Application Front-Ends (AFEs) integrate a large number of different features and functions into a single data center appliance. IT staff must carefully define and select the functions that provide the best fit and greatest enhancement to data center operations.

What Is an AFE?

Small-enterprise data centers often do not have the staff or expertise to implement the many point-products available for security, network optimization, and application acceleration. By consolidating multiple functions into a single appliance, an AFE is able to share common processing operations between different components, thereby improving performance and reducing costs.

The AFE also consolidates management interfaces. Rather than having a separate user interface with a unique look and feel for each device, the AFE provides a common interface that eases the learning curve. The individual operations, with their own unique requirements, are still managed separately from within the common management tool.

An AFE for Every Function

Different vendors offer different combinations of features and functions...