grow in relevance as network pros adapt to a post-pandemic world that includes more remote troubleshooting and the move away from a hard network edge. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Aug 2020
The benefits of building a network automation lab
Network teams can build network automation labs to create a safe environment to test and validate automation tasks before running them in production networks. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2020
As network security analysis proves invaluable, NDR market shifts
IT infrastructure threat detection and response have emerged as critical elements of enterprise cybersecurity as network security analysis proves invaluable to protecting data. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jul 2020
IT spending priorities in 2020 shift to network management, UC
The global pandemic has temporarily slowed SD-WAN and campus network spending, but enterprises are still investing in network infrastructure, focusing on network management and UC. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jul 2020
How to set up a new business network
Building a new network can be complicated, but IT teams can ease the design process and future management by choosing the right architecture and documenting each decision. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2020
Why network configuration templates are useful in automation
If a network team automates network configuration templates, it can save time and eliminate redundant activities in order to focus more on data collection and analysis. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2020
An automation-first approach enables network predictability
For an organization to prioritize network automation, it needs an automation-first approach. This strategy involves understanding automation workflows and enabling proper training. Continue Reading
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Answer
25 Jun 2020
Compare the 2 common types of technical debt
While enterprises often incur technical debt inadvertently through inexperience or poor management, sometimes, developers will plan technical debt to establish a market presence. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jun 2020
Ensure your backup networking and infrastructure work together
How can you effectively modify your backup process to fit your network speed? Because bandwidth constantly varies, employ best practices for a range of scenarios. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jun 2020
Network traffic pattern shifts reflect COVID-19 changes
The novel coronavirus pandemic spurred initial changes in network traffic patterns, but other trends are playing important roles in perpetuating permanent traffic shifts. Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2020
Cisco DNA Center's new features may mean more user headaches
Cisco continues to add features to DNA Center to centralize more network control within the software. But as the product grows more complex, users struggle to deploy it. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Jun 2020
MLB uses NetBox automation for network configuration backup
Major League Baseball used NetBox in tandem with its network automation project to streamline its configuration backup process and keep its infrastructure systems in sync. Continue Reading
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News
29 May 2020
Cisco acquisition of ThousandEyes has many user benefits
Cisco's acquisition of ThousandEyes could benefit companies using Cisco's SD-WAN, AppDynamics, Duo Security and AnyConnect. Cisco plans to close the deal by the end of October. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2020
Small vendors that stand out in network automation
When incumbent vendors fall short, enterprises should consider these small vendors for new approaches to analytics and network automation. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 May 2020
How to build a network monitoring business case
As network teams construct a business case for a new network monitoring tool, they should include a cost comparison of alternative tools and a strong defense for the selected tool. Continue Reading
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Answer
11 May 2020
What are the 5 different types of network management?
Security policies, optimal service levels, configuration changes and even cost control measures all encompass the different types of network management. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 May 2020
The true cost of network downtime for your business
Network brownouts could be the biggest under-the-radar threat to your network. Calculate the potential costs of downtime to save your organization's productivity and money. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 May 2020
AI-powered cyberattacks force change to network security
Companies now face sophisticated enemies using AI and machine learning tools for their attacks. It's a world of new dangers for those defending network systems and data. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 May 2020
Plan now for the future of network security
How to battle well-funded, technologically sophisticated threats and ensure high-quality network performance? CISOs need a plan to meet network challenges now and in the future. Continue Reading
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Video
30 Apr 2020
Telework security requires meticulous caution, communication
Organizations that are proactive about telework security may enjoy a more resilient network environment. Follow five steps in this webinar to ensure secure remote work. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2020
Open Systems' SASE tech wins TechTarget innovation award
Open Systems' SASE platform helped tens of thousands of workers gain secure remote access during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about our new Network Innovation Award winner. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Apr 2020
Network automation book shares recipes for success
In this network automation book excerpt, discover how automation frameworks NAPALM and Ansible can provide network teams with vendor-agnostic network management capabilities. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Apr 2020
Network pros need NAPALM, Ansible network automation skills
Network pros need network automation skills in NAPALM and Ansible because the two modules together can enhance multivendor environments and streamline network management tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Apr 2020
5 needed product features to fix network management issues
Virtualization and public cloud monitoring are among five top network management issues facing companies as they assess tools designed to oversee increasingly complex networks. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Apr 2020
SD-WAN, 5G remote work technologies enable future networks
In this roundup of networking blogs, learn how SD-WAN and 5G can benefit business continuity plans for network infrastructure and whether split tunneling is necessary -- or safe. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Apr 2020
Tips to improve network visibility and security
Network visibility and security can be tricky, especially with the range of products available. These tips help teams pinpoint potential vulnerabilities and gauge the tools they need. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Apr 2020
Why configuration management is important for networks
Configuration management is essential to keep accurate network configuration records and to help organizations avoid potential challenges or problems within their networks. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Apr 2020
Zoom, Netflix discuss remote network management challenges
COVID-19 forces IT teams to manage company networks remotely. Here are common issues IT teams of all sizes -- like those at Zoom and Netflix -- face and ways to solve them. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Apr 2020
How to manage the surge in remote video internet traffic
As more people work from home and create more internet traffic, enterprise network managers should adjust bandwidth levels and consider connectivity upgrades. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Apr 2020
SNMP vs. CMIP: What's the difference?
While SNMP and CMIP originally competed as network management protocols in the 1980s, SNMP has emerged as the more relevant protocol, largely due to its simplicity. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2020
How supporting a remote workforce stresses the network
Make sure your network can support a remote workforce by analyzing 12 potential issues that can cause stress on your network, including VPN concentrator capacity and traffic routing. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Mar 2020
Remote work tests corporate pandemic plans
IT leaders share what's working and how they are supporting remote work mandates for employees as part of their corporate pandemic plans, as well as social distancing among IT. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Mar 2020
AI, analytics, automation fuel the future of network management
Advances in automation, AI and analytics should help IT administrators overcome new challenges in virtualized network environments, but some obstacles will surface. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Mar 2020
Plan a VPN and remote access strategy for pandemic, disaster
Disasters and pandemics occur unexpectedly, affecting companies, workers and networks alike. Plan a remote access strategy that covers VPN requirements, bandwidth demands and licenses. Continue Reading
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Answer
03 Mar 2020
What is network verification and do enterprises need it?
Network verification can help organizations gain critical network performance insight and alleviate network complexity. But aspects of the concept are new and not yet mainstream. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Mar 2020
Ansible limitations for network automation
Ansible can be a powerful tool for network automation, but users should be aware of its limitations with debugging, performance, complex data structures and control flow. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2020
Network traffic analysis best practices: Assess and repeat
Network traffic analysis best practices require network teams to work closely with security teams and constantly assess their tool sets, analysis processes and traffic patterns. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Feb 2020
An introduction to network automation with Ansible
Ansible is one of the most popular open source network automation tools. Network pros can use it to perform basic network automation tasks, like collecting ARP table data. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Feb 2020
What should I know about IP address management systems?
As networks continuously gain more devices, outdated IP address management methods face new challenges. Despite this, IPAM is still crucial for any organization's network. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Feb 2020
A glossary of network terms for management and monitoring
This glossary of network terms specifically highlights network management and monitoring processes. Explore these 12 key terms and concise definitions. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jan 2020
Build a source of truth into your network automation strategy
Many network automation approaches rely on a source of truth repository to provide data on network behavior. But building this automation database isn't always easy. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jan 2020
How to monitor network traffic in 7 steps
Effective network monitoring is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance by IT groups. This step-by-step plan can fine-tune network monitoring strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jan 2020
Compare Paramiko, Netmiko and NAPALM network automation
Python is a useful language, but it can't do everything. Explore some basic network automation scripts that use Python with three automation libraries: Paramiko, Netmiko and NAPALM. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Dec 2019
Food manufacturer finds success with SD-WAN vendor CloudGenix
Disappointed in a managed service from Verizon, food manufacturer Diamond Crystal Brands went looking for an SD-WAN vendor that could deliver. It found it in CloudGenix. Continue Reading
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Answer
17 Dec 2019
Why should I consider an AIOps platform for my network?
AIOps can take various tasks -- such as data collection and analysis -- off the plates of network teams. This can provide organizations with better insight into network visibility. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2019
Consider these 5 FAQs for network monitoring best practices
New technologies are transforming how organizations plan network management and monitoring, introducing questions about legacy system upgrades and the number of tools required. Continue Reading
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Answer
10 Dec 2019
How do I choose the right network automation tools or platform?
In your organization's search for the best network automation platform for business operations, compare the pros and cons of proprietary and open source tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Nov 2019
Agile for infrastructure requires major cultural shift
To realize the benefits of Agile for infrastructure, network teams must think differently about how to deliver services -- embracing radical change and a trial-by-error approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2019
Boost network security visibility with these 4 technologies
The network is where it's at if you want to stop malicious actors. But first you need to up your network visibility. Learn about four technologies that can help. Continue Reading