CI Travel benefits from Observer

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DENISE DUBIE ON NETWORK OPTIMIZATION
08/16/05
Today's focus: CI Travel benefits from Observer

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Network Instruments' Observer software does more than monitor
  voice quality for CI Travel
* Links related to Network Optimization
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avaya
Network World Executive Guide: Evaluating VoIP in the Enterprise

Got VoIP? More and more companies are answering yes...the
reasons vary from cost savings, network flexibility, and ease of
administration. Yet others are drawn to the promise of advanced
VoIP applications such as unified messaging and collaboration.
Register now and get a free copy of Network World's Got VoIP?
Executive Guide, which outlines the keys to successful VoIP
deployments.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110530
_______________________________________________________________
VOIP SECURITY THREATS: FACT OR FICTION?

Although it's difficult to find a company that has suffered at
the hands of VoIP abusers, viruses, spam and phishing have run
rampant on other IP-based communications systems. Will similar
threats find their way to VoIP? Find out what the experts say
and how should prepare your network against such potential
abuses. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110058
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: CI Travel benefits from Observer

By Denise Dubie

When the IT director at CI Travel put in VoIP to cut telecom
costs, he soon realized he'd also need to find a new way to
manage the VoIP traffic.

Paul Ingram, IT director at CI Travel, says he wanted CI to
"completely break free of its dependence on the traditional
phone system." CI Travel is a $150 million company with 300
employees at 49 locations across the globe. The core of their
network is a high-capacity gigabit copper backbone located at
corporate headquarters in Norfolk, Va. From there, a MPLS WAN
connects the sites together. Each LAN is a switched gigabit
copper network. The entire infrastructure is based on Cisco
equipment.

He purchased VoIP phones from Cisco, which ultimately lowered
the phone bill, but there were new problems that came up and he
needed a way to manage them. He has about 200 VoIP phones at six
sites, but performance was lacking.
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2003/0915mgmt.html?rl>

"Bad voice quality makes people turn to the standard phone
system, which could quickly eliminate any savings we were
intending to realize with VoIP," Ingram said. "The company
depends heavily on phone communication to service customers;
calls are going to be made with the most reliable phone, no
matter the cost."

He looked into products from Network General and Network
Instruments, and based on price and form factor (he preferred
software to an appliance), he started working with Network
Instruments' Observer software. Observer runs on a desktop or
laptop and uses data collected from distributed probes.
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5168>

"We needed a way to play back calls and wanted to see how
packets were traveling on the network," he says.

The Observer software not only let him see the discrepancies
between voice and data traffic, but also, Ingram is now able to
spot spyware and adware creeping into his network.
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5169>

"We were mainly using it to see voice quality, and then I
realized Observer helps me show higher level executives how all
this junk was getting on our network and the hours it took to
clean up machines," Ingram says.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5170>

2. Cisco to double Catalyst 6500 switch capacity in coming
months, report says
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5171>

3. Test: CipherTrust tops encryption field
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5172>

4. Microsoft tool to simplify Vista deployment
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5173>

5. Future-proof your network
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop3782>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5174>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Denise Dubie

Senior Editor Denise Dubie covers network and systems management
for Network World. Reach her at <mailto:ddubie@nww.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Avaya
Network World Executive Guide: Evaluating VoIP in the Enterprise

Got VoIP? More and more companies are answering yes...the
reasons vary from cost savings, network flexibility, and ease of
administration. Yet others are drawn to the promise of advanced
VoIP applications such as unified messaging and collaboration.
Register now and get a free copy of Network World's Got VoIP?
Executive Guide, which outlines the keys to successful VoIP
deployments.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110529
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Network Optimization newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/accel/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
What you need to know about maximizing app performance across
the WAN

When deploying and accessing enterprise apps over the WAN
performance can be fickle. IT organizations agree consolidating
operations into single data centers to support users across the
extended enterprise is best.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110129
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
HARD WORK, GOOD PAY

According to Network World's 2005 Salary Survey, network
professionals are enjoying substantial increases in pay,
especially at the highest- and lowest-tier job titles. But are
those increases coming with higher titles, more work or both?
Find out if compensation alone is keeping network professionals
happy in their careers - or is something else? Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/you/2005/072505-salary-survey.html>
_______________________________________________________________
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