WAN is the word

Smart sprinters who work to improve theirtimes don't just work on increasing musclemass. They also work on improving technique.Similarly, adding powerful ? and expensive ?new equipment isn't the only way to boost performanceof a wide-area network. Techniquecounts for a lot, and one technique that candeliver major gains is WAN optimization.Organizations that have implementedWAN optimization have discoveredimproved application performance. Andthere are several other benefits downstream,including the ability to consolidate data centersand servers, centralize and acceleratebackup strategies, improve disaster recoverycapabilities, and reduce bandwidth costs.Organizations can quickly realize a positivereturn on investment with such benefits.Reduction of bandwith costs is one of theprimary drivers toward WAN optimization."WAN optimization can decrease link utilizationfrom 80 percent to 40 percent byusing [a combination of ] caching and compression,"said Robert Whiteley, principalanalyst and research director at ForresterResearch.At its core, WAN optimization ? sometimesalso called WAN acceleration ? aims toimprove application performance by increasingthroughput and decreasing latency across networklinks. Typically, hardware or software atboth ends of a WAN link work in concert toachieve optimal performance.WAN optimization commonly encompassesfour techniques ? caching, protocol optimization,compression and traffic management.Caching data locally at remote locationsrequires fewer trips across the WAN.Protocol optimization reduces latency byaddressing inefficiencies in protocols, such asMicrosoft's Common Internet File System.CIFS typically is used in Windows-based filesharingenvironments.Network traffic compression helps increasethroughput across WAN links. Meanwhile, trafficmanagement techniques use quality-of-serviceprovisions to shape bandwidth and prioritizetraffic on the network.There is no single approach to WAN optimization.The Navy, for example, couldimprove ship-to-shore connectivity on a varietyof link types by using a combination of optimizationhardware and software to increaseperformance.Dan O'Barr, systems administrator at theNevada Department of Corrections, said he hasnoted a significant improvement in responsetime since implementing WAN optimization."It's important that the application has a fastenough response time to make its use interactive,even to our most remote locations," O'Barrsaid.WAN optimization also can help push greeninitiatives. By blending WAN optimization withfewer, consolidated data centers using virtualization,an agency can improve performancewhile using less power.Beyond the data center, workforce distributionis playing a key role in driving WAN optimization."Today, our data shows that more than 70 percent of the workforce works outsideof headquarters," Whiteley said.WAN optimization footprints can address avariety of computing situations. For example,WAN optimization devices might be implementedbetween two agency data centers toimprove performance in redundant data centersettings.Likewise, devices can be implementedbetween data centers and branch offices orbusiness partners to speed performance andreduce the number of servers required.A combination of hardware in the data centerwith software on the client side ? whichadministrators often can remotely install acrossa virtual private network ? can be used toimplement WAN optimization for mobile andremote workers. Furthermore, some software-onlysolutions can be implemented between anagency's central location and remoteparticipants.Although WAN optimization has been aroundfor a while, there are several new trends in thefield.Wide Area File System implementations formerlywere devoted to addressing inefficiencieswith CIFS and other so-called chatty networkprotocols.Today, WAFS is considered a subset of thebroader WAN optimization picture known asWAN Data Services. Most vendors supportWAFS and WDS in their WAN optimizationimplementations.WDS goes further than WAFS by optimizingadditional protocols, such as Secure SocketsLayer, HTTP, Extensible Markup Languageand TCP/IP. In addition, caching, compression,prioritization and optimization are beingapplied to other types of data streams, such asvideo and audio.Optimization of SSL and multimedia trafficare two of the fastest growth trends in WANoptimization. However, solution providers inthe WAN optimization marketplace supportvarying protocols and methods to streamlinenetwork traffic. Contractors should expectagencies to compare their network use withvendor capabilities.Traditionally, WAN optimization has beenachieved via pairs of hardware devices placed atcomplementary sites, such as data centers andbranch offices. With the changes in workforcedistribution, agencies are implementing morehardware/software and software-only WANoptimization solutions.Major carriers such as AT&T Inc. are examiningthe possibility of offering WAN optimizationas part of their managed services offerings.An important consideration before recommendinga WAN optimization solution is theexisting network traffic trends and changingtopologies and workforce demographics.More than 20 providers of products and servicesoffer WAN optimization in some way atprices ranging from $3,000 to more than$25,000, depending on the scope of features.The devices include Riverbed Technology'sSteelhead appliances and Interceptor deviceand Blue Coat Systems' SG appliances. CiscoSystems' approach includes its WAE appliancesand WAAS software. Other providers ofoptimization tools include Citrix Systems,Expand Networks, F5 Networks, JuniperNetworks, Packeteer and Silver Peak.Replify reflects a likely future direction ofWAN optimization: software-only solutions.The company's Reptor solution takes advantageof VMware products that are possiblyalready running on agency servers to implementserver-side WAN optimization.In addition, Replify provides companionclient-side software that agencies can implementvia private WAN links or VPNs toenable WAN optimization for branch offices,business partners, and remote and mobileworkers.A Canadian agency executed a proof of conceptbefore moving forward. "We implementedgear in remote sites to speed e-mail, calendar,and file and print services," said TomBimson, strategic planning manager atService Canada, which gives residents a singlepoint of access for government services. "Userreaction was very positive, and our networkadministrators found the implementationand ongoing maintenance reasonably painless."By capturing network statistics and userexperience before and after implementation,agencies can determine the relative success oftheir WAN optimization initiatives."We saw dramatic decreases in WAN bandwidthconsumption [and] speedier access tofiles and e-mails, and we received sincerethanks from our proof-of-concept users,"Bimson said. "Our defined success criteriawere exceeded."