What is WAN optimization?
WAN optimization, also known as WAN acceleration, is the category of technologies and techniques used to maximize the efficiency of data flow across a wide area network (WAN). In an enterprise WAN, the goal of optimization is to increase the speed of access to critical applications and information.
WAN optimization encompasses:
- traffic shaping, in which traffic is prioritized and bandwidth is allotted accordingly.
- data deduplication, which reduces the data that must be sent across a WAN for remote backups, replication, and disaster recovery.
- compression, which shrinks the size of data to limit bandwidth use.
- data caching, in which frequently used data is hosted locally or on a local server for faster access.
- monitoring the network to detect non-essential traffic.
- creating and enforcing rules about downloads and Internet use.
- protocol spoofing, which is a method of bundling chatty protocols so they are, in effect, a single protocol.
WAN optimization vendors include Blue Coat Systems, Cisco, Expand Networks, F5 Networks, Juniper and Riverbed Technology.
Learn More About IT:
> Michael Morisy explains WAN
optimization's potential for telecoms.
> SearchNetworkingChannel.com has collected WAN
optimization learning resources in this tutorial.
> Wiley offers this WAN
optimization ebook.
This was last updated in August 2010
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