The Catalyst Compact Switch gives you the the flexibility of connecting and powering networking devices without running long Ethernet cables from the wiring closet. It is a small form factor switch that can be powered over Ethernet, and is silent, secure and resilient. Amongst other verticals, the compact switch has been very successful in diverse environments in retail, hospitality and enterprise. A new Lippis Report details how the compact switch extends the borderless network services to the furthest endpoints. Read More »

Tags: Cisco Catalyst, Compact Switch, humor, video

Today, I am pleased to announce Cisco’s intent to acquire Ubiquisys, a privately-held company headquartered in Swindon, UK for $310 million in cash and employee retention incentives. Ubiquisys is a leading provider of intelligent 3G and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) small-cell technologies that provides seamless connectivity across mobile heterogeneous networks for service providers.

The acquisition of Ubiquisys exemplifies Cisco’s innovation framework based on a build, buy and partner approach. The Ubiquisys acquisition also complements Cisco’s mobility strategy along with the recent acquisitions of BroadHop and Intucell, reinforcing in-house research and development, such as service provider Wi-Fi and licensed radio. These technologies will tie together the mobility architecture that leverages the intelligence of the network from the wireless edge of the network into the wired core.

As carriers around the world increase cellular data capacity to serve the rapidly growing population of smartphone and tablet users, adding small cells is one of the most cost-effective ways to multiply data capacity and make better use of scarce spectrum assets. Ubiquisys’ indoor small cells expertise and its focus on intelligent software for licensed 3G and LTE spectrum, coupled with Cisco’s mobility portfolio and its Wi-Fi expertise, will enable a comprehensive small cell solution to service providers that supports the transition to next generation radio access networks.

The acquisition of Ubiquisys further reinforces Cisco’s commitment to service providers and strengthens Cisco’s mobility capabilities to continue to extend the intelligent mobile network.

Ubiquisys’ product portfolio and team will be integrated into our Small Cell Technology Group led by Partho Mishra.

Tags: acquisition, Hilton Romanski, M&A, mobility, small cells, Ubiquisys

To continue the MSE Blog Series, I’m going to take you on a journey to dig deep into one of the features of Release 7.4, wIPS!

With the increasing popularity of BYOD, wireless security has become an eminent concern for Network Administrators. Cisco Unified Wireless Intrusion Prevention Solution (WIPS) is dedicated to protecting the wireless network security and provide a secure wireless experience to the clients. Cisco, allied with Flukes Networks, to constantly monitor new wireless intrusion techniques, develop new signatures and provide preventive solutions. In 7.4 release, we added the capability of detecting 802.11 frame fuzzing attacks. The new signatures patterns, for detecting such attacks, are available through WIPS profile configuration in NCS. These signature patterns are enabled by default and provide the full level of security. The user, however, could tune them to get the desired protection level.

Read More »

Tags: 11ac, 802.11ac, Cisco, Cisco Unified Access, Converged Access, gigabit, gigabit ethernet, gigabit Wi-Fi, LAN, mobile, mobility, mobility services engine, network, wi-fi, wifi, WIPS, wired, wireless, wlan

Why the Network Will Drive the Next Wave of Mobility

Forty years ago, the first phone call was placed on a handheld mobile phone. The call was placed by Martin Cooper at Motorola’s Communications Systems Division, who phoned a competitor at Bell Labs—and launched a new era. The brick-like prototype he used weighed two pounds and cost nearly $4,000.

Reflecting on the first mobile phone call also gives us a great opportunity to think about where mobile communication will take us in the years to come. In a few short decades, cell phones have evolved from a clunky appliance used mainly by high-powered businesspeople, into a key part of everyday life. Read More »

Tags: data in motion, Internet of Everything, IoE, location based services, mobility, wireless

Much has been made of the emergence of Software Defined Networking and the programmable network.  At its core, SDN involves opening up network interfaces in order to make the network programmable and allow for the development of applications.  While some of those applications interact directly with the data plane, determining how individual packets are treated, many applications actually involve what can fundamentally be described as management functionality – automation of workflows, reaction to events, closing of control loops.   A popular example concerns orchestration, in which resources are allocated and state modified so that collectively a service is provided – in many ways resembling a reincarnation of service provisioning in a new context and under a new name.

Of course, management applications and management interfaces have been around for a long time, so what is really new and different this time?  Is SDN simply an exciting new label for a tired old concept? Does SDN obviate the need for traditional management? At the core of these questions are the concepts of programmability and manageability.  Read More »

Tags: applications, Intelligent Network, Manageability, network management, programmability, SDN, software defined networking