BT and Arqiva Battle It out to Control UK Internet of Things by Ian Grant

Net+ 1405 p1 (cover) RN NEW.qxd 2/6/14 15:21 Page 1

www.networkingplus.co.uk MAY 2014

FIXED & WIRELESS NETWORKS FOR ENTERPRISE USERS

Network reaches new heights Learning to communicate Software defined networking Cables and connectors PSN from TNP How educational SDN looks set to Taking the lead delivers huge institutions maintain revolutionise the when it comes savings for Shetland global competitivity data centre – to network Islands Council Real World Networks, but when? connections News, p4 p8 Feature, pp10-13 Off-the-shelf, p14 BT and Arqiva battle it out to control UK Internet of Things by Ian Grant

BT has teamed up with open source and is backed by ARM, CSR and Far left: Neul CEO Stan Boland machine-to-machine (M2M) equipment Accenture. “Weightless was developed is pitting open source against a supplier Neul to supply a city-wide test-bed specifically for the Internet of Things. proprietary French network for Internet of Things (IoT) applications in Though initially targeted at TV white from Arqiva. Left: Arqiva’s Milton Keynes. It has invited interested space spectrum, this has now been M2M MD Wendy McMillan parties to get in touch with project ideas. generalised for other sub-1GHz license- is used to working with The news came less than a week after exempt bands. Open standards and rival companies on exploring wireless infrastructure supplier Arqiva ecosystem collaboration are a requirement mutually “interesting” projects. said it had joined Sigfox, a French to make the IoT a reality.” competitor to Neul, in setting up a 10-city Boland says the first of 1,000 planned IoT network, and shortly after UK start-up sensors will be installed in June and Senaptic announced plans to build connected by an initial 12 base stations specialised, ‘cellco-free’ IoT networks for that cover most of Milton Keynes. specific customers and segments. Backing for the project comes from the Sensus and Detica to provide the £625m a number of overlaps that are interesting to Neul CEO Stan Boland said the Milton Connected Digital Economy Catapult, smart meter network for 10 million homes explore together,” she said. Keynes system is based on the Weightless Future Cities Catapult, Milton Keynes in Northern Britain, while Telefónica The cities in the Arqiva-Sigfox network open communications standard for the IoT Council and The Open University. scooped the rest of the country with a include Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, (see News, Nov 2013). The standard has Meanwhile, BT and Arqiva are already £1.5bn bid (see News, Jul-Aug 2013). Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, attracted over 1,400 member companies partners in a consortium with US-based Arqiva MD for smart metering and M2M London, Manchester and Sheffield. They Wendy McMillan played down suggestions will also have access to Sigfox networks in of a rift between the two network operators: France, Holland and Spain, as well as other “BT is both a customer and a supplier, a cities, including Moscow and Munich. partner and a competitor, so we are used to All these IoT initiatives are likely to working together in many different ways pose a threat to mobile network operators and this does not impact our relationship in such as Vodafone and Telefónica who are any way,” she told Networking+. targeting the M2M market. Caroline She declined to say whether Arqiva Gabriel, research director at consultancy spoke to Neul before signing up with Maravedis-Rethink, says: “The cellco Sigfox, which provides proprietary ultra- community will need to respond to these narrow band radio technology in the developments not just with the lure of its 868MHz or 902MHz bands. “We regularly controlled licenced spectrum, but with a meet with a number of companies in the network that is better suited to IoT various sectors we work in, and while applications than LTE in its current form.” competing in some instances, there are also Connected homes to boom – News p6. Zayo purchases Geo Networks US-based network operator Zayo has in the London sewer system, which extended its UK footprint with the minimises the threat of physical faults, acquisition of independent dark fibre boosting reliability and security. operator Geo Networks. The integration of Geo with Zayo will The deal adds 2,100 route miles to Zayo’s create a 79,000 mile network that covers European network, and connectivity to 587 eight countries and links 650 data centres. on-net buildings, including more than 130 Chris Smedley, Geo’s outgoing CEO, data centres and exchanges in the UK. said: “Our customers will benefit from Geo owns and operates a high-capacity the expanded reach of the combined fibre network in the UK and provides network, and also the opportunity to managed networks, dark fibre and co- access Zayo’s full suite of services.” location services to media companies, The sale price to AlchemyPartners – service providers, financial services, data Zayo’s parent firm – was not disclosed. In centres and gaming organisations. Its March 2012, Zayo paid $2.2bn for UK network includes 100 miles of fibre housed MAN/WAN operator AboveNet. Net+ 1405 p2 (news) RN NEW.qxd 29/5/14 13:13 Page 2

news register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE! MI5 warns firms of insider threat

MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence critical vulnerabilities. “From Stuxnet to security architecture based on strict need-to- agency, has repeated its warning that Snowden, the common denominator is that know principles. “Businesses must ensure foreign agents are trying to persuade the breach occurred through an exploited constant monitoring of their IT to detect and company insiders to reveal secrets. IT staff privileged account. Attackers understand respond to data breaches as soon as they with sysadmin access are considered this – it’s time for businesses to understand happen – irrespective of whether the attack popular targets because of their privileged the pattern as well and proactively address was internal or external. Encryption of all access rights to many corporate systems. these critical security gaps.” data must be a mandatory security blanket.” Metronet aims to connect 50 per cent of Udi Mokady, president and CEO of Paul Ayers, VP EMEA at enterprise data Ross Brewer, LogRhythm’s VP and MD Manchester's buildings with up to 10Gbps links. CyberArk, points out that the targets are not security firm Vormetric, adds: “This for international markets, says it is hard for the people but their access: “Privileged and warning confirms our contention that the staff to believe that they might be sitting administrative accounts are the most abuse of privileged credentials is the next next to a mole. He adds that a recent Connectivity powerful in any organisation. They provide frontier for cyber crime against enterprises. LogRhythm study revealed that almost absolute control over a company’s With organisations such as Target, half of UK employees admitted having infrastructure. Attackers use techniques like Morrisons and Korea Credit Bureau falling accessed or taken confidential information more important malware and phishing to steal these victim in quick succession, it is clear from the workplace, while 79 per cent privileged and administrative credentials. businesses are still struggling to defend their claimed their illegitimate actions had than floorspace “Once the credentials have been hijacked, most critical assets from those legitimately never been identified. “This indicates a the attacker has full access to data stored on within the perimeter.” gross level of negligence by companies the device, the ability to bypass security Vormetric recently surveyed 500 IT who really should know better.” in Manchester controls and hide their activities. And decision makers and found almost half Brewer agrees with Ayers that constant because these accounts are typically shared believed insider threats had become harder access and network monitoring is now Metronet has teamed up with Greater among IT workers, malicious activity often to detect. They were concerned about the essential: “As the insider threat gets bigger, Manchester’s leading property companies appears to security systems as an authorised things their own users could do with ignorance is no longer bliss. Only by taking and agents to provide data connectivity up employee performing legitimate work.” sensitive data, and just nine per cent said control and monitoring both external and to 10Gbps to the city’s key buildings. Mokady warns that administrative and they felt safe from insider threats. Ayers internal activity will businesses be able to The locally-based ISP reckons that it has privileged accounts need to be treated as advises companies to adopt an inside-out compete with the bad guys.” now connected almost 20 per cent of Greater Manchester’s most important buildings and almost 30 per cent of those in the city centre with speeds of up to 10Gbps. Shepway to offer businesses high-speed internet “The city’s property sector understands Shepway District Council has a three-year ing this connectivity will eventually be met sites have told us that this will give them a the difference high-speed connectivity can deal with Kent-based Custodian Data out of income from business customers. competitive edge, enabling them to secure make,” says Metronet CEO Elliott Mueller. Centre to provide 100Mbps wireless Premium connections will be available at a more business, recruit more people and “Some have even told us that connectivity is internet connectivity to local businesses. significantly reduced rate compared with work more cost-effectively. more important than floorspace – any The service will come from a large those currently offered. “It is vital for firms to be competitive and landlord can offer floorspace in Greater antenna to be installed on the civic centre Call Flow Solutions, which will act as the we want to make that happen. This Manchester but not everyone can boast roof in Folkestone. High-quality internet ISP for the service, is already providing investment supports our ambition of being superconnected floorspace.” connections at speeds up to 100Mbps will high-speed broadband to rural Shepway ‘Kent’s Connected Coast’ for culture, for Mueller believes that connectivity is a then be available to businesses in the areas in Dungeness, Lydd, Lympne, and business and for growth opportunities.” fundamental right, not just a privilege: “In district’s main employment sites, and to Stanford. Shepway Council made this Shepway Business Advisory Board this day and age, where the internet is as those moving into the building. Custodian possible with funding from Kent County claims that as well as “outstanding” important to businesses as electricity or will operate the service from its 24/7 Council’s community broadband fund. transport links, local enterprises are now water, no matter where businesses choose to network operations centre. Shepway councillor Alan Clifton-Holt also set to benefit from the UK’s “fastest locate themselves, superfast connectivity The council anticipates the cost of provid- said: “Businesses at our main employment internet capability”. should be available within hours.” In the past, BT and Virgin Media have taken Birmingham to court over its plans to spend £10m on a city fibre network Chunnel now offers mobile under the government’s £150m Superconnected Cities plan (see Networking+ June 2012). That forced a connectivity in both directions rethink that led to a £3,000 per customer Channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel has The fibre optic GSP-P retransmission voucher system aimed at providing a ‘step completed mobile phone and internet system from Alcatel-Lucent provides change’ in the broadband speed available connectivity in the North Tunnel (UK Vodafone, EE and O2 UK 2G and 3G to city businesses. to France). It complements the customers with mobile telephone and Landlords such as Bruntwood, connectivity provided in the South Tunnel internet services inside the Channel Tunnel. Matthews and Goodman, OBI, WHR, for the London 2012 Olympics and comes An upgrade to provide LTE services is also Allied London, Capital Properties and in time for the chunnel’s 20th anniversary. said to be in the planning stage. others have taken it upon themselves to Eurostar trains carry some 20 million provide high-speed connectivity to office Eurotunnel now offers mobile services for passengers a year through the 50km tunnel. spaces they control. They say the aim is to continent-bound Eurostar travellers. UK-bound Separately, Nomad Digital will provide the make it easier for clients to move into new services were introduced for the 2012 Olympics. Wi-Fi system on board the newer fleet. premises “at the flip of a switch”.

networking may 2014 2 Net+ 1405 p3 (news) RN NEW.qxd 29/5/14 14:48 Page 3

How to avoid a £500k ON THE NETWORK ICO fine – by the ICO Ian Grant, Deputy Editor We’re not all right, Jack The Information Commissioner’s Office that someone must be contractually liable (ICO) has published advice to data for maintaining the update process or else controllers that might help them to avoid a the task will fall between two stools. The revelations of former NSA contractor that desperately need firmer definition. maximum £500,000 fine if they lose Commenting on the advice, Trevor Edward Snowden continue to drive the There is also a growing backlash against confidential personal information. Dearing, EMEA marketing director for debate about what kind of society we want mass indiscriminate electronic The advice is aimed a those generally network traffic visibility expert Gigamon, to live in, now that everything is online and surveillance. So far, this has focused on responsible for IT security, but not says: “It is encouraging to see the ICO has therefore subject to electronic surveillance. state snooping, but it is inevitable that technical experts. Based on its casework, included advice on practices that are less Cisco CEO John Chambers complained people will start to scrutinise the vast the privacy watchdog identifies eight frequently discussed than password updates, recently that customers were buying less amounts of personal data accumulated by common vulnerabilities through which such as the design of networks. of his kit because Snowden reports showed the likes of mobile network operators, personal information can leak out. These “Organisations must implement tools that the NSA had diverted some shipments retailers, and health organisations. include: software updates; SQL injection; that enhance visibility into the network and and installed its own surveillance monitors. With rare exceptions, the incoming unnecessary services; decommissioning of use flow mapping technologies, which Ironically, this is the very thing the US crop of European parliamentarians are software or services; password storage; ensure network tools only see the informa- accuses China of doing with Huawei. almost clueless about the technical configuration of SSL and TLS; tion they are best equipped – or authorised Snowden’s revelations, which also aspects of networking. It is partly why inappropriate locations for processing data; – to deal with. This will ensure a far more implicated GCHQ, Britain’s electronic the Telecoms Directive of 2009, which and default credentials. robust approach to securing the network.” surveillance arm, have not caused much was meant to introduce a single market “In many ICO data breach cases, the The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has fuss in this country. Europe, with bitter in telecoms, took so long to make its way measures which could have prevented the backed an individual’s ‘right to be experience of state surveillance, has through the legislative alimentary canal. breach or reduced the level of harm to forgotten’online. It follows a case in Spain been much more worried. At a pre-election hustings organised by individuals would have been simple to where Google was taken to court by Mario The first sign (after complaints about the Open Rights Group for would-be MEPs, implement,” states the commissioner. Costeja González who asked for the the NSA reading Angela Merkel’s emails) all five admitted their inability to say with The ICO adds that while these are not the removal of links to stories that reported he was the European Court of Justice’s confidence they knew and understood the only weak points, its experience shows that had to sell his house to payback taxes. (ECJ) decision that the Data Retention implications of current comms technology. other common attacks such as cross-site Costeja González argued successfully Directive, which underpins Europe’s On the 25th anniversary of the Web, Tim scripting have rarely led to data breaches. that the facts were no longer relevant, and electronic surveillance legislation, was Berners-Lee proposed a digital bill of rights For each vulnerability, the ICO that Google should no longer provide invalid (see last month’s News). to head-off the threat to personal privacy, provides advice on what data protection links to the stories, even though the Second was the ECJ’s finding that just free expression and security posed by big problems might be caused and good information is still available from other because Google might not process data in business and government. He said: “These practice for avoiding them. sources, including official ones. Europe does, that not mean it is beyond issues have crept up on us. Our rights are It also notes common reasons for not Google chairman Erich Schmidt European jurisdiction. This was part of its being infringed more and more, and the updating software, for example, but says claimed that the ECJ’s finding struck the decision that people have a “right to be danger is that we get used to it.” that systems can become progressively wrong balance between the ‘right to be forgotten” by search engines, and puts the As experienced and knowledgeable more vulnerable unless the latest patches forgotten’ and the ‘right to know’. entire global cloud business in jeopardy. citizens, Networking+ readers should take are implemented “within a reasonable Reports say that the internet giant has Europe has already pushed for keeping a leading role in the debate. time”. With many firms now outsourcing received more than 1,000 take-down the internet “open” and “neutral”, phrases [email protected] their networks to third parties, it warns requests following the court’s ruling.

EDITORIAL: Sales apprentice: Elisha Gill The contents of the magazine may not be reproduced in part or whole, or stored in Editorial director: Rahiel Nasir [email protected] electronic form, without the prior written Biomass power to cut carbon [email protected] Publishing director: consent of the publishers. The views Kathy Moynihan Deputy editor: Ian Grant expressed in this magazine are not [email protected] [email protected] necessarily those shared by the editor 80 per cent in new Scottish DC Designer: Alan McClenaghan is published monthly by: or the publishers. [email protected] Kadium Limited, Brassey House, New A new environmentally-friendly data AOC Group has submitted a planning Contributors: Zealand Avenue, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KTI2 IQD, United Kingdom. 2 Lilac Schoenbeck centre could cut users’ carbon footprint application for the 75,000ft data centre Tel: +44 (0) 1932 886 537 from data centre activities by up to 80 per facility at Queensway Business Park in Fax: +44 (0) 1932 886 539 cent, thanks to biomass power technology. Glenrothes, Fife. Group director Alan ADVERTISING & PRODUCTION: Annual subscription: £80 (UK); £95 O’Connor says it has received an Sales executive: Andy London (Europe), £100 (USA and the RoW) ABC audited circulation: [email protected] airmail. Cost per single copy is £8.25. “extremely positive” response. He says 19,679 Production: Suzanne Thomas Printed in England by Williams Press. 1 Jul 2011 – local property developers have reported [email protected] © 2014. All rights reserved. 30 Jun 2012 “substantial interest” in the proposed data centre, given the relative lack of similar facilities elsewhere in the region. when completed in just over a year. the largest biomass plant in the country at If given the go-ahead, work could start O’Connor says the facility will be the first Markinch in Fife. The carrier-neutral, on the £40m facility as early as this in the UK to draw its energy from a diversely routed data centre will house up summer. It will create up to 250 renewable source. AOC is aiming at a to 1,500 high performance computer racks, An artist’s impression of AOC Group’s proposed construction jobs and around 50 full-time power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of and it’s claimed it will offer the highest 75,000ft2 data centre in Glenrothes, Fife. skilled technology and engineering roles less than 1.15. The power will come from levels of resilience and data security.

3 may 2014 networking Net+ 1405 p4 (news) RN NEW.qxd 2/6/14 15:24 Page 4

news register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE!

Broadband and DDoS both up: Akamai Shetland saves £1.6m

Global peak connection speeds rose 38 per cent in 2013, but DDoS attacks grew 75 per with new PSN from TNP cent, says content distributor Akamai in its State of the Internet report for 4Q13. It also finds that A new PSN supplied by The Networking access and public Wi-Fi, remote desktop Europe continues to lead the world in adopting People (TNP) is saving Shetland Islands support and a virtual learning environment. IPv6, the successor of the IPv4 scheme that Council up to £1.6m while delivering a Instead of starting from scratch, TNP has run out of addresses. The UK recorded nearly ten-fold increase in speed in some says it persuaded the council to buy some one of the highest peak connection speeds at areas via dark fibre, microwave radio, equipment directly from the 43.5Mbps but its average lagged South ADSL and satellite links to 60 sites. manufacturers, which it then installed and Korea’s 21.9Mbps at just 9.5Mbps. Romania Lancaster-based ISP TNP says it reused integrated with existing hardware. TNP leads with 50.6Mbps. China beat the US as existing assets and equipment, and boosted claims that this led to “huge cost savings”. the source of cyber attacks, with port 445 these by installing a high-speed backbone It adds that the project was finished on (Microsoft-DS) the most targeted in the fourth tied into a fibre network at strategic points. time and to budget – despite facing the worst quarter, growing to 30 per cent of reported This was augmented by the design, weather conditions in over 20 years during attacks quarter-over-quarter, followed by port procurement and installation of the latest construction of key infrastructure, including 80 (WWW/HTTP) and port 443 (SSL/HTTPS). point-to-point and point-to-multipoint equipment on seven telecoms towers. microwave radio technology with power, The switchover was “absolutely cabinet and steelwork infrastructure. The seamless” according to Susan Msalila, Multi-million pound company used equipment from Ceragon for executive manager for the council’s ICT the point-to-point systems and Proxim for department. “We chose to work with TNP A TNP engineer fits new microwave equipment upgrade for Pulsant the point-to-multipoint systems. because of their deep understanding of our to one of seven towers in Shetland. The network provides WAN connections needs. Their forward-thinking, positive Pulsant has upgraded the electrical and throughout Shetland via the Shetland Public attitude reflected our own in taking a bold directly install, the team was on hand to test mechanical infrastructure at its twin data centre Sector Network (SPSNet). It offers islanders approach to replacing our entire network – a solutions on our behalf and guide us through campus in Maidenhead as it pursues PCI DSS telephony and video conferencing, internet huge undertaking. Even for sites they didn’t options every step of the way.” accreditation and Business Impact Level 2 certification this year. The upgrade began with the installation of a new UPS architecture, a new network operations centre to complement its Quantum security moves a ‘Connected existing onsite support team, and a £200,000 upgrade of its core campus switch network. Pulsant recently added connectivity options with step closer following QKD trial army’ created its partner Equinix, as well as high-capacity interconnections to its Reading and London The first successful trial of Quantum Key encryption algorithm to encrypt (and DCs. It says all this aims to meet it clients’ Distribution (QKD) technology over a live decrypt) a message which can then be by new WAN changing needs, which include added stability, fibre network has been carried out in the transmitted over a standard communication more bandwidth and faster connections. UK. The test is said to pave the way for channel. The algorithm most commonly The Salvation Army has asked managed more advanced research into QKD, the associated with QKD is the one-time pad, service provider Redcentric to provide a full next frontier of data encryption as it has proven to be secure when used WAN to link more than 1,000 locations Easynet founders pick technology, which aims to deliver greater with a secret, random key. from where the charity delivers its mission. levels of network security. The system works by putting single The competitive three-year contract is Sweden for next DC Researchers from the National Physical photons into a quantum state. Any worth about £1.5m with annual revenues Laboratory (NPL) worked with Adva attempt to inspect it en route collapses of approximately £400,000 thereafter. The Easynet founders David Rowe and Justin Optical Networking, BT and Toshiba the quantum state. This automatically deal will enable the charity’s staff to Fielder have sited the data centre for their new Research Europe on the trial. cancels the transmission and prevents connect to a MPLS network that provides cloud services venture 100km short of the QKD shares a key between two users that eavesdroppers from reading the message. secure access to internal services as well Arctic circle in Boden, Sweden. They say the is made completely secure using quantum By sending multiple quantum keys every as services for the community using a main reasons for the location are cost and mechanics. It provides an additional layer of second, the demo showed that monitors variety of corporate systems and safe sustainability. The new facility, dubbed security over and above standard methods were able to instantly detect attempts to internet access. ‘Hydro66’, harnesses abundant renewable used by banks and credit card companies to tap the signal and stop transmissions. Martyn Croft, CIO of The Salvation Army power from the 4,200MW hydropower project send data encryption keys across a network. For the trial, NPL produced the UK and Republic of Ireland Territory, says on the Luleå Älv river, is fed by the 78MW Previously, one or several dark fibre links equipment that detected a single quantum that the network is important as it will help the Boden hydropower station which is less than were needed to send an encryption key and photon in a stream of commercial traffic, charity in carrying out its mission, and create 500m away, and benefits from low ambient the content separately, making commercial despite the ‘noise’ that could collapse the a ‘connected army’ that is able to help the temperatures which result in free air cooling for implementation of such data security quantum state. Toshiba was responsible for people it serves. 360 days a year. It’s claimed all this, as well as technology very expensive. the quantum equipment, Adva developed Redcentric offers managed services via some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe, According to the researchers, QKD is the encryption hardware, and BT supplied three wholly owned data centres, a national enables the new data centre to offer significant used only to produce and distribute a key, the live fibre link between its technology MPLS network, and its own fibre-based cost and operational advantages over similar not to transmit any message data. This key research centre at Adastral Park, Suffolk, MANs. Last November, it acquired managed facilities in high-cost urban areas. can then be used with any chosen and another site in Ipswich. services provider InTechnology for £65m.

networking may 2014 4 Net+ 1405 p5 (IBM).qxd 27/5/14 14:53 Page 5 Net+ 1405 p6-7 (news) NEW RN.qxd 29/5/14 12:26 Page 6

news register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE! Warning of “chaos” in Azure chosen for Dimension rush to adopt services Data’s private cloud platform Dimension Data, the $5.8bn ICT as-a-Service (CaaS), features a hybrid A rush by both private and public sector of an organisation adopt IaaS while others solutions and services provider, has architecture and provides “seamless” companies to adopt cloud services is opt for SaaS, leaving gaps in cloud chosen Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 integration with various environments, resulting in “chaos”, according to Capita adoption strategy without a platform from R2 with Hyper-V as the basis for its global including other private or hosted clouds, IT Services. It warns that this is leading to which to operate cloud services. private cloud platform. public clouds, on-premises data centres as applications and services that are often “A robust cloud adoption strategy should The platform supports hybrid 32-bit and well as its own data centres. ineffective and incompatible, and therefore already be at the heart of every IT policy for 64-bit Windows and Red Hat Linux Dimension Data has now rebranded the impacts business performance. every organisation if they want to avoid environments. The firm says it enables subsidiaries of NextiraOne which it The company suggests three key trends falling into the cloud chaos trap,” says users to move Microsoft workloads acquired in February. that are driving businesses to adopt cloud Capita IT Services’ CTO Paul Birkin. “The between their own premises, Azure and Andrew Coulsen, the company’s CEO in services and applications which may not potential for the cloud to offer increasing Dimension Data’s cloud environments Europe, says the aim is for Dimension Data provide the best return on investment in innovation and agility to businesses of all with enterprise-class security, compliance to be seen as the continent’s leading IT the long run and may not meet their sizes is clear. But unless it is adopted in a and control, and flexibility. solutions and services provider. “We’ve needs. These include what Capita coherent and planned way, it is unlikely to Microsoft’s director of product marketing already kicked off the process of taking our describes as the ‘multiple choice’ effect, bring the returns on investment that chief for cloud and enterprise Brian Hillger says: combined portfolios to market and adding the ‘benefit rush’ effect and the ‘entry information officers expect.” “This collaboration enables customers to NextiraOne’s skills in communications, point’ effect. bridge their on-premises investments with UC and collaboration networking, the While cloud opens up the opportunity to cloud-based deployments to innovate faster, contact centre, video, and data centre to purchase from multiple suppliers on deliver new services and capabilities, Dimension Data’s existing portfolio.” multiple platforms, the company says that Paul Birkin, CTO of improve productivity, and lower costs. It Coulsen says the combined entity now this increases complexity. Meanwhile, the Capita IT Services, will also suit clients with specific security has an expanded footprint across Europe promise of substantial savings has led to a says cloud is unlikely or compliance requirements.” with a large, skilled and experienced rush to adopt cloud, often leading to a lack to deliver investment Dimension Data says its existing personnel base that includes 1,850 of strategic planning. And with the ‘entry returns if it’s not adopted private cloud service, Private Compute- employees across 13 countries. point’ effect, Capita says that some parts in a “coherent” way. Cloud advice from Law Society Connected homes market to

The Law Society has published a practice be existing data protection, information grow eight-fold in five years note on the use of cloud computing security and business continuity services in law firms, which may also management frameworks and policies. Cloud-based home management systems and independent-living services. Existing guide lay companies in assessing the risks Sam De Silva, chair of the Law Society’s that give users remote control of household apps include receiving an alert when and rewards of migrating to a platform. technology and law reference group, and a facilities like lighting and air conditioning children leave school, heating or cooling The guidance is aimed at all solicitors, member of the EU Commission’s Expert will grow eight-fold between 2013 and the house while you are out, and alerts if an practice managers or law firm IT staff group on cloud computing and technology 2018, predicts market researcher IHS. elderly relative changes their routine. using or planning to use hardware and partner at law firm Penningtons Manches, It says the global installed base of such Arrowsmith says the market is awash software which can be accessed and welcomed the new guidance. systems will grow to 44.6 million at the end with suppliers. One big group consists of operated via the internet, and is owned or “While cloud computing has a number of 2018, up from 5.6 million at the end of incumbent service providers who supply controlled by a third party. of advantages for businesses, such as 2013. IHS expects the installed base to security, telecoms or utilities. They aim to The practice note advises them to: reducing costs and increasing storage, it surge 63 per cent to 9.1 million this year. reduce customer churn, add new “Understand prospective cloud service carries risk which firms must consider “Cloud-based home management makes subscribers and boost average revenue per offerings fully; make sure that they meet when engaging with a third party to it all possible, and much more,” says Lisa user. Other companies entering the fray business requirements; are procured handle sensitive information.” Arrowsmith, IHS associate director for include device suppliers, retailers and under a robust business case; and that De Silva adds that anyone involved in connectivity, smart homes and smart cities. specialist system integrators such as Nest, they have been subjected to a full risk and the collection and storage of personal data “With a wide range of companies offering Revolv and SmartThings, amongst others. compliance analysis.” must comply with the Data Protection such solutions, the cloud-based home North America is currently the largest It recommends calling in consultants if Act, and law practices are also subject to management system business will expand market but IHS forecasts rapid growth firms don’t have relevant in-house professional conduct obligations to dramatically in the coming years.” worldwide. Security providers like ADT expertise, and goes on to say the starting maintain client confidentiality and Other applications include home moni- and Vivint have led the way with telcos like point for evaluating cloud services should properly manage their practices. toring, energy management, lighting control Comcast and AT&T close behind.

IT infrastructure from smallest to largest.

ENCLOSURES POWER DISTRIBUTION CLIMATE CONTROL

networking may 2014 6

it_engl_engl_qr_420x105_2014.indd 1 17.01.14 15:03 Net+ 1405 p6-7 (news) NEW RN.qxd 29/5/14 12:28 Page 7

VIEW FROM THE TOP Visibility key to today’s Lilac Schoenbeck, VP,product management and marketing, Iland It may be your data – but when it’s complex networks in the cloud who controls it? The growing complexity of today’s architectures, and the shift to dense 10GbE enterprise networks is creating significant or higher network speeds. It adds that an The European Court of Justice’s recent This limits the extent to which they can headaches for the IT professionals who increasingly mobile workforce also decisions on data retention and the right utilise cloud services. have to manage and monitor them. requires extending the boundary of end-to- to be forgotten highlight the need for But this doesn’t have to be the case In a recent survey of a 150 organisations end management to mobile devices. companies to control their cloud in all instances, and some cloud service with 1,000 or more employees, Emulex As a result, Emulex says deeper levels operations more closely. providers are evolving to address this found that the number one challenge for of network visibility are now essential to Cloud computing has many attractions. concern. If a workload is hosted in the 43 per cent of respondents is monitoring aid in the management and trouble- When done right, cloud takes away cloud with a service provider, users and managing network performance shooting of enterprise networks. barriers to entry and makes technology should be able to define the actual between groups of web, application, and The company also found that security available to all organisations regardless location of that workload so it can be as database servers in the data centre. The challenges also increase when there is a of size. From day one, a business can close to home as they’d like, or further second most cited challenge is maintaining lack of proper network visibility. Survey ‘try before they buy’ a new system, and away for disaster recovery purposes. end-to-end network performance to respondents said they struggled to: ramp up very quickly and easily without It’s important that user companies look endpoint devices connecting either via capture network behaviour for incident having to make serious upfront capital for a provider that offers this level of public networks or WANs. detection (38 per cent); monitor network investments. The move to the cloud is control. This is important because Emulex says these challenges reflect a flows for anomalous behaviour (35 per seamless; costs are predictable; there governments today are still defining their rapidly changing environment marked by cent); capture and analyse logs from are no big step changes or spikes in laws regarding jurisdiction and access to data centre consolidation, server network and security devices (29 per costs for maintenance or renewal data in their territory, and many virtualisation/private cloud, compute cent); and establish a baseline of normal requirements; and remote working and organisations have preferences regarding layer virtualisation, new application network behaviour (27 per cent). disaster recovery can also be built in. which country they’d like to host their However, once something is uploaded to data, both at rest and in transit. a sharing site, a great deal of control is If workloads can be sent willy-nilly lost. What many users believe and fear is flying around across national borders, Nimans launches “unique” that once something is in the cloud, it is users indeed have lost a great deal of completely out of their control. This is a control over their own fate, and that of misconception. Many large enterprises and their data. This can be a costly trade-off hosted voice service government organisations only use the so always check the fine print of your cloud for testing and development; data is cloud service provider agreement. Nimans claims to have launched a new models are available – Standard, Advanced bought back in-house when the IT project No matter what an organisation’s hosted voice service that “promises to and Executive – with a claimed upfront is ready to go into live production. definition of the cloud, users need to ‘shake-up’ the whole market”. margin potential of 45 per cent. Equally, many organisations have select infrastructure providers that are The firm says GreenSky offers resellers a Nimans says it is shifting away from its data sovereignty issues, i.e. they cannot able to make it usable to the everyday “powerful” route into hosted voice that puts traditional box shifting roots, although permit their information to reside on business while addressing regional data them in “complete control”. Richard Carter points out that the firm remains servers outside the European Union. sovereignty issues. Carter, Nimans’ group sales and business focused on its core business activities while development director, says resellers can recognising the need to diversify. capitalise on an easy migration and take advantage of a host of opportunities. SMEs are big on outsourcing “This unique and compelling proposition allows resellers the choice to Sixty per cent of UK SMEs have partly or employees in the UK are now experiencing sell hosted in a completely different way. fully outsourced their IT infrastructure, the full flexibility and efficiency benefits of Free hosted voice, plain and simple. It’s according to a new report from data centre cloud-based IT solutions, says Node4. based on a traditional ‘tin’ style revenue and comms specialist Node4. With more The firm surveyed 250 IT decision model where resellers can sell phones than 31,000 SMEs in the country, this makers in organisations of between 50-500 upfront with included licences – or they means there are now more than 18,600 employees. It says that they increasingly can embrace a more modern approach of businesses that have moved some part of see technology and IT as a business enabler charging on a monthly basis.” their IT provision off premises. which they can’t do without, and if they GreenSky includes a free three-year Nimans’ Richard Carter shows off the reseller The report also highlights that one in 10 don’t keep pace with it they will fall behind hosted seat licence (worth £360) with every guide to spearhead the launch of GreenSky, a SMEs have already deployed a fully cloud- and miss the opportunity to capitalise on handset purchased. A choice of three new “game changing” hosted voice service. based IT infrastructure – over 300,000 the renewed economic growth.

TROL IT INFRASTRUCTURE SOFTWARE & SERVICES

www.rittal.co.uk

7 may 2014 networking it_engl_engl_qr_420x105_2014.indd 1 17.01.14 15:03 Net+ 1405 p8 (rwn) RN NEW.qxd 29/5/14 15:53 Page 8

real world networks register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE! Networked for learning Educational institutions need to be at the forefront of technological development if they are to compete and remain relevant in a rapidly changing global environment.

100Gbps SSE Telecoms SSE Telecoms’ 6,500km fibre network autonomy and example-setting perspective combined with its network maps, can connects 30 core sites to nearly a thousand that we are able to manage and run our really change the way you see your network frees Janet premises that house Janet’s 18 million end own network,” says Jeremy Sharp, head of network and how it operates,” concludes users across the UK and Ireland. It can strategic technologies at Janet. “With SSE Preston. SSE Telecoms has supplied a 100Gbps also extend its reach and accessibility over Telecoms, we have complete control over core platform to Janet, the biggest a 100Gbps core network infrastructure the technologies that we roll out over the private network in the country. Now in to support the anticipated growth in infrastructure. When it comes to furthering its sixth version, the network is designed bandwidth demand, including the capabilities of our research and educa- to meet the evolving needs of UK interconnection with high speed pan- tion community, the sky really is the limit.” universities and schools and to support European research networks like GÉANT. distance learning, remote working and the Previously, Janet’s network was based Academy watches net grow globalisation of education and research. on managed services from third party with PRTG network monitor Janet needed to deliver specialist ‘any suppliers; this limited its influence over place, any time’ connectivity without vendor types and service provision. By Oxford Spires Academy (OSA) opened compromising reliability or security in the moving away from this model, Janet can in 2011 to primarily serve the east of the face of a shift to BYOD access and a now develop, deliver and control bespoke city, and now has 800 pupils aged 7-14, Birmingham City gets massive increase in traffic volumes. Janet6 network services, such as its Aurora and employs116 staff. A major hardware now provides a fibre optic network that is dedicated dark fibre international network, upgrade revealed the limitations of the network fit for students estimated to give the UK’s research and and Lightpath for dedicated point-to-point network monitoring tool it was using. education community enough scope for connections between UK researchers. “As our infrastructure became larger and Birmingham City University has completed collaboration and technical innovation SSE Telecoms worked to tight more sophisticated, it was increasingly a root and branch revamp of its IT and for around the next 10 years. deadlines and a “very demanding” hard to keep a handle on exactly what was network infrastructure to get it fit to performance specification for the entire going on in the network,” says James compete for students in the next decade. network rollout. This ensured the service Preston, OSA’s ICT network manager. The overhaul, conducted by systems is both future-proof and that Janet can “In addition to nine brand new IT labs, integrator Logicalis, includes the design roll out new optical, Ethernet and IP we have been gradually equipping all of and deployment of two on-site data services, as well as research MPLS and the classrooms with smart boards and centres, wired and wireless networks for SDN projects, without capacity limits or ensuring that all the teachers have employees and students, and the rollout inadequate underlying infrastructure. mobile access to our ICT services of Cisco Unified Communications “As one of the world’s leading through a tablet or a laptop. In addition, Manager for the 4,000 staff. collaborative network providers, it is the school was adding new multifunction The project is part of a £180m important to us from an innovation, printers and IP-enabled phones. investment in new facilities to support OSA found that its existing network innovation and evolving service monitor didn’t have the features needed expectations from all users. Shaun to do the job with the new systems. Buffery, the university’s associate director Preston says he’d heard about Paessler’s for converged infrastructure, says: PRTG and decided to investigate it. “Nowadays, you’re not only competing on “We could tell immediately that there the level of education students will was a lot more of the detail we needed. receive, but also facilities and services. After switching to PRTG, we were able This new infrastructure will adapt to to monitor all of our network devices for innovation in student technology and any information we wanted.” teaching resources, and also enable staff to He explains that PTRG allows the be more collaborative with one another school to provide pupils with remote and with the students.” access to upload homework and see The new infrastructure has delivered lessons online. “Network monitoring is immediate performance and financial really important in this new setup. PRTG benefits through faster networks, more acts as a status dashboard which allows us reliable performance and capacity, and less to check up on the network in near real- operational maintenance that has allowed time, picking up on potential problems the university to redeploy IT skills. before they happen so any disruption to Dean England, who led the re-design the intranet is minimised.” and implementation of the two data It has also exposed bottlenecks, which centres, says: “We’ve reduced server resulted in fibre replacing some copper sprawl, increased utilisation, and can cables, and new time of day usage already see savings in energy bills.” patterns. “We can now have just the right The university has also been able to capacity, rather than paying too much for beef-up its disaster recovery strategy, intro- what we don’t need or risking downtime duce advanced backup and de-duplication by having too little,” says Preston. functionality, and improve storage and PRTG is also monitoring paper levels archive policies. There is now enough in printers, allowing better stock control. bandwidth to support increasing traffic OSA now plans to monitor the health of from mobile devices and rich media apps. internal email clients and to integrate The ability to adapt to changing usage Paessler’s platform with its Microsoft patterns, particularly among students, is service manager system to give it a central especially important to England: “This location to monitor all its service tickets. means providing fast and secure access “PRTG has been an invaluable tool for to e-learning tools and resources, from monitoring the infrastructure that, when anywhere and any device. We’re confident our network will adapt.” Buffery adds that the Cisco telephony system allows staff to spend more time face-to-face with students because they are no longer tied to their offices. “Logicalis has provided us with a foundation that will adapt with our needs and help the university achieve its mission to provide a business class learning experience for its students.”

networking may 2014 8 Net+ 1405 p9 (APC).qxd 27/5/14 14:56 Page 9 Net+ 1405 p10-13 (SDN) RN NEW.qxd 29/5/14 16:56 Page 10

SDN register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE! WillWill SDNSDN revolutioniserevolutionise thethe datadata centre?centre? One of Colt’s data centres now being run using an orchestration suite that was developed in-house to allow staff and clients to speed up service provision and avoid SDN vendor lock-in. Yes. But that probably requires some explanation to be truly convincing, says IAN GRANT. n the mid 1980s, ICL gave a But as McKeown pointed out, a market (management, provisioning, automation ONF will develop the APIs for ‘south- presentation about how it saw the now annually worth $300bn that provides and orchestration) and hardware bound’ traffic, i.e. between L3 (network) I development of the data centre. The 70 per cent gross margins gives vested (bandwidth, capacity and scalability).” and L2 (data), while OpenDaylight will leading UK IT firm said that the future interests every reason to protect their cut. Thanks to the past three years of hype, deal with the ‘northbound’ traffic to the centre would run “lights out” – i.e. As a result, the vendors developed unique more customers are interested in SDN. higher application layers (L4-L7). without any staff except for one man and proprietary enhancements, and network “Search volume for SDN on gartner.com is Meanwhile, European standards body a dog: the dog was there to stop the man routers and switches became as complex now higher than searches for MPLS, WAN ETSI will develop specific tools and from touching anything, and the man was or more so than mainframes. Worse, they optimisation, application delivery controller protocols to virtualise network functions, there to feed the dog. are now surrounded by add-ons such as and router,” said Gartner. It added that and all three will coordinate their At the time, ICL had no idea how the load balancers, firewalls, DNS/DHCP customers hope SDN will allow faster standards-making efforts. scale and scope of what was happening in servers, etc, and attached to virtualised provisioning of workloads in the data Roughly speaking, SDN pertains mainly the data centre would change: Google, compute and storage servers. centre, improve management and network to networks inside the firewall, while NFV Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Rackspace and Faced with traffic volumes growing 40 visibility, improve traffic engineering or (network functions virtualisation) is the rest didn’t exist; Cisco and Juniper or 50 per cent a year, firms like Google and capacity optimisation of their networks, cut concerned mainly with wide area and were just getting started; network owners Facebook started designing their own ‘white networking costs, improve performance, carrier networks. Parallel to this, and being rented fixed lines and dial-up modems; and boxes’.These are switches and routers based and reduce vendor lock-in. incorporated in the SDN ecosystem, is the mobile data connectivity was just a dream. on ‘merchant silicon’– generic microproces- While some (mostly new) firms are OpenStack cloud computing initiative. Thirty years on, networks have become sors that do a few things very fast and put building their SDN architectures from But at a technical meeting in May, users too complex to run and too expensive to the complex functions done by network the bare metal up, others advocate complained that OpenStack’s networking own, but they are essential to almost every appliances into software. McKeown said implementing an overlay network. This component, Neutron, doesn’t work at aspect of modern life. So users are doing to he was researching “primitives”, the typically integrates the provisioning of scale. Smaller implementations appear networks what they’ve done to computing smallest functions that enable networking network and compute resources in a more unaffected, and it is only because more and data storage: virtualising them. As and speed it up even more. agile infrastructure. But while this is an firms are basing their commercial and John Donovan, senior executive VP of “Switches might have come down in important development, Gartner warned public cloud ecosystems on OpenStack that technology and network operations at price to $5,000, but firms like Google had that the overlay is still fully dependent on a problems have occurred. AT&T – which buys more communications plenty of incentive to develop a $1,000 physical underlay network, and issues of The software was originally contributed kit than anyone else in the world – says: switch, not only for cost, but also for network control and visibility are critical to by SDN pioneer Nicira before it was “There’s no army that can hold back an control,” he said. As a result, the network ensure the reliability of overlay solutions. acquired by VMware. According to some, economic principle whose time has come.” equipment industry is going from being a Those calling for overlays tend to be the Neutron now works at scale only if Virtualising the network requires a return closed, vertically integrated, proprietary incumbent vendors. Some have acquired Nicira’s NSX plug-in is used. to the original, simple principles that industry to one that is open and horizontal. the most promising start-ups, either to At the meeting, Red Hat also underpin the design of IP, according to hedge their bets or to take out rivals. announced a beta version of its Linux Nick McKeown, professor of electrical SDN defined Others, such as Ericsson with Ciena, or NEC OpenStack platform 5.0, which goes engineering and computer science at with IBM, are forging strategic alliances. some way to address the Neutron issue Stanford University. Giving the annual For all the hype that surrounds it, all with a new L2 plug-in. OpenStack Appleton lecture at the Institution of the software defined networking (SDN) The standards soup enhancements include a new compute Engineering and Technology in May, he initiative has done is to separate the data API and an updated OpenStack block said these principles are the capacity to forwarding from the control mechanisms in Given that the oldest SDN standards body, storage backup API called Cinder. Red deal elegantly with corrupted, out of order, routers and switches. As a result, instead of the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), Hat claims the plug-in eases the addition duplicated and lost packets. “The fact that duplicating images of the network in every is only three years old, it will be some time of new L2 networking technologies and it was so simple and so dumb was the device, engineers can define all the network before there are genuine plug and play continues to support existing plug-ins, reason for its success,” said McKeown. intelligence – such as which devices are solutions across the entire network stack. including Open vSwitch, an open source This simplicity led to low barriers to connected to the network, which network The network space is also different. Unlike virtual switch that is part of the Linux entry, affordable kit that was plug and play, policies are in place, and what to do with a compute and storage, where VMware and kernel. It also enables single root I/O and consequently high rates of innovation. packet when it arrives – in a central EMC were able to grab leading market virtualisation PCI passthrough, enabling Placing the intelligence at the network edge controller. All the routers and switches have shares quickly, networking is more traffic to bypass the software switch layer meant core networks were easy and cheap to do is forward the packets according to complicated politically and technically. to improve network performance. to upgrade to cope with rising traffic the rules sent to them by the controller. Such is the threat to their futures that “This is important for firms with volumes. Decentralised control allowed the In its April Magic Quadrant report incumbent vendors quickly countered the heterogeneous network environments network to grow very fast but organically on data centres, Gartner said: “The formation of the ONF with their own who want to mix plug-ins for networking as long as the rest of the network could differentiation between vendor solutions is version, the OpenDaylight movement. systems,” said Red Hat. It has also recognise and deliver the packets. now relatively balanced between software There is now some agreement that the developed an OpenDaylight driver for the

networking may 2014 10 Net+ 1404 p7 (Emerson).qxd 28/4/14 16:29 Page 7 Net+ 1405 p10-13 (SDN) RN NEW.qxd 3/6/14 12:19 Page 12

SDN register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE!

new L2 plug-in that enables communication between Neutron and OpenDaylight to create a solid foundation for coming NFV technologies. Why are we waiting?

Standards are coming, but they are slower than expected because everyone involved is stressing that the code that emerges must be open source. ONF is already looking at conformance testing for v1.3 of its OpenFlow protocol for exchanging data between the controller and the network elements. ETSI published four group specifications in October 2013 to cover NFV use cases, requirements, the Above left: Dimension Data’s new SDN Development Model aims to map how to get clients from their “as-is” network state to their “wannabe“ architectural framework, and terminology. state as quickly and simply as possible with the available resources. Above right: OpenDaylight is providing a standard platform (shown in green) It expects to publish more detailed to handle ‘northbound’ network traffic in a virtual network controller. specifications later this year. OpenDaylight has published Hydrogen, but it is not a mature market and there is capacity, performance and availability building and managing more than 9,000 its code for handling traffic above L3, in still a long way to go. For example, the requirements. Sabir says this is key to an private IP networks worldwide, enabling three ‘editions’: Base, for researchers and platforms on the market lack robust orchestration capability because it means over 13 million users to connect to their academics; Virtualised, for data centre reporting and analytics capabilities. Colt can perform operations without organisations’ networks. It has also built operators; and Service Provider, for host Orchestration in the data centre is not just having to redeploy anything and simplifies nine data centres and is adding two more. data centre operators (diagram top right). about managing virtual resources; physical the work the platform has to do. “SDN offers us additional choices when The OpenDaylight controller exposes assets need to be factored in as well. “Our vision is to give internal teams and architecting our clients’ networks,” says open northbound APIs which are used by “Also, most vendors’ orchestration our customers the same slick experience for group executive for networking Rob applications. The platform itself contains platforms tend to work best in conjunction deploying infrastructure. The orchestration Lopez. “More importantly, SDN creates a collection of dynamically pluggable with their own infrastructure technologies. engine is a cornerstone in that. The opportunities for cost savings through more modules to perform essential network tasks They provide limited support for the platform is in production today and we efficient operations, as well as a more such as understanding what devices are infrastructure technologies from other have set up a team responsible for develop- effective delivery of network services.” contained within the network and the vendors, especially those that compete in ing the platform further, as well as building Business development manager Gary capabilities of each, statistics gathering, the same technology space. For the orchestrations that execute on it.” Middleton adds that DD’s own data etc. In addition, other extensions can be companies that want to operate in a centre operation was the prototype for a inserted into the controller platform for vendor-neutral environment it requires Practicalities structured way of assessing the extra SDN functionality. significant compromise to choose one of applicability and viability of SDN to an But some aren’t waiting. Colt has built these solutions. As a result, Colt decided to Given how immature SDN technology is, organisation that launched in late May. its own ‘orchestration’ system to manage build its own platform.” and how radical an effect it is going to “Our CIO was our pilot client for the data centre assets, as Fahim Sabir, director The firm chose modules based on have on networks in data centres and SDN Development Model. He saw some of engineering for IT services, explains: whether they are orchestration-friendly, and WANs, a lot of learning needs to happen. benefits in certain areas, and that’s “There are a number of orchestration expose well-documented and open APIs to Systems integrator Dimension Data resulted in a plan where we’re looking at platforms out there from various vendors, be able to dial up and down according to (DD) says it has invested some $30bn in SDN in those areas.”

networking may 2014 12 Net+ 1405 p10-13 (SDN) RN NEW.qxd 3/6/14 11:41 Page 13

The competitive position of DD’s hosted hours or days with addresses recovered and “It also couldn’t account for the fact that MacVittie argues that L3 switches can cloud is said to be based on its networking reused, and DNS records cleaned up virtual servers were popping up everywhere, easily support network load balancing but capability. It is looking to SDN to sharpen automatically when VMs are retired. with multiple applications served from the not application balancing because they its edge to gain better, faster service Marketing EVP David Gee says: “IT same IP address and port, and forced the don’t have access to the application provision, and lower cost from reducing workloads are shifting to private clouds web server to become a load balancer variables and therefore cannot hash headcount could also factor. Middleton and these clouds require automation in the itself. That was kind of crazy. If a single them in order to distribute them. notes that DD’s provisioning of virtual network layer to match the already heavily- server couldn’t scale well enough to meet “Thus, while SDN principles are LANs and network services is already automated compute and store functions.” demand, how is putting a single server in certainly applicable, the architecture used highly automated. “We’re looking to Then there’s load balancing. But here, front of them going to help the situation?” to implement SDN for lower order network improve that further by automating things you need to handle traffic and applications As a result, the hashing techniques used layer services is not going to be the same like the provision of MPLS links. It’s all differently, says Lori MacVittie, cloud to distribute loads changed, with network one used to implement SDN for higher about providing an elastic capability for computing and application security expert variables used to balance traffic, and order network layer services,” she says. networking up and down as needed.” at F5 Networks. “Application load balancing application variables used to balance apps. “When evaluating SDN solutions, it’s But he reckons the jury is still out on arose because network load balancing was This allowed architectures to specialise, important to consider how any two SDN capex savings due to white label switching all based on inbound variables. It couldn’t with requests for images and static network (core and application) boxes – Dimension Data’s research into take into consideration how loaded the content each routed to their respective architectures complement one another, that sector threw up a “lot of names no-one chosen server was, or whether its response dedicated servers. It also enabled integrate with one another, and has heard of”, and deeper inspection found time was failing, or whether it was at persistence (sticky sessions) which collaborate to enable a complete issues with their capacity to scale and capacity or not. Those variables were all on greatly accelerated the ability to scale out software-defined network architecture support their products. But Middleton the server side, and required visibility into stateful applications in a web format (i.e. that supports the unique needs of both acknowledges this may be temporary. the application, not the client. to remember their last ‘incarnation’). layers 2-3 and layers 4-7.” In the meantime, it gives firms like Cisco, with whom DD has a long and deep relationship, time to get their SDN act together. Couple that with large businesses’ innate conservatism, and Middleton expects incumbent network equipment suppliers to enjoy a period of grace. “We think 60 or 70 per cent of our clients are going to wait until their incumbent suppliers get their SDN strategy right before deploying it. At the present time, I don’t think anyone’s SDN offer is compelling enough to persuade clients to change their hardware vendor. They’ll implement brand name switches, but then automate a lot of the functionality on top of it, so the savings will come in the form of operational savings. Instead of having an engineer touch every device to configure a network, all that will be automated. “We do see a space for software-based SDN like NSX from VMware. That’ll be an important element for a sector of the client base. It will all come down to client choice and whether they buy into the software define data centre and the VMware approach, or whether they view hardware as a strong component.” In the interim

Most SDN solutions will disrupt IT and business operations because they require a complete revamp of network infrastructure and services, according to Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. It has developed two online demos using its Application Fluent Network (AFN) with standards-based sFlow and OpenFlow initiatives plus InMon for enterprise scale SDN analytics. It claims they present a scalable solution that enables inherent, application intelligent SDN capabilities, keeping costs under control. One demo deals with competition for network resources of different workloads. Large flows due to VM migrations, storage, backup, and replication can interfere with smaller flows such as web requests, database transactions, and social media actions that are sensitive to delay. Alcatel-Lucent says it shows how these large flows can be identified and controlled so that both types of traffic obtain optimal performance. The other demo shows how a DoS attack can be detected and enforced in a distributed fashion across the network in real-time. Companies that prefer to wait for more clarity to emerge from the SDN fog might care to look at network automation specialists such as Infoblox. It has just refreshed its line of solutions for managing DNS, DHCP and IP addresses, known as DDI, running on BMC, CA, Cisco, ElasticBox, HP, Microsoft and VMware. The vendor claims that by using DDI, VMs can be provisioned with IP addresses and DNS records in minutes instead of

13 may 2014 networking Net+ 1405 p14-15 (Off the Shelf & Net Knowledge) RN NEW.qxd 3/6/14 12:51 Page 14

off-the-shelf register online @ www.networkingplus.co.uk NEW WEBSITE NOW LIVE!

Belden has introduced the RailTuff off-the-shelf: cables and connectors BE43802, a 10Gbps Cat7 Ethernet data cable designed specifically for the railway market in the EMEA region. The firm claims the cable’s maximum operating temperature of 90°C is unique Taking the lead when it and exceeds the 85°C short-term temperature requirement in Class TX of the EN 50155 railway standard. Belden says the combination of braid comes to connections and foil shielding provides high strength and immunity to electrical interference. effect on signal transmission. A distinctive The latest cables and panels have their work cut out when it It adds that the halogen-free, oil-resistant blue cable jacket provides ease of comes to meeting demands for high performance networking. and flame-retardant cable jacket material identification after installation. and insulation emit less smoke in fires, RailTuff meets international railway thus enabling the cable’s installation in standards EN 45545-2 and EN 50155, as Axis claims to offer the first multi- The T8646 is available as a single the driver’s cab or engine room, as well well as the new IEC standards EN 61375 channel solution for the analogue to unit or in a kit that combines one T8646 as in passenger compartments. ‘Train Communication Network (TCN)’ digital migration of video surveillance blade with six T8642 units. Axis says According to the firm, the 19-strand and EN 62580 ‘On-board Multimedia and systems with the launch of its T8646 the T8646 is expected to go on sale in copper conductors provide added Telematic Subsystems for Railways’. PoE+ over coaxial blade. Q2 2014. flexibility as well as flex life, and the The new cable completes Belden’s The company says its new blade allows resulting small bend radius allows for range of data communication cables for users to keep their large-scale coaxial easy and risk-free installation within railway environments that covers installations without re-cabling when limited spaces and bulkheads with no 100Mbps, 1Gbps and now 10 Gbps. migrating to IP cameras. This allows organisations that require 24/7 operation, such as hospitals or prisons Bittree has introduced a new line of and data patching systems and are for example, to upgrade without 24-position Cat6 feed-through panels. available in 1-RU 1 x 24 or 2-RU 2 x 24 disruption as well as save money. They’re designed to provide a single configurations. They feature dual-fibre LC The T8646 PoE+ over coax blade location for broadcast, transmission, or ST connections as well as RJ45 fits Axis’ video encoder chassis. Any production, and post-production shielded and unshielded variants. combination of encoder blades and professionals to interconnect data and Designation strips are available as an T8646s can be used simultaneously, Ethernet systems neatly and efficiently. option for any of the panels. so customers can migrate to IP as fast The firm reckons the panel makes testing Bittree adds that the flush-front design as they like, says the firm. or changing signal routes in data centres or provides a cleaner installation that prevents To complement the solution, an machine rooms easier. It claims users save connections from catching and getting Axis T8642 Ethernet over Coax time through fast and easy location of pulled out. Device Unit PoE+ can be used on the proper connections, and the panel is a camera side. Both the device unit and completely passive device that requires the network camera can receive power no external power or converters. over the coax cable using the new Bittree says it developed the new panels rack-mountable Axis T8082 and Axis in response to the rapid growth of IT T8085 power supplies. infrastructures in broadcast and AV environments. They complement the vendor’s line of professional audio, video,

Datwyler has introduced ‘dual-mode’ IEC adapter, users can build a single cables and the new RJ45-IEC adapter. standard cabling system for every type of They aim to provide a high-performance transmission and service, including cable copper data network for voice and data television. transmission, and supply power to remote One of the adapters takes care of the end devices (even for digital cable supply of coaxial services to the data television) all on the same cable. network at the patch panel, the other is The firm says its high-performance plugged into the data socket to allow TV category 7A data cables, such as types sets to be connected. The adapter transmits CU 7150 4P and CU 7120 4P, allow two using common mode and provides an IEC modes of transmission: ‘differential’ for connector as the usual physical interface. symmetrical signal transmission, and ‘common ’ for coaxial signal transmission. It says these dual-mode cables are therefore suitable for transmitting speech, data at up to 10Gbps, broadcast signals for digital cable TV up to 862MHz, as well as PoE to end devices. Datwyler says that with the addition of shielded modules of at least category 6A (RJ45 and PS-GG45) and its new RJ45-

Harting reckons it’s come up with a robust both sides of the connector and provide pluggable feed-through connector housing IP65 and 67 levels of protection for inserts to its Han-Yellock connector family that when mated. The feed-through housing is eases the laying of cable through different suitable for use in modular production lines rooms in industrial environments. The consisting of machines in multiple rooms, new panel feed-through is said to particularly in harsh environments where facilitate handling and offers IP 67 rated connections are exposed to fluids or dust. protection in the plugged-in condition. As well as being pluggable, the new feed-through system features a bulkhead- mounted housing complemented by a metal housing similar in shape to the upper part of the housing of the standard Han-Yellock connector. The cable sets can be pre-assembled and installed with the flange at the point of penetration to make handling easier. Harting says the resulting robustness means the housings are impact-resistant on

networking may 2014 14 Net+ 1405 p14-15 (Off the Shelf & Net Knowledge) RN NEW.qxd 29/5/14 17:49 Page 15

offered at the London Centre will be the Relating to the building of software. It has been developed Riello steps in Tiger Scheme qualification, a commercial control panels and electrical to enable users to design motor certification for technical security special- distribution systems, IEC control centres, electrical ists. Endorsed by the National Technical 61439 comes into force as from switchgear, control panels and to combat UPS Authority for Information Assurance November 2014. It will impact generate bill of material, costs (CESG) and backed by a university-based the design of the panel, and designs that comply with the ‘rogue traders’ assessment, the three-day course includes selection of components and IEC 61439 switchgear standards. both training and assessment elements and the testing methodology. Key features of the upgraded is described as “essential” for those seeking Under the new standard, version, RPE 6.2, include: the UPS specialist Riello has launched a new a clear path for career progression within Rittal says that the panel will generation of copper connection training programme to combat what it the industry. MSc courses in Computer basically become a system. drawings; production of design says is the growing number of ‘rogue Systems Security and Cyber Security will As a result, the designer/panel verification documentation and traders’ providing unauthorised also be run from the new centre. builder will now have to the ability for users to generate maintenance services to customers. www.southwales.ac.uk/london consider the following: the their own documentation; The Riello Certified Engineer initiative enclosure; the effects of heat upon the calculation of an internal enclosure’s is designed to protect users who need third- IEC 61439 Compliant Switchgear and components; cooling equipment; busbar temperature; application examples; an party servicing and approved spares for Controlgear Production – Rittal guide system; mechanical properties; and the Excel configurator for temperature rise their UPS by enabling them to check if IT infrastructure specialist Rittal has generation of test documentation (which is calculations up to 630A and up to 1600A their chosen engineers are fully trained and produced a guide book that offers an a requirement for standards conformance). according to IEC 61439 section 10.10.4.2 competent to carry out the work. insight into the new IEC 61439 standard, Rittal’s guide complements the recent and new partial doors and front panels. To achieve certified status, engineers and to help customers comply with it. launch of its latest power engineering www.rittal.com/uk-en from Riello resellers must successfully complete comprehensive training on the commissioning, maintenance and servicing of the vendor’s UPS products. They will then be allocated an ID card with a unique identification number that customers can use to search a dedicated website to verify the individual’s certification status and core competencies. “Several other UPS manufacturers have chosen to tackle the problem of unauthorised maintenance by instigating ‘closed protocol’ systems,” says Riello GM Leo Craig. “We chose not to take this approach because we felt that it would stifle competition in the market. Instead, we’ve created a comprehensive network of qualified service partners – all of whom are trained and certified to work on Riello UPS – which we hope will offer our customers the reassurance they need.” The vendor adds that companies with at least one engineer fully trained in commissioning, battery builds, maintenance and service can also benefit by becoming a Certified Riello Service Partner. Approved spares will only be supplied to accredited partners, and they will not be made available to individual Certified Engineers to prevent them carrying out unauthorised work for other companies. www.riello-engineer.co.uk

Riello’s general manager Leo Craig says customers will be “reassured” by the creation of a network of qualified service partners. NEW COURSES

Information and cyber security – University of South Wales The University of South Wales plans to open a centre in London’s Docklands where it will deliver a range of professional level courses in information and cyber security. The university says the new centre will be its first physical presence in the capital, and will provide access to its “recognised” information security specialists. Speaking at this year’s Infosecurity Europe event held at the end of last month, Professor Andrew Blyth, who undertakes confidential work for many government agencies, said: “Many of the courses we will be delivering at the centre will be short CPD courses which are currently not available elsewhere in the City. For example, we have one-day courses in ‘Information Assurance Governance’ and ‘Malicious Software Analysis’ which appeal to people working in many sectors who need awareness of information security issues.” One of the range of CPD courses to be

15 may 2014 networking Net+ 1405 p16 (Toshiba).qxd 2/6/14 16:00 Page 16