Network Dictionary - Scalable

Scalable

1. refers to newer software or hardware features that can easily be added later

2. refers to newer versions of software or hardware that the salesperson claims can easily be added later.

3. refers to capacity (such as throughput or number of ports) that you think you need, but you would be better off buying later because by the time you need that capacity the equipment is discontinued.

Note: I have a vague idea that I copied this from somewhere else, however I didn’t note down where or who. If it is yours, please let em know.

Network Dictionary - Heater

Heater - term used to describe a piece of network equipment that is powered up, but does nothing or has no purpose.

Now that electricity actually costs real money, people are actually finding the heaters and removing them from the network. It wasn’t so long ago that it wasn’t worth bothering to shut them off as the cost of labour exceeded the cost of leaving them running. This lead to tons the “crop rotation” model of data centres where you moved to a new data centre rather than fix the existing one.

Funny how things come around isn’t it.

Network Dictionary - Velvet Rut

“velvet rut” describes operational practice in a network that hasn’t changed in along time. Typically, some action that is done that way “because it’s always done that way”. Because it works and the world is a happy place therefore the practice must be a good one.

Being stuck in a rut is no excuse for not changing, but good practices can be worth keeping - and are described as ‘the velvet rut’.

Network Dictionary - Tuple

Tuple

1. English term that is used to refer to a “number set” of things. Thus quintuple and sextuple are examples representing a “five set” and “six set” respectively..

2. Used generically to describe a IP connection data set, thus, IP/Mask/Next Hop is known as the routing tuple, Source IP / Source Port / Destination IP / Destination Port is referred to as an IP Flow tuple, and

The IP routing tuple is network / subnet / next hop.

A host IP tuple is IP / mask / gateway (although some would corrupt the purity of IP with DNS entries in the data set.

I use this often in thinking over design and in documentation as it saves lot of typing.

Network Dictionary - Orgy of Failure

“orgy of failure” is the party thrown at the end of large project to celebrate it’s “completion”.

This is not necessarily a negative term, but usually, it is.

At some point in your career you will be involved in a project that doesn’t achieve the original goals, but will be declared a success by ‘adapting the goals’ or ‘realigning to business requirements’. This completion party is usually more fervent and desperate in this case because everyone is so relieved it’s over.

We gather round, and drink heartily, laugh nervously, eat with gusto in an “orgy of failure”.

Network Dictionary - Application Delivery Controller

Application Delivery Controller (ADC) - Historically known as a “load balancer”, until someone put a shiny chrome exhaust and new buttons on it and so it needed a new marketing name.

However, the Web Application Firewall and Application Acceleration / Optimisation that are in most ADC are not really load balancing so maybe its alright.

Feel free to call it a load balancer when the sales rep is on the ground, guaranteed to upset them.

Network Dictionary - Subconscious Study Avoidance (SSA)

Subconscious Study Avoidance (SSA) is well recognised problem during the early stages of commitment to the ‘Way of Study’. Typically, early stage candidates find that there are so many study options, that they start reconsidering their choice and think about studying Security or Voice, some even think about Wireless!

However. most people pass through this stage quickly and become Mendicants and really buckle down to serious, committed study plans. Stick with Routing and Switching, then you can build on those skills is my advice.