Table of Contents:

Overview

1. Content-Aware Network Evolution in the Enterprise

2. Content-Aware Network Evolution in Service Providers

3. Advancing Networking Globally

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Overview
To understand how networks are evolving beyond Internet protocol (IP), we must begin by looking at the trends and challenges faced by the primary consumers of network connectivity, which are the array of enterprise and consumer applications and services that sit just outside the network edge. The message coming from C-level executives at the enterprises, traditional service providers, and content providers that manage these applications and services is the same-networks need to better understand the content and context of the data they carry. Today's solution of using content infrastructure software does not deliver the results desired. Enterprises are facing escalating information technology (IT) costs and unwanted complexity while service providers remain saddled with a rapidly commoditizing product set at IP Layers 3 and below. As the focus of network architects shifts from universal IP connectivity to solving distributed application problems, IP routers will join the list of commoditized network equipment optimized for Layer 1 through 3 transport, and a new generation of content-aware network equipment will take center stage at the network edge.

IP Networking Routes IP packets based on destination IP address Results in application layer complexity Drives up IT capital and operational expenses

Content-Aware Networking Routes messages based on content & context Embeds business rules into high speed, low latency network Lowers IT capital and operational expenses Increases business agility

1. Content-Aware Network Evolution in the Enterprise >>