March 26, 2015 archive

Mar 26

Jim Courtney Discussing His "Experience Skype To The Max" Book on March 27 on VUC at Noon US EDT

Vuc534 skype to the maxWant to learn more about what's up with Skype right now? Tomorrow, March 27, 2015, at 12 noon US Eastern, my friend Jim Courtney is going to be discussing the new second edition of his "Experience Skype to the Max" on episode 534 of the VoIP Users Conference (VUC) podcast.

As noted on the VUC page, Jim will be talking about:

  • New features over the past three years and why they don’t have the “buzz” impact that new features used to have. Are we becoming calloused to anything new?
  • The challenge of innovating with a product that has built up a legacy and familiarity
  • The challenge of educating users about features beyond free voice and video calling (and it’s also a challenge for smartphones – to make users realize there is value in all those applications available beyond voice calls and SMS messages).
  • The feature set to consider when evaluating other alternatives
  • The directory issue
  • Skype vs Skype for Business
  • Asynchronous vs real time comms (migrating to IM backend has allowed more “persistence” with chat messaging, for instance)
  • Anytime communications Rooms

It should be a good session. I've known Jim for many years through his blogging about VoIP and he has a great amount of knowledge about Skype. Sadly, I'll be occupied with IETF 92 activities during the live broadcast so I will have to catch up with the recording of the session.

It's probably best to also join the IRC backchannel where links are shared, questions are answered and other comments occur. You also can visit the Google+ event page for the VUC #534 session today where there may be additional links and info.

If you won't be at your computer, you can also call in via:

  • sip:200901@login.zipdx.com
  • +1 (646) 475-2098
  • Skype:vuc.me

The session will of course be recorded so you can listen/watch later. Here is the YouTube live video stream:

If you found this post interesting or useful, please consider either:

Mar 26

Deploy360@IETF92, Day 4: More IPv6 Operations, TLS, and much Security

IETF 92 - Kathleen MoriartyThis  fourth day of IETF 92 has a heavy focus on security for us on the Deploy360 team.  While the day starts with the second of two IPv6 Operations (v6OPS) working group sessions, the rest of the day is pretty much all about security, security, security!

NOTE: If you are unable to attend IETF 92 in person, there are multiple ways to participate remotely.

In the 0900-1130 CDT block this morning, the second IPv6 Operations (v6OPS) sessions continues with their busy agenda in the Gold Room. Here are today’s topics:

A number of those should generate good discussion.

Meanwhile, over in the Oak Room, the TLS Working Group will be discussing improvements to this incredibly critical protocol that we are using to encrypt so many different communications over the Internet.  As my colleague Karen O’Donahue wrote:

The tls (Transport Layer Security) working group is actively working on an update to the TLS protocol. They recently conducted an interim meeting in Seattle, WA, on 10-11 March 2015. Agenda items for IETF 92 include backwards compatibility, rekeying, and client authentication.

After lunch the 1300-1500 CDT block has the Security Area Open Meeting in the International Room. The current agenda is this:

  • Joe Bonneau/HSTS and HPKP in practice (30 mins)
  • Adam Langley/QUIC (15 mins)
  • Jan Včelák/NSEC5 (10 mins)
  • Ladar Levinson/Darkmail (20 mins)
  • Paul Wouters/Opportunistic IPsec update (1 minute)
  • Eric Rescorla/Secure Conferencing (5 mins)

Several of these presentations tie directly into the work we are doing here.  The HSTS/HPKP is “certificate pinning” and very relevant to TLS, as is the QUIC presentation.  The NSEC5 is a new proposal for DNSSEC that, judging by the mailing list traffic, should get strong debate.

The 1520-1720 CDT block doesn’t contain any of the working groups we usually track, but there will be both a Routing Area Open Meeting as well as an Operations Area Open Meeting.

In the final 1740-1840 CDT block the Operational Security (OPSec) Working Group will be meeting in the Far East Room with a number of IPv6 and routing issues on their agenda.

Bits-and-Bites

The day will end with the Bits-and-Bites reception from 1900-2100 CDT  where attendees can get food and drink and also see various exhibits from sponsors and other organizations.  As I wrote in my Rough Guide post:

 I’m told that one table will be from Verisign Labs where they will be showing demonstrations of the getdns API being used with DNSSEC and DANE.  I’m not exactly sure what will be there, but if you are going to Bits-and-Bites you may want to stop by their table and see what it is about.

I understand there may be some cool demos from other vendors and groups as well. (I’m looking forward to seeing photos!)

For some more background, please read these Rough Guide posts from Andrei, Phil and Karen:

Relevant Working Groups:

For more background on what is happening at IETF 92, please see our “Rough Guide to IETF 92″ posts on the ITM blog:

If you are at IETF 92 in Dallas, please do feel free to say hello to our Chris Grundemann. And if you want to get started with IPv6, DNSSEC or one of our other topics, please visit our “Start Here” page to find resources appropriate to your type of organization.

Image: a photo from Jari Arkko of Kathleen Moriarty and Lisandro Granville at the IETF 92 Administrative Plenary

The post Deploy360@IETF92, Day 4: More IPv6 Operations, TLS, and much Security appeared first on Internet Society.

Mar 26

Deploy360@IETF92, Day 4: More IPv6 Operations, TLS, and much Security

IETF 92 - Kathleen MoriartyThis  fourth day of IETF 92 has a heavy focus on security for us on the Deploy360 team.  While the day starts with the second of two IPv6 Operations (v6OPS) working group sessions, the rest of the day is pretty much all about security, security, security!

NOTE: If you are unable to attend IETF 92 in person, there are multiple ways to participate remotely.

In the 0900-1130 CDT block this morning, the second IPv6 Operations (v6OPS) sessions continues with their busy agenda in the Gold Room. Here are today’s topics:

A number of those should generate good discussion.

Meanwhile, over in the Oak Room, the TLS Working Group will be discussing improvements to this incredibly critical protocol that we are using to encrypt so many different communications over the Internet.  As my colleague Karen O’Donahue wrote:

The tls (Transport Layer Security) working group is actively working on an update to the TLS protocol. They recently conducted an interim meeting in Seattle, WA, on 10-11 March 2015. Agenda items for IETF 92 include backwards compatibility, rekeying, and client authentication.

After lunch the 1300-1500 CDT block has the Security Area Open Meeting in the International Room. The current agenda is this:

  • Joe Bonneau/HSTS and HPKP in practice (30 mins)
  • Adam Langley/QUIC (15 mins)
  • Jan Včelák/NSEC5 (10 mins)
  • Ladar Levinson/Darkmail (20 mins)
  • Paul Wouters/Opportunistic IPsec update (1 minute)
  • Eric Rescorla/Secure Conferencing (5 mins)

Several of these presentations tie directly into the work we are doing here.  The HSTS/HPKP is “certificate pinning” and very relevant to TLS, as is the QUIC presentation.  The NSEC5 is a new proposal for DNSSEC that, judging by the mailing list traffic, should get strong debate.

The 1520-1720 CDT block doesn’t contain any of the working groups we usually track, but there will be both a Routing Area Open Meeting as well as an Operations Area Open Meeting.

In the final 1740-1840 CDT block the Operational Security (OPSec) Working Group will be meeting in the Far East Room with a number of IPv6 and routing issues on their agenda.

Bits-and-Bites

The day will end with the Bits-and-Bites reception from 1900-2100 CDT  where attendees can get food and drink and also see various exhibits from sponsors and other organizations.  As I wrote in my Rough Guide post:

 I’m told that one table will be from Verisign Labs where they will be showing demonstrations of the getdns API being used with DNSSEC and DANE.  I’m not exactly sure what will be there, but if you are going to Bits-and-Bites you may want to stop by their table and see what it is about.

I understand there may be some cool demos from other vendors and groups as well. (I’m looking forward to seeing photos!)

For some more background, please read these Rough Guide posts from Andrei, Phil and Karen:

Relevant Working Groups:

For more background on what is happening at IETF 92, please see our “Rough Guide to IETF 92″ posts on the ITM blog:

If you are at IETF 92 in Dallas, please do feel free to say hello to our Chris Grundemann. And if you want to get started with IPv6, DNSSEC or one of our other topics, please visit our “Start Here” page to find resources appropriate to your type of organization.

Image: a photo from Jari Arkko of Kathleen Moriarty and Lisandro Granville at the IETF 92 Administrative Plenary

Mar 26

TDYR 234 – Living The IETF Blur This Week

TDYR 234 - Living The IETF Blur This Week by Dan York