* WAN optimization and application delivery technologies will converge, Gartner says
Last time, I shared with readers some thoughts from Gartner analysts on integrating acceleration technologies into network gear. This time I am sharing the research firm’s take on the convergence of WAN optimization and application acceleration technologies, how the technologies affect IP telephony and how to adequately plan for optimal application performance.
Mark Fabbi, a vice president at research firm Gartner, penned a paper last month with fellow analyst Joe Skorupa. The two put together the report “Application Acceleration: Hot Topics from Symposium” following Gartner’s Symposium show in response to a slew of questions around this market.
(For background purposes, according to Gartner, application delivery controller [ADC] technologies reside in the data center and are deployed asymmetrically, meaning only on the data center end and accelerate “end-user performance of browser-based and related applications” by offering several technologies that work at the network and applications layers. On the other hand, WAN optimization controller [WOC] products are deployed symmetrically, on either end of a WAN link, and improve the performance of applications accessed across the WAN. The technologies typically address bandwidth consumption, latency and protocol issues.)
To kick off the burning questions, Symposium attendees wanted to know the likelihood of WOC and ADC technologies converging. Gartner points to a few reasons why in the short terms these technologies won’t become fully enmeshed. For one, ADCs are typically deployed with server and applications groups, while WOCs address routers and WAN concerns. But the research firm expects that as more networks become well versed in applications the technologies will converge.
“We believe that the application-fluent network will arrive in leading enterprise networks by 2009. This will entail a combination of ADC and WOC devices united by a common management and policy layer that will understand the context of application interactions and apply optimizations from the appropriate application-fluent devices in the network,” the report reads.
Another question posed to the Gartner analysts involves how optimization technologies work in concert with IP telephony and VoIP implementations. The short answer is that ADC and WOC technologies don’t have a significant impact on the performance of voice, but voice should be a consideration when looking to invest in such technologies.
“The decision to purchase an ADC or WOC is not driven by IP voice. However some of the features that network managers should be aware of can ensure voice is properly handled on an optimized, application-fluent network,” the report reads.
The Gartner analysts also laid out how enterprise IT managers could ensure application performance is optimal over the wide area – a multi-phased approach that involves several departments is the bet best.
“During each phase of development, the team is expected to work together to ensure that the end user requirements are being met. As part of the process, the networking team should provide a WAN emulator to the developers so even early prototypes can be tested in a ‘real world’ environment,” the report reads.
