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FD.io Marketing Plan

2021

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Established on November 13, 2020 MAC Call

  • We discussed what went well (and not) so far during “Infamous 2020”
  • The reality check that surfaced during the discussion is that VPP is actually already widely adopted, it just is largely “secretive”
  • If that is true, then we need not focus on flywheel efforts to convince the world of the FD.io vision:
    • Become the world’s packet processing data plane for secure network infrastructure applications
    • Rather, the best thing we can do to progress the cause is tell the world the candle is lit
  • And to do that, our primary effort needs to simply be:
    • Fill up the Customer Solutions page with vendor / end customer stories

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Tactics

  • Solicit the FD.io community to give us a VPP story
  • Post that story to the Customer Solutions Page
  • Drive traffic to that page via:
    • LFN/FD.io/Vendor blog / Social promo - which drives the most compelling site traffic you can possibly have (user story not tech jargon), which makes us a VPP solution authority, which Google then juices, when really spins the flywheel
  • Double down on these stories by using them as webinars
    • Lets face it, we are all busy with our day jobs. So marketing efforts need maximum curation to leverage the spartan effort we can devote
  • The challenge
    • What gets vendors to speak freely - where to date they are seemingly reluctant?
    • First, ask = maybe it just isn’t top of mind
    • Second, compel - this is an open source project, we all must lean in, “a rising tide lifts all boats”
    • Third, if that doesn’t work then post them to the Wall of Shame (kidding, just seeing you read this far)

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More Tactics

  • Plan
    • Two user stories posted per mo with a planned content promo drip
  • WIIFM Carrot
    • FD.io is giving your customer, company and solution essentially free viz/promo
    • And you will be seeing as giving back to the community and project
    • Who doesn’t want to be seen as a “giver” after all we’ve been through in 2020 ????
  • Goal / Success Measurement
    • At end of 2021, we will be able to measure a major uptick in Customer Solutions page hits and time spent
    • That will coattail other site pages
  • More More Tactics
    • The site nav previously suggested (6 mo ago?) needs to be done
    • Paid LFN resources need to drive all mechanics (outreach, promo, webinar scheduling, metrics dash, etc.)

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FD.io Marketing Plan

2020

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202 Readout - How Well Did We do?

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FD.io Marketing Plan

Pro Forma to Discuss with TSC

July 25, 2019

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Raison D’etre

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VISION

Become the world’s packet processing data plane

for secure network infrastructure applications

CHALLENGE

Fast and secure movement of internet traffic is based on IP packet processing

Traditional kernel-based packet processing has reached its limit

SOLUTION

FD.io Vector Packet Processing is the future

Up to two orders of magnitude packet processing gain

Easily programmable

Deployable anywhere

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Target Audience

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Application Developers

  • Looking for data plane performance, scale, latency agility
  • Non-networking app developers
    • Transparent ride over FD.io
  • Network / security app developers
    • Delve into data plane

Network Engineers

  • Responsible for future-proofing their cloud, premises, or hybrid networks for performance, scale, and agility

Eprise / xSP IT Execs

  • Recognize network performance and agility is the lifeblood of company value
  • Desire a significant leap forward in network infrastructure & price performance

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Success Blockers

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Application Developers

  • Uh, I’m good...
  • Don’t know there is a problem
  • See packet processing as “black box” - Linux just handles it
  • Focused on how to containerize existing / new apps
  • Assume NFV microservices are taken care of by ISTIO

Network Engineers

  • Sure, prove it...
  • Not broadly aware / convinced SW packet processing can rival ASIC / FPGA, high $ solutions
  • Afraid of change - network infrastructure change a huge deal
  • Don’t know cost implications of “just add hw” vs “wow, sw can do this far cheaper…”

Eprise / xSP IT Execs

  • Seems smallish...
  • Not typically making decisions at packet processing / data planes - low level. Talk to me about “big data, AI, AR…”
  • No idea of capital savings potential
  • Not aware modern control of the data plane can crater TCO

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Marketing Plan

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Application Developers

“My application performance now screams. My CNF/VNF/NFV is turbocharged and agile.”

  • Workshops that show the before and after of VPP
  • Use cases that give them confidence in VPP’s advantages and readiness for mainstream usage
  • Rich ‘how to’ documentation

Network Architects

“I boosted network speed and agility - fast, easy and for a lot less money.”

  • Grass roots venues that demonstrate easy to deploy - install, config, manage, integrate
  • Application use case stories with network diagrams and compelling performance data

IT Executives

“We are strategic - IT infra reacts to changing business needs fast - which drives up our stock.”

  • Technology understanding videos
  • Birds of feather business cases
  • Financial ROI/IRR stories (COTS over fixed appliance)

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What Needs to Change (The Ask)

  1. Refocus priorities and budget
    1. Web Presence (20% → 30%)
    2. Content / Collateral (10% → 40%)
    3. Physical Events (70% → 30%)
  2. Shift web presence from Wordpress to Netlify
    • More nimble infra circa other OS Projects (speed, flex, lower cost)
    • Community-driven site content
    • Appointed webmaster
  3. Shift Phy Events from ‘third tent at the circus’ to grassroot events & ‘big tent’ speaking slots
    • TSC commits to hold developer-focused event (..hackathon, plug-fest)
    • TSC/MAC coord on talk / demo submissions at relevant events
      1. CNCF: TSC speaker at Envoy track and Envoy relevant demo
      2. ONS: TSC participation and LFN demo submission
      3. OCP: Talk submission and demo uCPE based on open HW and SW reference
      4. OSN Days: Talk and possibly demo depending on venue priorities
      5. RSA: Speaker submission “FD.io inserts security straight into pkt proc stack”
  4. Shift content from ‘tech/product-centric’ to target audience ‘value prop/use case-centric’
    • TSC-driven App Developer-focused white paper: “VPP Attacks Envoy Scalability Problem”
    • MAC-driven Network Architect Webinar: ”Wake Up! VPP IS THE RIGHT Data Plane”
    • MAC-driven Exec Infographic: “VPP - The Secure Networking ROI Secret Weapon”

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Thank You

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Questions before we start proposed work...

  • Does TSC think marketing is on the right track with core message, target constituents and content plan?
    • So little time and resourcing, cannot wander...
  • Will TSC be able to pony up requested tech help?
  • Can someone give FD.io some budget line of site?
  • How will we measure success?
    • More new vendor adoption?
    • More mainstream PR (presumably from User stories like Yahoo et al)?
    • More website visits and inquiries?
    • More developers contributing?
    • More developers using ‘as is’?
    • “Become the world’s data plane” is not instantaneous. Where do we want to be in one year?

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BACKGROUND

(some of which now needs to be realigned to the Elevator Pitch)

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Vision (what endgame do we want?)

Become the world’s packet processing data plane

for secure network infrastructure applications.

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Problem (what is the pain?)

Fast and secure movement of internet traffic is based on IP packet processing.

Traditional kernel-based packet processing has reached its limit.

It is too slow, costly, and inflexible for modern needs.

The future of IT automation and intent-based networking requires a quantum leap in data plane speed and agility.

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Solution (what makes the pain go away?)

FD.io’s Vector Packet Processing (VPP) is the future

  • Relentlessly data plane speed and scale
    • Up to two orders of magnitude greater packet processing throughput
  • Easily programmable
    • VPP’s host stack comprises packet, transport, session, and application layer protocols - enabling entire networking and security functions to be injected into software packet processing
    • Easily extended via plugins
  • Deployable anywhere
    • Bare metal, VM or container
    • x86, ARM, and PowerPC architectures

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Audience (who should care?)

  • Application developers (performance/scalability/latency/agility in data plane)
    • Non-networking apps (transparent benefit of being on top of FD.io)
    • Network or security application developers (care about packet level data plane)
  • Network architects and engineers trying to future-proof their cloud, premises or hybrid networks for performance and agility
  • IT executives in Enterprise and xSP - recognize that network performance and agility is the lifeblood of company value, but desire a significant leap forward in network infrastructure price-performance

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CTA (when we reach them, what should they do?)

  • We want application developers to plumb their apps to VPP, especially (but not exclusively) for cloud-native container based apps
  • We want network architects to engineer their network infrastructures (core/border/edge routing, firewalling, VPN, traffic management, security, etc.) to fully utilize the power and flexibility of VPP, as well as prepare for IT automation control if the data plane via REST API
  • We want IT executives to make VPP an integral part of their IT infrastructure capital and expense planning

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Blockers (why wouldn’t they just do what we want?)

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Application Developers

  • Don’t know there is a problem
  • See packet processing as “black box” and that Linux just handles it
  • Mostly thinking about how to containerize existing or new apps and that microservices in a NFV world are taken care of by ISTIO

Network Architects

  • Not aware of (or if so, not convinced) that software packet processing can rival ASIC/FPGA, high $ solutions
  • Afraid of change - network infrastructure change out is a huge deal
  • Don’t know the cost implications of “just add hw” vs “wow, sw can do this far cheaper…”

IT Executives

  • Don’t think about packet processing and data planes - Could not care less as it is low level. Talk to me about “big data, AI, AR, etc.”
  • No idea that the financial gains can be extreme
  • Not aware that modern control of the data plane can crater TCO

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Value Prop (what’s in it for them if they act?)

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Application Developers

My application performance screams - and it was transparent for me to do.

Network Architects

I boosted network speed and agility - fast, easy and for a lot less money. I’m a hero.

IT Executives

We are strategic - IT reacts to changing business needs fast - which drives up stock.

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Content (what will convince them it is time to act?)

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Application Developers

My application performance screams - and it was transparent for me to do.

  • Workshops that show the before and after of VPP
  • Use cases that give them confidence in VPP’s advantages and readiness for mainstream usage
  • Rich ‘how to’ documentation

Network Architects

I boosted network speed and agility - fast, easy and for a lot less money. I’m a hero.

  • Grass roots venues that demonstrate easy to deploy - install, config, manage, integrate
  • Application use case stories with network diagrams and compelling performance data

IT Executives

We are strategic - IT reacts to changing business needs fast - which drives up stock.

  • Technology understanding videos
  • Birds of feather business cases
  • Financial ROI/IRR stories (COTS over fixed appliance)

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Reach (how will we get them to engage?)

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Secure Networking Application Developers

My application performance screams - and it was transparent for me to do.

  • Workshops that show the before and after of VPP
  • Use cases that give them confidence in VPP’s advantages and readiness for mainstream usage
  • Rich ‘how to’ documentation

Network Architects

I boosted network speed and agility - fast, easy and for a lot less money. I’m a hero.

  • Grass roots venues that demonstrate easy to deploy - install, config, manage, integrate
  • Application use case stories with network diagrams and compelling performance data

IT Executives

We are strategic - IT reacts to changing business needs fast - which drives up stock.

  • Technology understanding videos
  • Birds of feather business cases
  • Financial ROI/IRR stories

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Timeline (what do we need to do by when?)

1. Web Infra: Move Web from Wordpress to Netlify for faster, easier, less expensive web updates and maint.

2. Content / Campaigns: Marketing campaigns targeted at key constituents with use case stories,webinars, white papers, videos, etc.

3. Events: Industry and grass roots physical presence events to speak, booth, live demo, and press the flesh.

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Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Campaign 1

Campaign 2

Campaign 3

Campaign 4

Campaign 5

Event 1

Event 2

Event 3

Event 4

Event 5

3Q19

4Q19

1Q20

2Q20

3Q20

Phase n

Campaign n

Event n

4Q20

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Budget (what will this cost?)

1. Web Infra: Move Web from Wordpress to Netlify for faster, easier, less expensive web updates and maint.

2. Content / Campaigns: Marketing campaigns targeted at key constituents with use case stories,webinars, white papers, videos, etc.

3. Events: Industry and grass roots physical presence events to speak, booth, live demo, and press the flesh.

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Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Campaign 1

Campaign 2

Campaign 3

Campaign 4

Campaign 5

Event 1

Event 2

Event 3

Event 4

Event 5

3Q19

4Q19

1Q20

2Q20

3Q20

Phase n

Campaign n

Event n

4Q20

People

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People (who can we tap?)

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LFN

Resources bought and paid for by LFN membership dues - but we must explicitly request support.

  • Web page and content graphic designers
  • Event planners, organizers, promoters

FD.io Mktg Working Group

These are “free” resources who agree to devote time to specific roles and responsibilities.

  • MAC Committee members who can…
  • Write messaging, content
  • Perform basic content design layout
  • Decide on spend allocations

Community

These are “free” resources who agree to “chime in ad hoc” to help, but are under no obligation.

  • Web developers who can contribute to Github tickets

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Demarc (where is the line between resources?)

1. Web Infra: Move Web from Wordpress to Netlify for faster, easier, less expensive web updates and maint.

2. Content / Campaigns: Marketing campaigns targeted at key constituents with use case stories,webinars, white papers, videos, etc.

3. Events: Industry and grass roots physical presence events to speak, booth, live demo, and press the flesh.

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LF (split time)

FD.io Mktg Working Group

Community

LF (split time)

Community

LF (split time)

Community

FD.io Mktg Working Group

FD.io Mktg Working Group

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Results (how do we measure success?)

  • Awareness
    • Website visitors
    • Press articles
    • Link backs
    • 3rd party articles / blogs
  • Engagement
    • Website form fills
    • Use case stories
    • Event attendance
    • Ad word performance
    • Webinar attendees
  • Conversion
    • Member joins
    • Commercial product claims

If we want to be the world’s data plane, success is ultimately measured by commercial deployment.

This appears to be a ways off (more than a year) circa publicly admitted volume deployment.

So for the foreseeable future, results should be focused on awareness and engagement metrics.

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Next Steps

  • Marketing Priorities (growing focus on digital marketing)
    • Web presence
    • Content/Collateral
    • Physical events
  • Actual event selections
    • TSC to hold developer focused event (..hackathon, plug-fest)
    • Talk and demo submissions at relevant events
      • CNCF - TSC speaker at Envoy track and Envoy relevant demo
      • ONS - missed speaker submission, TSC participation ??? and LFN demo submission
      • OCP - talk submission and demo uCPE based on open HW and SW reference
      • OSN days - talk and possibly demo depending on venue priorities
      • RSA - large event that needs a compelling use case and FD.io relevance (e.g. NGFW)
  • Budget Priorities
    • Suggested split: content (~40%), Web (~30%), physical events (~30%)
  • Content/Collateral Focus
    • Current content (decent technology base)
      • FD.io web presence, data sheet(s), deployment cheat sheet
      • Youtube channel with recorded talk sessions
      • WIP - Two use cases (CSP load balancer, vRouter on COTS server)
    • Ask (knock down adoption blockers)
      • White Paper: TSC: “Envoy Scalability Problem” documented and supported by VPP
      • Webinar: (becomes youtube video): Network Architects, wake up! VPP IS THE RIGHT Data Plane
      • Infographic: Execs - If you’re not investing in VPP - you’re financially doomed in 5 years

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