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• The evolution of network control

  The degree of network control IT pros possess is expanding with new tools and solutions. Learn the latest about network management and monitoring. Continue Reading

• Are there alternatives to the OpenFlow protocol?

  Jason Edelman explains OpenFlow protocol alternatives and what's important in determining which southbound protocol will work for you. Continue Reading

• Primer: A new generation of programmable ASICs

  Programmable application-specific integrated circuits allow the data plane of switches to support new technologies, like software-defined networking. Continue Reading

• How to plan for a campus core switch refresh: Basic requirements

  Network architects and engineers discuss the features and functions they look for when planning a campus core upgrade. Continue Reading

• Cloud computing network primer

  Cloud computing network architecture is moving toward a flat, leaf-spine topology, enabling reduced latency and balancing bandwidth, providing any-to-any connectivity within and between servers. Learn more in this primer. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is a bogon?
  • What is signal-to-noise ratio and how is it measured?
  • What is the OSI model? The 7 layers of OSI explained
  • What is shielded twisted pair (STP) and how does it work?

  • What is ping and how does it work?
  • What is 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet)?
  • What is DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)?
  • What is Routing Information Protocol (RIP)?

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• Kbps (kilobits per second)

  In the U.S., Kbps stands for kilobits per second (thousands of bits per second) and is a measure of bandwidth (the amount of data that can flow in a given time) on a data transmission medium.Continue Reading

• well-known port numbers

  The well-known port numbers are the port numbers that are reserved for assignment by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for use by the application end points that communicate using the Internet's Transmission Control ...Continue Reading

• What are the basic features of CIDR and what are its advantages and disadvantages compared to IPv6?

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• I need a very basic VPN solution to connect two offices to allow two servers to talk to one another.

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