Skip Links

Network World

  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Close

Microsoft attempts to address CIFS' limitations in R2

Windows Server 2003 R2 to address problems with running CIFS apps over WANs
Wide Area Networking Alert By Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler , Network World , 11/10/2005
Sign up for this newsletter now!

WAN experts Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler analyze and share best practices on WAN issues from optimization to management.

Previous newsletters described the problems that result from taking applications that are based on LAN protocols such as Common Internet File System or Network File System, and running those over a company's WAN. Those newsletters also described a possible solution to the problem: wide-area file systems. WAFS were described as being a viable short-term solution but most companies do not want their branch offices littered with numerous specialized appliances.

Whereas a WAFS solution attempts to use sophisticated technology to overcome the issues of running a LAN protocol over the WAN, Microsoft is suggesting an alternative approach. The company recently issued a beta of Windows Server 2003 R2. Microsoft has stated that R2 represents the first in a wave of upcoming branch office technologies from Microsoft and industry partners.   

One of the goals of R2 is to eliminate some of the aspects of CIFS that causes CIFS-based applications to run badly over a WAN. To achieve this goal, R2 includes Remote Differential Compression (RDC), a compression technology that replicates only the changes that are needed in order to ensure global file consistency.

R2 also contains a completely rewritten replication engine for the distributed file system (DFS). Microsoft claims that the new DFS is notably more robust and scalable and also states that the new DFS uses RDC to increase the efficiency of the WAN. In addition, if a WAN connection were to fail, data can be stored and forwarded when the WAN becomes available.

We would like to hear from you. Do you look at WAFS as a short-term solution or as a long-term solution? Do you trust that Microsoft will be successful at making some or all of the CIFS issues go away?

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. Jim Metzler is vice president of Ashton, Metzler & Associates.

Partner Content

Simplify Your Branch Infrastructure

Learn how to simplify your branch infrastructure while dramatically increasing app performance with Citrix Branch Repeater.

Download the Free Info Kit

Next-Gen Load Balancing

Free Guide: "Next Gen Load Balancing: 8 Things You Need to Handle Today's Network Traffic" shows you the functionality needed in your next load balancer.

Download the Free Guide

Accelerate Your Web Apps by up to 5x

Free Guide: "The Secret to Getting Maximum Speed from your Web Applications." Learn how you can deliver Web apps up to 5x faster.

Download the Free Guide

Comment
Login
Forgot your account info?
Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.

Videos

rssRss Feed

Whitepapers

Ensuring Network Integrity, Continuity and Process Enforcement with Route Analytics

This white paper shows how route analytics is used to ensure that dynamic IP network behavior...

Advancing the Economics of Networking

Aging network systems and old habits have dictated how businesses spend their IT budgets. As a...

Implementing HA at the Enterprise Data Center Edge to Connect to a Large Number of Branch Offices

This paper reviews the problem of creating a network where the dynamic availability of services is...

Webcasts

WAN Optimization Editorial Webcast

Get caught up to speed on the latest WAN optimization developments in this informative Editorial...

Transforming the Enterprise WAN Edge: Video from Cisco

Life on the edge of your WAN has changed dramatically. With the need to deliver advanced services,...

PoE Plus: Impact on the PoE Market

The standard for Power over Ethernet (PoE), IEEE Std. 802.3af(tm)-2003, advanced networking,...

Special Reports

Ethernet Services: WAN options mature

WAN Ethernet services are reliable, cost-efficient offerings that are widely available and in a...

Get More From Your WAN

Download this Network World Executive Guide and get information that details how real-world...

WAN Optimization: How to rev up sluggish applications

WAN optimization technology is maturing and buyers are more comfortable than ever with tools that...

Get instant email notification when white papers, webcasts, executive guides are added to our library. Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest on IT Technologies with Network World's Resource Alerts.