There’s an energy in the State of Alabama right now as the worldwide technology industry undergoes a continued evolution. From AI and fiber to software and LTE/5G deployed at the edge, the future is being built right before our eyes. There’s something truly special about getting in the room with the people building the “applied” technology that surrounds us every day.
And today at Birmingham’s Innovation Depot, the networking, software, government, and education communities all “showed up for work” to push the technology envelope forward.
ALANOG is Alabama’s own Network Operators Group, a local forum modeled after the North American Network Operators Group (NANOG). Where NANOG convenes the continent’s largest carriers, hyperscalers, and backbone providers, ALANOG takes that same spirit of collaboration and brings it down to a state and regional level. It’s a place where engineers, business leaders, educators, and policymakers can swap notes, share lessons, and connect over the practical challenges of building and running the networks that keep Alabama online.
The Hosts
Boyd Stephens (i85Cyber) and Ben Venable (OakCyber) kept the day moving as MCs, setting a high-energy tone and introducing a lineup packed with great subject matter experts presenting in both lecture and fireside formats.
Boyd Stephens
Ben Venable
Keynote: DNS Fundamentals
We kicked things off with Eddy Winstead from the Internet Systems Consortium.
Eddy delivered a stellar overview of DNS that hit all the right notes. He walked us through the history, the RFCs that shaped its rollout, the how and why of DNS over HTTPS, DNS root servers, and more. What stood out most was how he managed to connect a highly technical subject to the real-world importance of DNS in keeping the internet stable, secure, and usable for everyone. It was the kind of talk that gave both veterans and newcomers something valuable to take away.
No good conference talk is complete without at least one “technology vs presenter” showdown, and in Eddy’s presentation it appeared to be the venue’s stage TV wanting a starring role. To his credit, Eddy handled it like a pro. He was calm, funny, and unflappable. A super engaging speaker tackling a critical subject, and an absolutely solid choice for the keynote. I’m already looking forward to his next one.
Putting Alabama on the AI Map
Next up was Andrew Albrecht, Co-Founder of the Alabama AI Center of Excellence (AAICE) and Boyd Stephens from i85 Cyber. They hosted a fireside chat style conversation on AAICE and AUBIX.
Eddy laid out the capabilities of the AUBIX facility, the story of how it came to be, and his clear vision for putting Alabama on the map for first-class connectivity and AI leadership.
We had a sizable group of cybersecurity students in attendance from an Alabama college. They came loaded with tough, highly AI-focused questions. Andrew, Boyd, and the other presenters didn’t flinch — they delivered thoughtful, grounded answers to audience questions that cut through the buzz and misinformation clouding the field right now. Fantastic job, Andrew and Boyd!
Data Centers & Colocation
Bradley Speer (NTT Data) followed with an overview of colocation and how it fits into an IT deployment strategy. From there he did a deep dive into the RSA Dexter Avenue data center in Montgomery—where the ISP I operate, Alabama Lightwave, happens to have its primary network core.
Bradley walked us through the resiliency features of the facility, from protection against severe weather to redundant power, physical security, monitoring, and ISP availability. It was a timely reminder of why we chose to deploy there. The team running the site is top-notch, and if you’re considering a deployment, you’re in good hands. 445 Dexter Avenue is where it’s at!
Open Networking: Breaking Down Walled Gardens
Rounding out the sessions, Jason Maki (RocNet Supply) delivered a crash course on open networking fundamentals.
He covered how the architecture works, the difference between open networking and open source, the use cases driving adoption, the vendors already deploying it, the capabilities it unlocks for network admins and operators, and much more.
I personally appreciated his focus on the business impact: lower costs, faster deployment, and better interoperability across vendors. In an industry too often dominated by walled gardens and closed ecosystems, open networking feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. Jason’s session sparked a lot of ideas, and I’m hoping to start incorporating some of those technologies into networks I touch soon.
The Community
Beyond the excellent speakers, the event was a magnet for area technology leaders and innovators. These included subject matter legends and super-connectors like Reed Matte (Uniti Fiber), Adam Dill (DBA), Chris Montgomery (Central Access), Anthony Ware (Arista), David Draper (CoreLinc), Mike Carpenelli (VantagePoint), Patrick Turner (Alabama Lightwave), Jonathan Wright (AlmaLinux), Zach Underwood (GIGSOUTH), Bob Tynan and Bob Crane (ROCNET), and many more. The mix of people in the room was part of what made the event so fun and worthwhile.
And of course, after the official sessions wrapped up, a group of us carried the conversation over to Good People Brewing. Nothing caps off a day of tech talk quite like Alabama-brewed craft beer and great fellowship.
Gratitude
A HUGE thank you goes out to:
- Everyone who traveled in from out of state. You’re absolute legends.
- Imperium Data and Arista for sponsoring breakfast and lunch.
- Innovation Depot for providing an excellent venue.
If you missed the event, you really did miss a great time. But there’s good news: ALANOG-08 is already being planned for early next year. Mark your calendars now, because you won’t want to miss it.
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