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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) is a group of fiber optic transmission rates that transport digital signals with different capacities. Continue Reading
Explore virtualization study topics for CCNP, CCIE exams
Aspiring CCNPs and CCIEs will need to grasp one of networking's most important topics: virtualization. 'Day 7' from Patrick Gargano's '31 Days' explains the subject in detail. Continue Reading
bit stuffing
Bit stuffing refers to the insertion of one or more bits into a data transmission as a way to provide signaling information to a receiver. Continue Reading
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Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS)
Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) refers to the traditional, analog voice transmission phone system implemented over physical copper wires (twisted pair). Continue Reading
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology for implementing wired Ethernet local area networks (LANs) that enables the electrical current necessary for operating each device to be carried by Ethernet data cables instead of standard electrical power ... Continue Reading
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Definitions to Get Started
- What is an API (application programming interface)?
- What is a SAN? Ultimate storage area network guide
- What is a data retention policy?
- What is multi-access edge computing? Benefits and use cases
- What is 5G?
- What is 6G? Overview of 6G networks & technology
- phase-locked loop (PLL)
- What is millimeter wave (mmWave)?
file server
A file server is a computer responsible for the storage and management of data files so that other computers on the same network can access the files.Continue Reading
Storage for edge computing is the next frontier for IoT
IoT edge devices are getting smarter and will need local storage for machine learning and other AI operations. Is the industry ready for the challenge of storage for edge computing?Continue Reading
network operations center (NOC)
A network operations center (NOC) is a centralized place from which enterprise information technology (IT) administrators -- either internal or third party -- supervise, monitor and maintain a telecommunications network.Continue Reading
conductance
Conductance is an expression of the ease with which electric current flows through materials like metals and nonmetals.Continue Reading
An introduction to eBPF and where it shines
With eBPF, developers can customize Linux OS software without changing the kernel. Discover the utility's basics and how it can be used for networking, monitoring and security.Continue Reading
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session border controller (SBC)
A session border controller (SBC) is a dedicated hardware device or software application that governs the manner in which phone calls are initiated, conducted and terminated on a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network.Continue Reading
IPTV (Internet Protocol television)
IPTV (Internet Protocol television) is a service that provides television programming and other video content using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite, as opposed to broadcast TV, cable TV or satellite signals.Continue Reading
dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM)
Dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) is an optical fiber multiplexing technology that is used to increase the bandwidth of existing fiber networks.Continue Reading
What is packet loss in networking?
Packet loss is when one or more transmitted data packets fail to arrive at their destination.Continue Reading
carrier-to-noise ratio
In communications, the carrier-to-noise ratio, often written as CNR or C/N, is a measure of the received carrier strength relative to the strength of the received noise.Continue Reading
split horizon
Split horizon is a method used by distance vector protocols to prevent network routing loops.Continue Reading
SSD (solid-state drive)
An SSD, or solid-state drive, is a type of storage device used in computers.Continue Reading
star network
A star network is a local area network (LAN) topology in which all nodes -- personal computers (PCs), workstations or other devices -- are directly connected to a common central computer that is often referred to as a hub.Continue Reading
3 FAQs to improve your Hyper-V basic knowledge
It is critical to develop a foundation of Hyper-V knowledge for successful management. These three FAQs can broaden your Hyper-V expertise prior to installation and deployment.Continue Reading
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a Layer 2 network protocol used to prevent looping within a network topology.Continue Reading
How to use Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes, step by step
As the use of the cloud expands and becomes more complex, Azure Arc offers a way to manage resources. Learn how to set it up for Kubernetes with this tutorial.Continue Reading
sliding window (windowing)
The sliding window (windowing) technique is used by Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to manage the flow of packets between two computers or network hosts.Continue Reading
Explore hot and cold aisle containment for your data center
Explore hot aisle and cold aisle containment for the data center, a practice that can reduce energy costs by helping better manage environmental factors.Continue Reading
Reduce your risk with Exchange Server security best practices
The unique nature of your on-premises Exchange Server makes it an attractive target for threat actors. Take these recommended steps to avoid being the next breach victim.Continue Reading
frequency-division multiplexing (FDM)
In frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), multiple signals are combined for transmission on a single communications line or channel, with each signal assigned to a different frequency (subchannel) within the main channel.Continue Reading
How to keep Docker secrets secret
Secrets greatly increase an environment's security but can take some trial and error to implement correctly. Learn the basics, and then follow this tutorial to create a secret.Continue Reading
Network observability vs. monitoring: What's the difference?
Traditional network monitoring is useful for collecting data about network issues. But network observability can add further insights into network health and end-user experience.Continue Reading
The 4 Golden Signals, and how to put them into practice
There's nothing easy about monitoring distributed systems, but the right metrics can help. Here's how to put the Golden Signals of software reliability to work.Continue Reading
system administrator (sysadmin)
A system administrator (sysadmin) is an information technolog professional who supports a multiuser computing environment and ensures continuous, optimal performance of IT services and support systems.Continue Reading
international private leased circuit (IPLC)
An international private leased circuit (IPLC) is a point-to-point private line used by an organization to communicate between offices that are dispersed throughout the world.Continue Reading
Working with PowerShell Secret Management and Secret Vault
The two new PowerShell modules put API keys, credentials and other secrets under lock and key to protect sensitive information in automation and remoting scenarios.Continue Reading
coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (COFDM)
Coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (COFDM) is a telecommunications modulation scheme that divides a single digital signal across 1,000 or more signal carriers simultaneously.Continue Reading
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology that facilitates fast data transmission at a high bandwidth on existing copper wire telephone lines to homes and businesses.Continue Reading
Link Control Protocol (LCP)
In computer networking, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) provides a standard way to transport multiprotocol data over point-to-point links; within PPP, Link Control Protocol (LCP) establishes, configures and tests data link internet connections.Continue Reading
beamforming
Beamforming is a type of radio frequency (RF) management in which a wireless signal is directed toward a specific receiving device.Continue Reading
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is a server role in Active Directory that allows admins to manage and store information about resources from a network, as well as application data, in a distributed database.Continue Reading
Best of VMworld 2021 Awards: Rules and criteria
Read the updated rules, criteria and categories for the Best of VMworld 2021 Awards to find out what the requirements are for each product nomination.Continue Reading
Best of VMworld 2021 Awards: Nomination form
Submit your entry for the Best of VMworld 2021 Awards for a chance to win.Continue Reading
Key aspects of RPA in the cloud
As more enterprises prioritize automation, RPA seeks to build upon that growth within the cloud sector. Learn why vendors see the technology as an investment in the future.Continue Reading
File Transfer Access and Management (FTAM)
File Transfer Access and Management (FTAM) is an OSI application Layer 7 protocol that standardizes how files are accessed and managed in a distributed network file system.Continue Reading
11 job interview questions for virtualization engineers
Interviews are your chance to showcase your overall knowledge -- and technical expertise -- of virtualization. Prepare for your next job interview and review typical questions.Continue Reading
5G core network functionality driven by SDN, NFV
To reap the full benefits of 5G, operators are using SDN, NFV and network slicing to build out core network functionality.Continue Reading
An introductory overview of 5G network capabilities
In this Q&A, author William Stallings discusses 5G services, such as network slicing and QoS, and other topics covered in his book, '5G Wireless: A Comprehensive Introduction.'Continue Reading
Test your knowledge in this 5G QoS quiz
In this quiz, test your knowledge of network slicing, QoS, and other technologies and practices related to 5G networking.Continue Reading
Basics of SaaS testing, challenges and strategies
With the software-as-a-service model, QA professionals must address particular test challenges and criteria. Let's look at those SaaS issues and the strategies to navigate them.Continue Reading
What admins need to know about CMG client authentication
A System Center cloud management gateway keeps your organization's devices in compliance and running as they should, but which authentication option would work best for you?Continue Reading
Try PSScriptAnalyzer to check PowerShell code best practices
Meeting best practices can be a tough feat. Thankfully, PowerShell Script Analyzer checks the code for you. Follow these examples to learn how it works and get started.Continue Reading
asymmetric communications
Asymmetric communications is a term pertaining to any system in which the data speed or quantity, when averaged over time, is different in one direction from the other.Continue Reading
frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) transmission is the repeated switching of the carrier frequency during radio transmission to reduce interference and avoid interception.Continue Reading
network access control (NAC)
Network access control (NAC), also called network admission control, is a method to bolster the security, visibility and access management of a proprietary network.Continue Reading
Apply hyperscale data center design principles to IT storage
Storage admins in large enterprises can borrow infrastructure design principles from the major hyperscale cloud providers to optimize their own storage systems and operations.Continue Reading
Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP)
Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) is a connection-oriented network protocol for transmitting multiple streams of data simultaneously between two endpoints that have established a connection in a network.Continue Reading
SYN scanning
SYN scanning is a tactic that a malicious hacker can use to determine the state of a communications port without establishing a full connection.Continue Reading
Take this quick DevOps quiz to test your expertise
DevOps as a methodology and cultural movement has been around for years -- but how well do you know its concepts and best practices? Find out here.Continue Reading
Get familiar with the basics of vMotion live migration
VMware's vMotion simplifies the process of VM live migration. To use it properly, familiarize yourself with requirements for network bandwidth, host sizes and how it works.Continue Reading
port
A port in computing has three main uses, each as a type of receptacle in networking, computer hardware and software.Continue Reading
4 best practices for big data security in cloud computing
When dealing with vast amounts of data in the cloud, enterprises need to be proactive with security. Don't wait for a threat to happen; apply these best practices first.Continue Reading
An introductory guide to mobile app security testing
Secure mobile apps by engineering security right into the software and with thorough mobile app security testing. Here's what risks to look for, processes to use and tools to adopt.Continue Reading
How and when to use Nexthink remote actions
Data can tell admins a lot about what happens in an environment -- if they can collect it. See how the Nexthink platform and PowerShell scripts can gather end-user data.Continue Reading
Overhaul VMware multi-cloud strategy to improve cloud migrations
Organizations that revamp their multi-cloud strategies should evaluate applications before migration and cross-train staff to more effectively manage these new systems.Continue Reading
passive optical network (PON)
A passive optical network (PON) is a system commonly used by telecommunications network providers that brings fiber optic cabling and signals all or most of the way to the end user.Continue Reading
megabits per second (Mbps)
Megabits per second (Mbps) are units of measurement for network bandwidth and throughput. It is used to show how fast a network or internet connection is.Continue Reading
FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)
FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) is a network standard that uses fiber optic connections in a local area network (LAN) that can extend in range up to 200 kilometers (124 miles).Continue Reading
Terraform cheat sheet: Notable commands, HCL and more
Terraform has a lot going on. This cheat sheet rounds up the essentials, from configuration settings to the key commands for managing the Terraform directory.Continue Reading
An introduction to big data in the cloud
As enterprises add big data projects in the cloud, IT admins need to adjust their skills accordingly. Dive into this comprehensive guide to see what makes a cloud shift so attractive.Continue Reading
American Wire Gauge (AWG)
American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the standard way to denote wire size in North America.Continue Reading
VRAM (video RAM)
VRAM (video RAM) refers to any type of random access memory (RAM) specifically used to store image data for a computer display.Continue Reading
Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)
Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is a cloud-based file storage service for applications and workloads that run in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) public cloud.Continue Reading
committed information rate (CIR)
Committed information rate (CIR) is the guaranteed rate at which a Frame Relay network will transfer information under normal line conditions.Continue Reading
BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol)
BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) is an internet protocol that lets a network user automatically be configured to receive an IP address and have an operating system booted without user involvement.Continue Reading
What is the network edge and how is it different from edge computing?
The network edge is where an enterprise network connects to third-party network services. Edge computing is a distributed architecture that processes data closer to end users.Continue Reading
anti-replay protocol
The anti-replay protocol provides Internet Protocol (IP) packet-level security by making it impossible for a hacker to intercept message packets and insert changed packets into the data stream between a source computer and a destination computer.Continue Reading
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) is a public, packet-switched service aimed at enterprises that need to exchange large amounts of data with other enterprises over the wide area network on a nonconstant or bursty basis.Continue Reading
What does the 0.0.0.0 IP address mean and why is it used?
One of a few special-purpose addresses, IP address 0.0.0.0 has several applications in networking. It stands in as a placeholder address, identifies a default route and more.Continue Reading
How to use iPerf3 to test network bandwidth
In this in-depth tip, learn how to use iPerf3, a network testing tool to measure throughput and benchmark your WAN links to ensure effectivity.Continue Reading
extranet
An extranet is a private network that enterprises use to provide trusted third parties -- such as suppliers, vendors, partners, customers and other businesses -- secure, controlled access to business information or operations.Continue Reading
Network Address Translation (NAT)
A Network Address Translation (NAT) is the process of mapping an internet protocol (IP) address to another by changing the header of IP packets while in transit via a router.Continue Reading
encoding and decoding
Encoding and decoding are used in many forms of communications, including computing, data communications, programming, digital electronics and human communications.Continue Reading
customer premises equipment (CPE)
Customer premises equipment (CPE) is telecommunications and information technology equipment kept at the customer's physical location rather than on the service provider's premises.Continue Reading
The differences between PAP and CHAP
PAP uses a two-way handshake to authenticate client sessions, while CHAP uses a three-way handshake. Both authentication processes are common, but one is more secure.Continue Reading
optoisolator (optical coupler or optocoupler)
An optoisolator (also known as an optical coupler, photocoupler, optocoupler) is a semiconductor device that transfers an electrical signal between isolated circuits using light.Continue Reading
How to script a Bash shell argument
This tutorial teaches you how to add arguments to your Bash scripts, which can simplify and automate a variety of Linux tasks in the data center and eliminate hassle.Continue Reading
RAID 10 (RAID 1+0)
RAID 10, also known as RAID 1+0, is a RAID configuration that combines disk mirroring and disk striping to protect data.Continue Reading
Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA)
Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA) is a command and transport protocol that defines how data is transferred between a computer's motherboard and mass storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), optical drives and ...Continue Reading
Snort
Snort is an open source network intrusion detection system (NIDS) created by Sourcefire founder and former CTO Martin Roesch.Continue Reading
token ring
A token ring is a data link for a local area network (LAN) in which all devices are connected in a ring or star topology and pass one or more tokens from host to host.Continue Reading
How pub/sub messaging works, and why it matters today
While pub/sub has been a standard messaging approach for decades, it's arguably more important than ever for developers to understand what it is, how it works and why it matters.Continue Reading
Static vs. dynamic routing: What is the difference?
Static routing uses preconfigured routes to send traffic to its destination, while dynamic routing uses algorithms to determine the best path. How else do the two methods differ?Continue Reading
In search of AWS Solutions Architect preparation?
Think you're ready for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification exam? Test your knowledge with these 12 questions, and assess your test readiness.Continue Reading
Amazon API Gateway
Amazon API Gateway is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) feature that enables developers to connect non-AWS applications to AWS back-end resources, such as servers and code.Continue Reading
poison reverse
In a computer network that uses the Routing Information Protocol (RIP) or other distance vector routing protocol, poison reverse is a loop avoidance process.Continue Reading
Get Azure Fundamentals exam practice with this quick quiz
Getting officially certified in MS Azure Fundamentals is a career-booster. This 12-question quiz will help assess your readiness for this key professional exam.Continue Reading
12 official practice questions for the CCNA 200-301 exam
These practice questions for CCNA 200-301 lay out what readers need to know about network security and IP routing in the LAN, from 'CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volumes 1 and 2.'Continue Reading
Manage OneDrive for Business storage limits, step by step
OneDrive for Business is an important cloud storage element for Microsoft 365 users. Admins should be ready to adjust the storage limits for their users.Continue Reading
pair programming
Pair programming is an Agile software development technique originating from Extreme programming (XP) in which two developers team together and work on one computer.Continue Reading
Get the right components for your home lab VM
Home lab VM setups are helpful to test technology and build VM management skills. Be sure to evaluate RAM, CPU, network speeds and management software for a successful deployment.Continue Reading
Five-nines availability: What it really means
Learn what five-nines availability means and discover the steps enterprises should take to make sure network services are fully accessible.Continue Reading
The 6 non-negotiable REST architecture constraints
While REST-centric design isn't necessarily hard, there are some non-negotiable rules when it comes to resource provisioning. Here are six all architects should know.Continue Reading
Avoid data overflows with PowerShell Remove-Item
The cmdlet helps delete misplaced files and outdated documents, but you should tune the code to optimize execution and avoid errors when the work entails many files and folders.Continue Reading
How to calculate network bandwidth requirements
Figuring out how to calculate bandwidth requirements is vital to ensuring your network runs smoothly, and it's best to use the correct formula from the beginning.Continue Reading