VRF is an extension of IP routing that provides multiple routing instances. It provides a separate IP routing and forwarding table to each VPN and is used in concert with MP-iBGP (Multi-Protocol internal BGP) between provider equipment (PE) routers to provide Layer 3 MPLS-VPN. However, ML-Series VRF implementation is without MP-iBGP. With VRF Lite, the ML Series is considered a PE-extension or a customer equipment (CE)-extension. VRF Lite is considered a PE-extension since its has VRF (but without MP-iBGP), and it is considered a CE-extension since this CE can have multiple VRFs and serves many customer with one CE box. 

VRF Lite means VRF without  the need to run MPLS in the network. VRF Lite allows the network administrator to create multiple routing instances on the same routing device within the enterprise (for instance, it is possible assign the 10.0.0.1/30 IP address on two different interfaces). VRF Lite can be useful when you need to isolate traffic between two networks sharing the same routing platform or if you have multiple networks with overlapping addresses sharing the same physical network. Multiple instances of routing protocols can be used for different VRFs on the same device to exchange routes dynamically with a direct connected device.

Do you remember the Cisco I-Prize contest, an open, global innovation contest developed to encourage collaboration among entrepreneurs and help identify new potential billion-dollar business ideas for Cisco?

On June 29 2010, Cisco announced the winner of its second I-Prize competition. A team of five university students from Mexico submitted the winning idea of a ‘Life Account‘ that gathers information about users through connected devices in the physical world and online data available in the virtual world. The winners receive a cash prize of $250,000.

The The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) has published two important vulnerability advisories:

• Vulnerabilities in Cisco Unified Contact Center Express
• Cisco Application Extension Platform Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Vulnerabilities in Cisco Unified Contact Center Express
Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (UCCX or Unified CCX) contains a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability and a directory traversal vulnerability. These vulnerabilities are independent of each other. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could result in a DoS condition or an information disclosure.

Cisco announced its intent to acquire privately held CoreOptics Inc., a designer of digital signal processing (DSP) solutions for high-speed optical networking applications. Based in San Jose, with the majority of its employee base in Nuremberg and Gerlingen, Germany, CoreOptics will enable Cisco to equip service provider customers with highly advanced 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) transmission technology to scale their networks to meet the demands of rapidly growing Internet Protocol traffic driven by video, mobility and cloud services. According to Cisco’s Visual Networking Index research, global IP traffic will increase fivefold from 2008 to 2013 with a 40 percent compound annual growth rate.

On April 29 2010, Greenpeace announced their “Cool IT Leaderboard”: Cisco has been listed as #1 on the Greenpeace Cool IT Leaderboard.

“Cisco vaults to the top of the Leaderboard, doubling its score from the previous version by demonstrating the effectiveness of its greenhouse emissions-saving solutions such as smart grid technology and office energy management.” – Greenpeace.

“To play a significant role in helping make sure global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2015, IT companies need to deliver upon the promise that their technology can provide substantial climate savings today,” said Greenpeace Campaigner Casey Harrell.  “Leaders such as Cisco are actively investing in climate solutions, while others are merely signaling  commitments, hoping that lofty words are as good as action.”

The The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) has published two important vulnerability advisories:

• Multiple Vulnerabilities in Cisco PGW Softswitch
• Multiple Vulnerabilities in Cisco Network Building Mediator

Multiple Vulnerabilities in Cisco PGW Softswitch
Multiple vulnerabilities exist in the Cisco PGW 2200 Softswitch series of products. Each vulnerability described in this advisory is independent from other. The vulnerabilities are related to processing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) messages.

Cisco New Zealand is again offering small to medium sized businesses the chance to win a total Communications Makeover and this year the prize package is doubled, offering $100,000 of Cisco solutions and deployment.

The Cisco Communications Makeover is a chance for businesses to transform the way they operate and help them stay ahead of the competition.

“New Zealand is a country of small-to-medium businesses,” says Geoff Lawrie, managing director, Cisco New Zealand.  “Many of those businesses already punch well above their weight with the commercial success they achieve from the size and resourcing of their business, but their growth can be hampered by inefficient, out-dated or overloaded communications infrastructure.”

The The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) has published two important vulnerability advisories:

• Cisco Secure Desktop ActiveX Control Code Execution Vulnerability
• Cisco Small Business Video Surveillance Cameras and Cisco 4-Port Gigabit Security Routers Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Cisco Secure Desktop ActiveX Control Code Execution Vulnerability
Cisco Secure Desktop contains a vulnerable ActiveX control that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user who is currently logged into the affected system. Cisco has released a free software update that addresses this vulnerability.

Cisco announces its second Cisco I-Prize contest. In this open, global competition entrepreneurs submit proposals and collaborate to create the seed idea for Cisco’s next billion-dollar business.
Idea submissions should fall in one of four categories:

• The Future of Work: New solutions that accelerate and change the way we do business
• The Connected Life: Technological inspirations that dramatically improve living conditions and disseminate culture
• New Ways to Learn: Next-generation solutions that transform when, where, and how people learn.
• The Future of Entertainment: New solutions that change how people play together

On March 24 2010, the The Cisco Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) has published seven important vulnerability advisories:

• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software Session Initiation Protocol Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software H.323 Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software Multiprotocol Label Switching Packet Vulnerability
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software IPsec Vulnerability
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software NAT Skinny Call Control Protocol Vulnerability
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express Denial of Service Vulnerabilities
• Cisco Security Advisory: Cisco IOS Software Crafted TCP Packet Denial of Service Vulnerability