Episodes

  • HN811: What AI Startups Get Wrong

    HN811: What AI Startups Get Wrong
    Jan 23 2026
    What is the real-world impact of AI on network operations? Drew and Ethan have a chat with Carlos Pignataro, Founder & Principal at Blue Fern Consulting, to cut through the AI hype machine. Carlos offers a thoughtful, balanced take on where the industry is headed, and where it’s missing the mark. Together they discuss Intent-Based... Read more »
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    57 mins
  • N4N047: Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)

    N4N047: Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)
    Jan 22 2026
    Go beyond the basics to understand the mechanics that keep your default gateway from becoming a single point of failure. Ethan and Holly demystify Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), which helps provide network redundancy. They break down everything from the VRRP election protocol to the protocol’s unique communication methods. They also look back at previous... Read more »
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • D2DO292: AI, Augmented Engineers, and the Timeless Principles of Software Architecture

    D2DO292: AI, Augmented Engineers, and the Timeless Principles of Software Architecture
    Jan 21 2026
    Ned and Kyler sit down with industry analyst Jon Collins for a fun and free-ranging discussion that covers everything from the changing landscape of software engineering to the importance of good architecture (physical and digital). They tackle the pros and cons of “Vibe Coding” as well as the “Augmentation Gap”, the idea that AI tools... Read more »
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    47 mins
  • NAN111: Automation, AI, and the Future of Branch Networking: Inside Cisco Unified Branch (Sponsored)

    NAN111: Automation, AI, and the Future of Branch Networking: Inside Cisco Unified Branch (Sponsored)
    Jan 21 2026
    In this sponsored episode, Eric sits down with Lee Peterson, VP of Product Management for Secure WAN, at Cisco. Together they discuss how Cisco Unified Branch is helping organizations scale, automate, and secure their distributed environments. They also define the Branch Network, discuss the major challenges facing network teams, and walk through Cisco’s vision of... Read more »
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    40 mins
  • PP093: Security Priorities for 2026 – A Roundtable Discussion

    PP093: Security Priorities for 2026 – A Roundtable Discussion
    Jan 20 2026
    The start of a new year is a good time to assess what’s important. We’ve gathered some Packet Protector listeners to talk about their security priorities for 2026 in a roundtable discussion with hosts JJ and Drew. We talk about key risks for 2026, whether those risks have changed since last year, use cases for... Read more »
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • NB558: Microsoft Buys Indulgences for Carbon Sins; Starlink Cleared for 7,500 More Satellites

    NB558: Microsoft Buys Indulgences for Carbon Sins; Starlink Cleared for 7,500 More Satellites
    Jan 19 2026
    Take a Network Break! This week we start with follow-up from a perhaps not-so-red Red Alert, and then cover two very-red Red Alerts. On the news front, Ruckus Wireless gets a new parent company, and sources say Extreme Networks may be interested in bringing Ruckus into its fold. AT&T rolls out an IoT management offering,... Read more »
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    27 mins
  • TNO053: Ethernet Is Everywhere

    TNO053: Ethernet Is Everywhere
    Jan 16 2026
    Ethernet is everywhere. Today we talk with one of the people responsible for this protocol’s ubiquity. Doug Boom is a veteran of the Ethernet development world. His code has helped landers reach Mars, submarines sail the deep seas, airplanes get to their gates, cars drive around town, and more. Doug walks us through the origins... Read more »
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    50 mins
  • HN810: AI in Network Operations: Pragmatism Over Hype (Sponsored)

    HN810: AI in Network Operations: Pragmatism Over Hype (Sponsored)
    Jan 16 2026
    Are you an AI skeptic or an enthusiast? Ethan and Drew sit down with Igor Tarasenko, Senior Director of Product Software Architecture and Engineering at Equinix, to break down the reality of AI in the network. In this sponsored episode, Tarasenko discusses why APIs are the new CLI, the critical need for observability in AI,... Read more »
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    1 hr