Networking

Enterasys SuperDrive: Partners And The Future (0) May 17, 2012 At Enterasys SuperDrive 2012, partners are buzzing about the OneFabric networking portfolio while Enterasys celebrates its growth in the marketplace. Is Enterasys a rising star on the networking scene?
CA Process Automation 4 Arrives (0) May 16, 2012 CA Technologies launches CA Process Automation 4, bringing a unified network automation platform for physical, virtual and cloud environments.
Insider: Cloud, Not Recession, Haunts Cisco (0) May 16, 2012 Cisco is planning to roll out more cloud products, including its new Cloud Connect in June, to capitalize on this ever-expanding opportunity. However, its recently pessimistic outlook, says one insider, has more to do with cloud disruptions to its core networking business than global economics. It’s a rationale, noteworthy counterargument.
Cisco & Intel: Two Differing Economic Forecasts (0) May 14, 2012 Cisco CEO John Chambers raised a red flag during the company’s latest earnings report, saying the summer quarter would be softer than previously expected. Intel CEO Paul Otellini countered, saying economic conditions are good but not great. The truth is somewhere between.
Inside the Great Huawei Threat (3) May 10, 2012 China’s Huawei Technologies is a repeat target of criticism by competitors and governments as a competitive and security threat. The reality is Huawei is just getting started in the U.S. market and channel, and it’s taking a deliberate approach to building its presence.
Cisco Study: Companies Fear Cloud Migration (0) May 9, 2012 A Cisco cloud migration study found that a significant number of IT decision-makers are stymied to overcome infrastructure hurdles when embarking on cloud migration projects, leaving a wide-open gap for the channel to address an anticipated slew of networking, security and configuration challenges.
HP Plays Offense With Avnet, F5 Networks (0) May 9, 2012 HP teams up with Avnet to provide reseller access to Avnet's Data Center Lifecycle services. HP strengthens its existing networking portfolio with F5 Networks, bringing automated application optimization to HP's enterprise partners.
WatchGuard Offers Virtual Product Lines (0) May 8, 2012 WatchGuard Technologies is tackling the virtualization space head on with an all out virtual revamp of its product lines--a move that could potentially attract new channel blood and give it a bit of a leg up over competing UTM vendors.
F5 Networks Offers SPDY Application Delivery (0) May 8, 2012 F5 Networks introduces the SPDY Gateway, an appliance designed to optimize the Web and Web-based applications via Google's SPDY protocol. F5 networks is also leveraging SPDY as an effective way to optimize Web apps for mobile use, and for browsers that don't natively support SPDY.
Huawei, Synnex Strike U.S. Distribution Deal (0) May 7, 2012 Synnex will begin selling Huawei Technologies data center, switching and unified communications products to the U.S. channel. The deal is part of a concerted effort by Huawei to increase channel sales around the world.
Riverbed Offers Cost-Effective WAN Optimization (1) May 4, 2012 Riverbed launches the Steelhead 150 as a cost-effective physical or virtual WAN optimization appliance for small branch offices and the SMB. Cloud service providers may start adopting more optimization appliances, especially amid Riverbed's vCloud Connector partnership with VMware.
Juniper Unveils Mobile Security, Access Tools (0) May 3, 2012 Juniper Networks launched a slew of mobile security and management enhancements to its Simply Connected portfolio, which aim to give channel partners a few more tools to address security and access challenges stemming from the rising tide of BYOD.
Skype Bug Exposes User Location (0) May 1, 2012 This latest P2P vulnerability provides opportunities for channel partners to bolster their customers’ security posture – and gives hackers a way to track user accounts.
WAN Optimization has a ‘Virtual Future’ (3) April 25, 2012 Hardware solutions dominate the WAN optimization market. But challenger Silver Peak believes the tide is changing toward virtual solutions. The company expects virtualized WAN optimization solutions to reach parity with hardware within the next two years.
Huawei Profits Plummet Amid Market Pressure (0) April 24, 2012 China's IT equipment manufacturer saw annual profits fall 53 percent under pressure by competitors, government regulators and a soft communications market. Huawei executives insist the fall was anticipated and the company has turned the corner to become a portfolio vendor like Cisco and Dell.
Earnings Quick Look: IBM, Intel and Microsoft (0) April 20, 2012 IBM, Intel and Microsoft post their quarterly earnings. What can we glean from the facts and figures and where are these companies headed?
Lumenate-Troubadour: A Deal that Makes Sense (0) April 20, 2012 If you want a textbook example of an acquisition that makes sense and will drive accelerated sales growth, look no further than Dallas-based storage specialist Lumenate’s purchased of Houston-based networking and security specialist Troubadour.
Sprint Takes On SMB Cloud Space (0) April 18, 2012 Sprint looks to enter the fast-paced world of the cloud by offering an SMB-focused SaaS platform with communication and connectivity options. Do telcos have an advantage since they carry the keys to connectivity ?
Cisco Applies Incentives to Drive Two Initiatives (0) April 18, 2012 At its annual global partner conference, Cisco announced two initiatives: Partner Plus to address midmarket opportunities, and Global Services Partner Programs to expand services sales. Both are driven by new rebates and sales incentives to support partner profitability.
Best Buy Reorganizes As CEO Resigns (2) April 10, 2012 Best Buy's CEO Brian Dunn resigns as internal company reorganizations adapt to the digital world. Will Best Buy find new profitability through systems integration services in the channel?
McAfee's Agentless MOVE AV Protects VMs (0) April 10, 2012 McAfee launches a new agentless version of MOVE AV designed to provide complete VM protection while offloading scanning and monitoring processes to a virtual appliance. Does this hint at future plans with Intel?
Huawei and the Matter of Trust (0) April 10, 2012 Cisco CEO John Chambers said Huawei Technologies doesn’t play fair, raising again the issue of trust that dogs the company and locks it out of big deals. How will this Chinese giant overcome the mistrust and misgivings that will inhibit sales and market development?
Microsoft Streamlines Virtualization Management (0) April 6, 2012 Microsoft launches UE-V, a user-account management platform for Hyper-V Windows virtualization environments, along with App-V 5.0 for virtualizing more complex applications.
Dell Buying Thin-Client Vendor Wyse Technology (0) April 2, 2012 Dell will announce later this morning its intent to buy Wyse Technology, a leader in thin-client software and hardware solutions. The deal is another in a string of strategic acquisitions transforming Dell into an enterprise portfolio IT supplier.
Is ‘McAfee Inside’ Intel’s New Secret Weapon? (1) March 30, 2012 Security vendor McAfee had a big presence at the Intel Solutions Summit this week in New Orleans. Intel executives repeatedly cited McAfee’s security technology as instrumental to its future roadmap, and called security challenges a $23 billion opportunity. Is the integration of McAfee one of Intel’s secret weapons for enabling the platform of the future?
Cisco To Acquire ClearAccess (0) March 28, 2012 Cisco said it planned to acquire ClearAccess, which aims to give its service provider partners a leg up in managing and integrating mobile, cloud and other residential devices for their customers.
Report: Security Woes Undid Huawei Symantec (1) March 27, 2012 Symantec is on the eve of ending its four-year joint venture with China’s Huawei Technologies in what’s being called a strategic business decision. A new report, however, pegs the reason as Symantec being concerned about the U.S. government not sharing security data because of its relationship with a China company.
Riverbed Floats More Resources to Partners (0) March 20, 2012 Riverbed Technology is optimizing its channel program by focusing on specialties around its core products, more partner enablement resources and a holistic view of the market. What it’s aiming at is a $10 billion opportunity that's contingent on satisfying business value.
Blue Coat Staying in WAN Optimization Market (1) March 15, 2012 In response to rumors and buzz, Blue Coat says it will remain in the WAN optimization market and is amending its channel program to make it easier for solution providers to specialize in its security and network acceleration products.
Huawei Launches New Global Channel (0) March 8, 2012 The Chinese manufacturer is creating a new enterprise channel program designed to accelerate sales and market-share growth among service providers and systems integrators. The intent is to dramatically increase presence and sales in key markets, making Huawei a more competitive force to market leaders such as Cisco and Hewlett-Packard.
Brocade Unveils ‘Effortless Network’ Switches (0) March 6, 2012 The new switches designed for campus and large LAN deployments are the cornerstone of Brocade’s continuing effort to expand its partner ranks. Through innovative new products, Brocade is looking to make a dent in the Cisco and Juniper channels.
Autotask Ties Up with Cisco OnPlus Service (2) March 1, 2012 Autotask is integrating its professional services automation software platform with with Cisco’s hosted network management service, OnPlus. The alliance will make it easier for managed service providers to resell and support OnPlus accounts, and make it easier for Cisco to penetrate the managed services market.
Mobile Device, Data Traffic Poised to Soar (0) February 21, 2012 Solution providers need to get ready for opportunities in the explosive growth of smartphone and tablet sales, along with an accompanying boom in mobile data traffic — with mobile cloud use accounting nearly three-quarters of that traffic — by 2016.
Huawei Spends $6B with U.S. Suppliers (0) February 21, 2012 Huawei Technologies is spending big with U.S. chip and component suppliers in what is probably a prelude to greater North America expansion and an effort to improve its corporate image.
Brocade Sale Appears Off the Table (0) February 20, 2012 Private-equity firm Blackstone Group has reportedly dropped interest in Brocade Communications because the networking company’s value has risen too high to make a leverage buyout feasible. Channel sales may be part of what’s buoying Brocade to self-sufficiency.
‘New to You’ Networking Gear Gaining Popularity (2) February 17, 2012 Used and refurbished networking equipment represents a fraction of the switches and routers sold each year. Increasingly, though, the secondary market is getting a second look as businesses seek savings and consistency in their IT spending. Just ask Network Hardware Resale, which had a record year.
D-Link Affirms Channel Commitment in Revamp (0) February 1, 2012 A month after the departure of its North American president and channel veteran Nick Tidd, D-Link is promoting enhancements to its channel resources and reaffirming its commitment to working with partners.
Cisco Server Milestone a Significant Turning Point (0) January 19, 2012 In a little less than three years, Cisco has gone from a cold-start entry to a major player with 10,000 customers in the server market. Better yet, Cisco and its partners are generating more than $1 billion in revenue through virtualized servers, proving that the legacy networking giant can learn new tricks.
Juniper Turns to Partners to Combat Cisco (0) January 18, 2012 At its first global partner conference in Las Vegas, Juniper executives appealed to channel partners to help compete with and take business from rival Cisco in what’s been positioned as an innovator against a legacy company. It’s a growing sign that networking market competition is heating up since Cisco refocused. But it’s not just Cisco that Juniper must worry about.
Oracle: A Networking Company? (0) January 11, 2012 Brocade Communications has reportedly received bids in the latest chapter of trying to sell itself. Speculation is Brocade will go private through a private equity sale. However, some say a vendor like Oracle or IBM could snap up the networking and storage switch company to compete against the likes of Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.
Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part 2 (9) January 4, 2012 Channelnomics continues conferring its inaugural 2011 Influencers of the Year awards by unveiling winners in four categories: Distribution, Europe, Voice/Data Networking and Channel Business.
Dell Aims Low to Battle Cisco in Data Centers (0) December 21, 2011 A new report suggests Dell’s key weapon in its battle plan for war with Cisco in the data center is low pricing and attached sales. The idea: Attack with servers and drag low-cost networking gear to undercut Cisco’s premium advantage. This battle will have significant cost implications for solution providers, too.
D-Link Shakes Up North America Management (0) December 19, 2011 The networking vendor is saying goodbye to three senior managers, including North America president Nick Tidd. According to published reports, D-Link says it remains committed to building partnerships and fostering channel relationships.
Cisco Redefines Professional Services Rules (0) December 16, 2011 In an effort to open billions of dollars in services opportunities, Cisco has released its new rules of engagement that promise partners clarity and consistency in how they go to market in support of Cisco products. Interesting are the companies Cisco is differentiating against.
Cisco Enters Managed Services with OnPlus (0) December 13, 2011 Cisco calls its OnPlus an enhancing program that gives managed services a greater ability to manage network infrastructure. The reality is that OnPlus is Cisco’s foray into the remote monitoring and management segment, potentially competing against longtime alliance partners.
HP Targets Cisco, Rivals in Networking Push (0) December 9, 2011 A bright spot in the Hewlett-Packard portfolio is networking, which saw a 5 percent sales increase and 3 percent market share gain in the last year. Now, HP is adding new incentives and enablement programs to its PartnerOne channel program to keep the momentum going. It’s a short- and long-term strategy.
Ruckus ChannelFly Quiets WiFi Noise (0) December 8, 2011 Ruckus Wireless has introduced ChannelFly RF channel selection technology that promises to maximize network capacity via smarter access points. If it delivers, the development should be welcome news to its growing list of channel partners — and mobile users everywhere — looking for a quieter, more reliable WiFi experience.
Mushroom Networks Growing a Wireless World (0) November 23, 2011 Mushroom Networks, the vendor with products like Truffle and PortaBella, is growing its channel program to deliver its bandwidth management and video streaming solutions to any wired and wireless location. Mushroom is leaning toward a future where wireless and portability are king.
HP Enters the Year of Rebuilding Cautiously (0) November 22, 2011 Hewlett-Packard released its year-end earnings. While much focus is on its struggling PC business, the financial statement reveals HP is feeling pressure across the portfolio. Management is resetting expectations as it enters a year of “rebuiliding.”
RIM’s Demise, Apple’s Rise: A Sales Potential (0) November 21, 2011 Research In Motion commanded the government market because of its security. Now, the government and enterprises are embracing Apple’s iPhone and iPad, and augmenting them with add-on management and security. This is giving rise to new channel opportunities for collateral technology sales.
Symantec Will Continue to Partner with Huawei (0) November 17, 2011 Earlier this week, Symantec sold its minority stake in its security and networking appliance joint-venture with Huawei Technologies, ending its experiment as a hardware manufacturer. However, Symantec’s channel team says Big Yellow will continue to work with Huawei and develop new appliances.
Cisco Turnabout Validates Secondary Market (0) November 17, 2011 Cisco's openly talking about the value of refurbished equipment demonstrates how used networking gear has a second-life value. But one critic says Cisco pricing and expectations show it still doesn’t understand the used sales model.
Brocade Investing in Partner Development (0) November 16, 2011 An interesting part of the changes to the Brocade Alliance Partner Network is an “enablement fund” program that provides partners with pre-sales funding for development and marketing. It’s one of the weapons Brocade is using recruit Cisco and HP partners.
Huawei Buys Out Symantec in Joint Venture (1) November 15, 2011 China telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies is giving Symantec more than a 100 percent return to buy full interest in their hardware joint venture, Huawei Symantec. Expectations are the company will be absorbed into Huawei.
Avaya Moves to Performance-Based Channel (0) November 11, 2011 Avaya unveiled changes to its channel program designed to reward partners who achieve superior customer satisfaction and business performance. At the same time, Avaya is looking to recruit more partners as it looks to expand its value-based sales model. In short, Avaya is getting aggressive.
Juniper, GE Developing Military-Grade Hardware (0) November 9, 2011 Juniper Networks is teaming up with GE Intelligence Platforms to develop and market military-grade, secure and rugged network devices for use in combat zones around the world to enhance battlefield communications and uninterrupted command and control.
Bradford Networks Introduces Cloud-Based NAC (0) November 7, 2011 Bradford Networks may not be a household name in the channel, but it’s planning to make its presence known with a new cloud-based network access control (NAC) solution that makes the administration of what attaches to the network simpler and cost effective. And the route to market: managed service providers.
Cisco Offers Up 'New to You' Gear (1) November 4, 2011 Cisco Systems is taking the wraps off its refurbished equipment division, promoting preowned and reclaimed equipment to partners for resale. Through the program, Cisco is trying to fill gaps in a $3 billion “new to you” networking equipment market.
Avaya Refocuses on Collaboration Value (2) October 31, 2011 Avaya is shifting its attention to more than just talking about communications and collaboration; it’s staking its value proposition on the quality of service that enables connectivity for advanced collaboration applications. In fact, Avaya wants to be known as a “collaboration” company.
HP Revamps, Enhances PartnerOne Program (0) October 13, 2011 Hewlett-Packard is enhancing its channel program to provide partners with more specializations, resources and simplified processes. The stated goal is to give partners more opportunity and predictable profits. The unstated goal is keeping PartnerOne energized and viable amid turmoil engulfing the company.
Cisco, Citrix Enhance VDI Experience (1) October 12, 2011 Cisco has long said video would drive future networking and data center technology adoption. The barrier is bandwidth, so it’s partnering with Citrix to leverage virtualization in making unified communications and video less bandwidth-intensive in virtual desktop implementations.
Huawei Challenges Cisco Channel Dominance (1) October 5, 2011 The Chinese networking and switching equipment company that keeps Cisco awake at night has formally launched a channel program as the foundation of its expansion in the North American market.
Switch Competition May Squeeze Resellers (0) September 26, 2011 Sales of Ethernet switches are increasing, as is competition between major vendors – most notably Cisco and Hewlett-Packard. The result is a decline in average sale prices, which could ultimately hurt solution providers caught between the buyer’s market and market-share hungry vendors.
D-Link Offers Channel IP Video Surveillance Tech (0) September 16, 2011 The consumer and commercial networking vendor its making its IP video products available to channel partners. These products have the potential of opening new channels and greater levels of collaboration between IT and video channel partners.
Cisco Attacks Juniper’s Product Record (0) September 13, 2011 Refocused by restructuring, Cisco is taking the gloves off and going after competitors. The first target: Juniper. The weapon: A Web site that berates Juniper’s product release and innovation track record. It’s a sign that Cisco is coming out swinging.
Dell Channel Momentum, Confidence Increasing (0) September 9, 2011 Once the channel pariah, Dell has not only established a channel presence, but is fast becoming a channel leader. And channel chief Greg Davis is looking to displace Hewlett-Packard as the channel’s biggest PC vendor.
Brocade Pioneers Hardware Subscriptions (1) September 2, 2011 Brocade is attempting to change the networking game by offering its switching gear on a monthly subscription basis. This isn’t just another lease, but rather a new model in which partners and end users can more easily acquire, deploy and change equipment.
Blue Coat Shakes Up Leadership (1) August 19, 2011 Amid sagging sales and poor financial performance, Blue Coat’s CEO and head of sales resigned. The security and WAN optimization vendor is moving quickly to fill the leadership vacuum, announcing Greg Clark will take over management in September.
Consensus: Cisco Reorg Will Make It Stronger (1) August 10, 2011 Thousands of Cisco employees started getting pink slips last week as the networking giant moves to slim down costs and increase focus on core products. Employees, partners, customers and competitors believe the reorganization will make Cisco stronger.
Networking Vendors Brace for Government Cuts (0) August 9, 2011 Debt reduction measures by the U.S. and other world governments are expected to slash spending on IT infrastructure projects, which will hit the networking vendor and its channel partners hard.
A10 Networks Fires Back at Brocade (0) August 1, 2011 The network application delivery appliance vendor files a patent infringement counterclaim against Brocade. The legal manunever is in response to Brocade seeking a court order to prevent the sale of A10's core products.
Brocade Sues to Block A10 Networks Sales (0) July 28, 2011 Brocade wants U.S. courts to bar A10 Networks from selling network application control devices that include allegedly stolen code. If granted, the injunction would affect A10 and its partners.
Cisco Reorganizes Worldwide Channel (0) July 21, 2011 As part of its sweeping $1 billion cost-cutting reorganization, Cisco is consolidating its Worldwide Channel Organization and shuffling leadership to get more aggressive in targeting new opportunities to increase sales and revenue.
Dell in Networking: Winners and Losers (1) July 21, 2011 Dell’s unsurprising entry in the data networking market through the acquisition of Force10 Networks will shake up the overall IT market and channel. Here are a few thoughts on the winners, losers and potential game changers in the dynamic competitive landscape.
Dell Buys Force10, Enters Networking (0) July 20, 2011 Dell is looking to complement its Compellent and EqualLogic storage properties by entering the data networking market through the acquisition of Force10 Networks.
Huawei Symantec Seeks ‘Wingmen’ (1) July 19, 2011 The joint-venture between China’s Huawei Technologies and the U.S.’s Symantec held its first partner summit this week, where it unveiled its new “Wingman Partner Program.” Evidence continues to mount for why Huawei Symantec is the vendor to watch.
Updated Special Report: Deconstructing Cisco (0) July 19, 2011 Seemingly overnight, Cisco has gone from being the gem of Silicon Valley and the tech channel to a pariah searching to recapture its mojo and regain its vaunted position in the tech world. Channelnomics is following Cisco’s travails closely. Check out our ongoing series of reports.
Cisco Announces 15% Workforce Reduction (0) July 18, 2011 It’s official. After months of speculation, Cisco announces its long-awaited restructuring that will result in a total of 11,500 jobs being eliminated around the world.
Channel Convergence is Real (0) July 18, 2011 Audio/visual and telephony channel conferences are attracting thousands of solution providers and IT vendors who see the potential of converged IT departments that handle everything from data networking to digital display. The IT channel needs to recognize that convergence of all things IP-based is real.
Aerohive Discovers Value of VAR Promoters (0) July 6, 2011 The WiFi networking specialist is displacing Cisco at Folio Investing, thanks in large part to the recommendation of one of its partners, Alliance Technology. The deal shows the power partners have in influence purchasing decisions.
HP Targets SMBs with Raft of Products, Services (0) June 22, 2011 Hewlett-Packard sees a $234 billion opportunity in the SMB marketplace, and intends to capitalize on it through a series of new hardware, software and service programs designed to make technology easier for solution providers to sell and small businesses adopt.
A Cisco Foe also May Be a Savior (0) June 6, 2011 Rivals Juniper Networks and Hewlett-Packard are steadily eroding Cisco’s core routing and switching market with better, lower prices. Perhaps part of the answer for Cisco to keep customers from defecting is embracing one of its long-time foes: the secondary refurbishing market.
Linksys, WebEx for Sale, but Who’s Buying? (0) May 19, 2011 Speculation continues to build that Cisco will sell off its Linksys and WebEx product links. As unfathomable as that sounds, it’s harder to come up with a short list of could be the buyers.
Is Cisco Giving Up Linksys? (0) May 18, 2011 Conflicting reports indicate Cisco is looking to give its Linksys consumer and SMB networking business the ‘Flip’ treatment, selling off the unit focus on enterprise products.
Riverbed, Akamai Partner on WAN Optimization (0) May 11, 2011 WAN Optimization appliance vendor Riverbed Technologies is teaming up with Internet acceleration service provider Akamai Technologies to speed application performance across private networks and public clouds.
Cisco VAR Gets Prison Time for Warranty Fraud (0) May 6, 2011 Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the owner of a Md. hardware reseller, will spend the next seven years behind bars for defrauding Cisco of $27 million in networking equipment. Here’s how he did it, and why it will hurt law-abiding solution providers.
7 Machine-to-Machine Channel Opportunities (0) May 2, 2011 The Internet will have more than 50 billion connected devices by 2020, but only a fraction will be human interfaces. Machine-to-machine connections are poised to skyrocket, opening new opportunities for products, software, professional services and cloud engagements.
Cisco’s Goes into ‘Mythbuster’ Mode (1) April 27, 2011 Cisco is launching its “When Good Enough Is Not Good Enough” communications blitz to convince customers and partners that they shouldn’t buy or support lower-cost alternatives. Cisco’s figured out it’s fighting a war of perceptions, but may not have figured those perceptions are based on its core value.
Smart Grid Managed Services Growing Fast (0) April 7, 2011 Smart gird technologies, systems that provide energy management and sustainability, are creating new opportunities for managed service providers. A new report forecasts smart grid managed services will grow into a multi-billion market as electric utilities require outside support for their complex systems.
Cisco Admits Problems, Partners Welcome Change (2) April 6, 2011 Cisco partners are hopeful John Chambers’ memo admitting mistakes in market strategy and product execution haven't hurt the company – and, by extension, the channel. Many partners believe the acknowledgment of a problem is the first step in long awaited improvements.
Standardized IT Services: As IBM Goes, So Goes the World (0) March 24, 2011 Technologies such as virtualization and cloud computing are making standardized platforms acceptable... even preferable. Enter IBM with new, pre-engineered delivery of like servers, storage, service-desk assets and more as a way to speed deployment and lower cost. Are you ready for this shift?
Channel Pushes Hardware, Software Sales to Pre-recession Levels (0) March 15, 2011 SMBs went on an IT hardware and software buying spree with resellers in 2010, pushing sales up 2 percent to nearly $59 billion.
Cisco Strikes Defensive Posture at Summit (0) March 2, 2011 Cisco executive and channel leadership put on the hard sell to partners of the vendor’s legacy of leadership and ability to stay ahead of change. The tone and message are ones of defense against the rising tide of competitive and technology challenges.
Going to Cisco, Looking for Answers (2) February 28, 2011 The once mighty Cisco Systems, seemingly indomitable in its core technologies and unstoppable in its ancillary ventures, is looking shaky. Shareholders are questioning strategy and rivals are gaining ground. What answers will Cisco have for solution providers at this week’s Partner Summit in New Orleans?
Huawei Symantec: A Potentially Disruptive Force (0) February 28, 2011 The joint venture between Chinese manufacturing giant Hauwei Technologies and security giant Symantec is firmly planted in North America and looking to take on established market leaders Cisco, Juniper and EMC. The company has a lot of firepower and high ambitions, and a new partnership with Force10 Networks is adding more. Huawei Symantec is a potentially disruptive force, but many obstacles stand its way.
5 Things We Learned Today – February 11 (0) February 11, 2011 Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Microsoft tying up with Nokia in smartphones.
5 Things We Learned Today – February 9 (0) February 9, 2011 Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Fishnet Security’s 15th anniversary milestone.
New Riverbed Tools Details ROI, Performance (0) February 7, 2011 Riverbed is adding executive-level reporting tools to its WAN optimization portfolio, giving partners the ability to demonstrate ROI and plan for future needs.
HP Gains from Rebuff of Cisco’s ‘One Network’ (0) February 1, 2011 Cisco Systems is under pressure again as customers spurred by a recent report repudiating the networking giant’s one-network philosophy are seeking out alternative suppliers for their switches and routers. The most notable beneficiary: Hewlett-Packard and its partners.
Enterasys Enhances Partner Program to Reclaim Former Glory (0) January 28, 2011 Once upon a time, Enterasys was a networking and security company spoken of in the same breath as Cisco. It was around long before Juniper and Brocade became networking rivals, and it was seen as a chief alternative in security to companies like NetScreen and Watchguard. But that was a long time ago, and the venerable networking and security company is looking to rekindle its former fortunes through a newly enhanced partner program.
F5’s New Program Reflects Self-Sufficiency Trend (0) January 25, 2011 F5 Networks’ channel chief Dean Darwin is proud of his company’s increasing role as not only the glue that holds the data center together, but also the catalyst that makes its partners more profitable by enhancing the value of other products in their portfolio. The new training and accreditation program rolled out yesterday is as much about ensuring profitability of the partners as it is about F5’s viability.
Cisco Faces a Tough 2011 in Switching, Routing (1) December 22, 2010 It seems no company is safe from disruption, including the mighty Cisco. While the networking giant is dismissing the newly minted Hewlett-Packard channel marketing program designed to entice partners and customers to switch vendors, the program is just the latest sign that all good things must come to an end – including market leadership.
Cisco, NetApp ‘De-Risk’ Virtualized Data Centers (2) December 16, 2010 In a new video with NetApp global channel chief Julie Parrish, Cisco’s Wendy Bahr describes the two company’s jointly developed “FlexPod for VMware” as a means for “de-risking” the process of product developing for partners. By having tested and certified virtualized data center architecture, the two companies say solution providers are free to sell products with confidence and differentiate themselves from competition.
Self-Made Storage: You Can Do This. Should you? (0) November 5, 2010 When I was a kid, I took apart the little transistor radio my uncle used to keep up with our small-town news while he was shaving. Though I never managed to successfully reassemble it, earning me months of glares and stern warnings about my fitness for any sort of respectable craft, I was certain I’d stumbled on an important secret.
Spiceworks Keeps Business Computing Personal (0) October 29, 2010 In social networks, blogs and news reports of late, there’s been much talk about the death of the personal computer. Analysts and pundits say smartphones, tablets and other portable devices will soon displace the stalwart PC as the primary means for access applications and processing data. While there’s truth to this trend, the fact is that computing is and will remain a personal experience. And that’s what makes Spiceworks’ new product so interesting.