North American Network Operators Group

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Re: Yankee Group declares core routing obsolete (was Re: Anybody usingGBICs?)

  • From: Michael.Dillon
  • Date: Fri Oct 31 04:56:28 2003

>: > Plainly stated, routers no longer have a home in the core of the 
network.
>: > "You might have found a router there five years ago, but most 
certainly
>: > you have a switch today," said Yankee Group vice president Zeus 
Kerravala.
>:
>: What brand of switch is this guy selling?  And what is he smoking? Sure
>: would be interesting to find out :)

>Vendor F

*choke* *splutter*

When will they learn that routers and switches are no
longer differentiated by internal implementation
details, i.e. software vs. hardware implementation?

Nowadays both categories are implemented identically
as a combination of hardware (where speed counts) and
software (where flexibility and interoperability come first).
Besides, there is no "THE core of THE network". Different
networks have different core characteristics to deal with
(size, customer base) and therefore choose different
products. The old Internet, where everyone used more or
less the same devices, is gone. Todays Internet is much
bigger, more diverse, and engineered by people who have
a lot higher skill level based on hard-won experience.

Why do businesses keep supporting these "cheerleader"
analyst groups who want to treat everything as some sort
of fashion fad?

--Michael Dillon