Network packet brokers are extremely vital in ramping up visibility into the traffic currently occurring within any network as well as improving the efficiency within existing toolsets. Companies around the globe are continuing to implement this solution at a rapid pace in order to gain access to vital functions including aggregation, replication and regeneration.

This week, the informative book Network Packet Brokers for Dummies made its official debut. This guide kicks off with a brief definition of this term stating, “Network packet brokers (NPBs) enable your tools to perform optimally while providing unprecedented network visibility. Unlike their TAP predecessors, NPBs are sophisticated, high-end devices that provide traffic regeneration, aggregation, load balancing, packet de-duplication, and much, much more.”

It then highlights eight chapters which are separated into categories including: starting with the basics, understanding TAPs, understanding network packet brokers, use cases for network security, use cases for network performance, use cases for service providers, selecting the right NPB vendor, and last but definitely not least ten ways to lower your company’s TCO.

In addition, the book outlines some of the most prominent obstacles that enterprises see within their networks that range from not having enough SPAN ports for tools and not being able to see each and every operation currently occurring with the infrastructure to outdated tools that don’t have the capability needed to continue to evolve and adapt to increasing needs and rising costs.

In other news, Tolly Group, an independent provider of third-party testing in the IT industry, revealed it has just certified ONPATH Technologies’ (News - Alert) Universal Connectivity System Packet Blade which powers many of the same type of capabilities usually found within a network packet broker.

The UCS 3900 switch family offers P-Blade-based solutions ranging from 16 ports to 576 non-blocking ports of 1/10 Gbps or up to 48 ports of 40Gbps non-blocking ports. When implementing this offering, companies can drive visibility across their entire network infrastructure.

Closing out the week, network packet broker provider VSS Monitoring (News - Alert) inked a strategic agreement with Westcon Middle East, a value-add distributor of convergence, infrastructure, mobility and security products and solutions, enabling the company to sell its next-generation solution in the Middle East.

"Our partners have been instrumental in making VSS the leader in network security and monitoring visibility systems," said Dean Beaver, vice president of Worldwide Sales and Alliances, in a statement. "Our investment in the Westcon Group (News - Alert) Middle East reflects our commitment to our partners' success by providing the programs, training and support that will help them accelerate their business growth."

Further, Westcon Middle East will distribute the network packet broker solutions through its extensive network of specialty resellers across that region.

To keep up-to-date with all of the latest and greatest in the network packer broker space, be sure to stay glued to this community exclusively on TMCnet!

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