Beware the network without an operator
A lot of people seem to be looking forward to the day we build a network without an operator; to wit—
I hope not, because machines are more brittle than humans. Totally automated security fails much more often than security that uses a blend of people and algorithms. Machines do well at repetitive tasks, humans at catching the things that don’t fit into the algorithm’s state machine. Taking the person out of the network just means there’s no-one there to see when the state machine fails.
And it will fail—at some point. I know we like to believe that machines break less often, but I’m pretty certain there’s a counterpoint to this: when machines break, it’s more likely to be catastrophic. I’m not convinced replacing people with algorithms always reduces damage so much as move the potential damage around.
I hope not, because machines separate the decision from the decision maker. Continue reading
Disaster Recovery Planning: Are You Prepared?
Peter Welcher offers advice on what to consider when developing a DR strategy.
Seven Years Later, SGI Finds a New Ending
Seven years ago, it was the end for SGI. The legendary company had gone bankrupt, its remains were up for liquidation, and its relatively few remaining loyal customers were left in limbo.
This week, SGI reached a new ending, significantly different from its last one, as HPE announced an intended deal to purchase the company for approximately $275 million.
SGI was reincarnated in 2009 when Rackable bought its assets, including its brand, off the scrap heap, for only $42.5 million (originally reported as $25 million at the time, but later updated). Rackable—that is to say, the new SGI—protected employees, key …
Seven Years Later, SGI Finds a New Ending was written by Nicole Hemsoth at The Next Platform.
PQ Show 90: What Is I2RS & Why Do We Love It?
This Priority Queue episode was recorded live at IETF 96 & focuses on I2RS, an IETF effort to create an interface to interact with the routing system. Guests Sue Hares and Russ White join Greg Ferro to talk about how I2RF works and its benefits. The post PQ Show 90: What Is I2RS & Why Do We Love It? appeared first on Packet Pushers.Worth Reading: Container defense in depth
The post Worth Reading: Container defense in depth appeared first on 'net work.
The Cuban CDN
On a recent trip to Cuba I brought with me a smartphone and hoped to get Internet access either via WiFi or 3G. I managed that (at a price) but also saw for myself how Cubans get access to an alternate Internet delivered by sneakernet.
Cuba is currently poorly served by the Internet with a small number of public WiFi hotspots. There are currently 175 public WiFi hotspots in the country, many in public parks. In addition, many large hotels also have public WiFi. Since this is the primary way Cubans get Internet access it’s not uncommon to see situations like this:
Getting on the WiFi means buying a card that gives you access for 2 CUC ($2) per hour. These cards have a login number and a password (hidden behind a scratch off panel). The hour can be used in chunks by logging off and on.
There’s also mobile phone access to the Internet (I saw 3G, EDGE and GPRS as I traveled across Cuba), but at 1 CUC ($1) per MB it’s very expensive. The phone company does provide email access (to their own email service) and so some Cubans I met used their phones to get Continue reading