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Guest blogFrankCicalesePic by Frank Cicalese, a Technical Solutions Architect with Cisco, who assists customers with optimizing their SQL Server workloads on the Cisco Unified Computing System. Before joining Cisco, Frank worked at Microsoft Corporation for 10 years, excelling in several positions, including as a Database TSP.

The Cisco Data Center team is looking forward to engaging with the SQL Server community next week in Charlotte at the PASS Summit 2013. Whether you implement SQL Server on blade or rack servers, Cisco’s Unified Computing System (UCS), with its integrated architecture and centralized management model, can greatly simplify server deployments and improve operational efficiencies.

Franks Session Title SlideI’ll be doing a deep dive on the advantages of SQL Server on UCS, in my presentation at the PASS Summit 2013:  SQL Server Reference Architectures on Cisco Unified Computing System [DBA-211]. I’ll be providing the details on two important reference architectures for SQL Server including: Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Fast Track for Data Warehouse and SQL Server Consolidation Using Cisco Unified Computing System and Microsoft Hyper-V. My session will be on Thursday, October 17th, at 1:30 PM in room 202 A-B.

Cisco UCS provides unique benefits and advantages as you plan to deploy, manage, and scale your Microsoft SQL Server workloads, including: Continue reading “Deliver SQL Server Performance on Cisco UCS”



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Gary Serda

Senior Strategic Partner Marketing Manager

Global Partner Marketing

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Ten years ago, I remember driving around my neighborhood with a laptop, wireless card, and an antenna looking at the Service Set Identifiers (SSID) of all the open wireless networks. Back then, a home user’s packets often flew through the air unencrypted with nary a thought to who might be listening.

 

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As a protocol, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), has continually improved (IEEE 802.11) and today it is the preferred communication channel for a multitude of home devices including video game consoles, cameras, streaming video devices, mobile phones, tablets, and list goes on. As October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, we outline typical WiFi risks and share sensible precautions.

Family-on-laptop-300x199In my last three homes, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) installation technician arrived with a cable modem that included four Ethernet ports and native WiFi default enabled. In each case, the technician explained that I could manage the cable modem through the settings webpage. When I inquired about management authentication credentials all of the technicians told me that passwords were not enabled by default, which naturally caused some consternation due to the obvious security implications.

It turns out that most ISPs will provide a modem without WiFi capabilities upon request. You can also request that a WiFi enabled modem be converted to bridge mode which will allow you to attach and manage your own WiFi access point (AP) without worrying about conflicts. Continue reading “Wireless Security Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”



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Levi Gundert

Technical Lead

Cisco Threat Research, Analysis, and Communications (TRAC)

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Over the last year, I (and many of my colleagues) have spent a lot of time talking about the Internet of Everything (IoE) and how it’s transforming our world. I thought, however, it would be good to pause in this blog and clarify what we mean by the “Internet of Everything” in just a little more detail. I’ve mentioned in the past that IoE consists of four “pillars”: people, process, data and things, but let’s take a closer look.

Many people are familiar with the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). Not only does it have its own Wikipedia article, but last month the Internet of Things was added to the Oxford dictionary, which defines it as “a proposed development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data.” So it’s not surprising that people might be confused when we start talking about the Internet of Everything. What’s the difference? Is IoE simply a rebranding of IoT?

The fact is, the Internet of Things is just one of four dimensions — people, process, data, and things — we talk about in the Internet of Everything. If we take a closer look at each of these dimensions, and how they work together, we’ll begin to see the transformative value of IoE.

Continue reading “Beyond Things: The Internet of Everything Takes Connections to the Power of Four”



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[Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Matthias Machowinski, Directing Analyst, Enterprise Networks and Video at Infonetics.]

Infonetics recently published our Enterprise Networking and Communication Vendor Leadership Scorecard, our annual look at the top vendors in this space and their strengths and weaknesses. Enterprise networking and communication infrastructure is a critical component of the day-to-day operations of any organization—it connects people, devices, and IT systems and allows them to communicate with each other securely. This market consists of 3 major sub-segments:

  • Networking: Equipment used to build enterprise networks, such as switches, routers, and WLAN
  • Communication: Equipment and software that provides real-time enterprise voice and video communication, such as IP PBX, videoconferencing rooms, and UC software
  • Security: Products that provide security for networks and network-connected devices, such as firewalls, IDS/IPS, and content security appliances Continue reading “Who Leads the Enterprise Networking and Communication Market?”


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Matthias Machowinski

Directing Analyst

Enterprise Networks and Video Infonetics

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Children’s health care is a growing concern on a domestic and global scale among parents, specialists, and policymakers. Treating this special population, particularly among those living in rural communities, ignites continual challenges including insurance concerns, limited transportation, and the low number and availability of pediatric specialists. In addition, child mortality remains a global concern. According to a recent study by The Lancet, only 15 countries are projected to meet targets to reduce child deaths by 2035. Working to overcome these challenges can help ensure that every child reaches his or her full potential.

Through ongoing work with health care organizations around the world, Cisco recognized that its collaborative telehealth and video technology solutions could help curb the strain on resources within the children’s population by encouraging “virtual” care delivery— a trend becoming more prevalent as doctors and providers recognize its significance. Across the world, the company has a series of programs to help children get the best medical care possible. These programs fall under the recently launched Connected Healthy Children initiative, a new program designed to promote a future of happier families, stronger communities, and healthier kids around the world.

Continue reading “Tackling Children’s Health Problems with Technology and Collaboration”



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Yu Yi

Senior Director

Corporate Affairs

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Recent trends like BYOD, Virtualization, Cloud and Video is driving unprecedented levels of data growth and demanding strong interdependency between the virtual server, network, and storage environments. Customers agree that in order to properly support consolidated, highly virtualized environments, organizations need improved, easy-to-manage server, network and storage, capable of cloud scale and performance.
The complexity and expense of maintaining dual storage and network interfaces, cabling, and switch ports becomes significant as the data centers grow.  Data center convergence helps to cut cost and increase efficiency by consolidating multi-protocol storage and LAN traffic onto a single, scalable, and intelligent network.
In recent ESG research conducted with North American networking professionals, 41% of survey respondents had already consolidated to a common Ethernet network, another 34% planned to do so in the next 24 months, and another 18% were interested in doing so.  ESG also published a Field Audit Report, which shows a clear uptake on convergence adoption by large and small customers from different vertical segments.

 

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Continue reading “Data Center Convergence: Customer adoption”



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Tony Antony

Marketing

Solutions

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Cisco Security has announced the closing of the acquisition of Sourcefire.  Sourcefire founder and CTO (and creator of Snort®) Martin Roesch posted to Sourcefire’s blog this morning to share the news:

“I can tell you with certainty that this is a great match for Sourcefire, for Cisco and, ultimately, for our customers, partners and open source communities” said Roesch.  “From a technology perspective, after having dedicated 15 years to Snort and then to Sourcefire, it’s personally gratifying to be part of building this strong foundation.”

Roesch, now vice president and chief architect of Cisco’s Security Business Group, is excited for the new opportunities presented.  “It’s the new model of security I’ve been talking about for some time.  Now working as part of the Cisco team, led by Chris Young, we can accelerate execution of this vision and make this even more impactful.”

This is just the first exciting news about the acquisition.  As Roesch states in his post, “expect more great things as we continue down this path as ONE team.”

Read the full post: http://blog.sourcefire.com/Post/2013/10/08/1381233600-one-team–sourcefire-is-now-part-of-cisco/



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In my keynote today at the National Parking Association Convention (NPA) in Chicago, I addressed the traffic problems caused by those looking for parking. Today, 30% of all traffic congestion in urban areas is caused by drivers circling to find a parking spot. Cisco believes that the Internet of Everything will solve this problem through the use of a connected parking solution.

Last year, we announced collaboration with Streetline and delivered connected parking deployments in San Carlos, California. and San Mateo, California. Streetline’s sensors and parking application on the Cisco network allowed residents to pinpoint parking spots before arriving at their destination.

Today, we are expanding this collaboration by entering into a strategic relationship with Streetline. Streetline’s technology and suite of data and analytics applications provide parking providers with real-time information and control systems at a much broader scale than the past. Cisco’s camera-based solution complements Streetline’s pavement sensor-based solution. Cameras and Sensors act as the “Things” that generate “Data” that can be put to use through powerful analytics and the resultant information could be used to improve “Processes” and overall quality of life for “citizens”.

We are also building the combined solution on the City Infrastructure Management (CIM) platform, which will allow a City to expand deployment of other vertical use cases like Smart Lighting, Video Surveillance and more. The new integrated Parking Management solution will be deployed on the City Wi-Fi platform providing an additional benefit of Wi-Fi coverage and potential additional services. Smart+Connected™ City Wi-Fi is a solution that helps global cities provide citywide connectivity and to establish a platform for new service development for citizens.

Intelligent parking services are the solution to growing parking issues we face today, and will enable a new experience for visitors, businesses and residents. We are pleased to be collaborating with Streetline to advance the solutions available and believe that smart parking will not only help with the the problem of congestion, but also decrease parking maintenance, carbon emission, improve parking enforcement and increase city revenue.

Watch what the residents of San Carlos have to say:

https://youtu.be/j0B30m9jjU8



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Wim Elfrink

Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions & Chief

Globalisation Officer

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Chris Young, SVP of Cisco’s Security Business Group, posted an official announcement this morning on Cisco’s The Platform blog heralding the close of the Sourcefire acquisition.

 “I am excited to announce that Cisco has completed the acquisition of Sourcefire. With this acquisition, we take a significant and exciting step in our journey to define the future of security. As one company, we offer an unbeatable combination that will greatly accelerate our mission of delivering a new, threat-centric security model”, said Young.

Young also goes in-depth regarding the new capabilities immediately available to current Cisco customers as well as what the acquisition means for Cisco Security roadmap:

  • Leverage current ASA and FirePOWER hardware for future solutions
  • Give Cisco customers immediate access to Sourcefire’s NGIPS, NGFW, and AMP solutions
  • Committing to support open-source projects like Snort, ClamAV, and others
  • Broader solution sets incorporating the newly acquired technologies

This year, Cisco has increased investment in security innovation to provide market-leading threat-focused capabilities.

Young also promised Cisco Security will focus on a “threat-centric” security model moving forward – which means a priority focus on the threats themselves versus policy or controls. “Through our threat-centric model,” he said “we will provide broad coverage across all potential attack vectors, rapidly adjust to and learn from new attack methods, and implement that intelligence back into the infrastructure after each attack.”

Read the full post with all the exciting details here:  http://blogs.cisco.com/news/cisco-closes-sourcefire-acquisition-delivers-threat-centric-security-model



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