Understanding BGP Route Reflection: Simplifying Scalable Network Designs

Interconnection

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a crucial component in the routing world, particularly in large-scale networks where scalability and efficient routing are paramount. In the context of expansive networks, BGP Route Reflection emerges as a fundamental technique to alleviate the complexities associated with the full mesh topology, making network management more practical and scalable. 1. … Read more

Packets Down Range #31:Meta, Google, Indiana Digital Equity

It’s the beginning of the year. Do you know what that means? It’s time for conferences. FISPA livejust wrapped up. Metro Connect and others are coming. Also lots of news out of my home state of Indiana this edition. Data Center News •Meta to open a data center in Jeffersonville, Indiana. •Google is set to … Read more

WISP tower random photos

I was going through some older hard drives and came across some of these photos of Baicells, Cambium and other gear on towers. These were installed for Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs). See below for those who don’t know what a WISP is. A Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) is a telecommunications company that delivers … Read more

Mikrotik RouterOS 7.14beta8 is out

https://librenms.icisky.net/dashboard/14 What’s new in 7.14beta8 (2024-Jan-22 21:07): !) rose-storage – moved SMB service in the RouterOS bundle;!) smb – removed legacy SMB service (replaced with newer and faster ROSE SMB service);*) bgp – allow to leak routes between local VRFs;*) bth – added simple “Back To Home Users” manager under IP/Cloud menu;*) console – added … Read more

Packets Down Range #30:Lumen, Databank, and investments in networks

Greetings from the great frozen Tundra of Indiana. It was 21 degrees today, which has been a heatwave. In this issue, we have a lot of data center news. Lunmen shuts down their CDN, Databank expands, and some great tech topics. Data Center News •DataBank expands in Utah. •DigitalBridge announced a 6.4 Billion equity investment … Read more

Unveiling the Versatile Applications of VXLAN in Modern Networking

close up photo of network switch

VXLAN, standing for Virtual Extensible LAN, offers many applications that cater to the evolving needs of modern networking paradigms. 1. Data Center Interconnectivity VXLAN plays a pivotal role in connecting geographically dispersed data centers. Encapsulating Layer 2 Ethernet frames within Layer 3 UDP packets facilitates seamless communication across disparate data center environments. This empowers businesses … Read more

What is Buffer Bloat in network switches?

fiber optic switch with bright connectors in studio

What is Buffer Bloat? Buffer bloat refers to excessive data buffering within network devices such as routers or switches. These devices utilize buffers to hold incoming and outgoing data packets temporarily. However, when these buffers become overfilled due to congestion or mismatches in data transfer speeds, it increases latency and reduces network performance. How Does … Read more

Demystifying Commonly Misused IT Terms

black and gray laptop computer turned on doing computer codes

In the fast-paced realm of technology, jargon, and buzzwords often take center stage. Yet, amidst the whirlwind of innovation, some terms are misused or misunderstood, leading to confusion rather than clarity. Let’s untangle a few of these commonly misused IT terms and shed light on their accurate definitions. 1. Cloud Computing vs. The Cloud Misconception: … Read more