Virtual WAN Optimization Appliance Roundup

Are you thinking of practical ways of improving network performance? Then the answer is wan acceleration. These technologies can provide you numerous benefits that will be promptly noticed in your business. In modern times business enterprises are putting in a lot of focus on their networks. One of the critical components for attaining success in the world of business is network efficiency. If you have the notion that the improvements caused by wan acceleration are seen just by the information technology executives, then you are entirely mistaken. The results are visible to the end users, too though they may not have a solid grasp of the technology supporting it. 

Improvement of performance

Wan accelerators include the use of technologies for the optimization of a wide area network. You will be surprised to note that wan optimization may be the answer to a host of your network issues. WAN Optimization is a boon for improving performance across long network circuits. These products worked out effectively in the case of telecom industries. They were beneficial during those times when network bandwidth used to be very costly.

·         Faster data transfer

The concept of wan optimization revolves around the prioritization of specific parts of the network for obtaining additional bandwidth. You may be involved in crucial data processing work, and for rapid completion of the work, you might need an allocation of additional throughput as well as bandwidth. All these changes are possible with the help of appropriate wan technologies.  WAN Optimization can make the process of data transfer faster and lead to an improvement in disaster recovery. 

·         Caching concept

Some of the benefits that the end users are going to experience are quicker file accessibility. At this juncture, you will understand the significance of caching. When an individual uses the same files on a continuous basis, then she will be in a position to access them faster. In these cases, the need for reloading does not arise. Only new data is saved and retrieved when necessary.  

·         Reliable operations

The wan solutions ensure the maximization of network speed between different locations and results in accelerated file transfers. Those non affected applications will have smoother operations now because of the availability of bandwidth. If you examine the voice over internet protocol, then you will find that they are currently operating more reliably nowadays. 

·         Basic understanding

If you are still pondering whether the optimization is suitable for your business or not, then you must first assess your current capabilities. You should also evaluate the needs of individual offices within your organizational structure. Once you are done with the identification of the requirements, then you will need to determine the type of optimization appliances you will require for meeting the business goals. Keep the scalability factor in mind. The final step is implementation. Though these solutions are not at all complicated, but they need to be implemented in the right way to get desirable results. 

Making an intelligent solution

It is a smart idea to make a comprehensive study on the net to find the prominent names in the industry for providing network solutions. 

Why You Need Both WAN Optimization and SD-WAN

You must be knowing that nowadays, SD-WAN is fast gaining popularity. Simultaneously, the demand for WAN Optimization is waning. A bit of research will reveal the reasons. SD-WAN has the technology to optimally route the traffic, considering an overlay of systemized multiple modes of transport on WAN. Resultantly, you experience a substantial boost to usable capacity. It decreases your requirements for the WAN optimization application. But, the process of WAN optimization is still relevant. SD-WAN does not cover all the benefits that WAN Optimization renders to your system. 

Importance of WAN

About fifteen years ago, in the year 2004, WAN optimization started to become popular, along with wan acceleration process. It aimed to address three major networking users that you, as an end-user, had to experience while accessing data across the WAN. Those networking issues were – 

• Bandwidth
• Latency
• Packet loss 

Solving the bandwidth issue

The technology addressed the bandwidth issue by minimizing the data quantity that passed across the system network. It did the job by using compression techniques and deduplication algorithms. If you implement the technology in your system, it also prioritizes application traffic. With wan acceleration technique, you get guaranteed access to the wire even when you are heavily using it. 

Managing latency problems 

You must know that when the distance between the end-users or clients and their data increases, latency, and packet loss become the principal determinants of the session capacity. Latency has another term for itself, that is network delay. It is the time that the packets take to travel from one designated point in the network to another. You can minimize latency by application of caching techniques. You also use optimizations specific to protocols. 

Minimizing packet loss

You experience packet loss when you experience network congestion or infrastructural glitches. You express the loss with percentage points. WAN uses the forward error connection technique, or FEC in short, to address the problem of packet loss. It aims to regenerate lost packets without any requirement of the transmission process. 

Significance of SD-WAN

You must be aware of the fact that SD-WAN improves the performance of the overall network. IN the case of WAN optimization, it is about the performance of a single network connection. You can read below the particular issues that SD-WAN addresses. 

• The cost – Your organization, would enjoy flexibility in designing networks with the implementation of SD-WAN. The reason is SD-WAN uses inexpensive internet circuits. 

• Capacity and system performance – SD-WAN provides you more capacity at various locations. With load-balancing connections, your business can potentially increase the capacity even more. 

• Cloud technology access – WAN cannot optimize specific cloud access. SD-WAN, with its simple installation, can optimize cloud access. 

Implement both to boost performance 

You will get cost and network performance benefits with SD-WAN. With WAN, you get better solutions in traffic management issues. Once the traffic leaves the endpoint location of the network, it follows the rules of WAN. SD-WAN has no role to play after that. Hence, it is rational that you integrate both WAN and SD-WAN in the system. It will undoubtedly overhaul the performance of the network. 

7 Ways to Improve Efficient Networks through WAN Optimization

Applications are a lot smarter today while the bandwidth is much cheaper. Can you blame anyone for thinking that revamping the Wide Area Network is one of the unnecessary expenses? In the current world that is obsessed with embracing hybrids and WANs and clouds, the optimization is a lot more relevant now, than it ever was. Here are the top seven ways that you can improve efficient networks with the help of it, and they are mentioned down below.

Recovering lost packets and correcting the packet order

Recovery of lost packages and the correction of forwarding error ensure that the data is reliably delivered. This is one of the essential WAN Optimization techniques that improve not just the quality of links but enhances application performance. Furthermore, this single step also accelerates the transmission control protocol (TCP). After there has been the recovery of the lost packets, correcting the order of the packer on the fly helps in avoiding impacts of negative performances as well as retransmissions because of packages that went out-of-order.

Selection of path and service quality 

To maintain service quality, deeply inspecting the packet and classifying it is necessary. Therefore, WAN Optimization marks and shapes the traffic to ensure priority of business and that bandwidth-intensive traffic receives optimal service quality. This method is followed by balancing the load of the traffic over multiple gateways of WAN by setting layer-7 policies of traffic and link-metric thresholds.

Universal de-duplication and accelerating the TCP

Cross-flow de-duplication helps in removing the duplicate patterns of byte regardless of the protocol at the source. It eliminates the byte patterns irrespective of session or application that originated because of the data at the start. It saves the byte patterns persistently on disks for network matches in the future. The fully transparent performance of TCP acceleration enhancing proxy (PEP) significantly improves the performance of TCP with a TCP of high speed. 

The firewall in Layer 7

On deep inspection of the packet, the process filters traffic and the application signatures at the edge of the branch.

Bridge appliance and tunnel mode 

Some optimizers bridge appliances by default. They enable quick and straightforward deployment. Furthermore, they are also non-intrusive and thus preserve the flow of natural traffic. The mode of the tunnel, on the other hand, compliments the bridge mode as a flexible and alternative option of deployment to route the traffic. It is achieved through optimizers.

Transparency of network and analytics of Netflow

Open-Source Linux powers the interface of web and provides visibility into the optimizer’s performance. It also provides visibility into the configuration options, information of system health, and protocol statistics. The optimizers maintain transparency of network where for the clarity of network, destination, and source addresses are preserved. It never translates proxy traffic or addresses.

Compression of the stream 

Stream compression of network data on the move in real-time, for higher ratios of compression helps to improve the network efficiency. Such a compression helps with savings of bandwidth and acceleration that further prioritizes traffic.

Why You Should Optimize Your Wide Area Network

In the era of technology and high-speed network connection businesses are increasingly becoming dependent on IT. Thus comes the need for an optimized high-speed global networking. But sometimes due to increasing traffic and pressure of various applications, cloud computing systems, the need for optimization and network management becomes inevitable. If you have never scaled your network before and have never accelerated the bandwidths then here’s a brief guide for you.

Understanding WAN

In simple terms a wide area network or WAN as it is popularly known as is a private telecom network which is geographically distributed over an area. A WAN is basically a network which interconnects a number of LAN networks. In case of a large enterprise's WAN connects headquarters, branch offices, collocated offices, centralized cloud servers within a single network. Thus also reduces the cost of setting up a firewall, application servers, and other resources in multiple locations. Thus is the load and traffic on such a vast network increases the bandwidth speed and subsequent connectivity speed reduces. The best way of eliminating such redundant traffic is by WAN acceleration and WAN network management.

The need to optimize

WAN optimization also is known as WAN acceleration is a comprehensive technology which is mainly implicated to maximize the data flow. Generally, enterprise WAN optimization is done to alleviate the speed of accessing the data.

Thus a comprehensive WAN optimization process encompasses the following aspects

·         Traffic shaping

Traffic shaping is processed by which various categories of traffics are prioritized and bandwidths are allocated with respect to it.

·         Data de-duplication

In this process the data that must be sent across the WAN network for remote backups and disaster recovery etc. are reduced or minimized saving bandwidths

·         Data compression

This is a process which limits or reduces the size of the data file to reduce the bandwidth usage

·         Data caching

In this process the data’s which are frequently used are stored in the local servers enabling faster access

·         Screening out of the non-essential traffics

To screen out the nonessential traffics stringent monitoring is necessary.

·         Enforcing rules

With the help of a strict WAN monitoring you can create and impose rules about data usage, downloads and internet activities

·         Protocol spoofing

This is another effective method of scaling the chatty protocols is by bundling all of them into a single protocol.

WAN optimization software

The best way to scale and cater benefit out of all the process is by putting a WAN optimization software. Generally when you download such optimization software from leading companies comprehensive management on data usage and increase in bandwidth speed is noted. The minimum requirements for such software include

·         2GB memory

·         64GB of storage space

·         1 to 2 Ethernet cable interfaces

·         2 or more CPU threads

However, it is recommended that you have 4GB memory in your device.

So if you feel that your enterprise network is lagging behind its high time you start accelerating it. Choose and download software from leading agencies today.

The Best Practices Of WAN Acceleration And Optimization

Business organizations all over the world are becoming increasingly dependent on IT Services delivered over Wide Area Network or WAN. It enhances communicability over a diverse enterprise network spread globally. Your WAN can work based on VPLS, MPLS, or IP-Sec VPN over the web. Regardless of what the WAN operates on, optimization of the network performance can offer you several benefits. Apart from enhanced performance, WAN optimization can regulate the growth of bandwidth expenses. The business companies that operate globally require WAN optimization more than others. WAN Acceleration Technology can prove to be indispensable to them. Now, WAN Acceleration systems utilize a variety of technologies. This topic will describe the most commonly used ones.

Caching: Consider that you are transferring a file over the WAN network from the main office. When you do that, the systems will cache a copy of the data. If someone requests the same data, the WOC intercepts the requirement and delivers it locally. The WOC will communicate and keep you in synchronization about the changes that occur in the file.  It is how wan acceleration and optimization helps business organizations.

Compression: Upon compression, the file shrinks and reduces in size. Naturally, wan acceleration works proficiently in transferring the data at high speeds. Large files can otherwise take a lot of time to move even over the swiftest networks.

Data reduction: It is a technique which looks at the locally cached files. It also uses references to bring about changes in a file for transmitting the changed bytes. It can sometimes reduce data traveling over WAN by more than seventy percent. It is a much more effective technique when combined with relatively static data or file transfers with alterations.

Latency reduction: CIFS and TCP are highly sensitive to latency because of their chatterbox-like nature. They require two-way communication as they transmit small chunks of data. Until the confirmation of the first transfer arrives, the next one won’t transmit. Delivering one file can require 100,000 back and forth communications. You can reduce it by contemplating a protocol and accelerating the connection with proprietary algorithms.

Service quality and bandwidth management: Both these matters can address WAN links which are over-subscribed. They perform QoS by inspecting packets and prioritizing them based on an application, destination, source IP, and protocol. For example, web browsing and email checking can receive low priority. After all, there are other critical applications, like transaction processing.

Packet coalescing: This technique is the last one on this list. It helps with packets having large headers by consolidating multiple packets into a one. This consolidated packet has only one header.

The results

The outcomes of WAN Acceleration are self-explanatory. With it, the performance of your WAN systems can increase up to ninety percent or more in some applications. However, there are a few things which don’t see any improvement whatsoever. You should never forget the fact that all the suppliers are different. Every optimizer will provide you with something different. You need the expertise of knowledgeable people to determine the best WAN Acceleration supplier. You should resort to an expert to manage your procurement process. They can also help in assuring that you made the right decisions or not while obtaining the best prices.

Few Crucial Things You Need To Know About Transmission Control Protocol Optimization

TCP stands for Transmission Control Protocol which works alongside the Internet Protocol to form the foundation upon which the internet functions as a whole. It is one of the main protocols, or set of rules that make up the Internet Protocol Suite, otherwise known as TCP/IP. Transmission Control Protocol defines how computers send packets of data to each other and do it in a reliable, orderly and error-free way. The biggest internet applications run on it, are WWW, file transfer, email and remote administration. 

What is TCP Optimization?

A TCP optimiser is a set of techniques to get better data transfer on a network connection than the standard TCP is capable of, without modifying other applications. Interestingly, although it is a building block of the internet itself, it is yet to reach its optimal level. Because of poor performances, communication service providers struggle to provide high-quality experiences for subscribers at the cost of expensive resources and dealing with operational inefficiencies.

How to improve TCP Performances

1. The problem may lie more in congestion than bandwidth in case of a TCP optimiser. Ideally, you want to get data from one computer to another quickly, as opposed to the amount of data you transfer. There are individual, non-cooperative senders and receivers constantly trying to cram their data through.

Ramping might help applications in uncongested networks pick up the pace, but increases the chance of congestion with every new sender.

Optimizers that can modify ramping behaviors to slow the initial ramp up or decrease the size of the initial drop down can prevent congestion and preemptively slow down transmissions as new traffic streams begin to ramp up.

2. A Transmission Control Protocol server cannot process the properties of the network through which it is delivering data, hence it is designed in a way that is can understand and learn about the network’s available bandwidth.

This entire process is called the TCP SlowStart. It slowly transmits increasing amounts of data until a certain point, after which it adjusts to match the characteristics of the network.

The solution to optimizing this would be by reducing the time to reach the available bandwidth by splitting the latency between the subscriber network and the internet network.

3. Traffic shaping optimizers try to make sure that an organization has autonomy over the ways in which bandwidth is consumed. Whether the control is good or bad depends on how it is exercised: for users, applications and devices to get bandwidth or limiting that bandwidth that they receive.

Using this concept to optimize TCP traffic would require debate over which applications and users have priority claims during a congestion.

4. When a TCP acceleration solution pre-acknowledges data on the client’s behalf, it helps optimize TCP performance. The faster the server notices the ACKs, the faster the data transmission and the SlowStart phase can be accelerated.

Optimizing performances

Changing demands, shared resources and aggregation layers promote changes in network capacity. This provides an opportunity for improving TCP performance. The server has to pull back if bandwidth decreases and use available bandwidth easily when it increases.

Increase Application Performance Radically With SD WAN Optimization

On a daily basis, vast amounts of data are being transferred to and from data centers, branch offices, and other remote sites. All these calls for storage demand and need for backup of data. This is where the optimization of the performance of wide area networks steps in. With the steady escalation in traffic level, the relevant administrators have seen a marked increase in latency-sensitive data. Optimization requires the utilization of numerous techniques for improvement of performance. For enhancement of performance, several methods such as compression and deduplication are also used.

Recent emergence of technology

The new buzz in town is SD WAN. In recent times SD WAN technology has marked its presence in the industry. The software-defined wide area network is a technology which is applied to a wide area network. It can establish a connection with a broad geographical area. SD wan optimization utilizes a centralized control function for guiding traffic across the wide area network.

1.    Be aware of the differences

Many enterprise networks, along with remote sites and data centers, are connected. At this stage, you may be wondering about the difference in approach that exists between WAN and SD WAN technology. A WAN, in general, is used for establishing connection between the various branch offices to a centralized network. Even it is used for connecting data centers stationed in different geographical areas. Even a few years back, the WAN connections depended on specific proprietary hardware. SD WAN, however, depends on cloud-based private networks.  SD wan optimization helps in the improvement of the productivity of the business.

2. Increase in business agility

The business world is getting competitive day by day. Competition is getting tougher on a daily basis. The expectations of the customers are rising continuously. There may be thousands of branch offices which are linked to the hub. These branch offices may be separated from the hub by vast geographical distance. Backhauling connections are costly. WAN bandwidth constraints often have a negative impact on performance. You can overcome these issues with the aid of SD WAN technology. Direct internet connection helps in providing consistency to the cloud-based applications.

3.    Cost factor

The choice of the right service provider for the SD WAN network design is essential. One of the vital considerations that should be taken into account is the cost factor. Do not go by the low price alone. Multiple service packages are available along with different terms and conditions. Before making a selection, you should ask about the internal network of the service provider. The information about the internal network is crucial because that will influence the reliability aspect.

Make the right decision

There are numerous service providers available in the market. In fact, the presence of so many choices in the market may make your selection process all the more difficult. Inquire about the availability of technical support. You should select a company that provides technical assistance round the clock. The team should comprise of professional members having skills and several years of experience.

How To Improve The Performance Of TCP

TCP is the shortened version of the word Transmission Control Protocol. It is the driver of significant internet operations. It eases multiple internet operations like video streaming, web browsing, file transfers, and communications. It accounts for reasonably high percentages of fixed-access internet traffic, and more for mobile internet traffic. However, the performance of this system is yet to achieve its full potential. When its performance delves below sub-optimal standards, the consequence created is undesirable for communication service providers. They struggle to make the most out of precious resources to deter operational issues. The ultimate aim of service providers to provide a high-quality experience to subscribers.

1.         Time decrement: There are a few techniques to improve the performance standards of TCP. A TCP optimizer works best for the purpose by reducing the time taken to reach available bandwidth. It splits the latency between the internet network and the subscriber network by deploying optimization techniques. These techniques optimize the performance of TCP on either side of the connection.

2.     Pre-acknowledge the data: If the acceleration solutions pre-acknowledges the data on behalf of the client then it optimizes the performance. When the server notices the acknowledgment, both the slow start phase and data transmission will speed up. There are several varieties of TCP optimizer available currently. Some of them will deploy innovative techniques to hasten SlowStart to deliver excellent outcomes.

3.      Change adjustments: The change in demands, shared resource, and aggregation layers promote a few alterations in the network capacity. Naturally, there is an opportunity for improving the performance of TCP. For instance, the server will use available bandwidth easily if it increases. In the same way, the server will back off as soon as the bandwidth decreases. Effective solutions can aid CSPs in achieving results efficiently.

4.      Packet-loss management: Most modern networks don’t suffer from the problems of congestion. You can’t blame congestion if you’re experiencing packet losses. There are several reasons behind packet loss. These include broken cables, faulty memory, TCP checksum errors, hardware issues, and queue overflows. Since recovery processes are slow, it is wise to install a TCP solution. The optimizer will increase the rate of recovery while reducing the time required to reach available bandwidth.

5.    Congestion addressing: Congestion occurs when the bandwidth added to a resource becomes higher than the bandwidth of the same. The highly-advanced networks of today prevent packet loss. The resources consist of massive queues which can store excess data momentarily until the transfer is possible. Then again, queuing is a process which increases round-trip times and delays delivery. Therefore, you should resort to TCP solutions to prevent excess queuing and packet losses at the same time.

Scalable optimization

CSPs should consider the factors regarding the scalability of solutions and overall traffic optimization strategies. CSPs can address all the issues about network lagging through a TCP optimization solution. However, it is also crucial to pay special attention to the answers. It is particularly mandatory when choosing an optimization solution. CSPs should understand properly about TCP performance. They should also know about enhancement measures. Only then the CSPs can measure their success rates.