Remember this term: L4S. It is the new obsession of major industry players like Apple, Google, and Comcast. What sets L4S apart is its ability to optimize data throughput without compromising on latency.

Latency, the nemesis of a seamless online experience, often plagues internet users despite high-speed connections. L4S tackles this issue by significantly minimizing delays in data transfer. Swiftly identifying and responding to congestion ensures data packets move through the network with minimal hindrance, resulting in a faster and more responsive internet. Sounds good, right? Let’s dig deeper and find out the details.

What is L4S?

L4S operates as a congestion-control mechanism, enhancing the way data packets traverse the internet. It introduces markers within these packets to detect and respond to congestion promptly. This feedback loop enables devices to adjust data flow in real time, preventing bottlenecks and ensuring smoother transmission. Here is why it is important:

• Latency reduction: L4S tackles the latency issue head-on. By minimizing delays in data transfer, it enhances the speed and responsiveness of online activities, such as video calls, streaming, and web browsing.
• Optimized throughput: It optimizes data throughput without compromising on latency. This means faster data transfer rates while maintaining a low delay, providing a seamless user experience.
• Future applications: L4S unlocks possibilities for applications and services that demand ultra-low latency. From cloud gaming to VR/AR experiences and high-quality video conferencing, its impact extends to various latency-sensitive domains.
• Improved user experience: The integration of L4S promises smoother, interruption-free internet experiences. It aims to eradicate common frustrations like buffering, slow-loading web pages, and choppy video calls.

At its core, L4S introduces specialized markers within data packets that detect and respond to congestion within the network. These markers enable devices and network components to promptly identify areas of congestion and adjust data flow in real-time. This adjustment prevents bottlenecks, ensuring smoother and more efficient data transmission.

L4S operates by incorporating feedback mechanisms within the packets themselves. When congestion occurs, these markers provide immediate feedback to the sending devices, allowing them to regulate data flow before congestion worsens. This proactive approach minimizes delays caused by congestion, resulting in faster and more reliable data transfer.

Unlocking potential: Applications and services

The implications of L4S extend far beyond everyday web browsing. This groundbreaking technology unlocks the potential for applications and services that demand ultra-low latency. From immersive cloud gaming experiences to seamless VR/AR interactions and high-definition video conferencing, L4S opens doors to a new realm of possibilities in various latency-sensitive domains.

The importance of L4S lies not only in its immediate impact but also in its future trajectory.

• Industry integration: Major industry players like Apple, Google, Comcast, and others are actively exploring and integrating L4S into their networks and devices. Trials, beta support, and collaborative initiatives underscore the commitment to harnessing the potential of this technology.
• Standardization and adaptability: L4S adheres to standards defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), ensuring compatibility and seamless integration across diverse network infrastructures. Its adaptability and ability to coexist with existing protocols make it a highly promising addition to Internet technology.
• Evolution of networks: As L4S gains traction, networks are evolving to support its implementation. Cable broadband networks have already embraced it, while efforts are underway to incorporate it into 5G and Wi-Fi networks. This evolution signals a transformative shift toward a faster, more efficient internet landscape.

The anticipated impact on user experience

As L4S becomes a fundamental component of mainstream networks, users can expect a revolutionary improvement in their internet experiences. Reduced latency and smoother data transmission could become the new standard, transforming online interactions into seamless, instantaneous experiences.

In essence, L4S represents a watershed moment in the evolution of internet technology. Its integration heralds a future where latency no longer hampers our digital interactions, paving the way for a more connected, efficient, and exhilarating online world.

Featured image credit: Umberto/Unsplash

The connectivity solution you are looking for for your workplace may be DAS systems. Based on a simple principle, this connection solution has many uses.

We are about to get rid of cables almost completely. Although these devices, which expose many devices to physical factors, have played an important role in the development of technology, it is time to focus on wireless solutions.

There are many ways to distribute internet access or transfer data today. Cloud systems, Wi-Fi 6, and DAS systems are the most commonly used methods. We are sure you’ve heard of two of them before, but how effective are DAS systems, which are often overlooked and not talked about much? Let’s find out.

What is DAS system?

A Distributed Antenna System, or DAS system, is a network of multiple antennas that work together to provide wireless coverage across a specific area, such as a building, campus, or event venue. The key feature of a DAS is that it allows for increased wireless capacity and improved coverage by utilizing multiple access points, which are strategically placed throughout the area to ensure seamless connectivity.

In a traditional Wi-Fi setup, a single wireless access point (AP) is installed to cover an entire area. However, this can lead to congestion and poor signal quality when many devices are connected to the same AP, especially in high-density environments like convention centers, stadiums, or large office buildings.

From 5G to 6G: What comes after the fastest wireless network yet?

That’s where a DAS system comes into play. By distributing multiple access points throughout the area, each one can handle a smaller number of devices, reducing the load on individual APs and ensuring better performance and faster data transfer rates. Additionally, because the access points are distributed across different locations, they can provide overlapping coverage, which helps to minimize dead spots and ensure consistent connectivity.

There are two main types of DAS:

1. Active DAS systems: In active DAS systems, each access point is connected to a central unit via fiber optic cables or Ethernet links. The central unit aggregates all the signals from the access points and distributes them to the rest of the network. This type of DAS requires more infrastructure investment but provides higher scalability and easier management
2. Passive DAS systems: Passive DAS systems rely on existing cabling infrastructure to distribute signals between access points. The access points are connected to each other using coaxial cables or fiber optic cables, creating a daisy-chain topology. While this type of DAS is simpler to deploy, it may not offer as much scalability as an active DAS

DAS systems have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their ability to address the growing demand for wireless connectivity in crowded spaces. They are commonly used in large public venues, such as airports, train stations, and sports arenas, as well as in enterprise environments, like universities, hospitals, and hotels.

There are different subtypes of DAS systems

There are several types of Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), each designed to meet specific coverage and capacity requirements in different environments.

Active DAS systems

Active DAS, also known as Fiber DAS, utilizes active components like amplifiers and fiber optic cables to distribute and enhance wireless signals. This type is often implemented in large venues such as stadiums and airports where reliable, high-capacity coverage is essential.

Passive DAS systems

On the other hand, Passive DAS, or Coax DAS, relies on passive components like splitters and couplers, using coaxial cables instead of fiber optics. Passive DAS is commonly employed in smaller indoor spaces, like office buildings.

Hybrid DAS systems

Hybrid DAS combines elements of both active and passive systems, providing flexibility in deployment. It integrates both fiber optic and coaxial cables, offering a compromise between the scalability of active DAS and the simplicity of passive DAS. This type is suitable for venues with varying sizes and coverage requirements.

Carries DAS systems

Carrier-DAS (C-DAS) is designed and owned by a specific wireless carrier to enhance coverage and capacity for its network. It is often deployed in urban areas, stadiums, and locations with high user density, ensuring reliable service for the carrier’s subscribers.

Enterprise DAS systems

Enterprise DAS is installed and managed by private entities, such as businesses, to improve in-building wireless coverage. It caters to the specific needs of an organization or venue, enhancing wireless communication for employees and visitors. This type is commonly deployed in office buildings, hotels, hospitals, and other indoor spaces.

Public Safety DAS systems

Public Safety DAS is specifically designed to ensure reliable wireless communication for emergency services like police, fire, and medical personnel. It adheres to stringent requirements for coverage, reliability, and redundancy to support critical communications during emergencies. Public Safety DAS is deployed in locations where public safety is paramount, such as government buildings, airports, and large public venues.

How do DAS systems work?

As mentioned before Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are intricate networks of multiple antennas collaboratively providing robust wireless coverage across extensive areas such as stadiums, arenas, and convention centers.

A typical DAS system comprises three primary components:

1. Headend
2. Remote units
3. Fiber optic cables

The headend, positioned in a secure, climate-controlled environment, serves as the central hub responsible for receiving and processing incoming wireless signals. Housing electronics like amplifiers, filters, and switches, the headend plays a pivotal role in signal management. Remote units, strategically positioned antennas, receive signals from the headend and transmit them to ground-level devices.

Each remote unit caters to a specific sector or area, ensuring the signal remains strong and clear. Fiber optic cables, the third component, connect the headend to the remote units, facilitating fast and reliable communication over long distances through light pulses.

Understanding how DAS systems work involves a step-by-step breakdown of their operations.

Firstly, the headend receives wireless signals from various sources, including cellular networks and public safety radios. Subsequently, the received signals undergo amplification and filtering to ensure strength and eliminate interference or noise.

The processed signals are then distributed to the remote units through fiber optic cables. Each remote unit exclusively receives signals designated for its specific sector, optimizing bandwidth and resource utilization. Following this, the remote units wirelessly transmit the signals to devices within their coverage area, encompassing mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other wireless devices.

To maintain consistent coverage and minimize interference, feedback signals are sent from each remote unit to the headend. This feedback aids in adjusting and synchronizing the timing and phase of the transmitted signals, ensuring a seamless and reliable wireless experience across the entire designated area.

How do DAS systems compare to other alternatives?

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) can be compared to other wireless communication infrastructure solutions, such as Small Cell Networks and Macrocell Networks. Each of these technologies has distinct characteristics and use cases.

1. Small Cell Networks
   • Similarities: Both DAS and Small Cell Networks aim to enhance wireless coverage and capacity in areas with high user density
   • Differences:
     • Architecture: DAS uses a centralized hub-and-spoke architecture with a headend distributing signals to remote units, while Small Cell Networks employ a decentralized approach with individual small cells serving specific areas
     • Scalability: Small Cell Networks are often more scalable, allowing for easier expansion by adding more small cells as needed
     • Deployment: DAS is commonly deployed in large venues like stadiums and convention centers, whereas Small Cell Networks are versatile and can be deployed in various environments, including urban areas and residential neighborhoods
2. Macrocell Networks:
   • Similarities: Both DAS and Macrocell Networks contribute to broader wireless coverage and improved network performance
   • Differences:
     • Coverage Area: Macrocell Networks are designed for larger coverage areas, typically providing coverage over several kilometers, making them suitable for rural and suburban environments. DAS focuses on more localized, high-density areas
     • Infrastructure: Macrocell Networks rely on large, centralized cell towers, broadcasting signals over a wide area. DAS, on the other hand, uses a network of distributed antennas, providing more targeted coverage
     • Deployment: Macrocell Networks are commonly used for widespread outdoor coverage, including rural and highway areas. DAS is frequently deployed indoors in venues like airports, malls, and office buildings
3. Wi-Fi Networks:
   1. Similarities: Both DAS and Wi-Fi Networks contribute to improved wireless connectivity
   2. Differences:
      1. Use cases: DAS is often used for cellular networks to improve 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage. Wi-Fi Networks primarily focus on providing local area network (LAN) connectivity for internet access within specific buildings or areas
      2. Ownership: DAS is typically owned and operated by wireless carriers or venue owners, while Wi-Fi Networks can be owned by various entities, including businesses, municipalities, or individuals

So, while the DAS system shares the goal of enhancing wireless coverage with other technologies like Small Cell Networks and Macrocell Networks, the specific architecture, deployment scenarios, and use cases make each of these solutions suitable for different contexts.

Featured image credit: Freepik.

Wonsulting’s Resume AI, Cover Letter AI, and Network AI are just a few of the AI tools available to help you advance in your profession. In this article, we’ll go through each of them and how Network AI may aid you in your job search in great depth.

Are you tired of endlessly sending out job applications, hoping for a breakthrough in your job search? In today’s competitive job market, connecting with the right people can make all the difference. Imagine having a tool that not only identifies potential employers but also guides you on how to establish genuine and meaningful connections with them. Enter Network AI, a revolutionary tool from Wonsulting AI that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to transform the way job seekers approach networking.

Networking has always been a vital aspect of job hunting, but with the ever-expanding digital landscape, the dynamics of networking have evolved significantly. While social media platforms like LinkedIn provide immense opportunities to connect with professionals, the sheer volume of potential connections can be overwhelming, leaving job seekers uncertain about where to begin.

Network AI steps in as a game-changer, streamlining the process and empowering job seekers to harness the true potential of their network. By analyzing LinkedIn profiles and utilizing cutting-edge AI algorithms, Network AI identifies the most relevant and suitable connections based on your industry, skills, and interests. No more aimlessly scrolling through countless profiles; Network AI presents you with a curated list of potential employers who align with your career aspirations.

But that’s not all – Network AI goes above and beyond mere identification. It provides invaluable feedback and personalized insights on how to approach each potential connection, fostering an authentic and compelling interaction. Say goodbye to generic connection requests or awkward messaging; Network AI equips you with the tools to craft tailored and captivating messages that resonate with your potential employers.

In this blog post, we will dive deep into the world of Network AI and explore how this revolutionary tool can elevate your job search efforts. Whether you’re a recent graduate eager to kickstart your career or a seasoned professional seeking new opportunities. Plus, Wonsulting AI has two more tools for job searching, Resume AI and Cover Letter AI. We also briefly explain them to help your career journey.

Join us on this insightful journey as we uncover the secrets to leveraging Network AI effectively. Learn how to build lasting relationships with key industry players, unlock hidden job opportunities, and ultimately, land your dream job through the power of AI-driven networking.

Are you ready to take the plunge and unlock the full potential of your network? Let’s embark on this transformative experience together with Network AI leading the way!

What is Wonsulting AI that offers Network AI?

Wonsulting AI is an AI-powered platform that helps job seekers optimize their resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles for better results. The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze job postings and identify the skills and experience that employers are looking for. It then provides feedback on how job seekers can tailor their resumes and cover letters to match the requirements of specific jobs. Wonsulting AI also offers networking tools that help job seekers connect with potential employers and build relationships.

Here are the three career tools that Wonsulting AI offer:

• Resume AI: This tool helps job seekers create a resume that is tailored to specific jobs. It analyzes job postings and identifies the skills and experience that employers are looking for. It then provides feedback on how job seekers can improve their resumes to match the requirements of specific jobs.

• Cover Letter AI: This tool helps job seekers write a cover letter that is tailored to specific jobs. It analyzes job postings and identifies the skills and experience that employers are looking for. It then provides feedback on how job seekers can improve their cover letters to match the requirements of specific jobs.

• Network AI: This tool helps job seekers connect with potential employers and build relationships. It analyzes LinkedIn profiles and identifies potential connections. It then provides feedback on how job seekers can reach out to potential connections and build relationships.

Here are some of the Wonsulting AI success stories with these tools.

How is artificial intelligence changing the recruiting process?

What is Network AI in detail?

In order to assist people in finding jobs and establishing professional connections, Network AI employs AI technology. It does a deep dive through LinkedIn profiles to find people you may know. It then gives suggestions on how job-seekers might best network and create relationships with relevant people.

Job-seekers who want to increase their chances of being recruited will benefit greatly from using network AI. The platform employs AI to go through job descriptions and pull out the specific qualifications and expertise companies are seeking. The app analyzes a user’s application and gives suggestions on how to adapt a CV, cover letter better, and LinkedIn profile to meet the needs of a certain position. WonsultingAI also provides its users with networking tools to assist them in making connections with prospective jobs.

Here are some of the Network AI features that can help you find a new job:

• AI-generated messages: Natural, powerful, and human-like LinkedIn introduction messages tailored to users’ preferences
• Result tracking: Monitor networking efforts and mark favorite connections
• Additional resources: Access templates, courses, and success stories for further support
• Flexible payment options: Three plans with varying token levels, including a free trial

Network AI from WonsultingAI offers a wide range of use cases that can significantly enhance a job seeker’s networking and job search journey. Here are some of the key use cases for this powerful AI-driven tool:

• Personalized connection recommendations: Network AI analyzes the user’s LinkedIn profile and career interests to provide personalized recommendations for potential connections. This helps job seekers discover relevant professionals and companies within their industry, making networking efforts more targeted and effective.
• Identifying hidden job opportunities: By analyzing the connections of potential employers, Network AI can unveil hidden job opportunities that might not be publicly advertised. This gives job seekers a competitive advantage by accessing exclusive openings and getting a foot in the door before the competition.
• Building authentic relationships: Network AI not only suggests potential connections but also provides feedback on how to approach each individual. By offering personalized insights, job seekers can craft tailored messages that resonate with their target connections, fostering authentic and meaningful relationships.
• Enhancing networking outreach: The tool assists job seekers in reaching out to potential employers in a strategic manner. It guides users on the best ways to introduce themselves, showcase their skills, and express their interests genuinely and compellingly.
• Industry and company research: Network AI enables users to gain valuable insights into different industries and companies. By analyzing the connections of key industry players, job seekers can gather information about trends, company cultures, and potential career paths.
• Networking beyond local boundaries: With the power of AI, Network AI can identify and suggest connections from across the globe, helping job seekers expand their network beyond geographical limitations and tap into international opportunities.
• Tracking networking progress: Network AI keeps track of users’ networking efforts, helping them monitor response rates, engagement levels, and the overall effectiveness of their outreach. This data-driven approach allows users to refine their networking strategies continually.
• Personal branding and profile optimization: The tool provides feedback on the user’s LinkedIn profile, helping them optimize it for maximum impact. By enhancing their personal branding, job seekers can leave a lasting impression on potential employers.
• Industry insights and trends: By analyzing multiple profiles within an industry, Network AI can offer valuable insights into the latest trends, required skills, and in-demand qualifications. This information can help job seekers align their skillset with industry expectations.
• Mentorship and guidance: Network AI can identify potential mentors or professionals who are willing to offer guidance and advice to job seekers. This mentorship aspect can be immensely valuable in shaping a job seeker’s career trajectory.

In conclusion, Network AI has a diverse set of use cases, all designed to empower job seekers and elevate their networking efforts. By harnessing the capabilities of artificial intelligence, this revolutionary tool opens doors to a world of opportunities. It facilitates meaningful connections that can make a profound difference in one’s career journey.

How to use Network AI

To use Network AI, you first need to create a free account. Once you have created an account, you will be able to access your LinkedIn profile and start using the platform.

To start using Network AI, you need to:

• Click the “Start networking” button on the “Network AI” tab.
• Select your networking goal. You will have 4 options:
  • I want an interview
  • I want industry connections
  • I’m just explanting my network
  • I want to send a follow-up message
• Fill in your information
• Click “generate”

• Network AI will then analyze your LinkedIn profile and identify potential connections.
• You will be able to see a list of potential connections, along with a score that indicates how likely it is that you will be able to connect with them.
• You can also see feedback on how to improve your LinkedIn profile.

Everything you need to know about AI recruiting

Network AI pricing

You’ve been given ten tokens at no cost to get you started in making connections. This allows you to produce a networking message ten times. After that, you need to buy tokens to generate new content.

If you want career consulting and more, here are the pricing plans of Wonsulting AI:

Conclusion

If you’re a job seeker who wants to increase your chances of being recruited, network AI is a great resource for you. The platform utilizes AI to examine job listings and deduce which qualifications and experiences are most important to prospective employers. It then gives suggestions for improving a candidate’s CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to meet the needs of individual employers better. WonsultingAI also provides networking features for its users, allowing them to make connections with prospective employers.

Try out Network AI if you want to increase your chances of being employed. It’s a valuable resource for locating and networking with prospective employment.

Oh, are you new to AI, and everything seems too complicated? Keep reading…

AI 101

You can still get on the AI train! We have created a detailed AI glossary for the most commonly used artificial intelligence terms and explain the basics of artificial intelligence as well as the risks and benefits of AI. Feel free the use them. Learning how to use AI is a game changer! AI models will change the world.

In the next part, you can find the best AI tools to use to create AI-generated content and more.

AI tools we have reviewed

Almost every day, a new tool, model, or feature pops up and changes our lives, and we have already reviewed some of the best ones:

• Text-to-text AI tools
  • Google Bard AI 
  • Chinchilla
  • Notion AI
  • Chai
  • NovelAI
  • Caktus AI
  • AI Dungeon
  • ChatGPT
  • Snapchat My AI
  • DuckAssist 
  • GrammarlyGO
  • Jenni AI
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot
  • Tongyi Qianwen
  • AutoGPT
  • Janitor AI
    • How to fix Janitor AI not working
    • How to use Janitor AI API
    • Janitor AI alternatives
  • Character AI
    • Character AI Rooms
    • Character AI App
    • Character AI alternatives
  • WordAi
  • Venus Chub AI
  • Crushon AI
  • FreedomGPT
  • Charstar AI
  • Jasper AI
  • WormGPT
    • How to use WormGPT AI
    • WormGPT download, here are the dangers waiting for you
  • Llama 2

Do you want to learn how to use ChatGPT effectively? We have some tips and tricks for you without switching to ChatGPT Plus, like how to upload PDF to ChatGPT! However, When you want to use the AI tool, you can get errors like “ChatGPT is at capacity right now” and “too many requests in 1-hour try again later”. Yes, they are really annoying errors, but don’t worry; we know how to fix them. Is ChatGPT plagiarism free? It is a hard question to find a single answer. Is ChatGPT Plus worth it? Keep reading and find out!

• Text-to-image AI tools
  • MyHeritage AI Time Machine
  • Reface app
  • Dawn AI
  • Lensa AI
  • Meitu AI Art
  • Stable Diffusion
  • DALL-E 2
  • Google Muse AI
  • Artbreeder AI
  • Midjourney
    • How to fix Midjourney invalid link
    • Midjourney alternatives
    • Midjourney AI tips
    • Midjourney V5.2
    • Midjourney video generation guide
    • Where to look for the best Midjourney images?
  • DreamBooth AI
  • Wombo Dream
  • NightCafe AI
  • QQ Different Dimension Me
  • Random face generators
  • Visual ChatGPT
  • Adobe Firefly AI
  • Leonardo AI
  • Hotpot AI
  • DragGAN AI photo editor
  • Freepik AI
  • 3DFY.ai
  • Photoleap
  • Artguru
  • Luma AI
  • BlueWillow AI
  • Scribble Diffusion
  • Clipdrop AI
  • Stable Doodle

While there are still some debates about artificial intelligence-generated images, people are still looking for the best AI art generators. Will AI replace designers? Keep reading and find out.

• AI video tools
  • Runway AI Gen-2
  • Make-A-Video
  • MOVIO AI
  • Nvidia Eye Contact AI
  • Kreado AI
• AI presentation tools
  • Tome AI
  • Beautiful.ai
• AI search engines
  • Consensus AI
  • Google Bard
  • Komo AI
  • You.com
  • Bing AI
    • Bing Chat Enterprise
• AI interior design tools
  • Reimagine Home AI
  • Interior AI
  • Remodeled.ai
• Other AI tools
  • Poised AI
  • Uberduck AI
  • Spotify AI DJ
  • Pimeyes
  • Microsoft Security Copilot
  • OpenAI ChatGPT plugins
  • Otter.ai
  • Adobe Podcast AI
  • Kaiber AI 
  • CarynAI
  • Paragraphica
  • Silly Tavern AI
  • Meta Voicebox

Do you want to explore more tools? Check out the bests of:

Featured image credit: Eray Eliaçık/Wombo

What is going to replace 5G? This question has been on the minds of researchers, engineers, and tech enthusiasts alike, as 5G technology continues to roll out around the world. While 5G is still in its early stages of deployment, the development of its successor, 6G, is already underway.

With the potential to offer even faster data transfer speeds, improved energy efficiency, and the ability to connect an even greater number of devices to the internet, 6G is expected to revolutionize the way we communicate and connect with the world around us. However, the development of 6G is still in its infancy, and there are many technical and regulatory challenges that need to be overcome before it can become a reality.

Nevertheless, the potential benefits of 6G are so great that researchers and engineers around the world are working tirelessly to bring this technology to fruition.

What is 5G?

5G, or fifth-generation wireless technology, is the latest and fastest iteration of wireless connectivity. It is the successor to 4G LTE, and offers significantly faster internet speeds and improved connectivity. 5G networks use a combination of new radio frequencies, smaller cell towers, and advanced antenna technologies to provide users with data speeds up to 20 times faster than 4G. 5G is also designed to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices and sensors that make up the Internet of Things (IoT).

What is going to replace 5G?

While 5G is currently the latest and fastest wireless technology, there are a few potential technologies that could eventually replace it. One such technology is Li-Fi, which uses light waves to transmit data instead of radio waves. Another potential successor to 5G is terahertz (THz) communication, which operates at even higher frequencies than 5G and could provide even faster data transfer speeds. Quantum communication is also a promising technology that could eventually replace 5G, as it offers the potential for completely secure and unhackable communication.

Reconceptualizing urban infrastructure in the age of 5G networks

6G

6G is the next generation of wireless technology that is currently in development. While 5G is still in its early stages of deployment, researchers and engineers are already working on developing 6G technology that will offer even faster speeds and more advanced capabilities. Some of the potential features of 6G include faster data transfer speeds, improved energy efficiency, and the ability to connect even more devices to the internet.

Terahertz (THz) communication

Terahertz communication is a wireless technology that operates at extremely high frequencies, ranging from 100 GHz to 10 THz. This technology offers the potential for significantly faster data transfer speeds than 5G, as well as the ability to transmit large amounts of data over short distances. However, terahertz communication is still in the early stages of development, and there are significant technical challenges that need to be overcome before it can be widely deployed.

Li-Fi

Li-Fi, or light fidelity, is a wireless technology that uses light waves to transmit data instead of radio waves. Li-Fi technology uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit data and can provide significantly faster data transfer speeds than traditional Wi-Fi networks. Li-Fi also offers the potential for greater energy efficiency and improved security, as light waves are unable to pass through walls and other solid objects.

Quantum communication

Quantum communication is a technology that uses quantum mechanics to transmit data securely over long distances. Unlike traditional encryption methods, which can be cracked with enough computing power, quantum communication uses the principles of quantum mechanics to ensure that data transmissions are completely secure and unhackable.

Quantum communication offers the potential for completely secure communication, which could be particularly important for industries such as finance, healthcare, and government. However, quantum communication is still in the early stages of development, and there are significant technical challenges that need to be overcome before it can be widely deployed.

What is 6G?

6G, or sixth-generation wireless technology, is the next iteration of wireless connectivity that is currently in the research and development phase. While 5G is still being deployed and is expected to become more widespread in the coming years, researchers and engineers are already exploring the potential capabilities and features of 6G technology. Some of the expected features of 6G include even faster data transfer speeds, improved energy efficiency, and the ability to connect an even greater number of devices to the internet.

Does 6G exist?

While 6G is still in the research and development phase and has not yet been officially standardized or deployed, there are already several organizations and companies that are working on developing and testing 6G technologies. These include universities, research institutions, and tech companies such as Samsung, Nokia, and Huawei. However, it will likely be several years before 6G technology is commercially available and widely deployed.

When is 6G coming?

While it is difficult to predict exactly when 6G technology will become commercially available, it is expected that the first 6G networks will begin to be deployed in the mid to late 2020s. However, it is important to note that the deployment of 6G technology is still in the very early stages, and there are many technical and regulatory challenges that need to be overcome before 6G can be widely deployed. It is also likely that the deployment of 6G will be a gradual process, similar to the deployment of 5G technology.

Is 6G available in any country?

The short answer is: No. South Korea is planning to introduce its 6G network and services earlier than the US, UK, and China, with the launch scheduled for 2028. This follows South Korea’s successful rollout of 5G networks and 5G-enabled smartphones, making it the first country to do so.

Looking at 6G patents by country

A report from Statista in 2021 revealed that the majority of patent applications for 6G technology in the selected regions were filed in China, accounting for 40.3% of the total patents. The United States followed China with 35.2% of 6G patent applications originating from there.

6G technology companies

Several entities, including companies such as Airtel, Anritsu, Apple, Ericsson, Fly, Huawei, Jio, Keysight, LG, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Samsung, Vi, Xiaomi, research institutes like Technology Innovation Institute and the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre, and countries such as the United States, European Union, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates have expressed interest in the development of 6G networks.

Industrial operations will get a boost with the 5G time-critical services

6G networks are expected to be more varied than their predecessors and to support a wide range of applications beyond the current mobile use cases, including ubiquitous instant communication, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), pervasive intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Mobile network operators are predicted to adopt flexible, decentralized business models for 6G, with localized spectrum licensing, infrastructure sharing, spectrum sharing, and intelligent automated management supported by artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technologies, short-packet communication, and mobile edge computing.

5G vs 6G vs 7G

It’s worth noting that the specifications of 7G technology are not yet known, as it has not yet been developed or standardized. The information provided for 6G technology is based on current research and development, and is subject to change as the technology continues to evolve.

The future of wireless communication

The future of wireless communication is set to be an exciting and innovative era driven by the development of 6G technology. As the world becomes increasingly connected, 6G networks will offer faster and more reliable connectivity, enabling a wide range of new applications and use cases beyond what is currently possible with 5G. With the potential to support virtual and augmented reality, intelligent automation, and real-time communication on a global scale, 6G networks will enable us to experience the world in new and exciting ways.

The adoption of flexible and decentralized business models, supported by artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, will create a more inclusive and accessible wireless network that benefits everyone. The development of 6G networks will also foster international cooperation and innovation as companies, research institutions, and countries work together to push the boundaries of what is possible with wireless communication.

Bottom line

What is going to replace 5G? While the answer to this question is still uncertain, it is clear that the development of wireless communication technology is an ongoing process that will continue to evolve and improve in the years to come. With the advent of 6G technology on the horizon, we are on the cusp of a new era of connectivity that will enable us to connect and communicate in ways that were once unimaginable.

As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with wireless communication technology, we can look forward to a future that is more connected, more intelligent, and more innovative than ever before. While the development of 6G technology may still be in its early stages, the potential benefits are so great that it is sure to be a major driving force in the evolution of wireless communication technology for years to come.

FAQ

Will 5G replace broadband?

While 5G offers significantly faster internet speeds than its predecessor, 4G LTE, it is unlikely to completely replace fixed broadband connections such as cable or fiber. In comparison, 5G has the potential to offer faster and more reliable connectivity in certain situations, such as in rural or remote areas; fixed broadband connections still offer greater stability and consistent speeds over long periods of time. Moreover, many households and businesses require the high bandwidth and unlimited data allowances provided by fixed broadband connections, which may not be feasible with 5G.

Which country has 6G technology?

Currently, there is no country that has fully developed and deployed 6G technology, as it is still in the research and development phase. However, several countries, including China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and European Union member states, are investing significant resources into 6G research and development. Some companies, such as Samsung and Huawei, have also announced their plans to develop and test 6G technology.

Will there be a 7G?

While it is difficult to predict the future of wireless communication technology, it is possible that there may eventually be a 7G network in the distant future. However, it is important to note that the development of wireless technology is a complex process that requires significant investment in research and development, as well as the infrastructure required to support new networks. Therefore, it may be several decades before 7G technology becomes a reality, if it ever does.

Network automation automates the configuration, management, testing, deployment, and operation of physical and virtual devices within a network. The availability of network services increases as routine network operations and functions are automated and repetitive processes are regulated and handled automatically.

Network automation can be implemented by data centers, service providers, and businesses to increase productivity, decrease human error, and cut operational costs.

What is network automation?

The process of automating network and security provisioning and administration through the use of software aims to maximize network functionality and efficiency continuously. In conjunction with network virtualization, network automation is frequently utilized in this manner.

IT companies nowadays strive for speed, agility, and consistency when providing and administering both traditional and cloud-native apps. A modern network automation platform can accomplish these objectives by automating networking tasks, including resource provisioning, network mapping, and network testing.

Intelligent network automation

Machine learning and big data are used in more advanced intelligent network automation to decide how to set up and maintain a network to achieve particular business objectives best. Instead of configuring each port or device separately, intelligent networking employs a high-level, centralized view of the entire network to decide how a network should operate to achieve these goals.

An intent-based network gives various options to satisfy a business need by taking a comprehensive approach to how the request will impact the network. Network engineers prefer intent-based networking because it simplifies the network to achieve various objectives and lowers the incidence of human error-related misconfigurations.

Types of network automation

Any network type, including LANs, WANs, data center networks, cloud networks, and wireless networks, can always use automation. Automation is possible for any network resource that a CLI or API can manage.

Script-driven network automation

Script-driven network automation uses programming and scripting languages to carry out activities; ideally, these jobs should have exact triggers and repeatable processes. Due to their familiarity, legacy languages like Perl and Tcl are often used in network automation.

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Newer open-source programming languages like Ansible, Python, and Ruby have gained traction as networks become more complicated because of their usability and versatility. Bash and Go are additional programming languages for network automation.

Software-based network automation

An administrator portal coordinates software-based network automation, also known as intelligent automation, which does away with the need to write commands manually. Typically, these systems offer templates for task creation and execution based on plain language rules.

Intent-based network automation

The most recent automation tools use machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to understand the user and business intent and automatically change how network policy is applied. Network administrators set performance service levels for users and applications. When these service levels are not met, the network automatically makes adjustments to restore acceptable performance levels for business-critical applications to the best of its ability.

Benefits of network automation

By automating network and security provisioning and administration throughout the entire application lifecycles and across the data center and cloud environments, network automation helps you accelerate applications’ deployment.

Automation

Network and security operations, an area of infrastructure that has historically been mostly hardware-based and required human provisioning and monitoring, can be virtualized and automated as the next step in the digital revolution.

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Improving new app development

With networking and security management that seamlessly integrates into developer processes without requiring retooling, embrace new cloud-native applications and DevOps workflows.

More visibility

Trade in a customarily confined picture of network traffic and security dependencies for global visibility and straightforward network and security policy troubleshooting.

How does network automation work?

The most effective approach to map, set up, provision, and administer a network is discovered using network automation software. Manual, command-line instructions for configuring each networking device are replaced by API-based automation. The APIs may be used directly or indirectly by employing a programming language like Python, Java, or Go. A modern automation platform checks network resources during provisioning and confirms that a network can handle a configuration request before implementing it.

Which problems does network automation address?

Network automation solutions may help with a lot of the issues that come with workplace networking in addition to saving time and money and decreasing downtime, such as:

Network design and planning

Engineers need automation tools for inventory management and scenario planning to plan and construct a network.

Data analysis

An excessive amount of data can be overwhelming for most networks. AI and ML predictive analytics will give many insights into present and future network behavior. Plus, network automation technologies provide data about network architecture, enabling future network operations planning.

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Testing devices

Engineers need these automation tools for inventory management and scenario planning to plan and construct a network.

Network settings

Network automation solutions ensure that devices are always compliant and functioning as intended, in addition to network device testing.

Network automation examples

Software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) technology are integrated when utilizing network automation with virtualization to configure and alter the network following business or service objectives. The SDN governs the hardware devices’ operations.

Administrators can use networking software to manage several physical networks or build virtual software networks between virtual computers. The automated network can accept these surges by automatically rerouting network traffic to servers in less damaged network portions. Thus, network virtualization and automation are particularly helpful for environments that encounter unforeseen use surges.

Several open-source projects aim to create standards for network automation through virtualization. For instance, the management and orchestration of network resources in cloud-based data centers are the focus of the NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) Industry Specification Group (ISG) of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The platforms for SDN and NFV will be able to communicate better and more effectively thanks to these standards.

There are many kinds of automation tools, and different businesses provide various kinds of network automation software for different purposes. Intelligent firms will begin with their most urgent automation use cases and select a technology that will be helpful with those processes as new automation ideas continue to emerge.

Network automation tools and languages

Enterprise network teams can use a variety of interfaces, platforms, and protocols to execute network automation.

The most established method of deploying automation is the CLI. Although it is cost-free, tried and true, and extremely customizable, it requires knowledge of CLI syntax and doesn’t scale well in all distributed infrastructure settings.

Some open-source tools, such as Ansible, Chef, and Puppet, provide frameworks for network automation. These programs often provide a library of standard workflows or commands that can be used in later projects.

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Tools for commercial network automation are also accessible. Most network infrastructure providers have created software-based platforms offering automation capabilities through a customized API, often for their products. However, more lately, network equipment producers have started to provide open API access to the hardware and software of their network equipment. Thus, it is now possible to automate networks in multivendor setups using a variety of third-party solutions.

Many software options are available, but high-quality automation tools ensure your operations don’t go wrong.

Administrators or network engineers may use an automated network management system to manage a network more effectively to find devices, configure those devices, or provision new network infrastructure.

According to Gartner, these are some of the best network automation tools:

• BlueCat DNS IntegritySolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)
• AlgoSec Security Management Solution
• AppViewX ADC+
• Micro Focus Automation Software

Conclusion

Network automation is one of the primary approaches to advancing network validation and intent-based networking. These ideas employ software to depict how businesses might use their resources to satisfy the operational demands that their networks must handle.

Engineers nowadays utilize a graphical user interface (GUI) to decide how their network operations should function to achieve a specific goal. When network component configuration and other management changes are made, a GUI can automatically implement them regardless of the vendor. AI and machine learning tools are commonly used in automation to evaluate networks, recommend troubleshooting steps, and verify network purposes.

Are you looking for the best blockchain platform? The blockchain market is anticipated to expand by 39.7 billion dollars in 2025, and this enormous development has created a dire need for blockchain platforms. Blockchain technology was first introduced with the debut of Bitcoin in 2009, and it has since grown to be one of the most well-known and mainstream technologies. Before we get started, here is a list of the best blockchain books in 2022 for better understanding. You may have heard about the blockchain talent gap and started asking what is a blockchain developer. But unfortunately, you find some blockchain implementation challenges and security issues. This is exactly why we are exploring the best blockchain platforms.

Best blockchain platforms for the best results

Around the world, revolutionary changes in blockchain technology are taking place. You’ll find blockchain applications in nearly every sector, regardless of what industry you’re examining. Many firms use blockchain to develop in the supply chain, healthcare, logistics, finance, and other industries.

The major goal of blockchain applications is to make business procedures more transparent and effective. Businesses are beginning to grasp the potential of blockchain technology and its usefulness in boosting their operations. If that’s what you want, we can go over what blockchain platforms are in a nutshell.

What is a blockchain platform?

Blockchain platforms are still in their early phases and, in many cases, resemble core blockchain technology. They’re being used to perform generalized distributed value transfers using an expanding set of cryptographically sealed, unchangeable transactions shared by all network participants. Each record includes a time stamp as well as links to prior transactions. It’s a decentralized state transition machine that keeps track of the life cycle of digital assets and records activities in a distributed ledger immutable.

With organizations starting to explore blockchain’s potential by creating blockchain apps, the demand for blockchain platforms has never been higher. According to a study, the global blockchain market is anticipated to rise from USD 3.0 billion in 2020 to USD 39.7 billion in 2025, at a growth rate of 67.3 percent between 2020 and 2025. As a result, the requirement for secure and quick development of the blockchain-enabled ecosystem is constantly increasing. This rise also shows itself in the appearance of blockchain platforms.

How many blockchain platforms are there?

There are already at least 1,000 blockchains for 4 types of blockchain networks.

While blockchain’s primary goal is to facilitate a single data transfer, several platforms are available in the field. Many solutions, such as supply chains, cryptocurrencies, decentralized exchanges, smart contracts, central bank money, and so on, employ it.

Blockchain technology is fast becoming a powerful tool for business applications. One example is the huge Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, better known as DTCC. The organization keeps track of 90 million transactions per day involving most of the world’s securities worth $48 trillion – ranging from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and products.

So it is not only for cryptocurrency. There are numerous other non-currency blockchains to think about it.

With over 12,000 live cryptocurrencies based on blockchain architecture and a growing number of active blockchains, the number of active blockchains is increasing daily. So, we need to do some research and comparisons to select from. Let’s start by determining whether you require blockchain software.

Do you need a blockchain platform?

The decision tree will tell you whether or not you need a blockchain platform:

If you need one, it’s time to do some research! Don’t worry; you will find a list of blockchain platforms in 2022 below.

Blockchain networks: Top blockchain platforms in 2022

Blockchain technologies can serve several new purposes beyond cryptocurrencies and bitcoin. The technology’s capacity to provide more transparency and fairness while also saving firms time and money impacts various sectors, from how contracts are fulfilled to making government operations more efficient.

Rather than cryptocurrencies, there are several blockchain use cases, such as blockchain gaming. So, let’s take a closer look at the best blockchain platforms.

IBM Blockchain

IBM has been among the first firms to utilize the blockchain to create efficient and transparent business operations. The IBM blockchain platform is a well-known tool. This platform offers a managed and full-stack blockchain-as-a-service solution that allows users to combine their blockchain components in any way they choose. Users may use this IBM blockchain platform to create, utilize, and develop their own blockchain network.

The IBM Blockchain development tool was created to be adaptable, efficient, and user-friendly. To ease critical operations such as setup, testing, and rapidly deploying smart contracts, IBM has also invested in a user-friendly interface.

Chainalysis KYT

The latest buzzword in the bitcoin world is “KYT,” which stands for Know Your Transaction. It’s a platform that offers an easy-to-use interface, real-time APIs, and industry-leading blockchain intelligence. It aids organizations in streamlining manual processes, staying compliant with local and global laws, and safely engaging with cutting-edge technologies like DeFi.

Tron

Another decentralized blockchain system, Tron, seeks to build a decentralized web. Like Ethereum, Tron lets developers use complete protocols through smart contracts on the blockchain. Tron can handle 2000 transactions per second, which is more than enough for most payment processors like PayPal. Furthermore, there are no transaction costs with Tron.

Tron’s primary feature is its high scalability, which allows it to support thousands of transactions per second. Tron was designed with high-scale capabilities in mind and used the Delegated Proof of Stake consensus mechanism for enhanced blockchain security. There are various methods to put up a DApp on the Tron network. Currently, Tron is one of the most rapidly expanding public chains.

High throughput, high scalability, and compatibility with the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) are some key factors contributing to the Tron network’s popularity.

Stellar

Stellar is a decentralized network that allows the saving and transfer of money. It enables you to generate, trade, and send digital representations of all types of money, including dollars, bitcoin, pesos, and many more.

Most banks are experimenting with blockchain technology to provide transparent, seamless, and safe services. Stellar is a blockchain platform that can assist you to create secure and quick fintech applications, tokens, and digital assets for financial assets.

It’s a decentralized network for money and cryptocurrency. It has no owner; the public is the ultimate owner of anything it possesses. Every day, it can process millions of transactions. Like Ethereum and Bitcoin, Stellar is based on blockchain technology to keep the network up to date.

The Stellar platform may be used to create your own assets, trade peer-to-peer tokens, and transform currency while sending.

Ethereum

Ethereum is a blockchain platform that Vitalik Buterin introduced in 2013, and it is one of the oldest and most well-known blockchain networks. It delivers a decentralized blockchain with properties similar to Bitcoin’s network.

Ethereum is a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts. It’s commonly used because it’s one of the most popular blockchain systems. It allows customers to develop new financial apps, decentralizes markets, establishes gaming environments, and so on. The major objective of this technology is to eliminate third-party access that collects data for further financial instrument analysis. Today, Ethereum has the greatest community of fundamental protocol builders of any blockchain system.

MultiChain

Open-source Bitcoin variant MultiChain is a type of Bitcoin that’s open source. It’s easy to use and may be utilized to create bespoke blockchains, both private and public. It includes a carefully chosen combination of features and enhancements geared toward commercial and corporate users. Local assets integration and the ability to store larger amounts of random data appear to be beneficial. Consensus-based permitting for consortial blockchains is a distinct approach, although it is based on consensus. The chain could be modified by updating the multichain-util text file before starting multichain; parameters cannot be changed after the network has been fully established. So, do this before.

EOS

Another secure and scalable blockchain technology for developing dApps is EOS. This platform can be referred to as an extended version of Ethereum and Bitcoin blockchains since several characteristics are supported in EOS that is not available in either.

EOS is a blockchain network that allows smart contracts, hosting for dApps, and decentralized storage of business solutions to address scalability limitations. You may create a finance app on EOS that performs transactions at a lower rate. The developers can also develop executable smart contracts according to company needs.

The EOS blockchain enables developers to expand on their concepts by building various apps on the blockchain network. You may quickly create contemporary finance applications, games, business solutions, and other items.

Hyperledger Fabric

Building apps or solutions with a modular architecture, the goal of Hyperledger Fabric is to provide a framework for creating such software. Components like membership services and consensus may be connected in a plug-and-play manner. It features a wide range of modular and adaptable designs that cater to several industrial use cases.

Establishing a network of networks is one of the key characteristics of Hyperledger Fabric. Members of the Fabric network collaborate, but since firms want to keep some of their data private, they generally maintain distinct ties within their networks.

Hyperledger Sawtooth

Hyperledger Sawtooth is a Linux Foundation- and Hyperledger-sponsored open-source blockchain project that uses a new voting strategy known as Proof of Elapsed Time. This innovative method may be used with hardware-based security technologies to allow “trusted execution environments” for program code to execute in stable strongholds and encrypted computer memory locations.

Klaytn

Klaytn is a global public blockchain platform designed by Ground X, Kakao’s blockchain subsidiary. Klaytn, a blockchain developed by Kakao, is structured as a modular network with adaptable network architecture, making it an appealing business blockchain choice. Its modular network design makes it simple for businesses to construct and operate service-oriented blockchains based on the Klaytn framework. Klaytn’s enterprise-friendly environment is built on Service Chains, which autonomously run sub-networks at the platform’s base. Because of Klaytn’s flexibility and customizability, any online service may be created on it. Efforts focused on gambling or financial speculation, however, are not allowed.

Ripple

Ripple’s enterprise-grade solutions are faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective than traditional financial services because of its proven crypto and blockchain know-how developed over a decade. Ripple users utilize these tools to acquire crypto, facilitate immediate payments, give power to their treasury, engage new audiences, lower capital requirements, and generate new income.

XDC Network

XDC Network is a versatile hybrid blockchain platform that connects public and private blockchains via cross-chain smart contracts to provide enterprises with both benefits. XDC Network is a decentralized and liquid network that utilizes interoperability. It digitalizes and tokenizes trade transactions, increasing efficiency while minimizing reliance on complicated FX infrastructures.

Blockchain platform comparison

Your demands determine the effectiveness of blockchain platforms. However, the top five services, according to Gartner’s voting, are as follows:

1. Chainalysis KYT
2. IBM Blockchain
3. Ripple
4. Ethereum
5. Hyperledger Fabric

Top blockchain companies

These are some of the best blockchain companies:

Amazon

Amazon Web Services has blockchain technology available to help businesses use distributed systems without developing them from the ground up. This is a good strategy for maintaining market dominance in cloud computing, Amazon’s most profitable business sector, with an operating profit of $7.3 billion in 2018.

Change Healthcare, Workday HR management software provider, and the DTCC clearinghouse are examples of clients of Amazon cloud services.

Blockchain platforms: Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum.

Anheuser-Busch InBev

The world’s one of the largest brewers is a part of a pilot program in which customers may put their driver’s licenses on the blockchain and purchase beer from the vending machine simply by scanning their phones. With BanQu and the aid of the blockchain platform, AB InBev communicates with local farmers who do not have bank accounts in Africa, one of the fastest-growing beer markets in the world. This might allow AB InBew to work more quickly and with additional farmers to develop its business in Africa.

Blockchain platforms: Ethereum, Corda.

BBVA

In November last year, the second-largest bank in Spain announced the first syndicated blockchain-based loan under a $170 million deal with Red Eléctrica Corporación, Spain’s grid operator. Furthermore, worldwide syndicated loans worth almost $5 trillion are distributed yearly, so blockchain technology’s transparency, safety, and efficiency may play a significant role.

Blockchain platforms: Hyperledger Fabric, Corda, Ethereum.

How to choose a blockchain platform?

When deciding on the best blockchain platform for your business, think about the following things.

Type of Blockchain you need

When determining which blockchain platform to use, you must first identify the appropriate blockchain for your application. If you want your participants to be authorized before participating in the network, you’ll need a permissioned network. As a result, you must decide whether you require a permissioned or permissionless blockchain.

Languages supported by the platform

If you have a team of in-house developers, choose a platform that supports their preferred languages. You could search for a platform that works with different programming languages, such as Python, Java, Javascript, and others.

Security

Many organizations need to safeguard sensitive information, and a lack of security can be detrimental. Choose a platform that maintains protection to ensure no security breaches occur. EOS and Hyperledger Fabric are two of the most popular platforms for handling security.

Smart Contracts functionality

Not every blockchain platform supports smart contracts, which are useful in validating, enforcing, or triggering activities on the blockchain network.

Are you ready to choose one?

The rise of remote work highlights cybersecurity and ethics issues, making organizations adopt numerous tools to keep businesses safe from hackers, malware, and leaks. Given the scale of damage caused by all sorts of troubles that may occur in or via corporate networks, looking for a potential attack is a paramount task, just as making sure that the performance of apps, services, and employees is up to appropriate business standards.

Packet capture me if you can

Packet analyzing is among the most efficient ways to detect threats and check the overall network condition. The objectives are achieved with the help of packet capture devices enabled to ‘extract’ the traffic coming to or from any given address and check anything about it, from a history of requests to the time of reaction of apps and services. Packets of traffic can be captured, recorded, indexed at the administrator’s request or periodically – or an organization may opt for continuous stream capturing, depending on how crucial it is for a business to analyze it. After the data is captured, and if problems are detected, an organization may proceed with urgent steps to handle them and use the captured information in the future for deeper analysis.

Sounds optimistic and straightforward. But there must be some challenge, right?

Yes. The more data you need to analyze, the more performance is demanded from the packet storage devices, which is hugely impacted by the types of drives used and their restrictions. One of the most significant issues in this field is writing sequential data directly to storage with consistent performance. Data capture devices must record data directly at more than 12 GB/s to prevent packet loss when using 100 Gb/s networks, which sounds too much of a task, as most SSDs are optimized for random rather than sequential workloads.

Only NVMe-based solutions can handle such workloads. Unfortunately, due to the prevailing opinion that it is impossible to create an effective fault-tolerant RAID on NVMe in most cases, reliability is sacrificed for performance. Most continue to use non-NVMe hardware and software in RAID 0 configuration (losing reliability) or RAID 10 (losing cost-effectiveness).

It’s a new ERA for NVMe

There’s no need for such a sacrifice, though, as a specialized RAID software solution comes into play. When developed to realize a specific protocol’s potential (NVMe in this case), the software can overcome reliability issues and performance bottlenecks that NVMe-based systems are prone to.

RAIDIX ERA embodies a perfect solution for packet capture appliances. Its software RAID is presented by a Linux kernel module and management utility, making it highly compatible. ERA features include innovative RAID technologies based on proprietary algorithms that provide stable and fast performance. With I/O handling parallelization and lockless datapath, ERA maximizes NVMe capabilities, squeezing up to 97% of their possible performance, keeping CPU and RAM usage at a low 10-20%. 

Developed with NVMe architecture in mind and dealing great with sequential operations, RAIDIX ERA is way more efficient. It shows better performance than other RAID solutions such as Intel vROC, hardware controllers, and software RAIDs.

It’s worth saying a few words about RAIDIX itself. The company has been developing software-defined storage solutions for data-intensive tasks since 2009. What makes RAIDIX products different from others are proprietary RAID technologies programmed specifically for enterprise storage environments. Their prowess has been proved by successful uses cases, such as implementing software RAID solutions for autonomous vehicles or nearly doubling the performance of kdb+ databases.

What tests say

As mentioned above, for many RAID 0 or RAID 10 are configurations of choice. Sadly, the former brings high speed alongside sheer reliability fears, while the latter provides performance with bills to pay for the extra hardware. Being able to challenge the write speeds of the riskier or more expensive RAID levels in RAID 5 configuration gives RAIDIX ERA an upper hand — but this certainly needs to be proved.

One example is RAIDIX solution for data logging in autonomous vehicles. The task of recording all the data from every car’s sensor is way too challenging for the absolute majority of server platforms and RAID solutions. Why? Because the write performance has to be extremely high, while the size of the server platform is preferred to be as small as possible. These two criteria left no room for any drives but the brand new SSDs. But even with such top-notch equipment it had remained tricky. Not long ago a full-scale data-logging solution with just 12-16 SSD or NVMe drives was hard to come by, given the needs of data processing and PCIe limitations back in the early and mid-2010s. But since PCIe 4.0 introduction in 2019, things have changed. Nice and small server platforms became suitable for data-logging purposes in terms of performance, and their compact size was exactly what the manufacturers of autonomous vehicles and specialized solutions were looking for.

So this type of PCIe 4.0-based solution was chosen, with RAIDIX aboard, for specialized data-logging server platform tests by StorageReview. The storage system, powered by ERA engine, equipped with NVMe drives and configured as RAID 5 demonstrated sequential read transfer speeds as high as the similar system with no redundancy (in RAID 0 configuration). Also, despite redundancy, it delivered two-thirds of RAID 0’s sequential write speed — which is a powerful result for a cost-effective and fault-tolerant RAID 5.

Autonomous vehicles may present a kind of top-level task, but if you’re not dealing with these and need a performance boost, just add a few SSDs, and PCIe 3.0 will still do the job. But with RAIDIX ERA it will be an excellent type of job, and a few will not be a handy euphemism for dozens. Below we have another case of RAIDIX ERA being way more efficient with NVMe drives in RAID 5 configuration than MDADM, a standard RAID management tool by Linux.

System configuration (information disclosed):

CPU: Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold
Motherboard: Supermicro
Sequential block size: 128k

8 WD SN640 NVMe SSD in RAID5 for both RAIDIX and MDADM

MDADM is completely outclassed and doesn’t seem to be a viable solution for NVMe storage at all, be it data logging, packet analyzing, or any other performance-demanding task.

Another benchmark addressed the old guard approach. Why not go with a hardware controller? It has always brought great performance, they say. Well — as we can see below — the performance gap is in ERA’s favor.

System configuration (information disclosed):

CPU: AMD EPYC 7702P

OS: Oracle Linux 8.3
8 WD SN640 NVMe SSD in RAID5 for RAIDIX, MDADM, and MegaRAID

Kernel: UEKR6 (5.4.17-2036.101.2.el8uek.x86_64)

How come that software RAID nearly triples the hardware RAID’s performance on writes — and almost reaches the baseline numbers, with one drive left for parity compared to all-drives baseline mode?

It goes down to ERA’s core design principles, which eliminate the bottleneck of architectural limitations that PCIe switches put on overall performance due to lane oversubscription. That increases costs, adds another hardware layer between the CPU and drives, and imposes performance limitations.

There’s no such bottleneck when there’re no PCIe switches needed at all, as it happens in software-defined storage.

To bring both simplicity and high performance, RAIDIX had developed and stuck to their unique data path approach that takes full advantage of NVMe and PCIe throughput, to NVMe enthusiasts’ great joy — finally, their drives will make a substantial difference. Add to this flexibility, zero hardware costs, and all-vendor compatibility of the ERA software. Also, it’s worth noticing that software RAID is now the only solution to support NVMe-oF JBOF devices for disaggregated storage. MDADM, again, performed poorly compared to RAIDIX ERA.

Finally, RAIDIX conducted ERA tests in its laboratory to determine if the system could stay within or above 12-13GB/s in RAID 50 10-drives NVMe configuration for packet capture devices purposes. It was shown clearly that those numbers are achievable:

System configuration (information disclosed):

CPU: Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold
Motherboard: Supermicro
SmartNIC Napatech
File System: XFS
Sequential block size: 128k
Number of streams: 64
Queue depth: 32
RAID level: 50
Micron 9300 MAX NVMe SSDs

As the interface tells, RAIDIX experts were willing to emulate a real-life functioning of packet capture apps using the fio tool — flexible I/O tester — and the Netkeeper utility for testing.

Conclusion

As a solution for packet capture devices, RAIDIX ERA allows building a network analysis infrastructure without balancing between performance and reliability. This is made possible by using a fault-tolerant RAID 5, which ERA practically equals to RAID 10 or even RAID 0 in terms of performance, and keeps it as economical as RAID 5 is supposed to be. This, ironically, may bring a couple of new worries — about the speed of archiving all that data to external systems or about the resilience of those archives. These are worries that seem to be much more enjoyable, though.

Next month, MIT researchers will present a breakthrough discovery that could change the way Web and mobile apps are written and help large corporations in making their datacentres more efficient.

Given that large websites have datacentres that are prone to congestion – “packets of data arriving at the same router at the same time are put in a queue, and if the queues get too long, packets can be delayed” – the new research has shown that the system can reduce network transmission queue length by over 99 percent.

In cooperation with Facebook, the MIT researchers experimented with one of the tech giants’ datacentres in an attempt to reduce the average queue length of routers. The research stated that, when traffic was most heavy, the average latency — the delay between the request for an item of information and its arrival – per request fell from 3.56 microseconds to .23 microseconds.

The model developed by the researchers – dubbed MIT Fastpass – replaces the standard decentralised networking model – where each node decides on its own when, where, and how to send data – to a centralized model called “arbiter” to decide “which nodes in the network may send data to which others during which periods of time.”

As ZDNet report, the research indicates:

“a single 8-core arbiter machine could handle 2.2 terabits of data per second, which, according to their announcement, equates to 2,000-gigabit connections running at full speed. The belief is that this could scale to a network of as many as 1,000 switches.”

It is believed that the Fastpass software will be released as open source, although the researches emphasised that it’s not a production-ready code. More information on the research will be presented at the ACM Special Interest Group on Data Communication this August.

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(Image Credit: Claus Rebler)