In this article presented by Progress, John Herbert discusses why Flowmon is network monitoring for a new generation.

Change management is the bane of most network engineers, and anything that helps increase confidence in the change process and minimize downtime is extremely valuable. Lower outage rates on changes could also lead to a more flexible change policy, reducing out-of-hours requirements – which is a benefit all round. John Herbert looks at how Cisco Network Assurance Engine is a key component in the change management process, and as additional devices and technologies are supported, the value of NAE will continue to grow.

All networks have one thing in common; the need to change. However, change is inherently risky. Anticipating the potential side-effects of any given change, especially in a complex network, can be extremely challenging. Programmers and network engineers both need to follow consistent processes to minimize the impact of changes, and this post examines the need for good verification as a pillar of change control.

John Herbert takes a look at the design behind the new Aruba 8400 switch and why little things like airflow and linecard layout can help solve manufacturing issues. He also discusses how the new generation of switches like the 8400 can bring increased performance to locations that may not have the support of a full datacenter environment.