Vendor Research

This report is designed to help vendors and solution providers understand adoption trends and end-customer requirements for enterprise access networks.

Solution Set

WAN optimization has hit the mainstream. Vendors have developed mobile clients, virtual appliances, and are building for cloud-enabled environments to cover all use cases of accelerating traffic.

Note

Now that 10G Ethernet is available at lower prices, data center technical staff is pushing it for day-to-day infrastructure. As with all new technologies, there is an optimal time for upgrading. Use this solution set to understand what needs to...

(9-Apr-10) Ethernet is to the world of data networking what low-frequency AC is to electric power distribution: the foundational universal standard for the world’s infrastructure. Yet Ethernet’s original conception and implementation targeted...

On November 11th, HP acquired 3Com for $2.7 billion USD effectively drawing a line in the sand. HP had long been one of Cisco’s biggest resellers until Cisco moved into HP’s data center server space earlier this year when it introduced the...

(28-Oct-09) Wide area network (WAN) managers need to think less like techies and more like business strategists when deciding whether to power the WAN with one or multiple service providers. They have to decide how much risk they can tolerate...

Optimizing application delivery across the WAN is becoming critical for multi-site enterprises seeking to consolidate and centralize IT resources. Enterprises looking to improve application delivery across the WAN should consider the dual...

Cisco was a late entrant into the WAN optimization market, but its dominant position in the network infrastructure space has allowed it to quickly pick up significant market share. With a solid line of appliances and a network module for the...

The Citrix Branch Repeater delivers traditional WAN optimization as well as accelerated virtual application (XenApp) performance, and a Windows Server in a single box. Medium to large enterprises with a number of distributed locations should...

Competition in the WAN optimization market continues to grow, compelling vendors to differentiate their products with innovative features beyond basic application acceleration. Though many vendors have stepped up to the plate, others, such as...

As the enterprise WAN is increasingly relied upon to deliver business critical data and applications, optimal performance of the network becomes a high priority. Enterprises focusing on large scale data center consolidation, data replication,...

Vendors that have continued to invest in WAN optimization technology and effectively advanced the benefits of these products are clear market leaders, while those that have not are followers. The F5 WANJet product line now falls into the latter...

Riverbed Technology shows up on more WAN optimization shortlists than any other vendor. Riverbed has done a very good job raising awareness of the benefits of WAN optimization for multi-site enterprises, but marketing is not its only strength....

WAN optimization vendors have stepped up to the plate to differentiate themselves in a market space that was heading towards commoditization. Competing vendors have taken the initiative to narrow their target markets and design devices that are...

Video

Vendor management plays a critical role in any network related cost reduction efforts. Join this videocast for information and advice on how to reduce your network spend. This videocast covers various topics, including Cisco substitutes, the...

In the past, it was easier for enterprises to decide if a single or a multi-provider WAN solution was the best choice. However, because of today's cost and performance concerns coupled with business risks, and increased use of cellular services,...

As wireless speeds and coverage improves, enterprises continue to take advantage of cellular services and WLANs. As a result, WAN/LAN support services are likely to require a refocus or even downsizing as this trend continues. Consequently,...

(27-Aug-09) For a $5.5 billion agricultural cooperative whose 42,000 farmers work cohesively across 19 countries to supply food and farming services, Lantmännen's IT infrastructure was surprisingly unwieldy. "Because we've been around since...

(IT World Canada) - Implementing a remote desktop control solution for your IT help desk could save you bundles, but only if it's actually capable of reaching your staff. Read about what essential features you'll need before making a...

Tool

This tool is designed to help organizations determine top tactics for cost reduction within the network and telephony service area. After the questions have been completed, the tool will generate guidance on which cost-saving actions to take,...

Note

Enterprises looking to reduce costs in the network and telephony services area can make significant headway in reducing expenses without reducing quality of service. First, determine which areas have potential for cost savings, then assess how...

Small enterprises are familiar with the increased costs associated with global network requirements. However, the ability to obtain the requisite service levels at all locations can be more difficult than anticipated and may be worth a premium...

On Feb. 27, 2008, the Bank of New York Mellon shipped a tape containing the personal information of more than 4.5 million clients to an Archive America offsite storage facility. That tape never arrived. The information contained on the tape...

More businesses are finding that they require high availability (HA) of key applications. HA means an application is operational when it is needed. This can range from 24/7 Web site access to guaranteed IP phone access during a normal 40-hour...

High availability (HA) for key applications is a requirement for businesses of all sizes. Small enterprises have fewer resources to allocate in creating an HA data center and so must be more adept at selecting the right components. Understand...

When enterprises encounter unacceptable e-mail client performance, finding the root cause can present a challenge. This challenge is complicated when provisioning e-mail to a distributed workforce from a handful of regional or global locations....

Enterprises with small branch offices and teleworkers often make significant investments in infrastructure and application licenses for the remote locations. Those that haven't explored SSL VPN solutions for small branch offices and remote...

Many multi-site enterprises use dedicated T1 lines to connect branch offices. Not so long ago, T1s were the only option for many locations, but emerging alternatives offer more bandwidth at a much lower cost than dedicated T1 lines. In some...

The enterprise WAN is typically recognized as a weak link in the end-to-end delivery model for IP-based services and applications. Monitoring and trending WAN traffic offers clear value in terms of incident avoidance and resolution and, given...

Many small enterprises struggle to find appropriate and cost effective tools for data storage, backup, and security. Often the latest consumer products match the needs of many small businesses and are the forerunners of enterprise-focused...