WAN Optimization 

By Craig G. Gust

Replicating traffic over distance is not an easy task. Complex and expensive physical upgrades such as the wholesale replacement of common Ethernet- and TCP-based network infrastructures are not always a viable way to minimize or eliminate the inherent performance bottlenecks that threaten to bring WAN-based applications to a crawl.

For those who require high performance from their remote networking architectures, network issues such as bandwidth restrictions, latency due to distance and/or router hop counts, jitter, packet loss, bit errors, poor line quality and network errors can often severely impact their needs.

Replicating or recovering data over distance is a mission critical requirement for companies large and small. The challenges of moving large amounts of data over distance can often be eliminated with WAN optimization over existing infrastructures. Although they are far from a new technology, WAN optimization can greatly accelerate disaster recovery operations from the offsite locations when a disaster hits. 

Replicating enterprise data sets from offsite locations also carries with it concerns that compliance standards for records maintenance are achieved, eliminating exposure to regulatory sanctions and lawsuits. Data transport tightly integrated with data encryption services address data protection issues without problematic compliance and disaster planning that often taxes IT departments’ staff and budgeting allotment.

WAN optimizers that support storage applications are available as plug-and-play appliances or a software-only configuration for virtualized environments. Some operate at the transport layer and accelerate application performance and by aggregating data into blocks, then very efficiently move the blocks across the network, minimizing network issues most commonly attributed with TCP slowdowns. WAN optimization can eliminate network congestion and the effects of network latency and disruption is mitigated when the network transfers dynamically adjust to changing line conditions. This minimizes congestion on the network, which is the typical cause for data packets to be dropped or delayed.

Using a specialized hardware appliance to implement WAN optimization is often the first thought for IT operations in search of better performance for long distance data movement for DR, replication and business continuity purposes. But unlike many hardware-based appliances, which add unnecessary features and complexity that do not improve WAN application performance, WAN optimization software based upon virtualization can simply and efficiently accelerate large data movement across a WAN. Several hardware WAN optimization appliance vendors have burdened their products with features such as data caching and data deduplication, which actually put data at risk if done outside RAID-protected data storage systems and do nothing to contribute to optimizing WAN performance.

One software WAN optimizer can support long-distance data transfers at rates higher than 800 megabits per second – this is shown to be the highest performer of any field-tested optimization solution on the market. Transfer speeds may vary for a range of data management applications, including backup and remote replication and business continuance/disaster recovery. This same WAN optimizer has also been tested at distances up to 46,000 miles and found to provide outstanding throughput even for applications like high-performance technical computing and digital image transfers.
The benefits of software-based WAN optimization technologies are numerous. Supporting file transfer requirements over a single IP network without expensive proprietary protocols or “big iron” means less cost, complexity and maintenance. Utilizing existing Ethernet/IP infrastructures helps leverage current investment, reducing the need for additional capital expenditures. Eliminating inefficiencies of TCP over the WAN improves performance and provides better utilization of bandwidth resources. Taken all together, software WAN optimization enables more data being sent over the WAN and equates to greater application efficiency and lowering the cost of bandwidth, equipment and support operations.

Along with deferring or even negating the purchase of new equipment while easing data transfer to and from offsite locations, WAN optimizers that work at the TCP level greatly simplify the process of consolidating or centralizing data centers for better utilization of existing resources, greater efficiency and easier management. Challenging economic times prevent companies from acquiring desperately needed technology or maintaining critical functions like data redundancy. By running on existing networks and maximizing existing applications, software WAN optimizers can be a practical, affordable and reasonable alternative to more expensive hardware-based solutions.

WAN optimization tools don’t just benefit the exchange of information to and from data centers. Mitigating the effects of latencies inherent in traditional network architectures is just the tip of the iceberg for what the technology can be utilized for now and into the future. Emerging infrastructures such as cloud computing and virtual machine environments may minimize shortcomings associated with traditional platforms but still suffer bandwidth limitations and application availability.

In fact, infrastructure virtualization has become a key enabling technology for cloud-based applications as more enterprises seek to lower their IT costs by migrating their infrastructure to computing and storage clouds for on-demand services. With an increasing amount of IT services being deployed from a variety of clouds, some experts see the economic appeal of cloud computing and cloud storage to be part of a larger overall trend toward the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), with all IT services delivered as on-demand utilities. In this scenario, data transport accelerators become an indispensable application for any enterprise using cloud services that cannot afford extended downtime to restore remote files after a local failure. There still needs to be viable and economical methods to migrate, deploy and recover the vast amounts of data that are being virtualized and stored in cloud sites around the globe.

The economics of a WAN optimization software solution make a strong case for IT to look at a software-based WAN optimizer, particularly given the state of restricted IT budgets and the increasing demand to do more with less.  Selecting a software-based WAN optimizer gives IT the solution they need without tradeoff, providing best-in-class performance and cost savings, scalability, simplicity and flexibility that are unmatched by hardware WAN optimization appliances. 

Craig G Gust is the President, CEO and founder of NetEx.