Cisco acquisition strategy points way to app performance mgmt.

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DENISE DUBIE ON NETWORK OPTIMIZATION
08/25/05
Today's focus: Cisco acquisition strategy points way to app
performance mgmt.

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Cisco targets application performance management
* Links related to Network Optimization
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Ciena
WAN Optimization for Enterprise Applications

Today VPNs and VLANs can satisfy web, Email and file transfer
requirements. Is it reasonable to expect them to handle
storage, XML and/or VoIP traffic, too? Download Ciena's white
paper on 'WAN Optimization for Enterprise Applications" to learn
how new traffic can affect your network and how you can
proactively meet these diverse demands efficiently today and for
tomorrow.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=111725
_______________________________________________________________
THE ROI OF VOIP

When it comes to VoIP, most network managers are satisfied that
the technology works. But there are questions: What will the new
technology cost to roll out and support, and what benefits can
companies expect to reap? Check out NW's step-by-step guide on
how to determine the true cost and benefits of VoIP. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110686
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Cisco acquisition strategy points way to app
performance mgmt.

By Denise Dubie

Cisco is known for many things in the networked world - from
leading the market for LAN switching and WAN routing, to
providing voice and wireless gear, to jumping into IT
infrastructure management. Couple the latter with its WAN
optimization technologies, and Cisco could become a dominant
presence yet another market: network application performance
management.

The company's recent acquisition of Sheer Networks
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5872> armed Cisco with
technology to integrate multiple management products and
equipped Cisco with the power to manage multi-vendor gear. While
no specific product plans have been revealed, Cisco executives
have made it clear the vendor is aggressively working to
increase its offerings in heterogeneous network management as
well as to incorporate information collected from software
systems, applications and business services.

"We need a system, an open approach to resolve the issue of
different management products from different vendors for
different devices. There should be one tool for the operator to
learn for provisioning and troubleshooting at the network and
services level," says Cliff Meltzer, senior vice president of
Cisco's Network Management Technology Group.

The acquisition of Sheer, as well as two purchases last year of
Jahi Networks
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2004/1117cisbuy.html?rl>, a
maker of software programming interfaces for network management,
and NetSolve
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2004/0909ciscotoac.html?rl>, a
management service provider, bring heterogeneous network
management technology and experience into Cisco's development
labs that had previously churned out predominantly proprietary
tools targeted at specific Cisco products.

Even with all the recent talk of network and IT infrastructure
management, don't discount Cisco's plans to continue improving
application performance over the WAN. The company this year
introduced its Application-Oriented Networking (AON) initiative
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/062705-cisco.html?rl>,
purchased Actona
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2004/0629actona.html?rl> last
year and bought FineGround Networks
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop2323> earlier this year -
all of which give Cisco an advantage in WAN optimization with
wide-area file services and application acceleration technology.

"Cisco is hearing from its customers that they don't want a lot
of different boxes to optimize WAN performance or ensure network
performance," says George Hamilton, a senior analyst with Yankee
Group. "Cisco has a real opportunity to be a leader and create
an ecosystem of management that allows people to virtualize the
network layer and manage performance."

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Zotob worm also targets Windows XP
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5873>

2. Dr. Internet: Installing DHCP on Linux
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5874>

3. Cisco preparing management play
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5671>

4. IP PBXs outsell traditional PBXs, study says
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5875>

5. Test: Xirrus XS-3900 offers out-of-this-world Wi-Fi capacity
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5876>

Today's most-forwarded story:

IP PBXs outsell traditional PBXs, study says
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5877>

_______________________________________________________________
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 Ciena
WAN Optimization for Enterprise Applications

Today VPNs and VLANs can satisfy web, Email and file transfer
requirements. Is it reasonable to expect them to handle
storage, XML and/or VoIP traffic, too? Download Ciena's white
paper on 'WAN Optimization for Enterprise Applications" to learn
how new traffic can affect your network and how you can
proactively meet these diverse demands efficiently today and for
tomorrow.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=111724
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Network Optimization newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/accel/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
Asking More of Wireless LANs: The Rise of Multi-Service Networks

Join experts as they explore the expanding role of wireless LANs
in the enterprise, specifically the role of multiservice
networking. Learn about one company's approach to delivering a
multi-service wireless LAN.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110746
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
IT STAFF SHORTAGE LOOMING

Outsourcing. Automation. Downsizing. The industry has been awash
in unemployed IT pros. But experts are now predicting an IT
staffing crunch is just around the corner, and the implications
for U.S. technology innovation are sobering. What might be
causing the shortage and what might need to be done to prevent
it? Click here:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnetop5878>
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