Computerworld Cisco News

LifeSize unveils all-in-one HD videconferencing units

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 GMT

LifeSize unveiled two portable, all-in-one videoconferencing units for various work spaces, including home offices, meeting rooms and executive offices.

BYOD: New animal, new taming techniques

(Teresa Leung) — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:49:00 GMT

Bottom Line

Wall Street Beat: Vendors stress caution on financials

(Marc Ferranti) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:15:00 GMT

A range of tech vendors including Cisco Systems, Silicon Graphics International, BMC Software and CA Technologies this week reported quarterly earnings that had some solid numbers, but a cautious outlook for the rest of the year is spooking market watchers.

Cisco hits record quarterly revenue

(Marc Ferranti) — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:59:00 GMT

Crediting a strategy that exploits users' move to cloud computing, Cisco Systems on Thursday reported record net sales of US$11.6 billion for the quarter ending April 28, up 6.6 percent from the year-earlier period.

Cisco offers API to fight call fraud

(Jim Duffy) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:31:00 GMT

Cisco this week at Interop 2012 released an API for its branch routers designed to enable third-party developers to write applications to enhance the security of phone calls over the router network.

HP, F5 partner to speed delivery of cloud apps

(Jim Duffy) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:51:00 GMT

HP this week unveiled several initiatives at Interop 2012 in Las Vegas to enhance the provisioning and performance of virtual applications over a network, including an alliance with application delivery controller leader F5.

Cisco to buy real-time network analytics firm Truviso

(Loek Essers) — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:47:00 GMT

Cisco announced Thursday that it plans to acquire network analytics company Truviso for an undisclosed amount, in an effort to help users hone operational efficiencies.

Apple's IPv6 misstep is a sign of the times

(Carolyn Duffy Marsan) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:14:00 GMT

Apple's controversial decision not to support IPv6 on Version 6.0 of AirPort Utility is the latest example of a broader problem plaguing the next-gen Internet Protocol: Many network vendors are lacking the same level of features and performance in products that support IPv6 as those that support IPv4, the original Internet Protocol.

Cisco sells 50 millionth IP phone

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Cisco boasted Wednesday of having sold 50 million IP desktop phones, up from 30 million sold just two years ago.

Cisco to add IM software to enterprise IP communications system

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:44:00 GMT

Cisco will include Jabber instant messaging and presence software at no extra charge with its Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) enterprise IP communications system, the company plans to announce on Wednesday.

Rackspace launches new OpenStack-based cloud portfolio

(Ted Samson) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:11:00 GMT

Company unveils array of new services, including a MySQL offering optimized for the cloud

EMC unveils preconfigured private cloud for partners

lmearian@computerworld.com (Lucas Mearian) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:01:00 GMT

EMC, along with Cisco, Brocade, Intel, Citrix and others, announced a pre-configured private cloud architecture that it plans to sell exclusively through channel partners.

Cisco, NetApp tout entry-level FlexPod cloud architecture

lmearian@computerworld.com (Lucas Mearian) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:47:00 GMT

Cisco and NetApp today announced a new pre-configured FlexPod cloud storage architecture that's designed and priced for smaller workloads.

Cisco adds IP multiplexing to mobile satellite package

(Ellen Messmer) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:42:00 GMT

Using VoIP via satellite links can have bandwidth issues, but Cisco today said it's introducing an IP multiplexing technology for its Cisco Mobile Ready Net package that dramatically improves the number of IP-based calls on a satellite link.

Cisco Linksys routers bring the cloud home

(Jim Duffy) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:28:00 GMT

Cisco has rolled out a new line of home Wi-Fi routers that embed application intelligence for managing devices connected to the home network.

Cisco, EMC, VMware unite behind big data, cloud training initiative

(Ann Bednarz) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:43:00 GMT

As the IT silos come down, tech pros need to beef up their skills to stay relevant and maximize the business benefits of cloud computing, virtualization, unified networking and big data, according to Cisco and EMC, which have teamed to offer training targeted at tech's hottest data center disciplines.

Cisco to acquire home network management company

(Jim Duffy) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:28:00 GMT

Cisco this week said it plans to acquire privately held ClearAccess, a provider of service provisioning and device management software to service providers.

Cisco boosts telepresence system with new collaboration features

(Juan Carlos Perez) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:36:00 GMT

Cisco will announce improvements on Tuesday to its Jabber IM, presence and video-conferencing product, as well as to its room-size "immersive" telepresence systems, as the networking giant continues to push its way into the workplace collaboration market.

Three-stream Wi-Fi hits the mark

(Craig Mathias) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:06:00 GMT

The rapid adoption of 802.11n has become a significant milestone in the history of wireless LANs. The MIMO-based technologies used in most 802.11n systems provide enough throughput, reliability, and rate vs. range performance to effectively remove the last major barriers to the broad adoption of WLANs in the enterprise.

Linksys Powerline connections: Wired without wires

(Mark Gibbs) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:22:00 GMT

Last week here in Gearhead I discussed my ongoing saga of trying to get decent IP DSL service from AT&T U-Verse.

eBay CISO receiving security industry lifetime achievement award

(Bob Brown) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:46:00 GMT

Dave Cullinane, chief information security officer at eBay, will be honored on March 28 in Boston with the SecureWorld Lifetime Achievement Award "for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the information security community."

Figuring out the data center fabric maze

(Jim Duffy) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:32:00 GMT

Despite vendor pledges to support existing or developing industry standards, users are expected to deploy single-vendor data center and cloud switching fabrics from their primary suppliers.

Cisco's big comeback

(Ryan Francis) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:24:00 GMT

Just a year ago, Cisco's stock was taking a beating after the sales failed to meet Wall Street expectations.The company wasn't exactly reeling, but CEO John Chambers knew something had to be done to right the ship. Insider (registration required)

Cisco offers virtualized video surveillance

(Ellen Messmer) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:50:00 GMT

Cisco today announced a virtualized version of its Video Surveillance software for use on its Unified Computing System platform for enterprise- or government-operated video-camera deployments.

Bowdoin students' love of Ocarina music app hasn't crashed the Wi-Fi

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Bowdoin College recently completed a $1 million upgrade to its wireless network that allows more Wi-Fi access for students, including video streaming, and better network management for the IT staff.

Cisco to pay $5B for video company NDS Group

(Jim Duffy) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:32:00 GMT

Cisco said it will acquire NDS Group Ltd., a provider of video software and content security systems for service providers and media companies, for $5 billion.

If the Dow had chosen Apple instead of Cisco

(Paul McNamara) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:34:00 GMT

After the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed over 13,000 recently, San Jose Mercury News columnist Mike Cassidy made an impassioned case for including Apple in the index, a position he buttressed in part by citing an analysis by Adam Nash of Greylock Partners.

New Cisco servers have Intel Xeon E5 inside

(Jim Duffy) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:41:00 GMT

Cisco this week expanded its data center portfolio with servers and networking gear to better support virtualization, cloud computing and Big Data.

Wi-Fi, small cells could disrupt mobile

(Stephen Lawson) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:50:00 GMT

The rise of mixed mobile networks of Wi-Fi, small cells and traditional base stations, a major theme of this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, may change the competitive landscape of both service providers and equipment vendors.

Cisco bridges Wi-Fi, cellular nets

(Jim Duffy) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:37:00 GMT

At Mobile World Congress this week, Cisco unveiled products designed to provide cellular-like roaming among Wi-Fi hotspots, and disclosed deployments among several wireless service providers.

Cisco brings Hotspot 2.0 carrier-network smarts to its Wi-Fi

(Stephen Lawson) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:29:00 GMT

Cisco Systems on Tuesday announced its take on the reshaping of mobile networks that is emerging at this week's Mobile World Congress, saying it can build a Wi-Fi infrastructure spanning all the way from the access point to the core network.

Wireless network demands push carriers to innovate

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:38:00 GMT

Executives from three wireless carriers offered testimony Tuesday showing how an explosion of both wireless users and devices is forcing them to expand their networks even though doing so might not lead to an equivalent increase in revenue.

Cisco bounces back

(John Dix) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:31:00 GMT

Cisco has been crowing about its rebound, and with good reason. What a difference a year makes.

Silver Peak to offer free, downloadable versions of WAN optimization products

(Colin Neagle) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:31:00 GMT

After watching customers continually download and install one of the vendor's free, limited products from the company website, Silver Peak CEO Rick Tinsley was interested to see how they would respond to the same access to its more advanced products.

Wall Street Beat: Tech reaps rewards of market surge

(Marc Ferranti) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:31:00 GMT

Tech companies, coming off a strong earnings season, were big winners Thursday as markets rose to multiyear highs on reports of a strengthening economy.

Juniper exec gives inside look at QFabric

(John Dix) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:36:00 GMT

R.K. Anand, executive vice president and general manager of Juniper Networks' Data Center Business Unit, was employee No. 12 of the network startup back in 1996, leaving a job as a microprocessor designer at Sun Microsystems. Years later he left Juniper for a brief stint at another startup, but came back to help finalize the company's QFabric product and get it out the door. QFabric began shipping in September 2011. Network World Editor in Chief John Dix recently caught up with Anand at the company's headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., for a deep dive on the company's answer to high-end data center demands.

Cisco to appeal Microsoft-Skype deal in European court

(Stephen Lawson) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:17:00 GMT

Cisco will appeal the European Commission's approval of Microsoft's US$8.5 billion Skype acquisition, saying the agency should demand that the companies support standards for interoperability with other collaboration platforms.

Private App Stores and Tablets: Notes from an Early Adopter

(Shane O'Neill) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:08:00 GMT

Mobile devices and apps are everywhere -- including the workplace. But while users reap benefits, IT departments struggle with risks. Cisco's AppHQ running on its Cius tablet promises a controlled environment. One of the first to test the private app store is tech reseller and consulting company CDW.

Skyrocket? Maybe the word for mobile data growth is exa-rocket

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:40:00 GMT

Mobile data globally is expected to grow 18-fold by 2016, Cisco said in the update to its Visual Networking Index.

IBM's top network exec talks strategy

(John Dix, Jim Duffy) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:35:00 GMT

IBM reversed course on networking in 2010 when it acquired Blade Network Technologies, one of its key network suppliers. Network World Editor in Chief John Dix and Managing Editor Jim Duffy recently caught up with Vikram Mehta, founder of BNT and now vice president of IBM System Networking, for an update on IBM's network visions going forward.

IPv6 deployment starts at the network edge

(Scott Hogg) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:40:00 GMT

IT execs know they will have to deploy IPv6 at some point, but where to begin? One approach that establishes some IPv6 capability without spending a lot of time or money is to start at the perimeter.

Cisco's John Stewart on the latest security threats and what enterprises can do to fight back

(Susan Perschke) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:17:00 GMT

Freelance writer Susan Perschke recently sat down with Cisco Vice President and Chief Security Officer John N. Stewart for an in-depth discussion of the state of enterprise security. Insider (registration required)

Virgin Media turns to social tools for its enterprise

sgaudin@computerworld.com (Sharon Gaudin) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 GMT

A major U.K. telecom provider is reducing travel time, increasing team work and decreasing email dependence by deploying social enterprise collaboration tools.

Wall Street Beat: Earnings, spending forecasts highlight tech sector strength

(Marc Ferranti) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:21:00 GMT

Recent market research reports and earnings this week from tech bellwethers including Lenovo and Cisco Systems underscore underlying strength in IT even as the global economy continues to experience significant turbulence.

March debut of 'iPad 3' a sure bet, says analyst

gkeizer@computerworld.com (Gregg Keizer) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:59:00 GMT

Apple will introduce a new iPad the first full week of March, and will start selling it the following week, according to reports and industry analyst expectations.

Cisco boosted profit, sales in Q2 while cutting costs

(Stephen Lawson) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:36:00 GMT

Cisco Systems posted year-over-year gains in revenue and profit for its fiscal second quarter on Wednesday, reporting net sales up 10.8 percent to US$11.5 billion, and said it met a key cost-cutting goal one quarter early.

Greenpeace scorecard documents greener enterprise offerings

(Cameron Scott) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:01:00 GMT

Technology companies are not just making their products less carbon-intensive; they are also increasingly designing products to improve energy efficiency in the industries that they serve, according to the latest in a series of Greenpeace ratings of the sector's energy practices.

New Juniper routers converge the access net

(Jim Duffy) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:26:00 GMT

Juniper Networks this week has unveiled access routers designed to provide an on-ramp to the service provider network from residential, business and mobile networks.

Nicira debuts with its SDN baby

(Jim Duffy) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:28:00 GMT

One of the most anticipated debuts of a startup company happens today when Nicira, a maker of network virtualization software, comes out of stealth mode.

Riverbed upgrades 'edge virtual server infrastructure'

(Colin Neagle) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:19:00 GMT

Riverbed today announced the release of updates to its Steelhead network performance products as well as its Granite product line, which is based on the edge virtual server infrastructure approach that Riverbed is pushing. Whereas the former aims to boost network performance for the customers that are concerned about application delivery, the latter may attract more attention from the infrastructure management industry.