Dell teams up with Juniper Networks Inc to offer networking solutions under Dell’s Power Connect brand.

As per the recent press release from Juniper Networks Inc, Juniper Networks Inc has reached an agreement with leading PC maker Dell to offer networking solutions under Dell’s Power Connect brand. 

With this deal Juniper and Dell are planning to work together on open, standards-based solutions for virtualized data centers and to create technology solutions using Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE).

Juniper and Dell are a formidable team, and together we can deliver significant value for enterprise customers around the world. This OEM agreement is another great step in our sustained and successful push into the enterprise market,” said Gerri Elliott, executive vice president, Strategic Alliances, Juniper Networks. “We have the only infrastructure that includes integrated security, routing and switching running on a single operating system. And that uniform approach is a great benefit to IT organizations, from the smallest to the largest, as they tackle the challenges of an increasingly decentralized landscape.”

The products Dell will deliver under its PowerConnect brand include the Juniper Networks MX Series services routers, EX Series Ethernet switches and SRX Series services gateways, all running JUNOS® Software. Dell expects to make these products available to customers via its direct and PartnerDirect channels.

• MX Series Routers — MX Series Ethernet Services Routers offer advanced routing capabilities, such as Multiprotocol Label Switching network virtualization, low-latency multicast, advanced quality of service (QoS), and high availability.
• EX Series Ethernet Switches — EX Series Ethernet Switches deliver the next-generation of switching technology for todays – and tomorrow’s – networks. With the EX Series, businesses can deploy a cost-effective family of switches that delivers the high availability (HA), integrated security and operational excellence needed today, while providing a platform for supporting future requirements.
• SRX Series Services Gateways — For organizations supporting extranets, SRX Series Services Gateways can help lower the cost of delivering new capabilities while reducing risk, and satisfying end users. These services gateways integrate leading security, connectivity, and application delivery capabilities into a single platform for a safe, affordable, and consistent high-performance communications foundation.

Finally Dell too started venturing into new business. Dell has also announced that it would be promoting Salesfroce.com (CRM) software products to its valued customers in American market.  Apart from this Dell is also planning tap the fast growing smart phone market by launching its own smart phone to run on Google’s Android mobile operating system.  

Do you think routers are dead?

Cisco’s TechWise TV is webcasting a  60 minute Episode on 29th of October 2009  with a title ‘”Routers Are Dead. Long Live the Router!” where you can learn the Cisco integrated services router will dramatically simplify your branch architecture and greatly reduce your network management workload.

By registering to this web cast you will get the chance to see the technological advances that will enable you to create a truly borderless network, while giving you the convenient, powerful network management features you crave in today’s resource-challenged IT environment.

The Agenda

• ISR G2: New Model New Story
• The ISR Autopsy
• New Modules
• Security Innovation in the ISR
• Collaboration Enablement
• The Service Ready Engine
• Universal IOS
• Long Live the Router

Register now

CCIE Routing and Switching Official Certification Guide to be released in November 2009

I was just accessing the rough cuts for the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching Official Certification Guide, 4^th Edition. I had a great first impression. I had a chance to read “LAN Switching” part. It was a great firsthand experience. This segment is organized well and the approach is similar to CCNA, CCNP books, starts with a brief introduction and then the most useful section of Cisco Press Books “Do I Know This Already?” Quiz followed by “Foundation topics and “Foundation Summary”.

Pic Courtesy: Cisco Press

The Cisco Press authors Wendell Odom, Rus Healy and Denise Donohue did a credible job; I liked the way they presented the topics, since I spent most of my time on Switching I really enjoyed the “LAN Switching” part. Though I am familiar with most of the things they were talking but it was great experience to refresh my info.

The CCIE Routing and Switching Official Certification Guide 4^th Edition is to be released on 19^th of November 2009 by Cisco Press, they are offering great discount do check Cisco Press web site for more details, but make sure you registered yourself to Cisco Press website to get more discount. Once the book released I will try to write a review on this book.

Windows 7 is amazing in terms of Systems restoration

I am using Windows 7, since beta days and then now with RC release.  Couple of week’s back I was attending a Seminar “Introducing Windows 7” organized by Microsoft for their partners. I did asked few questions; one of them was related to Windows restore and hibernation. I asked them if I have a complete Backup of my computer in my external USB hard disk, is it possible to restore Windows 7 and all applications in a new hard disk. The gentleman said it’s not possible. I was not convinced thought of testing myself.

 First using the Systems and Security menu from Control panel I selected the option “Backup your Computer” and I selected I created a System Image in my External USB hard disk.

Then I created a System repair disk by using the menu “Create a system repair disk” from the Systems and Security menu from Control panel.

Once I am done with these things I replaced the existing hard disk in my laptop with a new one. Then I installed Windows 7 in my laptop, after completion of Windows 7 installation I restarted my laptop with the restore disk I created and I made sure my External USB hard disk is connected my laptop as well. I booted the laptop using the System repair disk and then I click next once I got this menu,

And then I selected the option “Restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier”

Then I selected the latest available system image which by default selected the image stored in my external USB hard disk,

 If by change if the latest system image is not shown you always have an option to select the image manually. Once I selected the image file stored in my external USB hard disk I was able to restore my laptop with all applications and documents stored in my original hard disk. Cool utility that too GUI from Microsoft in Windows 7. For some reason I forget to take the backup of my contacts in my Microsoft Outlook 2007 so again I removed the new hard disk and replaced it with the original one. When I restarted the laptop with the original hard disk, the laptop started back from the Hibernation mode. As I forget to shutdown my laptop before starting this whole operation. It was hibernated with lot of open files and windows. Amazing isn’t it.

Cisco intends to acquire advance wireless gear maker Starent Networks Corp for 2.9 billion dollars

Yet another acquisition is planned by Cisco Systems. Cisco Systems is planning to buy advance wireless telecommunication equipment makers Starent Networks Corp for 2.9 billion dollars to boost its product offerings as phone carriers build out next-generation networks. This will be a second major acquisition this month for Cisco Systems after billion buyout of videoconferencing leader Tandberg for roughly 3 billion dollars.

According to a post in Cisco blogs, by acquiring Starent Networks Corp - Cisco Systems can expand their product portfolio in mobile internet market. As we all know the Emerging markets are seeing the success of Wi-Max technology. Surely this acquisition will help Cisco to broaden its presence in the Wi-Max area.

“The growth of smart mobile devices and net books has fundamentally changed consumer behavior with regards to how they use the Internet,” said Ned Hooper, Cisco’s chief strategy officer who also oversees the consumer business.

By first half of year 2010, the acquisition is expected to close. Until then Cisco Systems and Starent Networks Corp  will continue to operate as separate companies. Upon completion of the transaction Starent Networks Corp will become the new Mobile Internet Technology Group led by Starent President and CEO Ashraf Dahod. Starent was founded in 2000 and completed its initial public offering in 2007. The company is based in Tewksbury, Mass., and has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide.

Using Cisco Unified Customer Voice portal two million calls are shifted daily!

One of the leading Telecom operators in India, IDEA Cellular an Aditya Birla Group Company was able to shift two million daily calls from live agents to a self-service voice portal that increased customer satisfaction and reduced average hold by using the Cisco Unified Customer Voice Portal.

With the use Cisco Unified Customer Voice portal, IDEA Cellular is catering more than 47 million customers. Yet another business success story by using Cisco solutions. The solution was implemented by IMB India.

“Show processes cpu sorted” good command to troubleshoot a Cisco Router CPU utilization

During base lining or troubleshooting activity you may need to determine out the CPU Utilization of your Cisco router or Switch. While exploring to find out the top 10 ten CPU utilization process in a Cisco router, I discovered the sorted option of the “show processes cpu” command.

The sorted option is really a beneficial option in the “show processes cpu” command which can help you to find out the load of your Cisco router or a Switch over the last 5 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes. Starting in IOS 12.2 T, the “show processes cpu history” command gives a nice CPU utilization graph.

At times it is helpful to sort the processes by their percentage of CPU utilization. To do this you can use the show processes cpu sorted command as follows:

Some of the sample output is as follows

…. rest deleted……

The Borderless Networks Experience:Cool new innovations

October 20^th, we can all experience the architectural vision for Borderless Networks Cisco is creating, on 20^th October, 2009 at 11 AM PST Cisco System is conducting a virtual event “Borderless Networks Experience”.  If you are in different time zone no probs, Cisco Systems is hosting this virtual even in three different time zones. So just pick that one which suits you the best and enjoy the latest innovation. The details are as follows

So have fun and check this cool video as well.

Bad news for SPAM, Good news for you

Cisco Systems have come up with a security appliance which is a dedicated antispam, antivirus and antiphisihing appliance which virtually eliminates email threat right out of box. Cisco named this security appliance as The Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker, which is aimed at small business segment and can support up to 250 users. More over the SC Magazine has awarded all star rating for the Cisco Spam & Virus Blocker i.e. 5-star rating

The Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker acts as an email gateway and message transfer agent, typically deployed between the internet edge and the email server. The appliance secures email using anti-malware, anti-spam and content filtering.

The good news is Cisco Systems is offering a 30 days money back guarantee and if you are among first 100 customers to fix an appointment chances are high to receive an iPod shuffle.

Some of the salient features of Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker are as follows

·         Protects small businesses by providing powerful protection against spam, viruses and other email threats to secure your network and business data while improving productivity.

·         Stops spam right out of the box, unlike other products that require ongoing and time-consuming administration to work effectively.

·         Reduces operational costs through simple setup in minutes and continuous automatic updates.

·         Enhances the performance of networks, servers, and computers by helping eliminate unwanted email.

·         Provides peace of mind with a complete solution including hardware, software, updates, and product support in a single package.

Overall the Cisco Spam and Virus Blocker is an impressive device as an entry point into the small business market. Smaller organizations with the budget and need for granular security options can enjoy the full featured enterprise-class nature of the product, as well as the support.

IBM Middle East to host “Storage Innovations for a Dynamic Infrastructure” event in Saudi Arabia

IBM Middle East is conducting an event “Storage Innovations for a Dynamic Infrastructure” in three major cities of Saudi Arabia. The event will held in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar on 12^th, 13^th and 14^th of October 2009.

Pic Courtesy : IBM Middle East

In this event the storage virtualisation technology of IBM seeks to address the challenge of infrastructure management complexity by providing a feature rich centralised point of management for heterogeneous storage environments for both block and file data.

Find out more on the solutions provided by IMB by joining them in one of the events in a city near you.

The location and dates are as follows

October 12, 2009- Intercontinental Hotel- Jeddah
October 13, 2009- Marriott Hotel- Riyadh
October 14, 2009- Carlton Al Moaibed Hotel- Al Khobar

The Agenda for the Event is as follows

Do register now.