Home > Networking Channel Tips > Network Management > The right WAN optimization tool for your line card
Networking Channel Tips:
EMAIL THIS
 TIPS & NEWSLETTERS TOPICS 

NETWORK MANAGEMENT

The right WAN optimization tool for your line card


David Jacobs
08.16.2007
Rating: -5.00- (out of 5)


Networking Channel Update
Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


WAN optimization and the closely related technology of application acceleration have become essential tools as organizations spread employees and computing needs over widely diverse geographies. Value-added resellers (VARs) and systems integrators are wise to incorporate these products as they design customer solutions, but they must investigate products and technology carefully before choosing among vendor offerings.

Deep technical knowledge required

WAN optimization products cannot be simply put in place and expected to operate at maximum efficiency. They must be configured based on the client's throughput and latency requirements, number of users, mix of applications and WAN characteristics. To configure optimally, your staff must understand both the technologies used by your clients' applications and the techniques employed by optimization products.

Due to the complexity of these products, vendors and channel partners often develop close relationships; working together to design solutions and configure products for maximum customer success.

One size does not fit all

WAN optimization products are not interchangeable. No one technique is capable of optimizing all network protocols and applications, and vendors concentrate on a subset of the market.

Before developing a relationship with a vendor, match the vendor's area of emphasis with your area of specialization. You'll need to devote a significant amount of time to train your staff, so unless you have the resources to train on a wide variety of products, you'll need to choose carefully.

Vendors such as Certeon, Packeteer, Riverbed Technologies, Silver Peak Systems and Stampede Technologies focus solely on WAN optimization and application acceleration. Large vendors


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us    Add to Google


RELATED CONTENT
Network Management
VARs: How to become a managed services provider
Offering managed VoIP services: Opportunities for MSPs and VARs
WAN management services for UC: Opportunities for MSPs and VARs
Channel Explained: Data center design for networking VARs
Networking Channel News Roundup, Jan. 5-12
Top 10 networking tips for solution providers of 2008
Energy-saving tips for business networks
CCNA Security - Defending the perimeter
Cisco CCNA Security certification Q&A
How to resolve DNS server failures

Wide Area Networks (WANs)
Check up on networking services for your clients
Understanding transport protocol limitations
Virtualize WAN for cheap, permanent remote access to customers' sites
WAN optimization: A learning guide for resellers
PBX to VoIP strategies -- The WAN factor
How to unify a network when the company keeps expanding and the WAN doesn't work
Designing a WAN infrastructure
WAN optimization becomes huge market
Getting the most from your WAN
Citrix tackles WAN optimization, application acceleration

Network Management Services
Bandwidth management services
Offering network analysis in virtualized environments
Energy-saving tips for business networks
How to resolve DNS server failures
How to troubleshoot DNS server failures
Maximize server virtualization ROI with network I/O virtualization
DNS troubleshooting and analysis
What are you trying to accomplish with network performance management?
What are the criteria for successful network performance management?
Why is the network performance management project up for discussion?

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary


including Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks and F5 Networks also incorporate optimization features in their products.

Choose vendor partner based on your market

Varying network types and applications require different solutions. Vendors have developed optimization products for the protocols and applications listed below. Each vendor specializes in one or a group of applications, but may include some coverage for applications outside its area of specialization. Identify the predominant technologies in use by your clients and then review vendor offerings to determine which vendors concentrate on your clients' critical applications.

Choose vendor partners carefully

Study vendor offerings before choosing to establish relationships, but also consider vendor stability. Most of the small vendors listed above were founded within the past few years. While new vendors are appearing, others will undoubtedly disappear. Some will not survive as the market matures.

Plan to require an analysis of your customer's environment before recommending solutions. Customer environments often include a variety of applications using different network protocols. The best approach to overall optimization is often not obvious.

Despite the complexity of the technology and effort required to sell and deploy them, these products have become a necessity in many networks. VARs and integrators must allocate the resources and accept the risks to continue as suppliers and partners to their clients.


About the author
David B. Jacobs of The Jacobs Group has more than twenty years of networking industry experience. He has managed leading-edge software development projects and consulted to Fortune 500 companies as well as software start-ups.

Rate this Tip
To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchNetworkingChannel.com.
Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member.




DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.

HomeNewsTopicsITKnowledge ExchangeTipsMultimediaWhite PapersBlogsEvents
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2006 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts