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Network resources will always be heterogeneous. They will be based on a mix of different technologies with different functionalities and programming models.  Note to technology bigots:  every technology has a finite life and will eventually be superseded.  X.25, SNA, ISDN, ATM, Banyan vines, Novel Netware, all had their day.  I am sure that you can think of a few more technologies to add to the list.  Technology evolves.  New methods become available that obsolete older methods.  

Choices in network architecture and design are constrained by timing requirements.  The requirement to get something done within some limited time period results in many familiar design patterns, including specialized hardware and software optimizations.

Virtualization is a form of abstraction that hides underlying implementation details.  Virtualization is an abstraction that simplifies, through interface minimization and standardization, and through isolation of applications.   Virtualization is a step along an a progression of abstractions.  The preceeding steps are modularization, standardization, and commoditization.

Network architects balance three contradictory processes:

1.  Over-provisioning

2.  Rationing

Ethernet's role is more critical than ever. Ethernet was first described to the public in 1976: http://ethernethistory.typepad.com/papers/EthernetPaper.pdf.  Ethernet predates SONET, ATM, MPLS, and TCP/IP.  Almost every aspect of Ethernet has changed over the years.  It has transformed into the interface of choice for all packet applications.

Since the human race attached wheels to carts, integration has been the foundation of all technological innovation. The mashup isn't new. What has changed, is the scale of the components that are integrated.

Mashing-up transistors, gave us logic gates in the 60s, leading to microprocessors in the 70s. Mashing-up microprocessors with disk drives, memory and software got us the personal computer of the 80s. And mashing up computers with networking led to the Internet in the 90s.

Our industry moves forward in technology steps. Some steps are incremental, building and extending concepts and capabilities that are well established. The march from 155Mbit/s to 10G SONET/SDH was incremental, 4x the capacity every 5 years. Sure, each generation had its challenges, but the basis of each step was execution within a prescribed framework.

Degrees of Separation

There are more than 6 billion people on the planet. Yet researchers tell us that you can connect any two of those 6 billion people through a chain of just 6 inter-personal connections. The theory of degrees of separation was popularized on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show as the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon, that analyzed the connectedness of movie actors based on the films that they appear in.

The economics of high technology is based on costs being shared. The many institutions that make up our 21st century society define our ability to share.

No single networking technology is capable of simultaneously meeting all networking requirements. This statement is based on economics.