Riverbed, Ecessa, Expand unveil WAN optimization upgrades

This week’s Interop conference brought with it a flurry of product announcements from WAN optimization and application acceleration vendors. Here are some of the highlights:

Citrix boosts processing capabilities
Citrix Systems unveiled technology designed to boost the performance of its high-end NetScaler appliances without requiring customers to invest in new hardware. Available on the NetScaler MPX 15000 and 17000 series appliances, the vendor’s new nCore technology is designed to tap more of the processing and memory capacities of multi-core, 64-bit systems so customers can run more Web acceleration and security functions in parallel -- serving up to seven times more users, Citrix says. The new nCore technology is included as part of the NetScaler 9.1 software release, which will be available June 30 at no additional charge to MPX 15000 and 17000 customers with a current maintenance contract.

Ecessa looks to optimize VoIP traffic
A new class of WAN link controllers from Ecessa (formerly Astrocom) is aimed at providing load balancing and failover capabilities for SIP traffic deployed across multiple WAN links (cable, xDSL, T1, wireless, satellite) and service provider networks. If a VoIP session is ended because of a network problem, the ClariLink devices can automatically send the call to another link, for example. Ecessa’s ClariLink WAN link controllers are due to become available in the third quarter. Also at Interop, Ecessa announced the addition of the PowerLink 500 and ShieldLink 500 (which integrates firewall and VPN gateway capabilities) to its WAN link controller family.

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This week’s Interop conference brought with it a flurry of product announcements from WAN optimization and application acceleration vendors. Here are some of the highlights:

Citrix boosts processing capabilities
Citrix Systems unveiled technology designed to boost the performance of its high-end NetScaler appliances without requiring customers to invest in new hardware. Available on the NetScaler MPX 15000 and 17000 series appliances, the vendor’s new nCore technology is designed to tap more of the processing and memory capacities of multi-core, 64-bit systems so customers can run more Web acceleration and security functions in parallel -- serving up to seven times more users, Citrix says. The new nCore technology is included as part of the NetScaler 9.1 software release, which will be available June 30 at no additional charge to MPX 15000 and 17000 customers with a current maintenance contract.

Ecessa looks to optimize VoIP traffic
A new class of WAN link controllers from Ecessa (formerly Astrocom) is aimed at providing load balancing and failover capabilities for SIP traffic deployed across multiple WAN links (cable, xDSL, T1, wireless, satellite) and service provider networks. If a VoIP session is ended because of a network problem, the ClariLink devices can automatically send the call to another link, for example. Ecessa’s ClariLink WAN link controllers are due to become available in the third quarter. Also at Interop, Ecessa announced the addition of the PowerLink 500 and ShieldLink 500 (which integrates firewall and VPN gateway capabilities) to its WAN link controller family.

Riverbed makes room for Check Point’s security gear
Riverbed in the past has highlighted technology that allows it to run other vendors’ software on its Steelhead WAN optimization appliances so that enterprises can minimize the number of hardware devices deployed at branch offices, for instance. Through a new partnership with Check Point Software Technologies, customers can now deploy security tools -- including firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention, antivirus, anti-spyware and URL filtering -- as virtual appliances running directly on their Riverbed Steelhead appliances. The joint solution, Check Point Security Gateway R70 for Riverbed Steelhead appliances, is scheduled to be available by midyear.

Expand eyes mobile users
Small branch offices and mobile users have a new option for WAN acceleration: the Mobile Accelerator Client (MACC) from Expand Networks. MACC makes use of technology Expand acquired in its NetPriva purchase. One key highlight is a feature called Collective Mode, whereby MACC clients in the same location can automatically discover each other and collaborate to create a distributed virtual cache and cooperative QoS, Expand says. Expand’s MACC client will be available in the fourth quarter. Concurrent user licenses will be priced less than $100 per user, depending on volume.

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