How Networks Can Assist Applications |
Technology |
What it does |
Examples |
Status |
Hardware off-load (application front ends, XML gateways) |
Dedicated hardware processes SSL, HTTP, TCP, and, increasingly, XML, reducing computational burden on servers for savings in power consumption and software-licensing costs. |
Alcatel OmniAccess, Cisco ACE, F5 BIG-IP, IBM DataPower,Juniper NetScaler,Radware AppExcel |
Mature products already used successfully in most large data centers. Undergoing a renaissance thanks to rich Internet applications. |
WAN optimization |
Reduces WAN bandwidth consumption by caching data in dedicated appliances at branch or on users' hard disks; can also improve app performance by tuning TCP setting and enforcing QoS. |
Cisco WAAS, Expand Accelerator, F5 WANJet, Juniper WX, Riverbed Steelhead, SilverPeak NX |
Fast-growing categorywith vendors rapidly releasing new features, such as software clients and improved SSL support. |
Integrated devices |
Adds functionality such as firewall, wireless management, or WAN optimization to a switch or router, reducing need for separate hardware. |
Cisco Catalyst 6500 Z |
The usual advance of and ISR, Nortel CSR technology: doing more with less. Particularly popular in branch offices thanks to simplified support. |
Open switch and router API |
Gives applications direct access to network device functionality, allowing theswitch or router to assist applications that run elsewhere. |
Cisco IOS, Juniper JunOS |
Still in its infancy, partly due to security and stability concerns. Most apps still written by vendor partners, not customers. |
Service virtualization |
Embeds application or entire server within VM on switch or router, reducing need for server hardware and network bandwidth.
|
3Com OSN |
Offered by only one vendor virtualizationso far, and confined mostly to network-centric software such as firewalls and WAN optimization. Cisco sees it extending to much more. |
Application component virtualization |
Portions of applications run on a switch, router, or appliance, giving similar benefits to edge processing and hardware off-load but theoretically more flexible. |
Alcatel OmniAccess, Cisco AON, Extreme, XOS |
New and so far unproved, but could become more popular thanks to the growth of SOA and related componentized application development styles like SCA. |
Edge processing |
Moves processing out to devices at the network edge, aiming to save time and bandwidth by avoiding a trip to the data center. |
Augusta, Blue Vector, Omnitrol, Sentilla |
Mostly the domain of startups, which expect it to grow thanks to large volumes of round data from RFID and wireless sensor networks. |