Network engineers are the firefighters and knowledge bases of enterprise IT, however the role of a network engineer is rapidly evolving. With the rise of automation, orchestration, and AI, the familiar image of an engineer hunched over a command-line interface (CLI) is giving way, leading many to question the future of their profession. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Ryan Harris, Chris Grundemann, and Nathan Nielsen as they discuss how the perception of their role has shifted, the continuous need for learning and adaptation, and whether the CLI is truly dead.

The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities presented by these technological advancements, highlighting how network engineers are embracing new tools like chatbots and GUIs for enhanced visualization. While some aspects of the job, like manual CLI work, may be diminishing, the core principles of understanding network functionality remain core to the role of the network engineer. The panel talks about identity crisis in a field where continuous learning is essential, contrasting it with professions like doctors and lawyers who deal with slower-changing fundamentals. They discuss the value of specialization versus being a generalist, the concept of the “pitchfork engineer,” and ultimately, how redefining their identity as lifelong learners can help network engineers thrive in this ever-changing landscape.

Learn more about ⁠Networking Field Day 38 here⁠.

Host: ⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠, Tech Field Day Event Lead

Panelists:

Ryan Harris, Senior Network Engineer

⁠Chris Grundemann⁠, Network Infrastructure Consultant

Nathan Nielson, Principal Solutions Architect

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As Tech Field Day heads to SHARE in Cleveland, we are considering the many ways the mainframe has been re-imagined and re-built for the AI era. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Cynthia Overby of Rocket Software and SHARE, Derek Britton, and Jeffrey Powers discussing the modern mainframe with Stephen Foskett. Walk around the SHARE conference and you’ll see the same concepts and technologies that you would find at any other conference: AI, security, data management, software development, and connectivity. Although the mainframe platform is radically different from the so-called open systems used in the cloud and elsewhere, IBM has re-engineered the new z17 mainframe for the AI age. The mainframe hosts the most valuable data in the world, and if AI is going to be used it has to run locally. That’s why IBM added a second-generation AI accelerator to the latest Telum II processor, the Spyre Accelerator, and z/OS itself. We’re excited to be bringing Tech Field Day to SHARE to learn more about the modern mainframe and share the state of the art with our audience. 

Host: Stephen Foskett, Organizer and President of Tech Field Day

Panel:

Cynthia Overby, Director Strategic Security Solutions at Rocket Software

Derek Britton, Chief Marketing Officer, PopUp Mainframe

Jeffrey Powers, Founder of Geekazine.com

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The proposed remedies for the HPE acquisition of Juniper Networks did a real disservice to Juniper Mist. The confusion around what’s going on with the proposed Juniper AIOps for Mist auction have professionals asking a lot of questions. In this episode, recorded on the eve of the close of the acquisition, Tom Hollingsworth sits down with Sam Clements, Jake Snyder, and Ed Weadon to make sense of it all. There are discussions about what exactly is included in the auction and what benefit will come from the license to use Juniper AIOps for Mist. Also discussed is who might be a good bidder for the solution and how long it will take for them to get any real value from it.

Host: ⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠

Panelists:

⁠Sam Clements⁠

⁠Ed Weadon⁠

Jake Snyder

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Enterprise networks are complicated but outsourcing all of the operations team doesn’t lead to better outcomes. It’s important to remember that enterprise covers a wide range of network definitions. In this episode, Ed Weadon, Chris Grundemann, and Jody Lemoine join Tom Hollingsworth as they discuss how businesses see the network and IT in general as a cost center instead of value generation. They also talk about the various sizes of networks and why each of them has issues with the most popular outsourcing methods. They also discuss the human factor and why not all managed providers can give you the same level of service.

Learn more about Networking Field Day 38 here.

Host: Tom Hollingsworth, Tech Field Day Event Lead

Panelists:

Ed Weadon, Networking Engineer

Chris Grundemann, Consultant

Jody Lemoine, Wireless Networking Engineer

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Passwords have served their use in the enterprise. We need to start moving away from simple passwords as an authentication mechanism. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Tony Efantis, Karen Lopez, and Fernando Montenegro as they discuss the premise that we are long past passwords, exploring the complexities and frustrations of relying on them for myriad online accounts. The conversation highlights the concept of economic externalities, where developers easily implement simple passwords, but the burden of managing hundreds of unique credentials falls on the individual user. While passwords were initially designed for basic authentication, there has been a shift towards alternative mechanisms like one-time codes sent to email or passkeys because of user laziness and the security risks associated with password reuse and compromised credentials. Ultimately, what is needed a balanced, risk-based authentication approach is necessary, tailoring security levels to the sensitivity of the data being protected, and leveraging technologies like biometrics and background risk assessments to create a more convenient and secure user experience, even as attackers continue to evolve their methods.

Panelists:

Fernando Montenegro, VP and Practice Leader, Cybersecurity Research at The Futurum Group

Karen Lopez, Data Security Expert

Tony Efantis, Network Security Expert

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Watch the Presentations from Mobility Field Day here.

One of the most anticipated features of Wi-Fi 7 isn’t ready for the public. Worse yet, it may never deliver on the promise of fast, reliable wireless connectivity. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Allyn Crowe, Peter Mackenzie, and Chris Reed as they discuss the way that multi-link operation (MLO) has been included in the specification for Wi-Fi 7 yet not quite implemented. They highlight the technical difficulties of deploying such a complicated protocol and how vendors are trying to squeeze every drop of performance out of their hardware. They wrap up with advice on whether or not to plan your next deployment around a technology that isn’t quite ready yet.

Host:

Tom Hollingsworth

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/tom-hollingsworth/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/networkingnerd

Panelists:

Allyn Crowe, Principal Engineer at Nexum

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/allyn-crowe/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyn-crowe/ Peter Mackenzie, Cofounder of Wi-Co

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/peter-mackenzie/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenziewifi/Chris Reed, Principal Consultant at Verizon

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/chris-reed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thecmreed/

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Learn More from the AI Infrastructure Field Day Presentations

AI demands specialized data center designs due to its unique hardware utilization and networking needs, which require a new type of infrastructure. This Tech Field Day Podcast episode features Denise Donohue, Karen Lopez, Lino Telera, and Alastair Cooke. Network design has been a consistent part of the AI infrastructure discussions at Tech Field Day events. The need for a dedicated network to interconnect GPUs differentiates AI training and fine-tuning networks from general-purpose computing. The vast power demand for high-density GPU servers highlights a further need for different data centers with liquid cooling and massive power distribution. Model training is only one part of the AI pipeline; business value is delivered by AI inference with a different set of needs and a closer eye on financial management. Inference will likely require servers with GPUs and high-speed local storage, but not the same networking density as training and fine-tuning. Inference will also need servers adjacent to existing general-purpose infrastructure running existing business applications. Some businesses may be able to fit their AI applications into their existing data centers, but many will need to build or rent new infrastructure.

Host

Alastair Cooke, Tech Field Day Event Lead

Panelists:

Karen Lopez

Lino Telera

Denise Donohue

Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠.

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Learn more about Tech Field Day at Cisco Live!Modern networking is being disrupted in the data center but user-facing networking has largely stagnated. Users are getting slightly faster connections but everything feels mostly the same. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Sam Clements and Ed Weadon as they discuss innovation in the edge of the network. They talk about how companies like Cisco have been trying to bring users into the modern era. They talk about the centralization of management in the cloud and how competition has driven those moves. They also look ahead to Cisco Live and discuss the releases they would most like to see at the event.

Host: Tom Hollingsworth

Panelists:

Sam Clements

Ed Weadon

Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Learn More about Cloud Field Day 23

Keeping every application and every scrap of data on the public cloud becomes very expensive; we need to improve our cloud economics. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Vriti Magee, Mitch Lewis, and Alastair Cooke. The belief that data is the new oil has led many companies to retain every piece of data they generate, often in object storage on public cloud platforms. The continuous growth of this data leads to a growing bill from the cloud provider, often with no clear plan in place for recouping the value of the money spent. Generative AI requires training data, which is another reason to retain everything; again, there needs to be value returned to the business. New designs for cloud applications must include data management and managed retention as key criteria. Sustainable, honest designs that enable business change are vital for delivering value back to the business.

Host

⁠Alastair Cooke⁠, Tech Field Day Event Lead

Panelists:

Mitch Lewis

Vriti Magee

Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Event Page: https://techfieldday.com/event/xfd13/

Compliance reinforces the state of security in your organization. However, compliance in and of itself is not security. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Jack Poller and Milou Meier as they discuss the nuance between securing your organization and ensuring compliance. They discuss the challenges with audits and the “checkbox” mentality that has become common. They also discuss how organizations face different challenges globally and how you can help ensure that you aren’t being exposed to problems in the future.

Host: Tom Hollingsworth, Tech Field Day Event Lead

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/tom-hollingsworth/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/networkingnerd/

Panel

Milou Meier

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/milou-meier/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milou-lammers-meier-9815824b/

Jack Poller

Tech Field Day: https://techfieldday.com/people/jack-poller/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackpoller/

Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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