Riverbed virtualizes its WAN optimization controllers

The cost of the virtual controller is less than the entry price of its appliance

Riverbed Technology is introducing a virtual version of its WAN optimization controller that makes it less expensive for small businesses to get into optimizing traffic between individual machines and corporate offices.

Called Steelhead Controller Virtual Edition, the software runs on a Riverbed Steelhead WAN optimization appliance. Previously the controllers were sold only as appliances at an entry cost of $12,995 for the hardware and the minimum 30 licenses.

The virtual version sells with a minimum of 10 licenses for a cost of $5,995. Once the number of licenses gets to 30, the cost of the virtual version and the appliance are about the same. The virtual version tops out at 100 licenses while with a new software upgrade, the appliance can now handle as many as 4,000, double the previous capacity.

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Riverbed Technology is introducing a virtual version of its WAN optimization controller that makes it less expensive for small businesses to get into optimizing traffic between individual machines and corporate offices.

Called Steelhead Controller Virtual Edition, the software runs on a Riverbed Steelhead WAN optimization appliance. Previously the controllers were sold only as appliances at an entry cost of $12,995 for the hardware and the minimum 30 licenses.

The virtual version sells with a minimum of 10 licenses for a cost of $5,995. Once the number of licenses gets to 30, the cost of the virtual version and the appliance are about the same. The virtual version tops out at 100 licenses while with a new software upgrade, the appliance can now handle as many as 4,000, double the previous capacity.

Controllers keep track of how many licenses customers have for individual desktops and laptops to run Riverbed Mobile Client software.

Riverbed is also upgrading the mobile client to optimize Lotus Notes traffic, a feature that was formerly limited to traffic running between two Steelhead appliances. Now Notes traffic between a mobile client and a Steelhead appliance can be optimized as well. The company says Notes traffic takes as little as one-eighteenth the time to cross WAN links than it does without the optimization.

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