The term network device covers a lot of ground. Anything from a simple unmanaged switch to a dial-up modem to a UTM (unified threat management) appliance can fit the bill. Additionally, the lines between what category different networking devices fall into can get fuzzy because in many cases a single device performs multiple functions. Here, to help you sort through that fuzziness, we tackle the concept of network devices from the ground up.

A network switch is a fundamental piece of any network, so it’s critical that you as an IT professional understand the role of a switch in a properly functioning network. And to best understand the difference between Layer 2 switches and Layer 3 switches, you also need to know the difference between Layer 2 and Layer 3 in the OSI networking model.

A simple command-line interface (CLI) ping will give you details about your target IP address. However, you may have to input the ipconfig command, and then the arp-a command to fully discover the status of an IP, and this is just for one IP address. Now imagine doing this for an IP block of 300 IPs, or even 50 IPs, or doing the same task periodically to manage your IP pool of thousands of addresses and their metrics. Seems like an Herculean task for any network admin!

Whether you’re a national business with sites across the country, a global enterprise with operations in multiple markets, or a SaaS provider looking to roll out in new geographies, interconnection is essential for connecting to customers and partners.

HAProxy publishes more than 100 metrics about the traffic flowing through it. When you use HAProxy as an API gateway, these give you insight into how clients are accessing your APIs. Several metrics come to mind as particularly useful, since they can help you determine whether you’re meeting your service-level objectives and can detect issues with your services early on. Let’s discuss several that might come in handy.

The future is bright for the cloud. In 2019, 90% of companies were already in the cloud and this impressive amount is expected to jump another 4% in 2021. And it gets even more interesting. By 2024, more than 45% of IT spending will edge out legacy networks and replace them with the cloud. As this reality unfolds, the result will be a long-term change in enterprise IT and supplier landscapes. It also means that knowing the cloud is part of the new normal of IT. What’s helping to drive these trends?

The IT network stays at the foundation of all the operations and data transfers within your business. Unreliable network or problems with the network performance may have a severe impact on your business. Running a business requires a robust and secure network, that managed effectively to meet all the necessary performance and security goals. The standard network monitoring is not enough in the digital transformation era.