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Cisco launches multi-vendor network modeling platform

According to the company, its modeling platform will allow what if scenarios for everything from IPv6 implementations, cyberattacks, virtualization and the Internet of things.
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

Cisco has launched Cisco Modeling Labs, an effort to map, design and test networks virtually, to refine and optimize before actual deployment.

The launch illustrates what's becoming increasingly obvious about networks---they're only becoming more complicated. The Internet of things will add a bevy of sensors and endpoints to the network and there will also be mid-tier devices to take in data. Cisco's networking modeling tools also seem to acknowledge that networks will be multi-vendor affairs. Toss in software defined networking and Cisco's modeling tools could become handy.

Cisco Modeling Labs runs on VMware ESXi 5.0 and higher. According to the company, its modeling platform will allow what if scenarios for everything from IPv6 implementations, cyberattacks, virtualization and the Internet of things.

Key items in the modeling platform include:

  • The ability to import network topology and design to create a network and can be installed on PC or Mac. 
  • Scenario planning.
  • Troubleshooting. 
  • Connect a virtual network design to a non-production test network. 
  • Router simulations. 
  • Simulations can include gear from other vendors.

The Modeling Labs software is based on Cisco's IOS operating software and hosted on its Unified Computer System gear.

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