Some organizations consider taking the plunge off of big iron PBX platforms into IP telephony as being pretty daring, but that's nothing compared to what Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is doing. The south Texas school is boldly moving thousands of users off a Cisco VOIP platform to an open-source VOIP network based on Asterisk.
Cisco CEO John Chambers described IP mobility and collaboration technologies as one of the largest IT security challenges facing enterprises, and possibly one of the greatest tools for converging physical and digital security.
Cisco this week launched the smallest version yet of its biggest router -- a four-slot Carrier Routing System-1, intended to extend 40Gbps from a core network to regional carrier POPs, Cisco says.
Extreme Networks named former Sun storage executive Mark Canepa as its new CEO this week, replacing the outgoing Gordon Stitt, who was the company's first chief executive.
Worldwide sales of both enterprise routers and switches crept up in the second quarter of 2006, as network managers sought out higher-end products, such as routers with advanced features, and high-speed LAN gear, a new research report says.
An abrupt CEO change at 3Com should not affect the company's immediate operations, its joint venture with Huawei or it customer base, analysts and customers say. Long term, though, the company faces big questions: How long can it scrape by in markets dominated by Cisco? And where will it find growth?
While wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, WiMAX, MIMO, et al) grab industry attention, a good cheap Ethernet switch is still the building block for most networks. SMC and Asante this week added new products to the latter category.
Extreme Networks this week is expected to launch LAN edge switches and software upgrades that make it easier for customers to set up and manage VOIP and wireless LANs.
Alcatel says it wants to bring corporate IP telephony and messaging features to small offices, with the latest release of its OmniPCX Office product.
Novell's new CEO Ronald Hovsepian and current CTO Jeffrey Jaffe have a lot to talk about, as the company refocuses on open-source software following an executive shakeup in June. Both executives gave some insights on Novell's strategy to use the majority of its resources -- support, marketing, sales, product development and some US$1.4 billion in cash reserves -- to become a full-fledged Linux company. The CEO and CTO also talked about why everyone should have a Linux desktop pilot running.
Cisco this week launched new versions of its multi-purpose Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA), with small offices and large data centers in mind. The company also introduced a new version of its Network Admission Control (NAC) appliance, and an upgrade to IOS software with beefed-up security features.
Foundry Networks this week launched several lines of security-focused switches aimed at locking down desktop LAN ports, enterprise edge and WAN connections, and data center server links.
Inter-Tel later this month is expected to announce a Linux-based IP PBX with multimedia support, presence and other advanced communications features that could help users perform their jobs more efficiently.
Blade Network Technologies and Cisco this week piled onto HP's latest blade server announcement, as the switch vendors each introduced Gigabit Ethernet switch modules for HP's BladeSystem c-Class.
Nortel says it means business -- small business -- with the launch this week of VoIP, Ethernet, WAN and wireless LAN gear targeting companies with five to 250 users.