Scenario As most IT professionals I usually configure network devices in a lab environment before the actual installation at customer site.
I try to limit the installation as much as possible to a simple box moving process, spending most of the change window in a previously defined validation process.
In this particular case I deal with a data center core network that includes 8 Nexus 9k switches configured in 4 VPC pairs and a bunch of links between them.
My new post about Cisco Network Assurance Engine: From Download to Value in 60 Minutes (or less) has been published, read it on GestaltIT Tech Talks.
This story starts with a phone call at night. If you worked in IT long enough you know what it means.
Customer’s HQ network is down and since the day before I’ve replaced a pair of data center switches in a remote site I’m somehow involved based on the well-known principle last one who made changes is responsible.
I state that all the facts took place with my telephone support, without any remote access to the machines.
My new post about Aruba 8400 programmability has been published, read it on Aruba Blogs.
My new post about Configuration and Hardware Assurance in the Datacenter with Cisco Network Assurance Engine has been published, read it on GestaltIT Tech Talks.
My new post about bandwidth limit enforcement on access points has been published, read it on Aruba Blogs.
Assure Network Security Policy and Compliance in the Data Center with Cisco Network Assurance Engine
At Cisco Live Europe in Barcelona I had a chance to see Cisco Candid (Network Assurance Engine) in action.
My new post about Network Security Policy and Compliance in the Data Center with Cisco Network Assurance Engine has been published, read it on GestaltIT Tech Talks.
Full video of TFDx session at CLEUR:
A couple of days ago Cisco released a Security Advisory. No big deal so far, level was informational so I didn’t read it right away.
Title is impressive:
Cisco Best Practices to Harden Devices Against Cyber Attacks Targeting Network Infrastructure
so i read it during a lunch break just to be aware of the contents.
Management sessions to network devices provide the ability to view and collect information about a device and its operations.
Automation and programmability is not a new topic for me. Having studied Information Technology in High School I’ve always coded somehow, never making it my primary focus but always using it as a tool to make my life easier.
I remember a script I did in Pascal to create a menu to load custom maps for Doom II instead of using the CLI. It would be great to find it again but it’s very unlikely because I trashed so many PCs and hard drives since, well, at least I hadn’t bitcoins stored there!
For a Network Engineer living and working on the field has some challenges that are not common in office environments.
I have a set of tools, hardware and software, that I bought or built over the years that allow me to accomplish my job in more effective way.
I used to carry a small Access Point to provide connectivity inside a datacenter or campus when the rack is located in odd places (you know what I mean).