The Fat Pipe - All Packet Pushers Pods

Today’s Datanauts episode springs from a deeply personal blog post written by our guest, Al Rasheed.

Al talks about the costs of an IT career; how the long hours and the stress can eat away at your personal and family life, negatively affect your health, and make you feel like a failure.

We discuss regrets for the good jobs that got away, the bad jobs we stayed in too long, and how to decide when it’s time to walk away.

Al also shares his experiences about how he’s coped with the ups and downs of life in IT, how his passion for technology and learning continues to drive him, and the vital role that community plays.

We explore why the human connections of community can be more vital than the tech tips and goofy means that get passed around.

If you’ve ever sat at your desk and wondered “What am I doing here?” then this episode is for you.

Sponsor: Quest Software

Quest Software is your go-to for everything Microsoft. Migrate to a new SharePoint or Office 365 environment, move to OneDrive for Business, consolidate Active Directory and Exchange, secure your AD from insider threats, and much more! Learn more at Quest.com/DatanautsPod.

Show Links:

You Can Call Me Al – Al Rasheed’s blog post

Al Rasheed – A personal Blog about IT related subjects – Al Rasheed

My trudge through IT Burnout and the fight to keep it at bay – Eric Lee

Let’s Talk About ‘Imposter Syndrome’ – Cody De Arkland

Al on Twitter

Al on LinkedIn

Today’s Datanauts episode springs from a deeply personal blog post written by our guest, Al Rasheed.

Al talks about the costs of an IT career; how the long hours and the stress can eat away at your personal and family life, negatively affect your health, and make you feel like a failure.

We discuss regrets for the good jobs that got away, the bad jobs we stayed in too long, and how to decide when it’s time to walk away.

Al also shares his experiences about how he’s coped with the ups and downs of life in IT, how his passion for technology and learning continues to drive him, and the vital role that community plays.

We explore why the human connections of community can be more vital than the tech tips and goofy means that get passed around.

If you’ve ever sat at your desk and wondered “What am I doing here?” then this episode is for you.

Sponsor: Quest Software

Quest Software is your go-to for everything Microsoft. Migrate to a new SharePoint or Office 365 environment, move to OneDrive for Business, consolidate Active Directory and Exchange, secure your AD from insider threats, and much more! Learn more at Quest.com/DatanautsPod.

Show Links:

You Can Call Me Al – Al Rasheed’s blog post

Al Rasheed – A personal Blog about IT related subjects – Al Rasheed

My trudge through IT Burnout and the fight to keep it at bay – Eric Lee

Let’s Talk About ‘Imposter Syndrome’ – Cody De Arkland

Al on Twitter

Al on LinkedIn

Today on Network Break we dive in the deluge of products announced at Dell EMC World, discuss new Wi-Fi 6 gear from Cisco, explore Cumulus's latest version of its NetQ switch management software, and tackle even more tech news. It's a bonanza episode so pack a few extra virtual donuts.

Take a Network Break! Pack a few extra virtual donuts because today our news cup runneth over.

Dell EMC flooded the market with a host of new products including VMware on Azure, an OEM deal with Big Switch, and a new server that bundles VeloCloud SD-WAN. And is Dell World shrinking?

Cisco Systems released three new Wi-Fi 6/802.11ax APs and a new Catalyst campus core switch, and also releases a string of new security patches including a fix for a hardcoded SSH key.

Cumulus releases version 2 of its NetQ switch management software, infrastructure provider Citycomp gets breached, and Bloomberg hypes a Huawei story for clicks.

SpaceX gets approval for a revised plan for satellite broadband, Aryaka lands $50 million in a series F investment, Arista Networks releases its quarterly financials, and Russia creates the legal framework for a national Internet.

Get links to all these stories after our sponsor messages.

Sponsor: Open Systems

In the crowded SD-WAN market, don’t overlook Open Systems. Open Systems brings security, automation and expert management to let you focus on other aspects of your network. Get visibility, flexibility and control combined with performance, simplicity and security with SD-WAN from Open Systems. To find out more, go to www.open-systems.com/packetpushers.

Sponsor: Meet The Packet Pushers At Gluware Intent

Join the Packet Pushers  in New York City on Tuesday, May 14th for a live event with Gluware. This half-day event will feature technical talks on data center automation,  you’ll hear from Gluware customer Merck, and more. After the event you can mingle with your IT peers, Gluware hosts, and the Packet Pushers. Tickets are free but the spaces are limited. Get details and sign up at packetpushers.net/gluware.

Show Notes:

Power Up Your Network, from Edge to Core to Cloud – Direct2DellEMC

Dell Technologies and Microsoft expand partnership with new VMware Solutions – The Official Microsoft Blog

Dell Technologies and Microsoft Expand Partnership to Help Customers Accelerate Their Digital Transformation – VMware

VMware Cloud Solutions on Azure – Microsoft Azure

Big Switch Networks Deepens Open Networking Collaboration with Dell EMC OEM Agreement and Dell EMC Ready Stack Validated Designs – Big Switch

Dell Technologies Transforms IT from Edge to Core to Cloud – Dell Technologies Colombia

Today's Heavy Networking is a roundtable show where we talk with engineers about the challenges of building a networking career when you don't live in a big city. We talk about how to find jobs, get training, advance your skills, and build community. Our guests are Phil Gervasi, Ryan Booth, and Eric Stover.

Building a networking career is challenging under the best of circumstances.

Between keeping the packets flowing and lights on, there are certifications to pursue, problems to troubleshoot, and emerging technologies to grok.

Those challenges can be compounded by your location. If you live in a small city or outside a major population hub, jobs may be scarce. Mentors and colleagues might be hard to come by. Opportunities to get your hands on new or different technologies and equipment could be limited.

We’ve assembled a roundtable of engineers to talk about the challenges of developing a networking career and growing your expertise outside of the bright lights of the big city.

Our guests are Phil Gervasi, Ryan Booth, and Eric Stover.

We discuss:

* How to cope with limited job options

* How to make travel or telecommuting work for you

* Where to find mentors, training, and community

* How community engagement can get you that new opportunity

* Potential upsides, including better quality of life, lower cost of living, and opportunities to wear many hats

Sponsor: ExtraHop

ExtraHop is the enterprise cyber analytics company delivering performance and security from the inside out. ExtraHop offers complete visibility with machine learning to help you make quick, confident decisions about your IT environment. Explore the ExtraHop Performance Platform at extrahop.com/packetpushers.

Sponsor: ITProTV

Get over 65 hours of free technical training from ITProTV. ITProTV offers online instruction in CompTIA, Cisco, VMWare, Microsoft and more. You can stream courses live and on demand on your favorite device. Sign up for a free membership at itpro.tv/packet-pushers and try it with no obligation.

Show Links:

Phil Gervasi on Twitter

Networkphil – Phil Gervasi’s blog

Ryan Booth on Twitter

Moving Ones and Zeros – Ryan Booth’s blog

Eric Stover on Twitter

FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF – Eric Stover’s blog

College instructor and author Rick Graziani stops by the IPv6 Buzz podcast to talk about teaching IPv6, including the differences between teaching college students and training IT professionals, how networking and IT are taught in universities and community colleges, and more.

Gluware Intent is a live event we’re holding in NYC on May 14, 2019. Come hang out with the Packet Pushers, the Gluware team, and customers to learn about practical network automation.

Register via https://packetpushers.net/gluware to reserve your seat, hear presentations, and see the Packet Pushers record a Heavy Networking episode live.

Gluware Intent is a live event we’re holding in NYC on May 14, 2019. Come hang out with the Packet Pushers, the Gluware team, and customers to learn about practical network automation.

Register via https://packetpushers.net/gluware to reserve your seat, hear presentations, and see the Packet Pushers record a Heavy Networking episode live.

You’re listening to Briefings in Brief from the Packet Pushers, an audio digest of IT news and information, including vendor briefings, industry research, and commentary.

I’m Drew Conry-Murray, It’s April 30th 2019 and here’s what’s happening.

Earlier this month Versa Networks announced Versa Titan, an SD-WAN and security offering that can be consumed in two ways: as a service from MSPs, VARs, or system integrators; or as a product to be deployed and operated directly by customers.

Whichever approach customers take, Versa’s goal is to make deployment dead simple through pre-configured branch appliances, a cloud-based controller, and a mobile app for activating appliances and monitoring the system.

Versa operates the controller infrastructure, or a head-end in Versa’s parlance, in its own data centers on behalf of providers and do-it-yourself customers. Service providers can brand the customer interface if they so choose.

Cloud Services Gateway

As part of the solution, Versa is announcing the Cloud Services Gateway, a branded appliance for branch and remote offices or retail locations that runs Versa’s SD-WAN and security software, including a next-gen firewall and UTM.

The appliance, which supports PoE, can also provide Wi-Fi for branch locations. The appliance comes pre-configured with dynamic path selection policies already in place, but customers or providers can access a portal to change those policies as they like.

The SD-WAN component provides table-stakes functionality including support for broadband, MPLS, and LTE links; dynamic path selection based on applications and policies; traffic conditioning using techniques such as forward error correction and packet replication; and analytics.

Aiming To Stand Out

In case you hadn’t noticed, the SD-WAN market is now more crowded than a Florida beach during spring break, so SD-WAN vendors are putting significant effort into differentiating themselves.

By emphasizing ease of use and fast deployment, Versa aims to lure MSPs looking for quick wins, as well as customers who have connectivity needs but may not have a large IT staff to manage a stand-alone SD-WAN deployment.

On the security front, Versa isn’t the only vendor that touts integrated security functions. Cato Networks, for example, offers native security features such as a next-gen firewall as well as a private network backbone. Open Systems, which recently sponsored a Packet Pushers Heavy Networking episode, also offers a service-based SD-WAN solution with security baked in.

Meanwhile, Foritnet, which makes appliances, is essentially putting SD-WAN features into its firewall and UTM boxes. Other SD-WAN vendors will happily regale you with tales of partnerships, integrations, and home-grown security capabilities.

With all that said, if Versa Networks sounds like it’s worth further investigation or might earn a spot on your shortlist, you can go to versa-networks.com to get more details.

That was Briefings in Brief from the Packet Pushers. For more IT podcasts, blogs and news created for engineers, visit packetpushers.net where you can subscribe for free. And for even more great information, become a member at ignition.packetpushers.net.