Telemetry Now

Host Philip Gervasi talks with Uber's Vishnu Acharya about how Uber applies machine learning and MLOps to network operations at hyperscale. Vishnu explains Uber’s intentionally simple network design across on-prem and multi-cloud, then shares practical machine learning use cases like predictive capacity planning, hardware failure rate-tracking, and alert correlation to reduce noise and speed mitigation. They also discuss organizational issues, including building blended network/software teams, partnering with internal ML groups, and focusing on service-level outcomes over hype.

A new wave of civil unrest in Iran has triggered one of the most severe communications crackdowns the country has seen, with disruptions extending beyond the internet to voice, SMS, and Starlink. Host Philip Gervasi is joined by Amir Rashidi (Miaan Group / Filterwatch) and Kentik’s Doug Madory to break down how the shutdown unfolded, what the data shows as connectivity collapses, and why attribution is tricky in the fog of a rapidly evolving crisis. They discuss Iran’s National Information Network (the domestic “intranet”), how shutdown tactics have grown more targeted and sophisticated over time, and what makes this event different.

Host Philip Gervasi is joined by Andrés Azpúrua (Executive Director, VE sin Filtro / “Free and Secure Online”) and Kentik’s Doug Madory to examine what internet visibility can, and can’t, tell us during a fast-moving political crisis in Venezuela. They discuss Venezuela’s “baseline” reality of brittle infrastructure and recurring power outages, alongside long-standing, regulator-mandated censorship targeting independent media, social platforms, and even exchange-rate information. Using multiple data perspectives, the episode explores how traffic patterns, localized outages, and BGP noise can be misread without ground truth, and why careful attribution matters.

Host Phil Gervasi talks with Chris Grundemann, cofounder of the Network Automation Forum and AutoCon, about why network automation still isn’t fully adopted after more than a decade of hype. They dig into the real blockers behind the tech: skills gaps, engineer identity and culture, organizational structure, and the broader “sociotechnical” system around NetOps. Chris also shares how the AutoCon community has evolved over five events, the growing role of observability and AI in automation, and what’s next for NAF and AutoCon in Europe.

Kentik’s Mav Turner joins host Phil Gervasi to go beyond chatbot hype and dig into real AI reasoning for network operations. They discuss how Kentik AI Advisor uses network intelligence, hybrid RAG, and tool-calling to troubleshoot issues, optimize cost, and democratize access to network expertise. Along the way, they cover architecture, data governance, model evaluation, and why AI has to be built into an observability platform itself, not bolted on.

Host Philip Gervasi talks with Kentik pre-sales engineer Sean McGinley about what it really means to work in pre-sales. They unpack the various titles associated with those roles (e.g., solutions engineer, solutions architect) and discuss how pre-sales bridges the gap between technology and business. Learn how these roles balance hands-on engineering with customer relationships. Along the way, they share personal stories, lessons learned from the field, and why pre-sales can be one of the most rewarding career paths in tech.

Host Philip Gervasi and Kentik Field CTO Justin Ryburn preview the upcoming AutoCon 4 conference, one of the premier events for the networking industry. They discuss the growth of the Network Automation Forum, the evolution of the AutoCon community, and the event’s focus on real-world network automation, observability, and AIOps. Justin previews Kentik’s hands-on AutoCon 4 session, “Building Smarter Observability with Network Intelligence.”

Kentik CPO Mav Turner joins host Philip Gervasi to cut through the AI hype in NetOps. They discuss where ML and LLMs actually help—anomaly detection, root cause analysis, and agent-driven runbooks—and where deterministic methods still win. Join us for real talk on data pipelines, telemetry quality, model evaluation, human-in-the-loop guardrails, and the build-vs-buy trade-offs that transform network noise into informed decisions.

Doug Madory joins us to unpack the recent Red Sea submarine cable cuts and how Kentik’s Cloud Latency Map revealed the global impact in real-time, offering critical insight into cloud performance, interconnectivity, and internet resilience.

Lauren Basile joins us to show how traffic-aware cost intelligence turns spreadsheet guesswork into one-click, per-slice cost estimates across customers, ASNs, and CDNs. Learn about the SNMP plus contracts foundation, the flow-data leap, and how NetOps teams use cost-per-Mbps and path insights to optimize spend, pricing, and margins.

AI training isn’t just about GPUs, it’s about the network that ties them together. Host Phil Gervasi sits down with Vijay Vusirikala to unpack why job completion time is the true metric of success, how optical interconnects shape AI data center performance, and why power efficiency and observability are becoming mission-critical.

In this episode of Telemetry Now, Phil and guest David Cliffe explore “neocloud”—what it is, why it’s growing fast, and how it’s reshaping AI infrastructure. From GPUs and high-speed interconnects to orchestration layers and energy constraints, we discuss what makes neocloud different from traditional cloud, and what it means for data center operators, service providers, and AI architects.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn tackle Intel’s plan to spin off its Network & Edge Group (NEX) and what it means for high‑performance Ethernet NICs, examine Cisco’s new partnership with Hugging Face to scan every open‑source AI model for malware, and break down Broadcom’s Jericho4 fabric router—bringing 3.2 Tb/s “hyper‑ports” to distributed AI clusters. The hosts also discuss the real‑world state of SD‑WAN adoption, Palo Alto Networks’ $25 B CyberArk acquisition, Cisco’s quantum‑networking research, and upcoming industry events. Plus: a personal tale of basement‑automation triumph to kick things off.

Phil Gervasi sits down with Kentik Product Marketing Manager Eric Hian-Cheong to discuss why data enrichment is the "secret sauce" that turns raw flow logs, metrics, and cloud telemetry into true network intelligence. They explore how tagging telemetry with human-readable context—such as customer names, app IDs, Kubernetes labels, and more—shrinks mean-time-to-insight, empowers cross-team troubleshooting, and lays the groundwork for AI-driven operations.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil and Justin cover the global Cloudflare DNS outage, a rumored $10B SentinelOne acquisition by Palo Alto Networks, submarine cable security concerns from U.S. lawmakers, a major Alaska Airlines data center failure, why some say data centers are obsolete before they open, and Arista’s latest strategic hire. Plus, upcoming events and industry insights.

Ryan Booth, network engineer and AI developer, joins Philip Gervasi to explore the practical realities of building AI applications specifically for network and IT operations. They talk about the importance of starting with clear business objectives, understanding data engineering essentials, managing model evaluation, and bridging knowledge gaps between infrastructure and data teams. Ryan shares his insights about the need for iterative learning, using simple projects to gain practical skills, and recognizing how AI can effectively solve real ITOps and NetOps challenges.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil and Justin cover Cisco’s big legal win, HPE’s finalized Juniper acquisition, Arista’s strategic move to buy VeloCloud, CoreWeave’s $9B play for AI-ready data center infrastructure, Google’s new transatlantic subsea cable, Rackspace’s AI-focused private cloud, and yes—TSA may finally let you keep your shoes on.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil and Justin discuss the future energy demands of AI infrastructure, including eye-opening predictions about GPU power consumption. They discuss Gartner's skepticism regarding agentic AI projects, cautioning against inflated expectations. The duo also covers Cisco's latest quantum networking moves, legal battles over AI data rights, innovative private 5G networks at UK ports, and new high-capacity networking investments in Scandinavia. Plus, updates from Panama's internet shutdown and the latest industry events.

In this episode of Telemetry Now, Jason Gintert and Philip Wightman join the show to look inside SLED networking (State, Local, and Education). We talk about the unique challenges, goals, and realities of building and supporting networks for schools, colleges, and government agencies.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil and Justin cover Cisco's new infrastructure for AI, AI-in-a-box from Lemony, and the world's first 102.4 terabit switch from Broadcom. In other AI news: Salesforce blocks its AI rivals from using Slack data, and NVIDIA partners with Perplexity for local AI models.

In this episode, Scott Robohn joins Telemetry Now to recap AutoCon 3 in Prague, share insights on the current state of network automation, and preview what’s ahead for AutoCon 4 and the Network Automation Forum.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phillip Gervasi and Justin Ryburn break down Oracle’s $40B GPU deal for OpenAI, Salesforce’s $8B Informatica buy, AT&T’s fiber grab from Lumen, Arista eyeing VeloCloud, and Cisco’s big certification revamp.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phillip Gervasi and Justin Ryburn discuss Google's latest Gemini upgrade for Android Audio, Cisco's prototype quantum network chip, Notion's AI-powered note-taking tool for meetings. Plus: significant AI investments, Microsoft's layoffs, and NVIDIA's chip shipment to Saudi Arabia.

The IODA project, based at Georgia Tech, provides crucial insights into global internet activity, helping to understand major internet disruptions from events like power outages and government shutdowns. Amanda Meng and Zach Bischof discuss how IODA started, its mission, and the mechanisms they use to monitor internet activity at scale. They also discuss their roles in the project, which offers a publicly accessible dashboard for real-time internet connectivity data at ioda.live.

In this episode, Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn cover major developments in AI and networking, including Palo Alto Networks’ $650M push into AI security, Alibaba’s release of Qwen 3, and Meta’s new Llama API. They also discuss Microsoft’s AI-generated code stats, Asia’s IPv6 milestone, and the massive Iberian power outage that disrupted internet traffic across multiple countries.

Scott Robohn joins us to explore how industrial engineering concepts—like workflow design, systems thinking, and Edward Deming’s principles—can bring clarity, structure, and efficiency to modern network operations.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn break down OpenAI’s release of GPT 4.1 and its real-world use cases, major Google Cloud partnerships with Cisco and Juniper, Broadcom’s predictive security feature, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and shifting global dynamics in chip manufacturing.

In this episode, Christian von der Ropp joins us for a deep dive into the 12-year effort to connect St Helena via submarine cable, the rise of LEO satellite networks, and how infrastructure and policy intersect to bring modern internet to the world’s most remote regions.

In this news episode, Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn cover some of the latest tech headlines, such as Starlink entering the service provider space with Community Gateways, OpenAI raising $40 billion for AGI development, Comcast acquiring Nitel to expand its channel distribution strategy, and AWS announcing support for VPC route server running BGP. Tune in for the latest news and a quick roundup of upcoming network industry events.

In this episode of Telemetry Now, we explore why AI workloads require a fundamentally different approach to data center networking. From Ethernet vs. InfiniBand to mitigating issues with packet loss, latency, and link flapping, along with emerging standards from the Ultra Ethernet Consortium, we unpack the technologies reshaping how AI infrastructure is built.

In this episode, Phillip Gervasi and Ryan Booth dive into "vibe coding"—a new AI-assisted approach where LLMs generate code from natural language descriptions. Inspired by Andrej Karpathy’s vision, vibe coding streamlines development but raises questions about debugging, best practices, and the future of software engineering.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, hosts Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn discuss Microsoft's decision to shut down Skype after more than two decades, explore TSMC's massive $165 billion investment to expand semiconductor manufacturing in the US, and talk about the latest AI trends and strategic partnerships emerging from Mobile World Congress. They also highlight Starlink's ongoing efforts to expand connectivity in India and a roundup of upcoming network industry events.

Host Philip Gervasi sits down with Walid Mathlouthi, head of the Infrastructure Division at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to explore how this 160-year-old United Nations agency shapes global connectivity. Walid shares insights from his remarkable journey, spanning groundbreaking research in optics, impactful roles at AT&T and Google Fiber, and now leading global initiatives at the ITU. We discuss how the ITU manages critical spectrum and satellite resources, tackles challenges like cross-border interference, and spearheads ambitious efforts like the Giga project to connect underserved communities worldwide.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, special guest Scott Robohn joins us to discuss Broadcom’s interest in Intel, Cisco’s AI partnership with NVIDIA, the Stargate AI data center initiative, and the future of vendor-neutral certifications. Plus, is AI-driven search changing how we find information? Tune in for the latest tech insights.

Jason Gintert and Chris Kane of the US Networking User Association join Telemetry Now host Phil Gervasi to discuss the origins, mission, and future of the (US)NUA, the grassroots organization bringing network engineers and technologists of all stripes together through local meetups around the country. Learn what goes on at the local user groups, why in-person networking matters, where to find a meetup near you, and how you can get involved.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, hosts Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn explore Nokia’s CEO shake-up, Cisco’s eye-opening AI readiness study, and the real budget behind Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. They also examine France’s major AI investments, T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered satellite texting service, and the DOJ’s pushback on HPE’s proposed acquisition of Juniper. Plus, they break down Sony’s PlayStation outage and share details on upcoming industry events.

Have you ever had that heart-stopping moment when a single command brings down the network? In this final episode in our customer series, Phillip Gervasi is joined by Avi Freedman, Joe DePalo, and Jezzibell Gilmore to share some epic network outage stories—from fire suppression disasters to automation gone wrong and catastrophic BGP mishaps. Packed with hard-learned lessons and a few “hold my beer” moments, this episode is a must-listen for any network engineer.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, hosts Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn discuss the latest in AI and networking, including the game-changing release of DeepSeek R1, a Chinese open-source AI model that rivals OpenAI and sent NVIDIA's stock plunging 17%. They also talk Cisco’s new AI security solution, the stalled HPE-Juniper acquisition, TikTok’s brief U.S. ban and reinstatement, and proposed tariffs on AI chip-making equipment. Plus, they highlight upcoming industry events like NANOG and APRICOT. Tune in for expert insights on AI’s global impact, cybersecurity, and networking trends.

In this third episode in our customer series, Avi Freedman, Jezzibell Gilmore, and Joe DePalo from Netskope join host Philip Gervasi to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in IT operations. From NetOps and security operations to executive-level strategies, the group talks real-world AI use cases, potential risks, and best practices for safe and effective implementation.

In this Telemetry News Now, Justin Ryburn and Phil Gervasi discuss Cisco’s innovation pace in 2024, the rise of AI data centers, and the evolving role of satellite-to-mobile technology. They look at a recent copyright lawsuit against Meta, regulatory shifts in AI chip exports, and strategic investments in AI infrastructure. And as always, they highlight important upcoming events in networking. For info on the Foundations newsletter mentioned in this episode, see https://www.foundations.email/

In this second episode in our customer series, Avi Freedman, Jezzibell Gilmore, and Joe DePalo from Netskope return to share insights on how IT professionals can take control of their networks in 2025. From visibility and cost management to reducing reliance on third-party vendors, discover strategies to optimize your infrastructure and drive better business outcomes.

Host Phil Gervasi, along with Kentik’s Doug Madory, welcomes Darwin Costa of DE-CIX. Darwin shares his personal journey from aspiring pro soccer player in Angola to pioneering engineer at the forefront of global connectivity. Discover how he and his teams overcame daunting challenges to lay submarine cables that bridge continents, improve performance, and lower costs. Join us to learn how new infrastructure and strategies are bringing faster, more reliable Internet access to regions once left behind.

In the first episode in our customer interview series, Joe DePalo, Vice President and Chief Platform Officer at Netskope, joins Avi Freedman and Jezzibell Gilmore of Kentik to explore how content delivery networks (CDNs) enable the seamless, high-performance internet we take for granted. We demystify some of the “magic” of the internet, and highlight the critical role of edge connectivity in reducing latency, optimizing delivery, and ensuring great user experiences. We also explore the challenges of maintaining a performant internet as we end 2024: What are the evolving network performance and security demands? And why does making them work well remain a tough problem?

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil, Justin, and Leon discuss the launch of the CNCF’s OpenTelemetry certification, security concerns after recent damages in the Baltic Sea, Cisco’s partnership with NTT DATA to enhance global 5G connectivity, and Arista Networks’ growth driven by AI data centers. And as always, we end with a quick recap of important upcoming events.

TJ Sayers, cybersecurity expert with the Center for Internet Security, joins us to explore the security concerns around AI and, specifically, large language models. From integrating AI and LLMs into workflows, safeguarding sensitive data with techniques like anonymization and tokenization, to navigating security risks and privacy concerns, we discuss practical strategies to mitigate AI risks. We also examine AI’s role in national defense, and we address the growing challenge of verifying the authenticity of content in an AI-driven information age.

In this Telemetry News Now episode, Phil, Leon, and Justin cover news from Cisco about new WiFi 7 access points and licensing, a recent acquisition by Juniper, Arista’s continued growth in the AI networking space, and the passing of a familiar voice for those growing up in the early 90s.

In this episode, Phillip is joined by Charlie O’Riordan to discuss the transition from traditional enterprise networking to cloud networking. They explore fundamental differences in network designs between AWS and Azure, the use of underlay technologies like GENEVE and VXLAN, and the integration of firewalls and stateful devices. Tune in to learn about some of the limitations of cloud-native tools, the advantages of third-party solutions, and practical advice on using Terraform for infrastructure automation.

In this episode of Telemetry News Now, Phil Gervasi and Justin Ryburn cover news from SolarWinds about a critical vulnerability, Nvidia’s record-breaking market cap driven by AI, Alkira’s new Zero Trust Networking service, Amazon’s investment in nuclear energy, Starlink’s gigabit satellite plans, and the launch of Anthropic’s advanced AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet.

Explore how large language models (LLMs) like GPT and Llama are reshaping network operations. Ryan Booth joins Telemetry Now to discuss the practical applications of LLMs, from querying complex telemetry data to facilitating advanced analysis. Learn about current use cases—including natural language querying and automated workflows—and emerging trends like agentic AI for network automation. We also discuss challenges such as hallucinations and real-time data handling and offer some advice for integrating LLMs into your network operations today.

In this news episode, Phil and Justin discuss some of the latest tech headlines including Intelsat and SoftBank’s ambitious plan to deliver combined satellite and 5G connectivity for remote areas, Aryaka’s latest updates to its SASE platform, and Arista Networks’ CloudVision platform that aims to simplify hybrid network management. They also chat about OpenAI’s new model, “GPT-o1,” and explore a proposal to transform undersea cables into climate and seismic monitoring tools. Legal battles round out our headlines, with TikTok facing lawsuits over its impact on youth, and the DOJ’s push for antitrust sanctions against Google.