While application acceleration belongs in the network rack, it doesn't belong in packet-delivery devices, such as routers and firewalls, but rather in a new class of products focused on application delivery.

Network vendors have focused on elements such as IP addresses and TCP ports to provide a high-performance, secure packet-delivery infrastructure. But to ensure application-level performance and security, application delivery needs to focus on a different set of key elements - the users (who they are and their role), the application and the nature of their interaction (the session). For the future, application delivery will leverage, but remain separate from, packet delivery because of these differences in requirements and focus. It's like refrigerators and ovens - just because they're collocated doesn't mean they should be integrated.

Most application-performance problems occur because of inefficiencies and limitations within applications - not because of issues with TCP/IP. Application-performance problems stem mainly from chatty, WAN-inefficient application protocols stretched over long distances, and they cause long user wait time (latency).

Application-specific optimizations are the only way to significantly reduce latency. These protocol optimizations, as well as a comprehensive set of bandwidth-reduction capabilities and business-relevant application prioritization are possible only through understanding the user, application and session. Packet-delivery infrastructure understands none of these things. An application-delivery infrastructure has to.

The evolution of enterprise applications and networks are clarifying the differences between packet delivery and application delivery - and highlighting the need for separate infrastructures.

Whitepapers

• The Trend from UNIX to Linux in SAP(r) Data Centers
• Secure Wireless Printing Options
• Network-Wide Change Management Visibility with Route Analytics
• Getting in Compliance With Government Data Regulations By Leveraging Online Security Technology
• How to Offer the Strongest SSL Encryption
• Maximizing Site Visitor Trust Using Extended Validation SSL

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Webcasts

• Managing the End User Experience-A Real World Example of Success
• Branch Office Trends and Best Practices
• Correlating granular network and application visibility
• Migrating to an MPLS-Based Network
• Round Table Webcast with Forrester Research
• Best Practices for Deploying WAN Optimization for Disaster Recovery

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Special Reports

• WAN Optimization: The Ultimate No Brainer
• Ehternet Services: WAN options mature
• Keeping Spam at Bay
• Network World Executive Guide: The Virtualization Equation
• Application Performance Management Executive Guide
• Executive Guide: Building a Service Oriented Architecture

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