WAN optimization (WAN acceleration)

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.

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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.