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June 2018, Vol. 9, No. 3

Software-based networks lay foundation of networking's future

Enterprise networking takes many, constantly changing forms. Today, networking is in the midst of an evolution from hardware to software -- a transition to what many call software-based networks that will reshape how companies do business in the years to come. Software-based networking uses programmability and automation, rather than closed systems housed on proprietary hardware, as the key levers to operate the network. It relies on a variety of concepts -- among them software-defined networking, network functions virtualization (NFV) and open source software. Applied properly, software-based networks can increase productivity, reduce downtime and enable an organization to respond more quickly to business and competitive pressures. But even as the concept gains traction, software-based networking remains in flux. Software-based networks mean different things to different people, and it will take some time for enterprises to sort out which approaches will work best for them. The reality is that most organizations will use a ...

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Unified Communications
Mobile Computing
Data Center
ITChannel
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