Infoblox
At the foundation of every network there is a set of core network services that contribute to the reliability, availability, security, and operational efficiency of all networks and applications.
This set of essential services includes naming, addressing, authentication, file distribution, and logging. Today’s organizations need an infrastructure that integrates, distributes, and manages these core network services throughout an extended enterprise.
As a Certified Infoblox Partner, O2 Networks provide the full range of requirements definition, technology workshopping, implementation and managed consultation services around the Infoblox Core Network Services platform. Our experience and close relationship with Infoblox ensures clients receive the highest levels of support at all times.
Core Network Services
Infoblox pioneered the development of core network services appliances, which deliver utility-grade domain name resolution (DNS), IP address assignment and management (DHCP/IPAM), authentication and authorization (RADIUS), configuration (TFTP/HTTP), and network time (NTP). Infoblox solutions control and automate the core services that drive all networks and applications.
Core network services are essential for all networks and applications. Without core network services, IP-based networks and applications grind to a halt. They provide the “glue” that binds networks, users, devices, applications, and policies.
The Infoblox Network Services Suite is a software package available for Infoblox appliances that provides a full complement of core network services delivered using the secure Infoblox NIOS operating system and the integrated bloxSDB™ database.
The Network Services Suite also includes the Infloblox grid module, which connects distributed appliances into unified Infoblox grids that provide unparalleled management, control, visibility, and service resiliency.
Infoblox grids provide a foundation for delivering highly available, secure, and easily managed network services across an enterprise, including:
- Naming services via Domain Name System (DNS);
- Addressing services via Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP);
- Network visibility and control via IP address management (IPAM);
- Authentication services (RADIUS);
- Configuration services via Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP);
- Configuration services via HTTP;
- Time synchronization services via Network Time Protocol (NTP);
- Logging services via Syslog
Infoblox grids combine the power of nonstop local service delivery with the benefits of consolidated management and control. They provide the next level of essential infrastructure needed to support all networks and applications.
The importance of core network services will continue to expand due to the growth in IP-enabled devices—such as RFID systems, VoIP handsets, wireless devices, etc.
Infoblox on Riverbed - Drive Consolidation for the Branch Office
Together, Infoblox and Riverbed provide organizations with an integrated solution that consolidates core network services within a WAN Optimization appliance to improve application performance and availability at the branch office while consolidating servers and lowering costs.
The integrated solution delivers core network services locally at branch offices by running a virtualized instance of Infoblox NIOS software inside RSP. This solution provides centralized management that automates repetitive tasks, which reduces labour costs and prevents errors and downtime. With the joint Riverbed and Infoblox solution, consolidating core network services as part of a branch office consolidation project is easier and less costly.
The powerful combination of Infoblox and Riverbed ‘best-of-breed’ solutions provides significant operational benefits and cost savings for organizations with large distributed network environments, including:
- Infrastructure consolidation: Network administrators can deliver local core network services with centralized management while reducing server footprint at regional and branch offices.
- Purpose-built solution: Infoblox NIOS and Riverbed Steelhead appliances are purpose-built solutions that deliver high performance, secure services with minimal footprint.
- Centralized, grid management: Centralized management of all core network services in the organization reduces overhead and increases performance and reliability
- Lower costs: Removing generic servers and consolidating delivery of DNS, DHCP, and other core network services on the Steelhead appliance reduces capital and administrative costs.
- Local survivability: Local delivery of DHCP, DNS, and RADIUS services guarantee service availability during WAN outages or interruptions in data center services. In addition, DHCP failover and other features of the Infoblox grid provide additional layers of reliability.
- Application performance: Providing DNS services at remote offices (rather than at the data center) eliminates WAN latencies. Since nearly all applications—including Internet and intranet access, e-mail, VoIP and others—increasingly rely on DNS, application performance can be significantly affected if there are excess delays in DNS lookups.
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