Monday, December 14, 2020

To Maximize The Business Benefits Of IOT Technology

 The Internet of Things is here to stay and is growing at an incredible rate. From smart homes to smart cities, IoT is changing the way we live and transforming industries a little more every day.


Organizations now use IoT to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Innovative and disruptive business models and differentiated customer experiences are now easily accessible thanks to IoT.


To maximize the business benefits of IoT technology, organizations must understand that the vast amounts of data they will collect must be streamlined, Managed IT Support Services; otherwise it will be useless. The demand for IoT products is increasing, which means that the amount of data produced will increase at an exponential rate.


Almost no current IT infrastructure is designed to handle this data flow. Instead of fighting for an upgrade with the risk of being left behind, let the IOT Managed Service Managers experience handle the details.


Industrial IoT solutions


ExterNetworks Industrial Services enable organizations to deploy smart factory technology and stay ahead. We work with leading solution providers to provide enterprises with autonomous systems that seamlessly integrate into legacy protocols such as:


  • MODBUS
  • BACnet
  • SNMP

This means that factories do not have to worry about loss of productivity or knowledge. Our IIoT services allow administrators to tailor automation to their business needs with options to:


  • Remote monitoring
  • Real-time analysis
  • Immediate reactions
  • Diagnosis and correction
  • Inventory management



Smart retail

Retailers can track everything from pedestrian traffic to inventory and customer experience to better understand how to influence consumer behavior and increase brand loyalty.


Adding functionality and monitoring essential data points in real time can give your store the boost it needs to stay relevant and competitive in today's IoT shopping arena.


Connected buildings

Smart buildings open up a whole new world of infrastructure potential for commercial and residential spaces. Operational technology leaders can use a single scanning platform to monitor and control multiple buildings individually.


  • Save energy
  • Increase efficiency
  • Increase security
  • Increase your productivity
  • Improves occupant comfort
  • Keep the number of occupants updated

Live software support


Live or OTA firmware updates can save your organization time, money, and headaches. Our OTA updates can reach companies with the most restrictive memory and bandwidth limits.


Our OTA software support can dramatically reduce response times while improving product quality and user experience. This service can help reduce the high costs of after-sales service and strengthen the brand guarantee.


IoT security


The current state of hyperconnectivity brings its own unique set of network devices, capabilities, and protocols, which can lead to complex security issues. The ExterNetworks team is familiar with all the latest security and operational technologies, including modern identity management and advanced encryption techniques to help you create a secure and connected system.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Career Growth in Network Engineer

 Network technicians create, plan, and manage networks to ensure they are working and optimized. As a network technician, you are responsible for the overall foundation of a company's IT system.

IT administrators and network technicians are the people who help network technicians solve problems on a daily basis and face the great challenge of improving and shaping networks. Depending on your organization, you are responsible for implementing and building wireless and physical networks, as well as for troubleshooting, integrating, and researching new technologies.

Is network engineering a good career?

The demand for candidates for network technicians in the IT sector is increasing dramatically, while the supply is very low.

 Companies are now looking for network technicians as new networks and systems become more difficult and complicated as technology advances. Depending on the position and organization you work for, you may only be working on a few projects as a network engineer.

 

Projects you can work on

Some of the projects you can work on are:

Computer network maintenance: Engineers in this area make sure that resource sharing and communication works between devices like servers, printers, and computers. It is your responsibility to ensure that connections with interruptions and limited downtime are fast. It is also responsible for interacting with other users and providers, for example. B. Internet service providers to maintain the entire network.

Implementation Management: Network engineers are responsible for managing the implementation and taking on the role of project manager for IT related projects. His goal is to take over the entire implementation and management of all IT projects.

System Design: These project staff are responsible for developing a network design and taking into account all physical budget and building designs. If there are multiple infrastructure buildings, a network engineer must be able to design a network called a wide area network for the organization.

Stay up-to-date: To stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, network engineers must stay up-to-date and be able to maintain networks and learn about the latest company technologies.

Since there is a great need for network technicians on the market and the properties for a specialist's qualification are lacking, the possibilities are great. Having a role as a network technician can be lucrative and exciting as a career choice.

Installation Guide Of Network Server Configuration?

 Below is an overview of a typical installation of the Windows Server 2008 Network Operating System (NOS) and your server configuration. Although the details vary, the overall process is similar for other NOSs.

Install a network operating system

In most cases, the best way to install Windows Server 2008 is to reinstall it directly from the DVD installation media. Although upgrade installations are possible, your server will be more stable if you perform a new network engineer. (For this reason, most network administrators avoid upgrading to Windows Server 2008 until the server hardware needs to be replaced.)

To begin the installation, insert the DVD distribution media into the server's DVD drive and restart the server. It starts the server directly from the distribution media, which starts the setup program.

In the next setup program, you will be guided through two different installation phases: information gathering and Windows installation. The following sections describe these installation steps in more detail.

Phase 1: gathering information

In the first phase of installation, the setup program requires the necessary preliminary information to begin the installation. A setup wizard prompts you for the following information:

Language: Choose the language, time zone and keyboard type.

 Product key: Enter the 25-digit product key that came with the installation media. If the configuration says that you entered an invalid product key, check it carefully. You probably entered the key incorrectly.

Operating system type: You can use the setup program to select Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition or Core. Select Standard Edition to install the full server operating system. Select Core if you want to install the new plain text version.

License Agreement: The official license agreement is displayed. You must agree to the terms to continue.

Installation type: Choose an updated or clean installation type.

Location: Select the partition on which you want to install Windows.

Upgrade to NTFS: If you want to upgrade a FAT32 system to NTFS, you need to say so now. 

How To Choose a Network Engineer?

 

Main advantages of network engineer

There is nothing worse than a call that the network is idle. Quite often, IT doesn't have the visibility to look forward to performance issues, which means that you or the customer is in the dark complaining. Once stopped, the clock is blurred. And the longer it will take to recover, the more it will cost you: staff time, lost productivity and end-user satisfaction.


24/7 network engineer solution for routers and switches, virtual servers, wireless devices and all types of applications. Keeping track of all your complex network technology means that you can identify and resolve problems before they get worse.


The benefits of network monitoring are seven reasons to reduce the burden of IT and make your life easier.


Main advantages of network engineer


1. Keep up with the outages


What are the causes of IT outages? Human error, configuration problems and environmental factors contribute to this. Implementing network monitoring is one of the simplest and most basic methods of preventing these outages in the first place.


Network monitoring gives you visibility to stay one step ahead of potential problems. By showing real-time network performance data in an easy-to-read interface, network monitoring software can help you detect failures that can cause bottlenecks.


2. Quickly solve problems


Time is money in a bad situation. Network monitoring simplifies and speeds up troubleshooting for network professionals in less time.


Whether you're dealing with configuration errors or unusual traffic fluctuations, network monitoring software can help solve the problem. Live network maps can bring you to the source of problems and status windows provide performance metrics over time.

 


In addition, network automation tools can help you take a step forward. You can detect problems through network monitoring and resolve them automatically without a single participant.


3. Get ROI immediately


IT teams face heavy workloads and complex projects, often without the right time, staff or budget to complete them. The right network monitoring tool can provide immediate ROI. Without manually assuming network performance, employees have time to work on more complex projects. Seeing the source of the problems reduces the tedious time to solve the problems. And keeping up with IT outages can reduce divestment costs for your organization.

4. Manage growing and evolving networks


With the advent of technology and the rise of connected devices, the IT environment is growing in size today. According to a Gartner report, the number of devices connected to the Internet will reach 25 billion by 2021. Whether it's Internet-enabled sensors, wireless devices or cloud technology, all of these devices require constant monitoring for major fluctuations and suspicious activity.


Networks are also increasing in complexity. Whether it's cloud migration or IPv6 infection, flexible and reliable tools are needed to monitor all IP resources and ensure smooth performance between changes.


5. Identify security threats


When you don't have the budget for intrusion detection software and want a level 1 approach to protect against data breaches, network monitoring can help protect critical business data.
The network monitoring tool provides the first level of security. The biggest advantage you can get is how easy it is for your business to perform "normal" activities, which makes it easy to distinguish anything from normal, whether it's a spike in traffic levels or in your network. An unknown device connected to. To determine when and on which device the incident occurred, you can take a proactive approach to network security.


6. Justify device updates

It is not enough to convince most owners that the server needs to be updated. A historical account of how these devices have worked over the past 12 months is very convincing.
Network monitoring tools provide a historical overview of how devices operate over time. Trend analysis can help you determine if your current technology meets business needs or if you need to invest in new technologies.


7. SLA report
Keeping promises about network availability is a priority for IT consultants and managed service providers. With the ability to report on network monitoring performance

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The Skills Of Network Engineering Should Include Mastery Of The Software

 According to Zeus Kerravala, research director at ZK, after the first years of resistance, network engineers increasingly understand the need to improve their software-based network engineering skills rather than sticking to traditional network processes.

Kerravala, who recently hosted a Cisco webinar on network engineer development, said it raises awareness that digital transformation needs to be changed. This means that engineers must be familiar with software-based network technologies and network automation.

"We're moving into a much more web-centric world," said Kerabara, and as a result, the role of networks is increasing. "If you look at a lot of digital building blocks like the Internet of Things, mobility and the cloud, they're all network-oriented," he said.

Developing networks means that companies (and the engineers they hire) must learn how to use software to run networks and connect to other platforms through orchestration. This change brings together the previously separate worlds of applications, networks and infrastructure. According to Kerabara, the network needs to be modified so that it doesn't affect the business.

Kerravala and a group of experts advise network engineers on how to improve their software skills and gain experience in network automation, from learning programming languages ​​to accreditation and running small automation projects to gain experience. Provided.

In the digital age, network engineers and architects said, "You have to speak a software language. You are not a developer, but you can mainly talk to software developers," said the panelist Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE). Addel Rezk, member of the advisory board, said. Senior solution and network architect for Worldwide Technology, a systems integrator based in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

Another skills that network engineering engineers should learn, Kerravala said, “Companies could be as agile as the least agile components, and that was the network,” he added.

·         Provision of information and services as an API

  • ·         Integration of the cloud management tool
  • ·         DevOps alignment
  • ·         Activate automation
  • ·         Play well with DevOps
  • ·         Businesses could be as agile as the least agile components, and that was the network.
  • ·         Zeus Kerravala
  • ·         Director and founder of ZK Research

In the past, most network performance problems resulted from interruptions between the network and the applications running on it. DevOps plays a bigger role in the age of networks. In short, modern application environments have advanced network integration from the start.

"DevOps is based on the principles of rapid development and continuous innovation, which makes our network more agile and upgradeable almost when needed," says Kerravala. However, it cannot require app developers to be connected to the network through a command line interface for it to work. As a result, more work is being done on APIs and programmable networks.

Network professionals must think of networks as an extension of the cloud. In short, the network must work properly with DevOps to ensure application continuity and enable network automation.

"I think a lot of engineers were concerned that automation might take their jobs away, but honestly we can't do it today without them," said Kerabara.

Need for software-based network engineering knowledge

As a result, fluent software is required. According to Kerravala, you don't have to be a software developer, but you do need to be familiar with software to work with today's network infrastructure. "You need to learn basic programming skills."

Kerravala recommended that network engineers use orchestration tools such as Chef and Python, which are commonly used by enterprise application developers. Rather than learning more network protocols, engineers should focus on improving software fluidity.

To do this, Kerravala says network technicians no longer need to perform tasks that are not considered strategic to their business or resumes. In short, networking professionals need to find ways to automate common tasks. This gives you the time it needs to acquire network engineering skills and innovate.

Joe Clark, a well-known Cisco engineer who also attended the panel, said he hesitated to work with other Cisco network engineers who initially had a passion for networking but little interest in developing. Over the years that attitude changed when Cisco started opening up its interfaces.

"We started developing an architecture that would allow technical engineers to write chained Python scripts. Those huge, long files can provide insights," he said. Ultimately, Cisco has built a culture of development, automation, and software fluidity within the company. "That's what we want to tell our customers," said Clark. "Doing that opens up more exciting things for you."

According to Jose Bogarin Solano, Chief Innovation Officer at Altus Consulting in Costa Rica, engineers have started learning Python because it is easy to learn and it is used in many network-related technologies. He also suggested that engineers consider investigating Cisco's developer programs. This initiative is designed to help developers and IT professionals who want to build applications and develop integrations with Cisco products, platforms, and APIs learn about software development from a network perspective.

After network professionals learned some software skills and understood the API, Cisco recommended that Clark look around the company to see what automation is common. He said he would start small and then expand from there.  

Other resources include learning at Cisco, which offers courses designed to help engineers learn to use automation technology with a network-centric focus, as well as software know-how that wants to integrate that know-how into the network. Includes developer courses for private households.

Most Important Components for Network Engineer

The network engineer change programs should always be associated with an improvement in users' perception of the quality of the service received. Before starting such a project, there are technical and commercial bid phases and evaluations that must be approved.

 

Once this is accomplished, the main phases are:

 

  • Commitment.
  • Operation and administration.
  • The breakdown or transition of the network to a new project.

 

In the Network Deployment Services, operations are performed in which devices are started / installed. The end result is the contracted service. In this phase of the project there are:

 

  1. The agreed service periods and delivery times must be respected.

 

  1. Tools that simplify predictable bulk configuration tasks must be available.

 

  1. A team of specialists must supervise the installation of the devices in a previously agreed location.

 

  1. Validation of the entire start-up process so that the project location can go to the operational phase.

 

While this list contains the obvious, it makes the network implementation phase one of the most intense and troublesome parts of a new scheme. This implies the not insignificant additional costs for the commissioning of external services.

 

In general, the service provider or freight forwarder offers its clients an all-inclusive package with the best possible service / price ratio. They are expected to select device manufacturers that not only meet the technology and economics side, but also help keep network deployment costs low.

 

One of the most important components for network provisioning is a zero-touch installation service for participating devices. This means that starting the service on the site must include:

 

  • Customers should receive a device with basic on-site connection instructions (similar to automatic installation of home services like ADSL / FTTH). The customer can simply connect and turn on their device according to the basic instructions.
  • The automatic configuration process begins: the device downloads its individual configurations from a control center and then activates them to provide the contractually agreed service.
  • The status and availability of these services are determined from the central office (validation of the entire process).

The availability of automatic configuration during deployment and the use of pre-validated templates reduce installation costs by optimizing lead times and minimizing configuration error rates.

 

In this phase, there are not only advantages: maintenance procedures are significantly optimized, but an office with a device that is out of service only has to send a new router to start the business again. The rest of the configuration, the restoration of saved data, etc., is carried out almost automatically through administration tools. This facility optimizes SLAs and punishment.

 

In summary, automatic configuration throughout the network deployment becomes a very relevant aspect and should always be included in the commercial offer of the manufacturers. Not only because this represents a great improvement in their products, but also because they can offer tools through their sales network to reduce overall project costs and improve the perception of service quality for their clients.

 

Understands this concept and integrates its software tool, the NetManager Colibrí, to manage networks. In addition to other standardized tools and together with its WLAN and access routers, this offers optimal solutions for schemes where your clients need them.

Network engineer can be accomplished using a variety of software?

 What is network monitoring?

Network monitoring for a corporate network engineer is a critical IT feature that saves money in terms of network performance, employee productivity and infrastructure cost overhead. The network monitoring system monitors the internal network for problems. It is able to find and fix web page downloads at the snail's speed, lost emails on the spot, questionable user activity and delivery of files caused by server overload, crashes, risky network connections or other devices.

 

Network monitoring systems (NMS) are very different from harassment detection systems (IDSn) or harassment prevention systems (IPS). These other systems detect intrusions and prevent intelligent activity by unauthorized users. NMS lets you know how well the network is working through normal operations; the focus is not on security itself.

 

Network monitoring can be accomplished using a variety of software or a combination of hardware and software plug-and-play tools. Almost any type of network can be monitored. It doesn't matter if it's wireless or wireless, a physical LAN, VPN or a WAN service provider. You can control devices on various operating systems with many functions, from BlackBerry and mobile phones to servers, routers and switches. These systems can help you identify specific activities and performance metrics, produce results that allow a company to meet various needs, including compliance with compliance requirements, elimination of security risks. -State and provide greater operational visibility.

 

Deciding specifically what to monitor on the network is as essential as giving a thumbs up to system monitoring. You need to make sure that the corporate network topology map is up to date. This map should accurately arrange the different types of networks to monitor, which servers are running, which applications on which operating system, how many desktops should be counted in the mix and which type of remote devices have access to each network. A dose of clarity at the beginning makes the choice of monitoring tools to buy easier.

 

How important is network monitoring?

 

You might think that if the network is up and running, there is no reason to ruin it. Why should you worry about adding another project for your network managers to scribble on their whiteboards, already crammed from floor to ceiling? The rights to insist on monitoring the network can be summarized at a high level in maintaining the current state of the network, guaranteeing availability and improving   performance. An NMS also can help you build a database of critical information that you can use to plan for future growth.

 

Network monitoring is like a visit to a cardiologist. You are combining experience, judgment and technology to track the performance of a system.

 

The doctor is observing the warning signs as blood flows through the vessels, valves and chambers of the heart, while the network monitoring systems are monitoring the data that move along the cables and through servers, switches, connections and routers .

 

This analogy holds true, especially considering how important real-time information is in both cases.

 

Of course, network monitoring differs in that smart companies aren't content with snapshots of system performance. Nor do they monitor only after the appearance of disturbing symptoms. They follow their networks 24 hours a day, every day.

 

What can network monitoring systems monitor?

 

Network monitoring doesn't help if you can't find the right things. Common areas explored are bandwidth usage, application performance, and server performance.

 

Traffic monitoring is a fundamental task, on which all network construction and maintenance activities are based. It usually focuses on resources that support end users. The network monitoring systems have therefore evolved to monitor a series of devices:

 

  • BlackBerry

 

  • Mobile phone

 

  • Servers and desktops

 

  • Routers

 

  • Switches

 

Some network monitoring systems come with automatic discovery, which is the ability to continuously record devices as they're added, removed, or undergo configuration changes. These tools segregate devices dynamically. Some common rubrics are:

 

  • IP address

 

  • Service

 

  • Type (switch, router, etc.)

 

  • Physical location

 

Beyond the distinct advantage of knowing precisely — and in real-time — what you have deployed, automatic discovery and categorization of segments help you plan for growth. Underused hardware can take on new functions, for example. They also help pinpoint problems. If all devices at a given location are underperforming, there might be a resource-management problem to address.

 

What kind of networks can they monitor?

 

Large networks often are networks of disparate systems. Segments can differ by vendor, generation, mission, and other factors. Here, too, monitoring tools can make sense of the complexity.

 

Some common network types are:

 

  • Wireless or wired

 

  • A corporate local-area network (LAN)

 

  • A virtual private network (VPN)

 

  • A service provider's wide-area network (WAN)

 

If all those variables weren't enough, business markets are always demanding new site functions for internal and external use. Performance-sensitive duties (otherwise known as bandwidth hogs) include voice over IP (VoIP), Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), and video on demand (VOD). Monitoring enables managers to allocate resources to maintain system integrity.