Palaniappan Alagan (CCIE #1922 since  Apr 1996, CCSI#98380, JNCI, JNCIS)

Emphases: Service Provider and Large Enterprise Network Infrastructure Architecture, Engineering and Operational focus with emphasis in Business-IT Alignment, ITIL/ETOM/FCAPS Processes, Project/Service Quality Assurance and Knowledge Transfer.  Strong Technical knowledge with 20 years experience in multi-vendor technologies at in-depth configuration level, root cause troubleshooting of complex networking issues and strong and effective leadership of technical team.

Strengths: Manage large scale and complex Infrastructure projects in customer facing engagements  as project leader and senior advisor. Provided both presales and post sales activities.  Achieved Cisco’s highest level of professional certification for both engineering work and training

delivery: Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE#1922, since 1996) and Certified Cisco Systems Instructor (CCSI#98380, since 1997). Continuous re-certification in various technologies for last 15 years. Recently certified by Juniper Networks as Juniper Network Certified Instructor (JNCI, since 2009) for delivering Juniper core backbone network technologies.  Strong domain knowledge in Networking Technologies in multivendor environment including with Cisco, Nortel, Alcatel, Huawei, Foundry, etc. Provided  technology training  to over 1000 engineers and consultants for companies such as Cisco (St. Jose) , Microsoft (Redmond), Bellsouth (Atlanta), AT&T, IBM, Boeing, Comcast,  USA Army, many other American clients during the period of 1997 to 2004.

Business/Management Background: Manage Fortune 500 companies IT Infrastructure Transformation project worth more than USD $100M that involves multi-site WAN MPLS network and large  scale Campus LAN Deployment from various project phases of Network assessment, Architecture/Design, Pilot Testing, Provider Selection, Implementation and Quality Assurance.  Manage company size under  20 staff as Director and CEO that provided Cisco & Juniper technology training services for over 15,000 Network Engineers in Malaysia and USA with revenue size of USD $1M  to  USD $3M.

Technology Background: Twenty (20) years of in-depth experience in the IT communication and networking industry including over twelve  years in network strategy, design and architecture, training delivery and human capital development,  network and systems management, and IT service operations as a consultant and trainer for large, multi-national organizations in North America and the Asia-Pacific rim.   Prior to starting  consulting practices and training services in 1997, held various network engineering  positions within AT&T and NCR Professional Services — regional, national, international networking practices and roles within strategic planning, systems integration, system analysis, systems engineering, product development, and marketing support. Learned consulting and system skills with many work experience of other AT&T Bell Labs consultants  during period of 199 to 1997.

Solid networking technologies experience gained through the years of practical implementation of multiple large-scale data, voice and video converged networks and management systems for IMS’ Corporate Clients in Asia Pacific and USA. Years of involvement in the  detailed technology  learning, delivery, development, implementation and support   has developed unique capability in the “big picture” thinking and architecture & design practices. Able to digest   complex technologies issues, look out for key details, collect customer key business requirements    and translate them  into simplified models and well defined architecture blueprint that are easily implementable. Experience includes diverse industries i.e. Telecom, Oil & Gas, Banking, Government  and various Global Private companies.

Conducted training and technology sessions on more than 20 different topics on various internetworking protocols and technologies. The topics include Internet Protocols (IPv4, IPv6), VoIP and IP Telephony, Internet Security (Firewall, IDS, VPN/IPSec, ACL), Remote Access, IGP Routing (OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS, RIP, Static, PBR) , Advanced Routing (BGPv4), LAN Switching (STP, VLANS, RSTP etc.), Multi-layer Switching,  Multi Protocols (IPX, SNA), Transport Protocols (ATM, Frame-Relay) and New World Protocols (MPLS, QOS). Well recognized by students for his excellent “know-how”. Conducted more than 250 advanced Cisco classes and many more vendor independent private classes for USA and International customers.

A mentor for many instructors and students pursuing Cisco Certification (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE, Security Specialist CCSP and Voice Specialist Certifications.) Known for his simplicity in presenting complex networking technologies and protocols.

A speaker in Cisco Powered Network Operations Symposium. Presented topics on VOIP and Internet Security and has developed and presented many custom designed course curriculum for the Fortune 500 customers on various networking technologies. Traveled widely in his career for various projects and to present various training courses.

Knowledge base covers the following:

• Physical Layer Protocols (DS0, T1, E1, DS3, SDH/SONET, xDSL)
• IP Protocols  (TCP/IPV4, TCP/IPv6, IPSec,  IP  Multicast)
• LAN Protocols ( Token Ring, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet)
• Transport Protocols (HDLC,  PPP,  Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS)
• Voice Integration – Cisco CallManager (IP PBX), Nortel Passport 4000. (VOIP, VOFR, VOATM), SIP, SCCP, MGCP and H.323
• Security Technologies (PIX Firewall, Checkpoint Firewall, ISS Scanning Tools,  Nortel/Cisco  VPN Concentrator  , various cryptography technologies, IPSec, Intrusion Detection Tools)
• Internetworking (VLANs, Spanning Tree, Routing and Switching Technologies, Access Server, IP Telephony & Traffic Engineering)
• Multiprotocols (IPX, AppleTalk, NetBIOS, SNA, CLNS, CLNP)
• Routing Protocols (RIP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, BGPv4, MP-BGP, MPLS, IP  VPN)
• Operating Systems (UNIX System, AIX-3, VRX/E, Windows-NT, MS-DOS, Windows)
• Management Systems (SNMP Protocols, Agents, NetView 6000, CiscoWorks, Optivity, IBM Netcool, CIsoc NCM, BMC Remedy)
• Tools, (LAN/WAN Analyzer, Microsoft Office, TCL/BASH Scripting)
• Products: Cisco (CRS IOS XR, Catalyst 6500, 3750, 28XX, etc.), Nortel (8600 and 5500) and Juniper M/T/SRX/EX Series.

Delivery of training courses and  technology seminars/workshops:

• Network+
• ICRC (Introduction to Cisco Router Configuration)
• ICND  (Internetworking Cisco Network Devices)
• ACRC (Advanced Cisco Router Configuration)
• BSCN (Building Scalable Cisco Network)
• CBCR  v2.1 (Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers)
• BGP v3.x (Configuring BGP on Cisco Routers)
• C5SC (Catalyst 5000 Series Configuration)
• CLSC  (Catalyst LAN Switch Configuration)
• BCMSN (Building and configuring Multi-layer Switch Network)
• CMTD  (Configuring, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting Dial-up)
• AS5200 (AS5200 Installation and Configuration )
• BCRAN (Building Cisco Remote Access Network)
• CVOICE v3.0 – v5.0 (Cisco Voice over Frame Relay, ATM, and IP)
• MCCM (Multiservice Concentrator 3810 Configuration and Monitoring)
• CIPT 3.1, CIPT 3.2 and CIPT 3.3  (Cisco IP Telephony)
• CUSA (Cisco Unity Systems Administration)
• CUSE (Cisco Unity System Engineering)
• DQOS (Deploying Quality of Service)
• MCNS (Managing Cisco Network Security)
• CSPFA (Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced)
• CSVPN (Cisco  Secure Virtual Private Network)
• DSL (Cisco 6100 System Installation, Configuration and Maintenance)
• DCN (Designing Cisco Network)
• VPN  Concepts and Implementation (Concept and multi-vendor implementation)
• CLNS/CLNP Protocol
• User Security
• ATM Technical Course
• Streetwise – Internetworking for Senior Managers (Avaya and AT&T)
• Configuring Juniper Network Routers (CJNR)
• AJNR (Advanced Juniper
• Introduction to the Junos Operating System (IJOS)
• Junos Routing Essentials (JRE)
• Junos Intermediate Routing (JIR)
• Junos Enterprise Switching (JEX)
• Junos for Security Platforms (JSEC)
• Implementing MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) Version 2.3
• Supporting Cisco Service Provider IP NGN Operations (SSPO) Version 1.0
• Operational Foundations for Cisco Service Provider Core Networks (OFCN) 1.0

Proof of Concept (PoC) Lab

Investment over USD $3M in lab equipments for  testing and validating network design solutions  with Cisco  WAN Routers, LAN  Switches , Unified Communication systems  and  multi-vendor products,  i.e. Juniper and  testing tools.

Project Experience:

• Oil & Gas Industry: PETRONAS  with over 20,000 staff over 30 countries
• Senior Consultant/Architect for development of Unified communication (UC) Architecture involving Cisco and Microsoft solutions.
• Provided Enterprise with “Big picture” view  for long term deployment of VOIP/IP Telephony, Unified Messaging and Video/Web Conferencing Services

• Project & Technical Director for  Dual IP VPN/MPLS Network Architecture (first in APAC) , Design, RFP Development, Vendor evaluation/negotiation, recommendation and  deployment for over 200 distributed sites across  varying geographical locations.
• Project resulted in improvement in network performance & reliability, reduction in annual WAN circuit cost and  enabled reduced  network complexity.
• Project  is the  first of it’s kind in leveraging the  dual service provider and dual product vendors (Cisco & Huawei)
• Senior Consultant/Architect for Next Generation LAN Architecture, Design, RFP Development, Vendor Evaluation/Recommendation, Project Planning and Deployment with Cisco 6500 & Cisco 3750 series LAN Switches. Project outcome/benefits:
  • Improved  network response time
  • Improved network reliability
  • Enable  next generation network services
  • Deployment for  6 large sites  with different network & deployment complexity:
  • Tallest twin tower in the world
  • Data centre with 3.5 tier
  • Petrochemical Plants
• Senior network consultant for assessment of the Wide Area Network (WAN) backbone network. Project activities included detailed analysis of traffic patterns, protocols, and router configuration data, fact-finding interviews, on-site facility inspections, and architecture reviews associated with each major node deployment on their enterprise WAN and corporate headquarters LANs. The assessment findings report identified key areas contributing to the current capacity, availability, and performance issues, and recommended architectural changes to the network services layer that should be considered in the next generation network design effort.
• Maybank (Banking and Financial Industry)
• Lead consultant for Maybank Network Audit Project – Enterprise LAN, WAN & VOICE Networks with strategic recommendations for improvement of  end-to-end  Network reliability and performance.
• Audit and Recommendations for Network Operational  improvements involving Maybank IT Governance, Outsourced 3^rd party and  Telecom Service Providers
• MIMOS,  Malaysia National Research Centre ( www.mimos.my)
• Network Consultant and advisor  for deployment of campus wide  Cisco based  network, Network improvement  services and IPv6 deployment.
• Establishment MIMOS’s Asian Centre of Excellence  for Networking Technologies (ACENT) to accelerate technology and human capital development in Unified Communication (UC)  – VOIP/IP telephony and Routing & Switching.
• MDEC  - MSC Malaysia
• Development of CCIE hands-on Programme to increase CCIE certified professionals in Malaysia
• TM (Telekom Malaysia)
• TM GAP Assessment  & Human Capital development  for Next Generation Network (NGN) Deployment
• Design  and delivery of enterprise network engineering services
• FCAPS Implementation with Network Management tools and Operational Processes.
• Microsoft Inc.,  & Boeing , Seattle USA
• Delivery of Cisco Call manager systems engineering services
• Bell South , AT&T, Atlanta USA
• Delivery of  IP based LAN & WAN  Network solutions & services including MPLS Technologies

Others:

• E-commerce Data Center Design and Implementation.
• Project lead for E-learning Implementation.
• Configuration and customization of an SNMP based management system with process and resource management applications (CiscoWorks and Optivity) for an IBM operating environment implemented on an IP network for a Financial Institution.
• Detailed design and implementation of a 3 tier router network incorporating SNA traffic for a telecommunication provider.
• Detailed design and implementation a Client/Server based Human Resource Management System for a financial institution.
• Process design to implement Fault and Change Management procedures for a distributed UNIX based Client/Server application for a telecommunication provider.
• Develop security policy and implement secured intranet systems (to perform financial transactions) for a financial institution.
• IP Telephony implementation for Education Industry
• ICT Advisors for various companies in Malaysia and APAC countries

Education and Certifications:

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE#1922)
  • CCIE Recertified continuously over 14 years in Routing/Switching, IP Multi-service, Security, VOICE/VOIP/IP Telephony and Service Provider Technologies.
• Certified Cisco Systems Instructor (CCSI#98380)
• Juniper Network Certified Instructor (JNCI)
• Cisco Certified  Network Professional Voice Access Specialist
• Cisco Certified Network Professional Security Specialist
• Degree in Bachelor Of Electrical  Engineering (University Malaya)
• Attendee in INTEROP Las Vegas 2010 CIO Conference
• JNCIA-Junos (Jan 2011)
• JNCIS-ENT (Jan 2011)