Research Note: RUCKUS Networks Introduces AI-Driven Wi-Fi 7 Outdoor Access Point
RUCKUS Networks recently expanded its portfolio by introducing the RUCKUS T670 and T670sn outdoor Wi-Fi 7 access points. This announcement is a significant step in bringing the latest Wi-Fi standards and AI capabilities to challenging outdoor environments, focusing on high-density and performance needs.
HPE Strengthens Cloud and Edge Security Posture
HPE rolled confidently into RSAC Conference recently, and, I must say, they brought some interesting tech to the table. HPE has been around the network security block a time or two. But these latest moves, especially around GreenLake and the Aruba Networking gear, show that they’re serious about stepping up their security game.
Quick Take: UALink & OCP Join Forces
The Open Compute Project (OCP) Foundation and the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) Consortium have announced a strategic collaboration to standardize and deploy high-performance, open scale-up interconnects for next-generation AI and HPC clusters.
Research Note: UALink Consortium Releases UALink 1.0
The UALink Consortium recently released its Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) 1.0 specification. This industry-backed standard challenges the dominance of NVIDIA’s proprietary NVLink/NVSwitch memory fabric with an open alternative for high-performance accelerator interconnect technology.
OFC 2025: Optical Interconnects Take Center Stage in the AI-First Data Center
AI is reshaping the data center, bringing networking along for the ride. It’s clear that optical networking is rapidly moving from a back-end concern to a front-line enabler of next-generation infrastructure.
AI workloads, with their massive datasets, distributed training pipelines, and high-performance compute requirements, demand interconnect solutions that combine extreme bandwidth with low power consumption and low latency. At last month’s OFC 2025 event in San Francisco, this shift was unmistakable.
Research Note: HPE Updates Aruba Networking Central
Hewlett Packard Enterprise recently announced significant enhancements to its HPE Aruba Networking Central platform, which expand its deployment options and strengthen AI and analytics capabilities. The platform now supports four distinct deployment models: public cloud SaaS, virtual private cloud, on-premises, and network-as-a-service.
Research Note: Infineon Acquires Marvell’s Auto Ethernet Business
Infineon Technologies announced its intention to acquire Marvell Technology’s Automotive Ethernet business for $2.5 billion in cash in a move that expands its microcontroller and automotive systems portfolio.
Dryad Networks: Using LoRaWAN to Protect Forests and Promote Sustainability
Dryad Networks is making waves in the growing realm of environmental technology with its innovative use of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network). Self-described as an “impact for profit” company, Dryad is on a mission to deploy ultra-early fire detection and environmental monitoring systems into remote, densely forested regions throughout the world.
Research Note: Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE for 5G
Earlier this month at MWC 2025, Palo Alto Networks announced the general availability of Prisma SASE 5G, its new cloud-delivered cybersecurity solution for enterprises leveraging 5G connectivity.
The offering expands the company’s SASE portfolio to provide integrated Zero Trust security for 5G-enabled infrastructure, including mobile users, IoT/OT devices, and SD-WAN endpoints.
MWC 2025 Playbook: Enterprise IT’s Big AI & 5G Moment
If you blinked, you might have missed the tidal wave of AI, 5G, and cloud announcements at Mobile World Congress 2025. But don’t worry—we’ve got the cheat sheet.
Quick Take: NTT DATA & Palo Alto Networks Partner on Private 5G Security
NTT DATA recently announced a new managed security service powered by Palo Alto Networks. The service enhances security for industrial and operational technology (OT) environments by integrating Palo Alto Networks’ cybersecurity solutions with NTT DATA’s Private 5G architecture.
Research Note: NVIDIA & Cisco Partner on Spectrum-X
Cisco and NVIDIA announced an expanded partnership to unify AI data center networking by integrating Cisco Silicon One with NVIDIA Spectrum-X.
The companies will create a joint architecture that supports high-performance, low-latency AI workloads across enterprise and cloud environments.
Quick Take: Juniper Network’s Q4 Earnings
While waiting for its pending acquisition by Hewlett Packard Enterprise to become unstuck by recent regulatory scrutiny, Juniper Networks reported strong earnings that showa return to revenue growth, posting a 3% year-over-year increase and a 5% sequential jump.
Research Note: AMG Systems’ New Hardened NTP Time Servers
AMG Systems recently introduced its new line of NTP Servers aimed at closed industrial networks needing a secure and industrial hardened time synching solution. The product line consists of four models allowing for AC/DC power flexibility and both DIN Rail and 19-inch rack mounting options.
Infrastructure News Roundup: January 2025
January isn’t usually a big month for announcements related to enterprise infrastructure, but then this isn’t a normal January. Let’s look at what happened.
Research Note: Cisco AI Defense
Cisco recently introduced its Cisco AI Defense, its new enterprise security solution to address the growing risks associated with AI adoption in multi-cloud and multi-model environments.
Research Note: UALink Consortium Expands Board, adds Apple, Alibaba Cloud & Synopsys
The Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium (UALink), an industry organization taking a collaborative approach to advance high-speed interconnect standards for next-generation AI workloads, announced an expansion to its Board of Directors, welcoming Alibaba Cloud, Apple, and Synopsys – joining existing member companies like AMD, AWS, Cisco, Google, HPE, Intel, Meta, and Microsoft.
Research Note: HPE Aruba Introduces Retail-Specific Offerings at NRF
At NRF, HPE showed off advancements to securely connect IoT devices, deliver real-time AI insights at the edge, and provide reliable pop-up and backup connectivity for critical applications like credit card processing.
CES 2025- Enterprise Tech Was There Too
Oh my, CES 2025 has taken me on one heck of a ride through the tech universe. I am an enterprise IT guy but, I must admit, the non-IT tech at CES had me fully distracted. Automated lawnmowers, high tech indoor garden planters, and my favorite- an ultra-realistic flight simulator. Wowzers- really neat stuff.
CES 2025- Must See Tech
Can you believe it? The Consumer Electronics Show, aka CES, is just days away. I know, the timing is hard for all of us considering there hasn’t been much time to recover from our New Years festivities. No rest for the weary as we head out to Vegas for the big event.
The show is always full of surprises, so stay tuned next week for lots of announcements to hit the wire. In the meantime, I have a few thoughts to share on what I will be looking for at the show.
Extreme Networks Platform ONE: A New Approach to AI-Driven Network Management
Extreme Networks recently announced the launch of Extreme Platform ONE, its comprehensive management platform integrating networking, security, and AI to streamline enterprise infrastructure operations.
Research Note: Enfabrica ACF-S Millennium
First detailed at Hot Chips 2024, Enbrica recently announced that its ACF-S “Millennium” chip, which addresses the limitations of traditional networking hardware for AI and accelerated computing workloads, will be available to customers in calendar Q1 2025.
IT Infrastructure Round-Up: Emerging Trends in Infrastructure and Connectivity (Nov 2024)
November was a busy month of announcements in infrastructure and connectivity, revealing a convergence of innovation to meet the stringent demands of AI-driven workloads, scalability, and cost efficiency.
Quick Take: Cisco’s Investment in CoreWeave and its AI Infrastructure Strategy
Cisco is reportedly on the verge of investing in CoreWeave, one of the hottest neo-cloud providers specializing in AI infrastructure, in a transaction valuing the GPU cloud provider at $23 billion. CoreWeave has rapidly scaled its AI capabilities by utilizing NVIDIA GPUs for data centers, becoming a key player in the AI infrastructure market.
HPE Aruba Central: The Multi-Vendor Network Management Solution You’ve Been Waiting For
HPE exited the multi-vendor network operations business in 2017 by divesting its OpenView platform to Micro Focus (now part of OpenText). However, times have changed, and HPE is back in the multi-vendor game with the latest release of their OpsRamp-integrated network management system, Central.
Research Note: Fortinet Enhances Unified SASE Solution
In August 2024, Fortinet announced significant enhancements to its Unified Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution. These updates, including introducing their Sovereign SASE offering and integrating generative AI capabilities, improve flexibility and simplicity in managing hybrid networks.
Research Note: Juniper Expands AIOps Portfolio
Juniper Networks expanded its AI-driven networking portfolio by introducing new Ops4AI initiatives. These solutions integrate AI-driven automation and optimization to enhance network performance, particularly focusing on the growing demands of AI workloads within data centers.
Research Note: HPE Aruba NDR
HPE Aruba has expanded its enterprise security portfolio by introducing a new Network Detection and Response (NDR) platform. The solution integrates AI-driven behavioral analytics to enhance threat detection, particularly focusing on the growing security challenges posed by IoT devices.
Research Note: HPE Q3 FY2024 Earnings
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) delivered a strong Q3 FY2024 earnings report, beating Wall Street estimates with its $7.7 billion in net revenue, up 10% year over year and exceeding guidance. The company saw growth across AI systems, hybrid cloud, and networking.
Research Note: Cisco FQ4 2024 Earnings
Cisco Systems reported its financial results for the fourth quarter (Q4) and full fiscal year 2024 (FY24), beating analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings.
HPE Networking- Not quite ready to take over the world and that’s okay.
An AI wave is soon to hit enterprise shores and is bringing a need to totally rethink enterprise network design, support models, and functional capabilities. HPE is spending billions to develop offerings for IoT, distributed computing, and artificial intelligence (AI).The years-long build is leading to HPE’s realization that a more advanced network offering is critical to the successful deployment of its AI portfolio, hence the pending Juniper acquisition.
Research Note: VAST Data/Cisco AI Collaboration
VAST Data and Cisco announced a new collaboration to deliver a robust, high-performance AI data infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with an Ethernet-based AI fabric designed to handle data at an exabyte scale. Each company brings specialized expertise to create a unified, high-performance AI data platform.
What is Intent-Based Networking?
Intent-Based Networking (IBN) is an advanced approach to network management and operation that uses high-level business goals and policies to automate and manage the network. Unlike traditional network management methods that require manual configurations and constant monitoring, IBN focuses on the desired outcomes or “intent” and uses AI, machine learning, and automation to achieve those outcomes.
Research Brief: Dell AI Factory
At NVIDIA GTC earlier this year, Dell announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to deliver the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA that was heavily based on NVIDIA technology. At this year’s Dell Tech World, Dell went further, introducing its own Dell AI Factory, while also updating the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA.
Quick Take: Juniper Network’s AI-Native Networking Platform
Juniper Networks announced its AI-Native Networking Platform, designed to fully integrate AI into network operations to enhance experiences for users and operators. The platform, a first in the industry, is built to use AI to make network connections more reliable, secure, and measurable.
Research Note: Cisco FQ2 2024 Earnings
Cisco Systems, Inc., this week announced its financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2024.
Quick Take: HPE to Acquire Juniper Networks
Hewlett Packard Enterprise has announced its definitive agreement to acquire Juniper Networks, Inc., a leader in AI-native networks, for approximately $14 billion in an all-cash transaction. This is a premium of approximately 32% over Juniper’s closing stock price on the day the deal was announced.
Research Note: Inside Juniper’s Next-Gen AI Networking
Juniper Networks introduced its AI-Native Networking Platform, designed to fully integrate AI into network operations to enhance experiences for users and operators. This platform, a first in the industry, is built to use AI to make network connections more reliable, secure, and measurable.
Research Note: Cisco Acquires Isovalent
Cisco, a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, recently announced a strategic move to redefine the landscape of multi-cloud networking and security with its intent to acquire Isovalent.
Research Note: HPE Intends to Acquire Juniper Networks
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced its definitive agreement to acquire Juniper Networks, Inc., a leader in AI-native networks, for approximately $14 billion in an all-cash transaction, a premium of about 32% over Juniper’s closing stock price on the day the deal was announced.
Research Note: Cisco Fiscal Q1 2024 Earnings
Cisco Systems, Inc. released its fiscal Q1 2024 earnings results, beating both revenue and EPS consensus estimates. As a bellwether in the technology sector, Cisco often sets the tone for industry trends and expectations. We take a look at Cisco’s earnings in this research note.
Qualcomm Introduces 10G Broadband and Wi-Fi 7 Fiber Gateway
This week Qualcomm introduced its new 10G Fiber Gateway Platform, the industry’s first fully integrated 5G advanced-ready fixed wireless access (FWA) and Wi-Fi 7 offering.
In Conversation: Michael McDowell on Networking, Private 5G, and Staying Current
Principal Analyst Steve McDowell caught up with IT journeyman Michael McDowell at the recent HPE Discover event in Las Vegas, where they had a wide-ranging conversation about networking, private 5G, as-a-Service, and even the value of a vendor event, like HPE Discover, to someone in IT.