The Open Networking User Group (ONUG) is fortunate to have the support of trailblazing IT leaders committed to expediting the deployment of  Software-Defined Networking (SDN), programmable  networking, and open networking solutions. I want to acknowledge our innovative Board of Directors and the companies that support their ONUG efforts:

• Ernest Lefner of ONUG
• Keith Shinn of Fidelity Investments
• Pablo Espinosa of GAP Inc.
• Michael Payne of JPMorgan Chase
• James Younan of UBS

A special shout-out to Ernest, my ONUG co-founder who led the early efforts around ONUG at Fidelity Investments, which hosted our first conference in the Winter of 2013 and initiated an interactive dialog around the role of the IT leader.

We’re continuing this IT executive conversation and are pleased to announce that JPMorgan Chase will host ONUG Fall 2013 in New York City October 29-30. There are tradeshows and conferences that bring the industry together, standards bodies, industry groups, plugfests, and vendor consortium that all serve valuable roles in the industry. ONUG is unique in that it is a user-driven community providing an opportunity for IT leaders to learn, share, and network with their peers in a highly interactive environment

ONUG is expanding in response to user input from last year and we have added a day of tutorials to address:

• Writing SDN Applications on Popular Controllers
• Understanding White Box Networking
• Integrating OpenFlow and OpenStack
• Best Practices for SDN Deployments
• Understanding and Deploying Virtual Network Overlays

Day Two will feature IT executive speakers in the process of evaluating, piloting or deploying SDN, OpenFlow, network overlays, white box networks, network visualization and virtualization solutions. These IT leaders will address the successes and challenges they’ve faced with both innovative startup and established solutions.

I want to extend a very special thanks to Michael Payne and JPMorgan Chase for making this dialog and ONUG Fall 2013 possible.

We hope you’ll join the conversation. Registration for ONUG Fall 2013 is now open and space is limited, so register now. We welcome user case studies, speakers and sponsors. Join our community on Linkedin at Open Networking User Group or on Twitter @ONUG_

Nick Lippis is Co-Founder and Chairman of ONUG and runs the Lippis Report. He is an authority on corporate computer networking and has designed some for the largest computer networks in the world. He has advised many Global 2000 firms on network strategy, architecture, equipment, services and implementation including Hughes Aerospace, Barclays Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Eastman Kodak Company, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Liberty Mutual, Schering-Plough, Sprint, WorldCom, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks and a wide range of other equipment suppliers and service providers.Mr. Lippis is uniquely positioned to comment, analyze and observe computer networking industry trends and developments. At Lippis Enterprises, Inc., Nick works with entrepreneurs evaluating new business opportunities in enterprise networking and serves as an independent investor and advisor.