Posts tagged networking
Facebook's Open Compute Project Expands To Networking
May 9th
The Open Compute Project (OCP) – started two years ago by Facebook to promote open-source hardware solutions for data centers – announced on Wednesday that it has started a new project to develop a specification and “reference box” for a “open” networking switch.
(See also Facebook’s Group Hug Frees The Microprocessor From The Motherboard.)
The project will be led by Najam Ahmad, who runs the network engineering team at Facebook, and high-profile companies including Intel, VMware and Broadcom – among others – have already signed on to participate.
The new project’s goals include helping software-defined networking (SDN) “evolve and flourish” and creating “flexible, scalable, and efficient” data center infrastructures. Just as the Open Compute Projects’ simple, generic and open server designs competed with server vendors like HP and Dell, this new initiative challenges networking leaders like Cisco.
(See also Software-Defined Networking: What It Is, How It Works, Why It Matters.)
The project is expected to kick off at the inaugural OCP Engineering Summit to be held at MIT next week.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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Software-Defined Networking (SDN): What It Is, How It Works, Why It Matters
Apr 23rd
Cloud computing is all about “abstracting servers,” turning actual hardware into virtual machines and moving them out of your organization so you don’t have to worry about them. Big data’s non-relational databases and Hadoop clusters perform a similar level of abstraction on database administration. Software-defined networks (SDNs) may do the same thing with networking.
SDN promises to make high-capacity networks cheaper to build and especially to re-configure on the fly – as well as potentially faster and more efficient. As more and more computing moves to the cloud, those network improvements will be critical to keeping everything affordable and available.
It won’t be just cloud environments that will get SDN benefits, either. SDN could enable corporate networks to be reconfigured on-the-fly. Imagine being able to plug in a multimedia-intensive device in a conference room and the network adapting to effortlessly handle the sudden new load without grinding the rest of the building’s network traffic to a staggering halt. Or re-arranging cellular networks during a disaster to deliver connectivity when and where it matters most. That’s no doubt why analysts like IDG are predicting the business of SDN hitting $2 billion by the year 2016.
But Software Defined Networks are incredibly complicated, so even as many networking professionals look forward to SDNs as the best thing since sliced bread, others are scratching their heads and wondering if the IT hype machine has gone completely off the rails.
Who’s right? To answer that question we need to look at exactly what is a software-defined network, and how do you create them?
Here’s The SDN Theory
Think about a traditional network and everything that entails. You have your routers, your switches, and lots and lots of CAT5 and CAT6 cable strung around: all physical hardware that, when connected in a certain way, defines the flow of data in the organization. Like laying down a network of highways, planning a network takes time; it has to be done right the first time because shuffling things around afterward is expensive.
A network has to do two big things: deliver data and manage the flow of that data. If I am downloading a video from California, the network knows to get it to me here in Indiana. Shunting the data through India and Europe would not be the most efficient way to do it – unless, of course, some big physical failure occured between here and the West Coast that required the signal to be sent the long way around the planet.
Inside a company, the same thing happens on a smaller scale. Data is passed back and forth, and that traffic is usually managed by software inside the physical devices – software that knows how to manage the day-to-day operations of the workplace.
With cloud computing, the physical servers that hold the virtual machines are still networked together with the same routers and switches that are used in a workplace network. But the demands on that physical network can be much, much greater – at times – than anything your employees can dish out. (Which, really, is the whole point of using the cloud in the first place.)
What SDN does is this: Assume you have the network cable laid out between every physical server in the cloud environment and all of the optimized routers and switches. The SDN layer essentially acts a virtual software switch or router in place of (or in conjunction with) the physical network devices.
So instead of software embedded in the routers and switches managing the traffic, software from outside the devices takes over the job. The network layout, or topography, is no longer rooted in the physical. Instead, it’s flexible and adjustable to the systems’ needs on the fly.
Properly implemented, this means an application running inside the cloud itself can take over the job of directing networking traffic. Or a third-party cloud-management application could do the job. That could make it easier to perform tasks such as load balancing devices across servers and automatically adjusting the network architecture to deliver the fastest and most efficient data paths at the right time.
Rules Of The SDN Road
There are risks involved in this kind of networking – namely those stemming from how complicated these kinds of operations can be.
Traditionally, networking “decisions” have been left in the hands of the the devices on which the network actually runs. That’s what they are meant to do. Taking the control away from these specialized devices and the embedded software that runs them could be the prelude to a networking disaster, unless everything is done exactly right.
Done improperly, this would be akin to letting every driver in Cleveland have independent control of all the traffic lights in town. Chaos. This is why there’s a gap between theorizing about SDN and actually implementing it.
Right now, the Open Networking Foundation’s OpenFlow protocol and the Linux Foundation’s new OpenDaylight project are two open source projects working to establish a set of SDN traffic rules that applications can use to prevent such chaos.
These protocols would also vastly simplify the work of application developers, who would not have to learn the nuances of networking control, but rather just call on one of these tools to handle the heavy lifting for planning the right path through a network, based on an application’s need.
Think of it like getting a police escort through a strange city. You don’t have to know anything about the city or worry about stops – you just get in your car and follow the vehicles with the flashing lights, trusting that they know what they’re doing and where they’re going.
SDN Benefits Could Be Widespread
Because of its complexity, SDN won’t take off right away. But once SDN is implemented, the benefits will be immediately apparent. Cloud computing environments controlled by SDN will see significant increases in speed and efficiency, since their networks will be optimized for the applications running in that cloud environment. Corporate and mobile networks are also likely to gain benefits from SDN implementations.
IT will have to lay down the rules of the road first, but no one can deny there is big potential in software-defined networks to bring more adaptable networking resources to businesses and consumers alike.
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Social Networking For Marketers: How Pinterest Crushes Facebook [Infographic]
Apr 17th
Guest author Justin Smith is product engagement manager for BloomReach.
Understanding what people do on different social networks is the key to effectively using those networks for marketing. Companies currently spend 8.4% of their marketing budgets on social media, and that’s expected to grow to 21.6% in the next five years. But with so many social networks competing to grab marketing dollars, determining the most effective channels can be extremely difficult. To illustrate, let’s look at how Facebook and Pinterest stack up against one another.
Different Networks For Different Reasons
While both Facebook and Pinterest offer deep customer segmentations and user engagement, it would be a mistake to target audiences in the same way across both networks. For example, you wouldn’t market your product to someone shopping at a trendy boutique the same way you would to someone walking down the street with their friends. In a store, you’d likely look to make a sale, while on the street you’d probably have more luck building brand awareness.
Similarly, BloomReach’s analysis consistently shows that Pinterest has a higher concentration of people who are in a ‘buy’ state of mind, while Facebook users are more interested in interacting with friends – and brands. (According to Paul Adams, Facebook’s global head of brand design, Facebook’s strength is relationship-building, noting that many lightweight interactions over time can help promote brands.)
Traffic Analysis Tells The Tale
That is borne out by BloomReach’s analysis of total traffic – 46,277,543 site visits – for a set of retail clients from Sept. 20 through Dec. 31, 2012. We looked at five key metrics: total traffic, revenue per visit, conversion rate, bounce rate and average pages viewed. While Facebook delivered more than 7.5 times the traffic, Pinterest handily won the remaining four areas:
- Pinterest traffic spent 60% more than did traffic coming from Facebook.
- Pinterest traffic converted to a sale 22% more than Facebook.
- Facebook traffic bounced 90% of the time, compared to 75% for Pinterest.
- Facebook users viewed an average of 1.6 pages. Pinterest users saw an average of 2.9 pages – a 76% difference.
The average revenue per visit for Pinterest traffic was more than $1.50. But while Pinterest is able to drive highly lucrative leads – and the release of Pinterest’s Analytics Tool for Businesses should help companies make use of them – it can deliver only a relatively limited set of eyeballs.
Facebook Still Rules Awareness
If a company’s goal is to simply reach a larger audience to create or maintain brand awareness, Facebook remains the best option. Its sheer volume of users – 1.06 billion active monthly users, 680 million mobile users and 618 million daily users – and the army of people ready to sell impressions make it an easy channel to leverage. But it may be difficult to realize an immediate return on marketing investments on the network.
Perhaps the best approach is to look for ways to optimize Facebook campaign while expanding Pinterest presence. Both Facebook and Pinterest should become larger parts of the media mix model as visitor referrals from these sites grow. At the end of 2012, only 2.7% of total traffic in our analysis came from the networks, demonstrating that social commerce is still in an early stage. In the meantime, though, it seems fair to say that Pinterest is a more efficient marketing channel than Facebook.
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Inside the SES New York 2013 Expo Hall: Networking, Pinball & Swag
Apr 3rd
Several big name exhibitors once again flocked to SES New York. Companies like Bing, BrightEdge, Conductor, iCrossing, Internet Marketing Ninjas and many more showcased how their tool or services could help attendees be better at their jobs.
View full post on Search Engine Watch – Latest
The Networking Guide to SES New York 2013 #SESNY
Mar 18th
While the 60+ sessions on the agenda are reason enough to attend SES New York 2013, some of the greatest tips you may take home from the conference come after hours – during networking events with more than 100 speakers and your fellow attendees.
View full post on Search Engine Watch – Latest
Pass Options for SMX West; Sessions, Networking and More in Silicon Valley, March 11-13
Feb 19th
Search Engine Land’s – SMX West conference kicks off March 11 at the San Jose Convention Center in the heart of Silicon Valley. With over 50 educational sessions and keynotes, multiple networking activities and presentations from leading solutions providers, you’ll get the tactics and…
Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.
View full post on Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing
CirclePix Simplifies Social Networking and Multiplies SEO, Exposure for Real … – Marketwire (press release)
Feb 12th
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CirclePix Simplifies Social Networking and Multiplies SEO, Exposure for Real …
Marketwire (press release) SPRINGVILLE, UT–(Marketwire – Feb 12, 2013) – CirclePix.com, LLC (CirclePix), which specializes in comprehensive, automated marketing solutions for real estate professionals, announced today that it is offering a new and improved social networking … |
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Why You Suck At Social Media Networking
Jan 15th
You heard social media networking was the key to an effective marketing campaign in today’s digital world and jumped on the bandwagon. So, where are all those new customers and outstanding sales figures? Social networking, like everything else, has to be done correctly in order to be effective. Here are the most common mistakes companies [...]
The post Why You Suck At Social Media Networking appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
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Pass Options for SMX East; Sessions, Networking and More – Starts Next Tuesday!
Sep 24th
Search Marketing Expo – SMX East kicks off October 2 at the Javits Convention Center in NYC. With over 50 educational sessions and keynotes, multiple networking activities and presentations from leading solutions providers, you’ll get the tactics and solutions you need to exceed your marketing and…
Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.
View full post on Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing
Weekly Wrap-Up: New iPhone Madness, Social Networking For Authors, And Why You Should Get On Goodreads
Sep 16th
New iPhone madness, social networking for authors, and why you should get on Goodreads. All of this and more in the ReadWriteWeb Weekly Wrap-up.
After the jump you’ll find more of this week’s top news stories on some of the key topics that are shaping the Web – Location, App Stores and Real-Time Web – plus highlights from some of our six channels. Read on for more.
Live Blog: Apple’s iPhone Announcement – Plus iTunes Update, iOS 6, New iPods
ReadWriteWeb writers live blog the unveiling of the new iPhone, Live Blog: Apple’s iPhone Announcement – Plus iTunes Update, iOS 6, New iPods.
More Top Posts:
Social Networking For Authors & Overcoming The Rejection Slip
Yesterday I reviewed the leading social network for book readers, Goodreads. In the second post in my Social Books series, I’m checking out a brand new social network for book writers. Called Writer’s Bloq, it was founded by a young wannabe writer from New York named Nayia Moysidis. In a phone interview, I discovered that Moysidis, a graduate of Columbia University’s creative writing program, started Writer’s Bloq because of the frustrations she encountered trying to get her first novel noticed by publishers. She’d sent 93 individualized letters to publishing houses, but only received a few generic rejection letters in response, Social Networking For Authors & Overcoming The Rejection Slip.
Book Lovers: If You’re Not Already On Goodreads, Here’s Why You Should Be
Goodreads was launched in January 2007 and currently has over 10 million registered users, who have collectively added 370 million books to the site. Goodreads has experienced strong growth over the past 18 months. It had 5 million registered users in May 2011, increasing to 6 million by December. In 2012 the growth of Goodreads went up another level, thanks mainly to its integration with Facebook Timeline in January, Book Lovers: If You’re Not Already On Goodreads, Here’s Why You Should Be.
iPhone 5’s Lightning Connector Is A Bigger Problem Than Apple Thinks
Among other things, one of the iPhone’s competitive advantages is the unparalleled ecosystem of – no, not apps – accessories. But the iPhone 5’s new Lighting connector threatens to destroy that advantage, iPhone 5’s Lightning Connector Is A Bigger Problem Than Apple Thinks.
Why No NFC In The iPhone 5 Should Work Out for Apple
When Apple revealed its new Passbook mobile payment system as part of the iOS 6 preview in June, many industry watchers expected the addition of near-field communications capability on the next version of the iPhone that would compliment Passbook. That new iPhone is here, but there’s no NFC feature in sight. The question now is Apple being shrewd, or is it about to miss out on a real opportunity, Why No NFC In The iPhone 5 Should Work Out for Apple.
[Poll] Is The iPhone 5 A Home Run For Apple?
The day the new iPhone is announced is like Gadget Christmas. Everybody waits all year to see what it is going to look like, what new features are packed inside, when it will hit the market. Now that the iPhone 5 is here, does it live up to your expectations? Let us know in the poll below, [Poll] Is The iPhone 5 A Home Run For Apple?.
3 Ways Social Media Is Reshaping the Political Landscape
The recent political conventions underscored a few disconcerting trends. Our political leadership is not only out of touch with reality but also tends to distort the truth. How can social-media-based innovations address these challenges, 3 Ways Social Media Is Reshaping the Political Landscape.
8 Surprising Startup Lessons – What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know
It takes more than a big idea and a thorough business plan to start a new business. Most entrepreneurs aren’t quite sure what else it takes until they’re well underway, and many are shocked to discover important elements of startup success that they simply hadn’t considered at all, 8 Surprising Startup Lessons – What You Don’t Know You Don’t Know.
Screw The New iPods: We Need Better Music Players
The new iPods Apple announced on Wednesday are totally adorable. They come in all kinds of cute colors, and the Nano has new bouncy candy icons. They’ve been “completely renanoed” and “engineered for maximum funnness.” No, really, they’re nice. But you know what we didn’t get and will probably never get? A 500GB iPod. I, for one, am not content with renting music, Screw The New iPods: We Need Better Music Players.
New Changes To Twitter’s Embedded Tweets
Twitter product manager Brian Ellin wrote in a blog post last week that the firm is “launching a new tool that makes it easy to embed interactive timelines of tweets on any website,”New Changes To Twitter’s Embedded Tweets.
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