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IS 8950. Managing Network Infrastructure and Operations . Understanding Internetworking Infrastructure. Background. 75% of all IT dollars go to infrastructure IT infrastructure lies at the heart of most companies’ operating capabilities
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IS 8950 Managing Network Infrastructure and Operations
Background • 75% of all IT dollars go to infrastructure • IT infrastructure lies at the heart of most companies’ operating capabilities • IT infrastructure is vital; no longer is it nice to have or just value-adding. • Internetworking technologies provide a low-cost way to connect virtually everyone on the same network • The rise of internetworking technologies offers new possibilities for addressing business computing needs
The Drivers of Change: Better Chips, Bigger Pipes • PCs made computing available to a wide variety of non-technical users • Web made network resources (such as distant databases) and capabilities (such as over-the-Net collaboration) accessible • Metcalfe’s law: “The usefulness of a network increases with the square of the number of users connected to the network” • Powerful chips and large communication “pipes”, both at low cost, fueled a process that would lead to qualitatively different computing infrastructure
Basic components of internetworking infrastructure • Network • The medium and supporting technologies (hardware and software) • Processing systems • HW and SW that provides an organization’s ability to handle business transactions • Facilities • The physical systems that house and protect computing and network devices
Technological elements of networks • Local Area Networks (LANs) • Hubs, Switches, and Network Adapters • Wide Area Networks (WANs) • Routers, the means by which messages are relayed across large distances • Firewalls and other security systems and devices • Caching, content acceleration, and other specialized network devices
Technological elements of processing systems • Client devices and systems: PCs, handheld devices, cell phones, and even automotive components • Server devices and systems • Mainframe devices and systems • Middleware: enabling utilities, message handling and queuing systems, protocols, standards, software tool kits, etc. • Infrastructure management system • Business applications
Technological elements of facilities • Buildings and physical spaces • Network conduits and connections • Power: UPSs, backup generators, etc. • Environmental controls • Security
Operational characteristics of internetworks • Internetworking technologies are based on open standards • Internetworking technologies operate asynchronously • Internetwork communications have inherent latency • Internetworking technologies are naturally decentralized • Internetworking technologies are scalable
Emergence of real-time infrastructure • Better data, better decision • Improved process visibility • Improved process efficiency • From make-and-sell to sense-and-respond
High-available facilities • Uninterruptible electric power delivery • Physical security • Climate control and fire suppression • Network connectivity • Help desk and incident response procedures • N+1 and N+N redundancy
Securing infrastructure against malicious threats • Classification of threats • External attacks (Denial of service—DoS) • Intrusion: obtaining user names and password • Viruses and worms • Defensive measures • Security policies • Firewalls • Authentication • Encryption • Patching and change management • Intrusion detection and network monitoring • Security management framework • Make deliberate security decisions • Consider security a moving target • Practice disciplined change management • Educate users • Deploy multilevel technical measures, as many as you can afford
New service models • Managing the shortage of skilled IT workers • Reduced time to market • The shift to 24 x 7 operations • Favorable cash flow profiles • Cost reduction in IT service chains • Making applications globally accessible
Risk through incremental outsourcing • Incremental outsourcing example: hosting • Categories of hosting models • Colocation hosting • Shared hosting • Dedicated hosting • Dedicated hosting subcategories • Simple dedicated hosting • Complex dedicated hosting • Custom dedicated hosting