Solera Networks is a Utah based software company founded by former file system architects from Novell. They are leading developers of network visibility and networking monitoring solutions. Solera Networks’ lossless deep packet capture and stream-to-storage appliances basically captures and records all network activities across all virtual and physical network environments. Once captured the data is then stored for analysis. This is somewhat similar to using a TiVO to record programmes broadcast by a channel. So, if you realise that there was an unnatural spike in usage yesterday night, you can go back and find out exactly what happened. With help of Solera you can perform Deep Packet Inspection and detect intrusions, spam, viruses and data leakage (Network Forensics) occuring in your network. Solera’s highly performance appliances are capable of capturing all data even at speeds of 10 Gbps. Not only that Solera is even capable of providing live data about your network with a delay of only 1 microsecond. To ensure that you get maximum performance Solera uses a patented file system that’s explicitly designed to overcome the inherent limitations of speed and memory, enabling the capture, recording, and playback of network data as fast as it is delivered.

Solera Web Based Control Center

Solera also provides appliances that can help any network provider achieve CALEA compliance(Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act). CALEA makes it mandatory for ISPs and telecommunication carriers to have infrastructure in place to be able to comply with warrants from law enforcement agencies for authorized lawful intercept (wire tap) requests. Solera’s easy to use and highly versatile appliances allow you to do a lot more than just become CALEA compliant. Solera allows you to catch the trouble makers, detect issues with your network and enhance your security. Here are a couple of case studies :

Cal-Ore Communications Inc (ISP) :

(Solera) become an integral component to network management at Cal-Ore. For instance, if they come across a network traffic spike, Boening can use the appliance to “go back in time”, watch what happened, and take appropriate action. Solera Networks saved Cal-Ore about $100,000 for their CALEA compliance solution. “We’ll hear from other providers telling us that we have a customer who is sending out spam,” said Charles Boening (Network Manager). “Before I disconnect that customer, I need to verify it is a legitimate compliant. I use the Solera Networks box to find specific traffic over a period of time and put it into an analyzer, such as WireShark, to determine whether it is junk. If it is, I will then turn off the customer.”

Skyriver Communications (connectivity services provider)

“When I initially learned of Solera Networks and its CALEA solution, I was stunned at the pricing,” Slavin said. “It was about a quarter of the cost of anything else I had seen on the market and for a while I actually doubted they would be able to deal with the compliance issues in a solution that cost less than $10K. I was pleasantly surprised.”

“It’s my expectation that when using the device to perform network analysis, if there is an event, its going to really reduce our time to respond. It seems that we started out looking for a hunting knife but ended up getting a Swiss Army Knife. Because it provides a complete and accurate picture of network activity and performance, this is going to handle a lot more of our day-to-day networking needs than being a dumb box that just sits there, waiting for a specific lawful intercept request that may or may not happen any time soon,” he said.

Here is a list of possible scenarios Solera can help you with.

Solera must be doing something right as they recently received the CRN Top 25 Coolest Emerging Vendor award and 6th Annual Utah Innovation Awards.

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