Lightboard Lessons: Service Consolidation on BIG-IP

The Consolidation of point devices and services in your datacenter or cloud can help with cost, complexity, efficiency, management, provisioning and troubleshooting your infrastructure and systems.

In this Lightboard Lesson, I light up many of the services you can consolidate on BIG-IP.



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Interop 2014: F5 Synthesis Whiteboard (feat Wagner)

Synthesis in the Wild! Tim Wagner, Manager, Field Systems Engineering, shows how he whiteboards the F5 Synthesis story to help organizations understand the value of SDAS – Software Defined Application Services. He discusses SDN and how that works within a Layer 2/3 environment and the power of SDAS for Layers 4-7 with its ability to apply important services to the applications that need it…all on a single platform. Interesting discussion on how marketing visions translate into real customer solutions available today.

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Related

• Interop 2014: Find F5 Pop Up Edition
• Interop 2014: F5 in the NOC (feat Bocchino & Wojcik)
• F5 at Interop
• F5 YouTube Channel

Technorati Tags: f5,Interop,vegas,synthesis,security,silva,video,sdas,sdn,consolidation,whiteboard

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VMworld 2011: F5 BIG-IP v11 iApps for Citrix

The bonus VMworld2011 video - like the special features of a DVD! This was shot by our good friends at Dell and originally posted to the Dell TechCenter home page and Dell TechCenter YouTube channel. I interview F5 Solution Architect, Michael Koyfman who gives a demo of the F5 BIG-IP v11 iApp Template for Citrix load balancing and remote access.  Special thanks to Jeffrey Sullivan, Dell TechCenter Community Manager and Lee Burnette, Social Media & Community Technologist for Dell TechCenter.

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Related:

• F5 YouTube Channel
• Dell TechCenter
• VMworld 2011: Find F5 Networks
• VMworld 2011: Sign Up for F5's DevCentral
• VMworld 2011: Interview with VMware’s Sanjay Aiyagari
• VMworld 2011: VDI Single Namespace
• VMworld 2011: Multi-Site Application Deployment with vSphere & vCloud Director
• VMworld 2011: Interview with Ron Carovano
• VMworld 2011: VMworld Hands-On Lab
• VMworld 2011: VMworld Wrap Up
• VMworld 2011: The Video Outtakes

Technorati Tags: F5, vmworld, integration, Pete Silva, security, business, vdi, vmotion, application delivery, cloud, virtualization, vmware, vsphere, vCloud, v11

 

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Interop 2011 - VIPRION 2400 and vCMP

Peter Silva talks with Paul Szabo, F5 Sr. Architect, about the new VIPRION 2400 and vCMP, the industry’s First Virtual Clustered Multiprocessing Technology.  With the VIPRION 2400’s chassis-based architecture, customers enjoy enhanced availability features and the flexibility to scale their ADC infrastructures without changing network, application, or device configurations, leading to dramatically reduced OpEx. VIPRION running vCMP gives enterprises the unprecedented ability to have complete, logical separation of software versions and instances on a single, highly scalable device.

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Resources:

• Interop 2011 - Find F5 Networks Booth 2027
• Interop 2011 - F5 in the Interop NOC
• F5 YouTube Channel

Technorati Tags: F5, interop, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, internet, big-ip, VIPRION, vCMP

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Audio White Paper: Optimizing Application Delivery in Support of Data Center Consolidation

Data center consolidation means more than simply reducing the number of servers, routers, and switches your company has in outlying offices and data centers. Data center virtualization is more than multiple images mapped to physical devices. Efforts to reduce both capital and operating expenditures by consolidating data centers can fail if the applications and the network are not optimized.  By architecting data center infrastructure to be as nimble and agile as possible, IBM and F5 enable enterprises to better react in real time to customer requirements and to position the customer for success. The combined strength of IBM and F5 tackles these challenges at the core of the infrastructure by creating a strategic point of control where the network, servers, storage, and security come together to create customized solutions that add significant business value.  Running Time: 17:28  Read full white paper here.  And click here for more F5 Audio.

  
Download now or listen on posterous

AudioWP_Optimizing_Application_Delivery_in_Support_of_Data_Center_Consolidation.mp3 (16375 KB)

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Technorati Tags: F5, integration, data center, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, data replication, cloud, consolidation, WAN, web, internet, security, hardware, audio, whitepaper,, big-ip

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Audio White Paper: Data Center Consolidation: Know Where You’re Going and Why

Effective consolidation means more than simply reducing the number of boxes your company has in outlying offices and data centers.  Efforts to reduce hardware infrastructure often result in degraded application performance—and thus unplanned expenditure—as it becomes necessary to optimize the infrastructure. F5’s open architectural framework allows real control over your network to ensure applications are delivered exactly as intended.  Running Time: 25:04  Read full white paper here.  And click here for more F5 Audio.

 
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AudioWP_-_Data_Centre_Consolidation_Know_Where_You’re_Going_and_Why.mp3 (23500 KB)

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Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, cloud connect, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, intercloud, cloud, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet, data center

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PeopleSoft with F5's BIG-IP Web Acceleration & WAN Optimization

How to accelerate Oracle PeopleSoft for remote users with both WAN and WEB optimization from F5's BIG-IP.  In this side by side demo, you will see PeopleSoft users accessing the Human Capital Management application, both with and without acceleration from F5.

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Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, business, education, technology, application delivery, orcl, oracle, peoplesoft, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet, blog

twitter: @psilvas

CloudFucius Goes Off…to VMworld

The collective we (F5 Networks) will be at Moscone Center in San Francisco next week for VMworld 2010.  If you are in town and attending, visit F5’s booth #1131.  We’ll have giveaways, demos, exciting announcements, video interviews and other fun & informative activities all week, in addition to participating in several breakout sessions during the show. 

I’ll be handling a lot of our social media activities during the show, specifically tweeting (or follow F5) and conducting some video interviews of F5 partners and customers.  I’ll also probably grab an F5er or two to talk about our VMware partnership along with some technical folks to capture some interesting whiteboard discussions.  You can catch all the video posts here in my blog, or you can subscribe to F5’s YouTube Channel to be alerted when new content gets posted.  We’ve grown our video content tremendously over the last year with more than 100 videos covering a range of topics: Tech Demos, In 5 Minutes or Less, Interviews, Case Studies, White Board Discussions, Cool Solutions, Product Info, Partner Spotlights, Life at F5 and of course some fun ones with my own brand of humor.

There is no Breakout Session pre-registration this year which will allow you to choose the sessions that are interesting at the moment rather than sticking to a plan you built weeks ago.  Breakout Sessions that might be of interest include (links take you to main VMworld site):

• SP9723 Designing Optimal Networks for Virtual Apps – Why It Makes All The Difference   Tue 8/31: 11:00 AM
• PC6940 Networking Best Practices for vCloud   Wed 9/1: 12:00 PM & Thu 9/2: 1:30 PM
• PC7754 Leveraging an Enterprise-Ready vCloud Service to Regain IT Control Format   Tue 8/31: 3:30 PM & Thu 9/2: 12:00 PM

Hope to see you there, here or somewhere in the clouds.

And one from Confucius: Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.

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The CloudFucius Series: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, cloud, virtualization, vmware

twitter: @psilvas

CloudFucius Repeats: Money (Really) Moving to the Cloud

Ever wish you saved a blog title for that ‘perfect’ eye-catcher?  Well, I do.  Last week I wrote about some cloud surveys talking about how financial institutions are using cloud services titled: CloudFucius’ Money: Trickles to the Cloud.  I get to this week’s weekly entry and Ka-Chow (with apologies to Lightning McQueen) that would have been the perfect title to this entry.  Oh well, as to not be included in the Department of Redundancy Department Hall of Fame, I had to be a little creative with something slightly different.  And for all of you looking at the title and wondering, ‘Did this guy just copy his last blog entry?’  I can assure you, this is all new material so let’s get to it.

Have you seen the news?  Cloud Computing Ranks High on Fujitsu's M&A Shopping List; HP, Dell in Bidding War for Cloud Computing Provider; 6fusion is hiring after raising $3 million; and Nimbula raises $15M to expand cloud service.  I guess we’ve moved slightly past the ‘early adopter’ stage and right into the ‘gimmie more’ stage.  Throughout the CloudFucius series, we’ve tried to investigate the various surveys showing cloud computing movement and hindrances along with learning about areas we were not so knowledgeable.  It’s almost following the same pattern as 26 Short Topics About Security where I filled the entries with stats, surveys, stories, suggestions and as Don MacVittie commented, ‘a link fest’ of articles.  I tried to present multiple sides of the story, especially with surveys virtually contradicting themselves when it comes to cloud computing.  They want it, they are hesitant; looking into it, waiting until it’s mature; cost saver, virtual sprawl; we’ve deployed, what the heck is it? 

What is intriguing to me, errr CloudFucius, is that I had always thought – both my impression and what analysts have said – that cloud computing will never take over the world but is simply another option for IT with various benefits.  Right now, that’s exactly what it is.  With the announcements above, it sure seems like a lot of providers and investors feel that it’ll be a much larger force within the technology industry.  Almost every technology company, including F5, are providing some sort of services that ‘play’ in the cloud.  Many of us have also been to trade shows where the vendor booth is touting some ‘cloud’ connection and you look at them and go, ‘huh?’  How does that ‘enable’ cloud computing?  ‘Ummm, we use the cloud to do this, that or the other thing.’

How will it all turn out?  Who knows at this point.  Did you expect the level of technology we have today, 10 years ago?  Did you expect RF chips in the underwear you are purchasing?  Did you expect common thieves going to a cloud to steal your info?  Did you think you’d be able to surf the net on an airplane?  Maybe we thought it *might* happen at some point, but we are living it now.  ♫ Meet George Jetson……♫

And one from Confucius: Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.

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The CloudFucius Series: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Related:

• Nimbula raises $15M to expand cloud service
• HP, Dell in Bidding War for Cloud Computing Provider
• Cloud Computing Ranks High on Fujitsu's M&A Shopping List
• Cloud Acquisitions Change Competitive Landscape
• Storm's A-Comin': 10 High-Profile Cloud Acquisitions And What They Mean
• Report: Cloud IT Ideal for Testing Innovative Ideas
• The future cloud should fend for itself
• Ready or not, cloud is coming
• 4 out of 5 Folks Not Quite Sure What the Cloud Is
• Connecting to a Cloud while Flying thru the Clouds

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, cloud connect, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, intercloud, cloud, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet, blog

twitter: @psilvas

F5 Summit: Interview with Andy Oehler

I sit down with with Andy Oehler, Product Manager for F5's Secure Access Solutions, to chat about BIG-IP Edge Gateway and BIG-IP Access Policy Manager. From the F5 Summit in Chicago.

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Resources:

• Edge Gateway
• Access Policy Manager

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, cloud, context-aware, web, internet, DevCentral, BIG-IP, Edge Gateway, 5 Minutes or Less, Pete Silva

twitter: @psilvas

CloudFucius Investigates: The Comeback Cloud

Not that it was ever down and out, but the whole cloud computing concept has gotten off to a grand but challenging start.  It was all the rage when first ‘conceived’ as the new way of hosting applications with the promise of cost savings, automation, flexible/dynamic architectures, fast and repeatable deployment and a pay-as-you-go model.  The Coin Operated Cloud but with very little understanding of all the buttons, functions and risks.  As IT started to comprehend the nuances of the cloud, then some very serious questions regarding it’s ability to protect and secure information came to light.  This arrived at a time when the economic downturn could have vaulted the shared, less expensive infrastructure offerings to the top of any IT list since budgets were tight and resources scarce.  It was the perfect storm of tight budgets and cost effective computing.  However, the risk of data loss kept folks questioning the viability of putting sensitive data in the cloud.  Plus, no consent on standards kept the mix of cloud offerings all over the place while limiting the customer’s ability to mix and match.

As cloud offerings matured and *some* security concerns addressed along with IT having a better grasp on risks and mitigation, the cloud is gradually becoming more attractive to enterprises.  Like anything else that suddenly bursts on to the scene, the hype outweighs the reality and it takes time to fully understand and realize the benefits.

It seems that almost weekly a shiny new cloud computing survey is released and this week, Vanson Bourne (commissioned by Savvis) released a report that ties cloud computing to the economic recovery.  Specifically, ‘68 percent of respondents said cloud computing will help their businesses recover from the recession.’  The survey found that 54% of respondents said cost cutting and more flexible IT provisioning is the biggest issue they face and they are optimistic with the prospect that cloud computing can cut costs.  A significant number of IT decision makers, 96%, said they are as confident or more confident than they were last year that cloud computing is enterprise ready.  Yankee Group also released a report that says cloud computing is on the cusp of broad enterprise adoption.  They also indicate that the concept of cloud computing as a business enabler has jumped from 37% to 60% of respondents in just a year. 

But can cloud computing save the economy? 

That’s a stretch, according to David Linthicum in this article.  The logic goes, if companies can save money with cloud computing and are more optimistic about the prospect of cloud computing, then they will start spending IT dollars for cloud deployments.  This will, in turn, boost the cloud economy since providers will have to prepare and hire for the influx of customers.  Since accelerated growth would occur, that would attract public and private investments in cloud computing technologies.  The ‘catalyst,’ as Linthicum notes, is to get more investment dollars back into the technology industry, which should fuel the tech economy at least.  Betting that cloud computing will turn the entire economy is a huge long-shot and unrealistic.  The survey also revealed that even with all that confidence, security remains as the key adoption barrier.  52% of those who do not use cloud computing said ‘security of sensitive data’ as a top concern.

In a slightly related story, LimeWire Planning A Serious, Cloud-Based Comeback. 

And one from Confucius: And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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The CloudFucius Series: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Resources:

• Cloud Computing Will Fuel Economic Recovery: Survey
• Will cloud computing save the economy?
• Who's actually spending on cloud computing?
• Yankee Group: Sky clears for cloud computing
• Cloud Computing's Effect on the Hosting Industry
• LimeWire Planning A Serious, Cloud-Based Comeback

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, cloud connect, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, cloud, context-aware, web, internet, openstack

twitter: @psilvas

Audio White Paper - The F5 Powered Cloud

F5 products and solutions enable organizations and cloud providers alike to build a strong infrastructure foundation that maximizes the use of resources while remaining agile enough to support both traditional and cloud computing architectures. The dynamic nature of F5 products enables organizations to build a cloud computing architecture that best suits their needs—whether the end goal is a public cloud offering or a private cloud implementation.  Running time: 28:30   Read full white paper here.

  
Download now or listen on posterous

AudioWP_-_The_F5_Powered_Cloud.mp3 (31187 KB)

And click here for more F5 Audio

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twitter: @psilvas

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, cloud connect, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, intercloud, cloud, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet

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Audio White Paper - BIG-IP Version 10.1: An Integrated Application Delivery Architecture

As an advanced ADC, F5 BIG-IP v10.1 provides sophisticated, integrated, contextual application management on a single platform. This modular architecture enables IT departments to make the most of their application delivery infrastructure, saving capital and operational costs through the lifespan of the application. As data centers continue to grow in complexity and shrink in footprint, integration of services will become a critical component during planning and execution. F5 BIG-IP v10.1 provides the level of integration today’s IT departments need to manage and control application delivery for users and services throughout the data center.  Read full white paper here.  And click here for more F5 Audio.

  
Download now or listen on posterous

AudioWP_-_BIG-IP_Version_10.1_An_Integrated_Application_Delivery_Architecture.mp3 (12728 KB)

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twitter: @psilvas

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, cloud, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet

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Audio White Paper - Application Ready Solution Templates

F5's Application Ready Solution Templates are designed to ensure that the savings realized through consolidation are protected by reducing the time, effort, and application-specific knowledge required of administrators to optimally deploy applications that are secure, fast, and available through the use of BIG-IP devices.  Read full white paper here.  And click here for more F5 Audio.

  
Download now or listen on posterous

AudioWP_-_Application_Ready_Solution_Templates.mp3 (10468 KB)

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twitter: @psilvas

Technorati Tags: F5, infrastructure 2.0, integration, cloud connect, Pete Silva, security, business, education, technology, application delivery, intercloud, cloud, context-aware, infrastructure 2.0, automation, web, internet

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Audio White Paper - Create A Smarter Storage Strategy

How building a smarter storage infrastructure based on the business value of data can enable you to address your data storage requirements efficiently and at the lowest cost.

You can read the white paper at: smarter-storage-strategy-wp.pdf

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AudioWP_-_Create_a_Smarter_Storage_Strategy.mp3 (26729 KB)

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Audio White Paper - Global Distributed Service In The Cloud With F5 And VMWare

In this white paper we discuss using F5 BIG-IP Global Traffic Manager to orchestrate and deliver access to services in the cloud.

  
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AudioWP_-_Global_Distributed_Service_in_the_Cloud_with_F5_and_VMware.mp3 (19141 KB)

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Audio White Paper - Unified Application Delivery

As we stand upon the precipice of yet another major shift in computing models and technology, it is increasingly important to note that our parachutes (budgets) are not nearly as full as they once were. Diving into new technology without the right safety net today, in a constrained economic environment, is certainly suicidal for any business. The right safety net always has been, and continues to be, a unified and adaptable Application Delivery Network: a platform upon which application delivery-focused solutions can be deployed and managed without incurring additional costs that are often inversely proportional to the value realized from deploying each solution.

  
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Audio_WP_-_Unified_Application_Delivery.mp3 (17642 KB)

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Audio White Paper - A Green Architectural Strategy That Puts IT in the Black

  
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AudioWP_-_A_Green_Architectural_Strategy_That_Puts_IT_in_the_Black.mp3 (17452 KB)

Green computing tends to focus on individual servers and devices, but even greater benefits can be realized with an architectural strategy that leverages green computing practices across the data center.

You can download the full white paper from f5.com here: green-architecture-wp.pdff

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