Bandwidth Definition
There are three frequently used definitions of bandwidth in the context of Information Technology (IT) and general business.1) In computer networks, bandwidth is used as a synonym for data transfer rate, the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). Network bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps); modern networks typically have speeds measured in the millions of bits per second (megabits per s...
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Network Time Protocol (NTP)
Network Time Protocol (NTP)
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to synchronize computer clock times in a network. It belongs to and is one of the oldest parts of the TCP/IP protocol suite. The term NTP applies to both the protocol and the client-server programs that run on computers.
NTP, which was developed by David Mills at the University of Delaware in 1981, is designed to be highly fault-tolerant and scalable.
How does NTP work?
The NTP client initiates a time-request ex...
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top-of-rack switching
top-of-rack switching
Top-of-rack switching is a network architecture design in which computing equipment like servers, appliances and other switches located within the same or adjacent rack are connected to an in-rack network switch. The in-rack network switch, in turn, is connected to aggregation switches via fiber optic cables.
Despite its name, top-of-rack (ToR) switches can be placed anywhere in the rack. But to enable access to the horizontal fiber optic cabling plant that connects in-...
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ONOS (Open Network Operating System)
ONOS (Open Network Operating System)
ONOS (Open Network Operating System) is an operating system (OS) designed to help network service providers build carrier-grade software-defined networks architected for high scalability, availability and performance. Although specifically designed to address the needs of service providers, ONOS can also act as a software-defined networking (SDN) control plane for enterprise campus local area networks (LANs) and data center networks.
The Open Networking L...
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Fiber Optics
Fiber Optics
Fiber optics, or optical fiber, refers to the medium and the technology associated with the transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand or fiber. A fiber optic cable can contain a varying number of these glass fibers -- from a few up to a couple hundred. Surrounding the glass fiber core is another glass layer called cladding. A layer known as a buffer tube protects the cladding, and a jacket layer acts as the final protective layer for the individual...
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Edge Provider
Edge Provider
In communication services, an edge provider is a website, web service, web application, online content hosting or online content delivery service that customers connect to over the internet. Edge providers, which include Google, Amazon, Netflix and Facebook, use the customer's internet service provider (ISP) to deliver content.
In the United States, edge providers are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The choice of the word edge is intended to differentiate conte...
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Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC)
Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC)
An SDDC (software-defined data center) is a data storage facility in which all infrastructure elements -- networking, storage, CPU and security -- are virtualized and delivered as a service. Deployment, operation, provisioning and configuration are abstracted from hardware. Those tasks are implemented through software intelligence. Former VMware CTO Steve Herrod is widely credited with coining the term around 2012.
An SDDC is currently more of a concept ...
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east-west traffic
east-west traffic
East-west traffic, in a networking context, is the transfer of data packets from server to server within a data center. The term east-west for this type of traffic comes from network diagram drawings that usually depict local area network (LAN) traffic horizontally. In contrast, north-south traffic describes client-to-server traffic that moves between the data center and a location outside of the data center network. North-south traffic is typically depicted vertically to il...
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Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is a ubiquitous type of copper cabling used in telephone wiring and local area networks (LANs). There are five types of UTP cables -- identified with the prefix CAT, as in category -- each supporting a different amount of bandwidth.
Alternatives to UTP cable include coaxial cable and fiber optic cable. There are benefits and tradeoffs to each type of cabling, but broadly speaking, most enterprises favor UTP cable due to its low ...
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Ingress Filtering
Ingress Filtering
Ingress filtering is a method used by enterprises and internet service providers (ISPs) to prevent suspicious traffic from entering a network. When configured on an edge device such as a router or firewall, ingress filtering examines all inbound packets and then permits or denies entry to the network based on information in the packet header. It is a form of packet filtering.
Ingress traffic filtering is one of the first lines of defense in a network security strategy. It i...
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