Cisco WAAS
Encyclopedia
Cisco
Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) is technology that optimizes the performance of TCP-based applications operating in a Wide Area Network (WAN)
environment while preserving and strengthening branch security. WAAS combines WAN optimization
, optimization of the Transport Control Protocol (TCP), Data Redundancy Elimination (DRE, also known as deduplication
) and application protocol acceleration in a single a network-attached appliance or router-integrated module form factor.
The distributed ADS market was about 4 years old in 2004 when Cisco acquired Actona Technologies. The acquisition gave Cisco basic wide-area file services (WAFS) techniques. Since then Cisco has been busy integrating the technology and making several extensions. Cisco calls the resulting software Wide Area Application Services (WAAS). WAAS delivers a combination of TCP optimization, proxy services, and byte-level and file caching. It runs on Wide Area Application Engine (WAE) hardware platforms, including standalone appliances and network modules (NME) for the Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISRs).
Notably, Cisco was the first to provide a WAN optimization system that was transparent to the network. This was accomplished by preserving IP packet header details, including IP addresses, and TCP port numbers, which have been deemed important for intermediary devices and services to function properly. Examples of devices that could be impacted by packet header obfuscation include firewalls
, routers, intrusion detection
and prevention systems, and general quality of service
(QoS) techniques. Other providers of this technology have consequently provided solutions to solving this problem as well.
WAN optimization
appliances have traditionally limited IT when it comes to maintaining functions such as security, Quality of Service
, visibility, and monitoring end-to-end transactions because they tend to cause problems for most network monitoring
devices and tools. By design, WAN Optimization “confuses” performance monitoring systems by changing packet header data.
Latest Release
Cisco's latest WAAS software release is version 4.4.1.
Cisco
Cisco may refer to:Companies:*Cisco Systems, a computer networking company* Certis CISCO, corporatised entity of the former Commercial and Industrial Security Corporation in Singapore...
Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) is technology that optimizes the performance of TCP-based applications operating in a Wide Area Network (WAN)
Wide area network
A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...
environment while preserving and strengthening branch security. WAAS combines WAN optimization
WAN Optimization
WAN optimization is a collection of techniques for increasing data-transfer efficiencies across wide-area networks. In 2008, the WAN optimization market was estimated to be $1 billion , and it will grow to $4.4 billion according to Gartner, a technology research firm.The most common measures of...
, optimization of the Transport Control Protocol (TCP), Data Redundancy Elimination (DRE, also known as deduplication
Deduplication
The term deduplication refers generally to eliminating duplicate or redundant information.* Data deduplication, in computer storage, refers to the elimination of redundant data...
) and application protocol acceleration in a single a network-attached appliance or router-integrated module form factor.
The distributed ADS market was about 4 years old in 2004 when Cisco acquired Actona Technologies. The acquisition gave Cisco basic wide-area file services (WAFS) techniques. Since then Cisco has been busy integrating the technology and making several extensions. Cisco calls the resulting software Wide Area Application Services (WAAS). WAAS delivers a combination of TCP optimization, proxy services, and byte-level and file caching. It runs on Wide Area Application Engine (WAE) hardware platforms, including standalone appliances and network modules (NME) for the Cisco Integrated Services Routers (ISRs).
Notably, Cisco was the first to provide a WAN optimization system that was transparent to the network. This was accomplished by preserving IP packet header details, including IP addresses, and TCP port numbers, which have been deemed important for intermediary devices and services to function properly. Examples of devices that could be impacted by packet header obfuscation include firewalls
Firewall (computing)
A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
, routers, intrusion detection
Intrusion detection
In Information Security, intrusion detection is the act of detecting actions that attempt to compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of a resource. When Intrusion detection takes a preventive measure without direct human intervention, then it becomes an Intrusion-prevention...
and prevention systems, and general quality of service
Quality of service
The quality of service refers to several related aspects of telephony and computer networks that allow the transport of traffic with special requirements...
(QoS) techniques. Other providers of this technology have consequently provided solutions to solving this problem as well.
WAN optimization
WAN Optimization
WAN optimization is a collection of techniques for increasing data-transfer efficiencies across wide-area networks. In 2008, the WAN optimization market was estimated to be $1 billion , and it will grow to $4.4 billion according to Gartner, a technology research firm.The most common measures of...
appliances have traditionally limited IT when it comes to maintaining functions such as security, Quality of Service
Quality of service
The quality of service refers to several related aspects of telephony and computer networks that allow the transport of traffic with special requirements...
, visibility, and monitoring end-to-end transactions because they tend to cause problems for most network monitoring
Network monitoring
The term network monitoring describes the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network for slow or failing components and that notifies the network administrator in case of outages...
devices and tools. By design, WAN Optimization “confuses” performance monitoring systems by changing packet header data.
Latest Release
Cisco's latest WAAS software release is version 4.4.1.
Open Source
Commercial
- Blue CoatBlue Coat SystemsBlue Coat Systems Inc. is a network security and network management company based in Sunnyvale, California, United States.It identifies itself as an application delivery network specialist...
ProxySG - Citrix Branch Repeater
- ExindaExindaExinda is a United States technology company that provides computer networking products and services. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Exinda delivers WAN optimization and network bandwidth management solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises....
- JuniperJuniper NetworksJuniper Networks is an information technology and computer networking products multinational company, founded in 1996. It is head quartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The company designs and sells high-performance Internet Protocol network products and services...
WXC - Riverbed SteelheadRiverbed TechnologyRiverbed Technology is a technology company that specializes in improving the performance of networks and networked applications. It was founded May 23, 2002 by Jerry Kennelly and Steve McCanne in San Francisco, California where its world headquarters remains...
- Silver PeakSilver Peak SystemsSilver Peak Systems designs and manufactures WAN optimization products. Silver Peak's global headquarters is located in Santa Clara, California. Silver Peak was founded in 2004 by David Hughes, who holds a PhD from Wollongong University and has been awarded 35 patents...
NX, VX & VRX