Tom Hollingsworth

About the Author:

Tom Hollingsworth is a networking professional, blogger, and speaker on advanced technology topics. He is also an organizer for networking and wireless for Tech Field Day.  His blog can be found at https://networkingnerd.net/

Articles by Tom Hollingsworth

Network Testing Is Critical

July 18, 2023

The importance of testing cannot be understated. Network testing is more than just working bandwidth or certifying network components. Applications play an important role in determining how networks should operate. So too does the role of components integrated with each other at the unit and system level. The sponsor of this episode, Keysight, brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion borne from years of experience in the networking testing space. Learn how Keysight uses that knowledge and experience to the modern world of high speed Ethernet and the needs of companies deploying it at scale.

The Battle Over Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Gestalt IT Rundown: July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

The Linux world is abuzz with controversy as IBM Red Hat puts the source code for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) behind a paywall, leaving CentOS Stream as the only accessible option. Meanwhile, Oracle emphasizes its commitment to Linux freedom, offering open access to binaries and source code for their RHEL-compatible distribution, Oracle Linux. On the other hand, SUSE takes a bold step by forking RHEL and investing millions in developing their own RHEL-compatible distribution, free from restrictions. The battle for Linux supremacy is heating up, with each company vying for dominance and championing their respective visions of openness and innovation.

Security is not Privacy

July 11, 2023

Modern information security teams have a need for visibility to ensure user safety. Traffic flows and patterns are analyzed for anomalies and polices are put in place to ensure everyone is secure. However, protecting the data that you’ve collected is an even bigger task. Organizations need to ensure users have their identities and patterns hidden away from those that might use them for nefarious purposes. In this episode of the On-Premise IT Podcast, Roy Chua, Karen Lopez, and Alex Neihaus join Tom Hollingsworth to debate the need for organizations to secure their enterprise but also keep user data private and why the gap between the two aims is easy to lose sight of while making business policy.

Checking In on the State of the IT Economy Half Way Through 2023 | Gestalt IT Rundown: July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

Now that half of 2023 is behind us, let’s take a closer look a the state of the global economy, with a special focus on the enterprise IT industry. As we’ve discussed, many different factors are impacting the current slowdown in sales of enterprise and cloud tech: Over-buying and hiring coming out of the pandemic, repercussions from the supply chain shortages, the war in Ukraine, tensions between the US, Europe, and China, a global cybercrime wave, and shifting demand from datacenter to cloud. Let’s take a look at some of these changes and consider the state of the industry in mid 2023. This and more on this week’s Gestalt IT Rundown.

Silos Are Sabotaging Your Security Strategy

June 27, 2023

IT is full of siloes. They help ensure that experts are working on the areas they are best suited for. However, siloes are a problem for security teams. When you need information and visibility the walls insulating your other teams become a barrier. How can we address this in the security space? And what does the CIO need to know to make everyone more effective? In this episode, join Alex Neihaus, Karen Lopez, and Bruno Wollmann as we explore the impact that siloes have on our security strategy.

Making Automation Accessible with Omar Sultan of Cisco

June 26, 2023

What are the biggest roadblocks to automation in 2023? In this interview with Omar Sultan of Cisco we explore the challenges of automation at all levels of the company as well as the need to focus on the investment and payoff instead of the technical decisions that need to be made.

Safe and Sound at Security Field Day 9

June 22, 2023

It’s been a busy year for security companies and teams dedicated to keeping users safe. The way that attackers are choosing to exploit companies are evolving and IT security platforms need to evolve as well. We’re excited to showcase just how companies are responding to this changing landscape with two days of great presentations at Security Field Day 9.

Intel Expanding Chip Fabs in Foreign Locations | Gestalt IT Rundown: June 21, 2023

June 21, 2023

Intel is looking to expand their chip making facilities outside of the US. The first story this week involves a huge $25 billion dollar investment in chipmaking in Israel. Intel will pay increased taxes on the factory in return for an even bigger grant on the total investment should the conditions be met upon completion. The Israeli factory is expected to open in 2027 and operate through at least 2035. The second big investment comes in Germany, where the government has agreed to provide over $10 billion in additional subsidies for a fabrication facility in Magdeburg. Both of these announcements come on the heels of a testing facility being built in Poland. Stephen, why is Intel trying to expand their non-US operations after the CHIPS Act? This and more on the Rundown.

Constant Rebranding is Ruining Your Sales Cycle

June 20, 2023

You may be intimately familiar with brands and their products for some lines but not everything is iconic. Companies rebrand products all the time in order to get rid of per performers or try to increase sales. In the world of enterprise IT does that mean it’s more difficult to figure out what you’ve bought? Or how best to support it? In this episode of the On-Premise IT Podcast, Zoe Rose, Eric Steward, and Josh Warcop discuss the challenges faced in constant rebranding and how your efforts to put on a fresh face may lead to hard feelings.

Predictive Site Surveys Don’t Work

June 6, 2023

Can a remote predictive wireless survey achieve the same results as something on-site? Can the current generation of modeling give you the assurances that your design is going to work? And does the coming future of AI-driven development offer any additional capabilities that we don’t see today? In this episode of the On-Premise IT Podcast, Kerry Kulp, Peter Mackenzie, and Mohammad Ali discuss the trends of predictive surveys and how we can improve overall design satisfaction.

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