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Enterprise LANs

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Learn Trends and Develop Strategy
 
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Solution Set

Craft a Converged Data Center Networking Strategy

To support key consolidation, performance, and reliability objectives, enterprises must plan to evolve from disparate networks for compute and storage traffic to a converged data center networking infrastructure. This shift represents a major impact on technology planning and IT staffing and support.

Note
 

Global Network Strategy: Look Beyond Price

Small enterprises are familiar with the increased costs associated with global network requirements. However, the ability to obtain the requisite service levels at all locations can be more difficult than anticipated and may be worth a premium price. Small enterprises should keep this point in mind as they strategize on how to consolidate services and negotiate with global providers.

Note
 

Take Action: Safeguard Network Services from the Economic Storm

The current economic storm continues to batter network organizations as well as their companies. Network budgets are tight, financial conditions of key vendors and service providers are deteriorating, and personnel headcounts are under close scrutiny. There is no universal solution, but there are prudent ways to minimize the impact.

Note
 

The Right VAR or Integrator Crucial for LAN Refresh

Organizations planning a LAN refresh will likely purchase LAN equipment from a Value Added Reseller (VAR). In many cases, companies will look to a VAR or integrator to help with the design and implementation of the corporate LAN. Thus, choosing the right VAR and integrator is crucial for the overall success of a LAN refresh implementation.

Note
 

Virtual I/O Reaches the Tweens

Virtualized I/O, like OS and application virtualization, is a requirement for a truly agile data center. In light of that requirement, the major blade server vendors have begun to implement I/O virtualization for their systems. While a good start, these implementations are still immature. Understanding I/O virtualization options will allow IT staff to move forward with this technology.

Note
 

Trade Shows Build Network Infrastructure Team Knowledge

Keeping the network team's skill levels up to date on changing technology and the vendor environment is an ongoing enterprise challenge. Although IT organizations utilize various combinations of vendor and third-party training courses to accomplish this task, the intrinsic value and importance of industry trade shows should not be overlooked.

Note
 

Never Again: Develop a Post Network-Failure Action Plan

Once a major network failure ends, enterprises must still complete several important tasks. This includes identifying the failure's root-cause and taking steps to prevent a reoccurrence. In addition, impacted lines-of-business (LOB) must be briefed. A post network-failure plan should be prepared in advance to effectively address these items.

Note
 

VARs and Integrators Are Important to LAN Refresh Success

In the vast majority of situations, enterprises rely on Value Added Resellers (VARs) to purchase LAN equipment. Similarly, many organizations use VARs/integrators to assist in the design and implementation of the corporate LAN. Selecting the appropriate VAR/integrator is often a key to the success of a LAN refresh implementation, so choose wisely.

Note
 

LAN Refresh Planning: Business Value is Key, Not ROI

Organizations often perform a financial analysis prior to committing to spending on IT infrastructure. In the case of the corporate LAN, business value should be the key driver. Meeting the current and future business needs should be the primary concern when planning for a LAN refresh. Plan carefully to ensure maximum value is derived from the LAN infrastructure.

Tool
 

Small Enterprise LAN Refresh Assessment Tool

There are several business and technology drivers that can incite a LAN refresh. In order to meet these growing demands, small enterprises must refresh their LAN infrastructure at some point. This tool will help assess when the enterprise will need to consider a LAN refresh.

Make Technology Decisions
 
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Note
 

Vendor Landscape: Enterprise LAN Infrastructure

As LAN infrastructure features and functionality become largely indistinguishable in an increasingly commoditized market, market presence, price, value, support, and the availability of trained network engineers and administrators become distinguishing selection criteria ? consider these criteria when selecting a LAN vendor.

Note
 

Nortel vs. Cisco: LAN and WAN Infrastructure Cost Comparison

Info-Tech recently conducted a five-year cost comparison of Nortel Networks and Cisco Systems LAN and WAN equipment. The results are telling, and the premium that enterprises pay for Cisco products can be over 100%. Enterprises that default to Cisco when buying network equipment should expand their shopping choices ? the savings can be substantial.

Note
 

Secondary Market Offers Network Gear on the Cheap

The secondary market for network equipment has evolved considerably in the past decade. Perfectly good used and refurbished network equipment can be purchased on the secondary market at less than half of the cost of new gear, resulting in big savings.

Brief
 

Kemp Technologies Load Balancer: Inexpensive or Just Cheap?

Kemp Technologies is a relatively new vendor in the load balancing appliance market. Their Load Master 1500 provides Layer 4 and 7 load balancing, hardware based SSL acceleration, good performance, and high availability capabilities for a modest $2,490 entry price. Enterprises that have previously considered load balancing products as too expensive should consider the Kemp offerings.

Note
 

Risks and Rewards of Secondary Market Network Gear

A burgeoning secondary market for networking equipment has emerged in the past few years and many enterprises can realize considerable cost savings by shopping this market. Understand the risks and rewards of acquiring network equipment on the secondary market prior to making a purchase.

Brief
 

Counterfeit Hardware Puts Network Reliability at Risk

A great deal of pirated software has found its way into enterprises through previously trustworthy channels, and now counterfeit hardware permeates enterprise networks to a greater degree than most are prepared to admit. Network managers must be diligent to ensure that network hardware components are genuine.

Brief
 

No Need to Choose LAN Routers over Switches

LAN routers now cost about the same as a LAN switch. With both devices operating at full wire speed, the need for basic switches in the enterprise LAN seems to have vanished. However, the upfront costs aren't the only consideration keeping switches a viable part of most LANs.

Improve IT Operations
 
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Note
 

The Value of Workflow Automation in Network Lifecycle Management

The importance of network lifecycle management cannot be overstated when it comes to maintaining network performance and controlling costs. Automating certain workflow processes delivers excellent value in this area, but best practices are required to ensure network service costs are controlled and performance levels are maintained.

Note
 

Select the Right Network Technology with Proven Best Practices

Inappropriate technology choices can easily cripple any small enterprise. Regardless of the IT organization's size, there is usually a network planning activity that selects the technology mix and network services. Unless those responsible for network planning utilize best practices, problems arise and valuable resources are wasted.

Note
 

LAN Refresh Implementation Checklist

There are several important aspects to successfully implementing a LAN refresh. LAN design and implementation planning are crucial. Use this implementation checklist to help ensure LAN refresh success.

Note
 

Design and Planning Keys to LAN Implementation Success

Upgrading or replacing LAN infrastructure is something that enterprises typically go through every four to six years. Deploying the physical equipment is not necessarily a challenging task, but implementing the new infrastructure must be done carefully and thoughtfully in order to avoid service interruptions. LAN design and implementation planning are the keys to a successful LAN implementation.

Note
 

Five LAN Performance Optimization Techniques

When a LAN is upgraded or refreshed, there may be new features and functionality that create opportunities to optimize network performance. Often the inclination is just to leave the LAN alone post-implementation if performance is adequate, but many enterprises would be well served by applying optimization techniques that help squeeze more value from the network.

Brief
 

Three Ways to Optimize LAN Performance

Most organizations have LANs that are reliable and provide adequate performance from the users' perspective. While the rule "if it's not broken, don't fix it" is often good advice, in the case of the company LAN there are a few things that IT can do to optimize performance considerably. This research note will discuss three of the LAN optimization tactics that organizations should consider.

Note
 

Tiered Data Center Organization Enhances Security and Performance

Businesses continue to benefit by offering shared access data centers to partners, suppliers, and clients. The issue in this method of organization is ensuring that each category of user has access only to appropriate and authorized data. Create a tiered data center structure to provide physical and logical layering and to offer efficiencies and security that more distributed structures do not provide.

Note
 

Better IP Address Management Sets Stage for Advanced Solutions

New business requirements and greater dependencies on network services are driving enterprises towards more effective IP address management practices. Enterprises must reassess existing procedures and be prepared to pursue more advanced IP address management solutions.

Tool
 

Avoid IP Address Management Mayhem

New types of devices, stricter network performance and security requirements, and the pressures of regulatory compliance are driving the need for a more proactive approach to IP address allocation and administration. IT departments must take action now to improve existing IP address management practices and explore available vendor solutions.

Tool
 

IP Address Management Decision Tool

While the focus on IP address management (IPAM) has grown in recent years with the proliferation of IP devices and stricter network performance and security mandates, there is still a significant cost associated with specialized IPAM solutions. Enterprises must complete a comprehensive assessment of their actual IP address management, DNS, and DHCP limitations before pursuing these solutions.

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