Cisco Live Wire

March 2008

In this Issue:

Cisco Live 2008: More Education, Collaboration and Value
Program Highlights
Activities and Social Events
Why A Unified Fabric?
Welcome to Orlando

Welcome to the March issue of Cisco Live Wire, your e–newsletter for the latest updates on Cisco Live '08. Cisco Live, home to Cisco Networkers, is offering three programs for the price of one this year. With the purchase of one Cisco Live full conference pass, you receive access to three programs: the Networkers Conference, IT Insights Program, and Cisco Developer Network Program.

Cisco Live 2008: More Education, Collaboration and Value.

Don't miss your once–a–year opportunity to get world–class technical training, troubleshoot technical challenges, and understand the latest technology trends. Plan now to attend Cisco Live 2008 on June 22–26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

New this year! THREE Programs for the Price of ONE!

Buy a Cisco Live Full Conference pass and get access to THREE world–class educational programs: Networkers, IT Insights Program, and Cisco Developer Services Program. Learn why The Power of Collaboration will transform how we innovate and bring next–generation ideas to market – while enabling greater cost efficiencies in times of economic growth or downturn.

Cisco Live 2008 is all about The Power of Collaboration. Web 2.0 tools, technologies, and applications will enhance collaboration and education for all attendees. The 2008 program also features keynotes, Super Sessions, business–focused sessions for managers, and all the great networking opportunities and entertainment that attendees have come to expect.

If you missed Cisco Live 2007, here's a sampling of what we heard:

"I've attended a lot of other technical meetings but they are nowhere as good as Networkers"
–John Adams
Sr. Manager IT
Voice Systems, Service Provider
Public (University)

"Get a feel for what's happening in the industry from the people who are making it happen"
–Marvin Golden
Network Operations Director,
Service Provider

"Talk among your classmates... someone most likely has your problem, and someone else has a solution"
–Steve Gelfound
IT Director,
Commercial

"Cisco Live is the only way to learn what's new and what's going on"
– Dean Sarff
Network Attendee

*Registration is open now. Bookmark www.cisco–live.com and be sure to opt in for Cisco Live communications.

See you in Orlando!

Program Highlights

Cisco Live 2008 promises more opportunities to experience collaboration than ever before! Attendees can look forward to networking, learning and sharing experiences and solutions throughout the entire event.

Don't miss some of our most exciting program highlights including:

John Chambers Keynote. Hear from Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers about how Cisco is redefining networking. Learn why the network is the best platform for global communications, and discover how you can take advantage of this exciting societal transformation.
Closing Keynote with Ben Stein. Sit back and prepare to be enlightened and entertained by the uniquely humorous perspective of Ben Stein, award–winning actor, economist, writer, teacher and pundit.
Networkers Technical Training. There's a reason that thousands of technical experts return to Networkers year after year. Networkers offers more than technical breakout 250 sessions, with rich learning opportunities for both novices and veterans.
Super Sessions. Hear Cisco executives discuss how Cisco technologies fit within the broader IT and communications landscape. Learn how Cisco products are addressing today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities. Plus–get an inside look at how Cisco deploys its own solutions.
New! Cisco Developer Services Program. Explore how the network can be leveraged to develop applications that unite voice, video, data and mobility. Sessions range from active network abstraction to data center management. This new program is open to all Cisco Live attendees who purchase a full conference registration.
New! Collaboration Zone. Ignite the Power of Collaboration and get hands–on in an innovative and interactive digital environment. Create a Second Life avatar, create a video blog, or submit a question to a keynote speaker. Visit the Collaboration Zone and experience what it means to be a part of the Human Network!
New! Ask the Engineer. Here is your chance to ask some of Cisco's top engineers questions around existing and new technologies, network architectures, standards, our industry's challenges and opportunities. These industry–recognized experts will share their valuable knowledge, experiences, opinions, and visions.
Cisco Career Certifications. Cisco certification puts you in the ranks of the most highly–skilled network professionals in the industry–and the world. Take advantage of your time at Cisco Live to earn Cisco Career Certifications–and take your career to the next level!
Back by Popular Demand! IT Insights Program. IT insights Program is designed for IT managers facing the challenge of balancing technical and business needs. Sessions address cost control, business productivity and data security. Open to all Cisco Live attendees who purchase a full conference registration.
World of Solutions Expo. Explore innovative solutions ready for deployment from more than 120 Cisco partners. Speak with Cisco engineers about emerging and core technology solutions and meet one–on–one with partners and Cisco representatives about your current network requirements.
Social Events. While your days will be jam–packed with intensive education, nights will bring opportunities to unwind and reconnect with your peers. The fun kicks off with Monday's World of Solutions Welcome Reception and culminates with our Customer Appreciation Event on Wednesday.

Activities and Social Events

The Art of Collaboration Customer Appreciation Event
It’s time to PARTY at the 2008 Cisco Live Customer Appreciation Event! Experience the Art of Collaboration at some of Orlando's most amazing venues with the ultimate party band, the Barenaked Ladies!

For over 15 years, this Toronto–based rock band has impressed fans with their upbeat sound and growing list of memorable hits. This concert is the perfect close to a great week!

Cisco Live will also provide you with plenty of other opportunities to collaborate and network with your colleagues and friends while appreciating the arts and enjoying a bounty of food and drink! Here are just a few of the special activities we are planning to thank you for attending Cisco Live:

Private Performances by the world–famous Blue Man Group
Exclusive Access to Universal Studios’ Backlot and its Mega Rides and Attractions!
Evolution, the Ultimate "Journey” Cover Band
A Collaborative Jam Band, Where You and Your Friends ARE the Rock Stars!
A Phenomenal Rock Art Collection at the Hard Rock Café and Hard Rock Live.
Back by Popular Demand: Guitar Hero III!
Blue Man Face Painting
An Interactive Drum Circle
The 2008 Cisco Live Collectable Hat!

Social Networking
Start networking with like–minded peers before you arrive! The Cisco Live online Social Networking tool allows you to identify and contact fellow attendees with similar interests and then meet up in Orlando to talk through technical challenges, share industry experiences–or just have fun!

New this year:

Enhanced user profile pages: Raise your profile with peers through blogs, widgets, RSS and photo sharing
Group pages: Form your own interest group, schedule meetings and share information
Enhanced UI: Enhanced card view with picture, profile view pop–up, and enhanced search results
Subject–specific forums: Join groups and share blogs with people who share your interests

Orlando
With activities as plentiful and authentic as the memories to be made, Orlando’s myriad of entertainment options provide magic, adventure, discovery, rejuvenation and excitement for millions of visitors of all ages.

For more information on accommodations, attractions and dining in the Orlando area, please visit the Hotels & Travel page of cisco-live.com.

Visit orlandoinfo.com or call 800–551–0181 for a free vacation planning kit and Orlando Preferred Visitor Magicard.

Why A Unified Fabric?

What is all the interest in unified fabric––what is the payoff and what is coming next? Get ready to learn all about it at Cisco Live 2008!

The concept of a "unified fabric" has been dancing on the periphery of conversations around trends in the data center. In the next several months, as technologies mature and operational demands increase, the concept of a unified data center fabric will become mainstream as an architectural goal, if not an implemented reality.

The central concept behind a unified fabric in the data center is that a single general purpose transport that ties together data center processor, storage, and network resources will lower capital costs, operating budget and facilities burden (space, power, cooling) in the near term. In the longer term, a unified fabric sets the stage to innovate better ways to support applications and the needs of the business.

Cisco is a consistent proponent of consolidation and there is ample evidence that consolidation and simplification provide tangible benefits. The consolidation of network protocols into Ethernet and IP has reduced cost, simplified operations and facilitated innovation. Similarly, the consolidation of communication traffic with Cisco AVVID reduced costs and set the stage for innovations like today's sophisticated call center and CRM systems.

In most environments, the access layer is the best candidate to begin a unification effort – a starting point even more relevant as many companies are currently battling server infrastructure sprawl. A typical server in an enterprise data center sprouts five to seven I/O interfaces: redundant links for LAN SAN, and perhaps links for management and compute clustering. By reducing that interface count to a pair of redundant unified I/O interfaces, you can accomplish several positive changes, including:

Purchasing smaller, cheaper servers due to the reduced number of PCI slots
Simplified cabling
Reduced number of many interfaces
Reduced power and cooling demands due to displacement of the switches to support multiple parallel networks
Reduced operational costs due to simpler learning curve

Simplification of your network sets the stage to innovate your network infrastructure, especially if paired with a unified fabric with server, storage and network service virtualization.

Does this mean SANs or Fibre Channel are going away? For the foreseeable future, SANs, Fibre Channel etc., will continue to be part of the landscape, much the same way the deployment of VOIP did not eliminate the need for voice services and voice applications.

Research indicates that the decision to implement a unified data center fabric is a question of "when" rather than "if." The challenge now is to move out of the theoretical realm: to take a concept or a specification and deliver switches that create a network fabric with the service richness of IP, the lossless characteristics of Fibre Channel, and the latency of Infiniband in an enterprise environment. The parallel challenge for users is to adapt planning and design efforts and operational procedure to first accommodate and then eventually take advantage of this new data center fabric.

Want to learn more? Come to Cisco Live 2008 and talk one–on–one with Cisco experts and peers about the unified data center. You can also check out the Data Center tracks that will be offered at the event by visiting www.cisco-live.com/about_networkers_sessions.php.

What is the payoff in your mind? What are the biggest challenges you see with unified fabric? Share your thoughts: blogs.cisco.com/datacenter/

Welcome to Orlando

Orlando’s world–renowned theme parks, water parks and myriad of entertainment options provide magic, adventure, discovery, rejuvenation and excitement for millions of visitors of all ages from around the world.

From unmatched thrill rides to eco–tour boat rides, challenging golf courses to rejuvenating spas, celebrity chef dining to designer stores and exciting shows, activities and entertainment are varied and plentiful.

New attractions in 2008 include: Aquatica, an all–new water park experience from SeaWorld Orlando; "The Simpsons" ride at Universal Orlando Resort; "Toy Story Mania" at Disney's Hollywood Studio; new dining including B.B. King's Blues Club at Pointe Orlando; expanded brand–name outlet shopping; and more.