When the file servers are removed from the remote office, the WAN becomes the vehicle
for file access; however, this will not be a performance improvement for these remote
users. Traversing the WAN, file access is now subjected to the effects of WAN latency.
The chatty and inefficient nature of file access protocol such as CIFS often make
this effect significant. A file that takes around ten seconds to open on the sub
1 ms latency LAN may take six to seven minutes on a 40 ms latency WAN. The same
file over a longer international line (120 ms latency) could easily take over 20
minutes! How effective is a WAFS project if the remote users are quickly becoming
annoyed and frustrated every time they access files? How will this experience affect
their productivity?
But What if the WAN is Out?
Prior to file server consolidation, should an issue come up with the WAN, remote
users could continue to access files on their local file servers, continuing work
without interruption. After implementing a WAFS project, should the WAN experience
problems, remote users might not be able to access their files. Without access to
the network, remote users may not have the tools they need to work. How productive
can they be in this environment?
The Virtual Branch Office: Maintain LAN-like Performance, Control and Safety
With a pioneering foundation in WAN management, Expand understands how to optimize
the WAN for high performance. Start by mitigating the effects of latency in file
access with Expand's Domain-based CIFS acceleration and file caching that works
in concert with Domain security and access control. Should anything happen to the
WAN, Expand's WAN-Out capability will provide remote users with uninterrupted access
to the files they were working on, and being part of the Domain, will do this while
continuing to enforce security and access control. This removes the costly CIFS
traffic from the WAN, but that’s not the complete picture. Expand’s Virtual Branch
Office offering combines Print, DNS, DHCP and full-featured point to point VPN service
as well. And unlike competing solutions, Expand does all this completely integrated
into one product, one management interface, and one monitoring system.
An Integrated Solution: FileBank and FileBank Director
Your WAFS-Ready Accelerators (VWAN, 4900, 6900 and 7900 series) are just a software
upgrade away from providing the most complete and full-featured Virtual Branch Office
solution in the marketplace. Add a FileBank license to your remote office Accelerators
and add the FileBank Director license to your datacenter Accelerators for a solution
that not only brings the traditional branch office services, but also incorporates
all of the other WAN optimization and application acceleration technology to make
sure your solution is ready and working for the real world. This integrated solution
will enable you to reach the full potential of your consolidation project, meeting
all of the needs of the business, while simultaneously delivering the performance
your remote users demand and the control and security you require.
Average Virtual Bandwidth Gain
Average Expected User Performance Gain
