Behind the Broadcast: Memory Lane Edition
Backstage at Cisco Live Amsterdam, between camera checks and comms tests, early IP phones and UCS systems in the 40-year showcase transport me through time. As we prep tomorrow's broadcast, these technological ghosts remind me how each innovation built the foundation for what comes next.
As we wrapped up pre-show rehearsals at Cisco Live Amsterdam today, I found myself reflecting on both the present and the past. For the past two days, I've been what I playfully call a "meat puppet" - testing communication channels between the studio, remote cameras, keynote teams, and other stages. While it might sound simple, this intricate dance of technology ensures our broadcasts run smoothly.
Between technical checks, I had the pleasure of pre-taping segments with two stellar guests from the Network Operations Center (NOC). Joe Clarke, Distinguished Engineer, joined us to discuss NetApp's FlexPod, while Jim Florwick, my longtime go-to expert for all things Radio Frequency, shared insights on the latest WiFi developments. Having these old friends who've shaped my technical understanding across decades made these segments particularly special.
A Walk Through Time: 40 Years of Cisco Innovation
During a camera check break, I found myself drawn to the 40-year technology showcase. The display of early IP phones stopped me in my tracks, triggering a flood of memories. I remembered those early days of convincing skeptical customers that moving from traditional PBX to network-based telephony wasn't just about fancy new phones - it was about liberation from physical constraints. What once required extensive rewiring and days of IT work could now be accomplished in minutes with a few clicks. Those early handsets represented a pivotal moment when Cisco proved software could revolutionize even the most hardware-dependent systems.
Early 2009 TechWiseTV covering a little 'IP Telephony'
Cisco Unified Computing System
The UCS display transported me back to 2009, a time that feels surprisingly recent yet technologically distant. The challenge then was explaining why UCS wasn't just another server in a market saturated with blade servers, cable tangles, and fragmented management tools. UCS brought a radical simplification: one connection, one management interface, and the revolutionary concept of software-defined server identity. While these principles form the backbone of today's cloud-native world, they were truly disruptive at their introduction.
One of the first animated explainer videos I ever attempted...what is UCS?...2010
Looking Forward
As I stand here at the RAI, watching teams perform final network tests and video feed adjustments, I'm struck by how these early innovations laid the foundation for what we're showcasing this week. The core principles that made IP phones and UCS revolutionary - breaking free from hardware limitations, unifying complex systems, and emphasizing software intelligence - continue to drive today's innovations.
Having witnessed and shared many of these transformative moments over Cisco's forty-year journey, I'm excited to broadcast the next chapter starting tomorrow. We'll bring you the latest technologies reshaping business operations, building upon decades of breakthrough innovations.
Time for my final comms check - the broadcast team is calling. Stay tuned for live coverage from the show floor, where we'll explore what the next 40 years might bring, along with insights from tomorrow's keynote.