WAN optimization

The term WAN Optimization describes technical mechanisms that lead to a smooth transport of data packets over a wide area network (English: Wide Area Network), contribute short WAN.

Purpose of WAN Optimization

The optimization technologies are required, since a plurality of data of different types, size, and priority in the context of applications (applications) pass through the wide area networks. So by running next to the e -mail traffic and business-critical, bi-directional applications such as ERP or database systems, the wide area networks. Likewise, voice applications such as IP telephony (Voice over IP ) and video conference systems that run all in real time, run over the networks. All of these applications need to be available at a certain performance to interference at the different sites of large organizations to run. Since the bandwidth in the wide area networks is usually limited, each one can compete with each other, which could affect their performance and thus jeopardize business continuity. WAN optimization technologies counteract.

Setting up WAN optimization solutions

Functions for WAN optimization are bundled into product solutions from different manufacturers. The solutions usually consist of software and hardware components. Here, at the individual sites of an organization ( at the interface from the WAN to the local networks (Local Area Network, in short: LAN) ) Bandwidth Management Systems ( BMS ) installed. They are used for measurement, control and optimization of network traffic based on the defined performance goals. A central management software controls the comprehensive all locations WAN optimization process. The software also provides the most performance targets available and configured the remote BMS. In addition, it collects all the data, which have captured the BMS, and provides a real-time interface for ready access to such data.

WAN optimization with CoS / QoS

WAN optimization solutions use different mechanisms to channel the data packets on the WAN. A technology is the available bandwidth on several performance classes ( Classes of Service, in short: CoS) with a certain quality of service ( Quality of Service, in short QoS) distributed. WAN optimization technology, however, is only of limited use.

Strategic approach

A modern generation of WAN optimization systems, however, is geared to the strategic business goals of an organization, combining functions of transparency, optimize and speed of network traffic in a holistic approach. In the foreground are the precise control of the network and the applications that prioritization of mission-critical applications, the dynamic allocation of the optimal bandwidth as well as the acceleration of all data packets. The solutions are also auto- adaptive, which means they adapt to always flexible to the particular conditions on the network.

Functions of modern WAN optimization solutions

Transparency

The network managers of large companies with multiple sites geographically distributed must at all times keep track of what applications which run performance over the WAN. Modern WAN optimization solutions therefore provide maximum transparency about the current network events. Monitoring functions measure the instantaneous power of individual traffic flows in detail and in real time. Here, each data packet across the network traffic is analyzed up to the application layer (Layer 7 of the OSI reference model ). The network manager will then tell delays (delay ) time differences (jitter), packet loss and throughput of each data stream. The only way to agreed Service Level Agreements ( SLAs ) document for the individual enterprise applications, permanently check and make sure.

Auto- Adaptive optimization of network resources

WAN optimization solutions of the latest generation take into account the company's business objectives, the requirements of the applications and the desired user experience. You therefore waive the rigid classification of MPLS technology and instead use intelligent mechanisms for dynamic allocation of bandwidth. Based on certain criteria, use classes are defined for each application with the appropriate internal SLAs to determine the respective network-wide performance targets and priorities. On the basis of measured real-time data solutions same dynamic the current bandwidth requirements with the currently available network capacity from, calculated taking into account the specified performance targets within seconds the rules for optimization currently required and run them automatically in real time at each location by. Compared with the fixed bandwidth allocation conventional optimization methods allow this adaptive approach even with strongly vermaschtem traffic at all times the optimum use of available network capacity. This contributes to the fact that the users always guarantees the pre-defined levels of performance and the agreed QoS can be achieved.

Acceleration

In order to ensure optimal application performance, preferred data packets should be passed as quickly as possible through the WAN. Because with transactional and real-time applications are minimal response times for the proper functioning of vital importance. A slow -working SAP or Oracle system instance affected employee productivity significantly. For real-time applications such as Voice over IP or video conferencing delays can interfere with communication sensitive. However, the acceleration of a certain application traffic must not come at the expense of the quality of other, equally important streams. Essential, therefore, is a continuous, automated monitoring of network traffic and hence the different acceleration mechanisms. The permanent measurement of the data streams is always known how much bandwidth is available and how much is needed. Similarly, the traffic is analyzed in order to distinguish between critical and less important or pure leisure applications. The WAN optimization systems then decide autonomously depending on criticality which applications taking into account the available bandwidth speeds are transported through the network.

Technology

To compensate for the delay ( latency) on WAN links, there are different approaches, individually or in combination on the WAN optimizers (WAN appliances ) are used:

  • TCP / IP: There are a variety of TCP / IP protocol circumvented limitation by optimizing the transfer characteristic, for example, loss handling, window scale, congestion notification, etc.
  • Caching / Compression: Data packets can be identified based on hash values ​​. In this way, transmitted content can already be cached on the appliance (like a proxy ) and it only has the much smaller hash value are transmitted.
  • Protocol optimization: some application protocols are designed for LAN speed and accordingly talkative. In the LAN environment may not interfere with the continued, however, many small packets are always occupied by the latency of the WAN line in a WAN environment. To counteract this, some application protocols will be optimized so that the chatty communication is reduced to a few TCP packets on the appliances.

Provider of WAN optimization systems

Major suppliers in the international market for WAN optimization systems are for example:

  • ApplianSys
  • Bluecoat
  • Cisco
  • Citrix
  • Cyberoam
  • Expand Networks
  • Barracuda Networks
  • Ipanema Technologies
  • Juniper Networks
  • Microsoft ( BranchCache )
  • Riverbed Technology
  • Silver Peak Systems
  • Tacit Networks
  • Exinda
  • UDcast

Open Source Solutions

  • OpenNOP
  • WANProxy
  • TrafficSqueezer
Network packet Bandwidth (signal processing) Oracle Corporation Cisco Systems Citrix Systems
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