shrewd strategy

A somewhat surprising book. One might think that Cisco would be threatened by the rise of unix (and even linux) gateways. These often are much cheaper at doing common networking in software, than buying hardware from vendors like Cisco, that perform similar tasks. Typically, the hardware has better performance. But a generic gateway does other things, and overall, that has led to a rise in unix boxes for gateways.

But Schmied suggests how Cisco hardware can still have a place in this environment. He gives many scenarios involving both types of devices cooperating.

Given that this book is published by Cisco, it suggests that the company is pursuing a shrewd strategy. By not advocating that unix boxes are unsuitable for gateways. Because doing so would lose a lot of credibility amongst its potential customers, who can easily try out such an arrangement and see it easily work, at reasonable if not good performance, and low cost. The coexistence approach prevents them from engaging customers in an argument that Cisco cannot win, and gives them a continued presence in the customers' networks.

Other Reviews

• Title should be "Integrated Cisco OR UNIX Network"
• Author's comment on Mr. Boudville's "review"
• shrewd strategy