What Type of Network Devices Started Using Operating Systems?

In the technological world, devices that use operating systems (OS) are not limited to computers and smartphones. With the advent of the internet and smart devices, network devices too have started using operating systems to operate more efficiently and provide advanced functionalities. This article sheds light on the types of network devices that use operating systems and explores some related notable applications including what is the Meraki MDM app.

Networking devices, ranging from routers, switches, to firewalls, and access points, have incorporated operating systems to handle their functionalities with greater ease. One of the first network devices that began using an operating system is the router. Broadly used in homes and businesses, routers direct data packets along networks. They started using operating systems, such as Cisco’s Internetwork Operating System (IOS), Juniper JUNOS, and similar proprietary systems, as well as open-source options like OpenWrt.

Switches, another type of network device, also began to use operating systems, primarily to help manage network traffic and control which devices can access certain data. Operating systems for switches range from Cisco’s NX-OS for Nexus switches, Arista’s EOS for cloud networking, to open-source options like Switch Light.

Firewalls and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are network devices providing security functions. They too have ventured into the realm of operating systems. Proprietary systems from manufacturers like Checkpoint (Gaia OS), Palo Alto (PAN OS), and Juniper (SRX) have become commonplace. At the same time, open-source firewalls running on FreeBSD or Linux provide customizable alternatives.

Network access points and wireless controllers are other types of network devices that have adopted the use of operating systems. These systems, like Cisco’s AireOS and Aruba’s ArubaOS, allow more efficient management of connected devices and help ensure network security.

The addition of operating systems to these devices has significantly improved their functionality, productivity, and scalability. It simplifies the process of updating device software, increases their security, and minimizes network downtime due to faults or glitches.

What is the Meraki MDM app?

The Meraki MDM app, also known as the Meraki Systems Manager, is an example of how network devices are being managed using an app-specific operating system. It is a feature-rich, cloud-based Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution, provided by Cisco Meraki. This app allows network administrators to manage network devices through the OS of mobile devices.

Meraki MDM app offers a centralized dashboard from where admins can enforce device status checks, configure, and update device settings, distribute apps and data, enforce security policies, and remotely control and troubleshoot devices.

From an OS standpoint, the Meraki MDM app is compatible with various systems, such as iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac OS. This cross-platform compatibility and management-centric operating system approach make the app a preferred choice for administrators managing diverse and distributed network devices.

The journey of network devices from being simple packet forwarding devices to becoming intelligent networking appliances with the adoption of operating systems is intriguing. The future promises more integration and complexity as the boundaries between devices continue to blur in the increasingly networked world.

Operating systems in network devices, therefore, form the cornerstone of future networks and their management. They support the world’s ever-increasing need for fast, secure, and smart networks; and apps like the Meraki MDM only further this quest.