How to Optimize Your SMB's WAN Application Delivery

How to optimize WAN performance and cost

WAN link controllers allow businesses to choose the WAN link performance/cost ratio based on need, provide complete service provider independence and eliminate complexity of network protocols such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Advanced WAN link controllers use both inbound and outbound bandwidth aggregation to combine two or more Internet connections and provide critical applications with access to the total available combined bandwidth. WAN link controllers use link load balancing to route Internet sessions from congested links to links with more available bandwidth to ensure optimum performance for users. They also provide automatic failover of Internet sessions from failed links to functional links.

For example, if an SMB has a T1 line (1.5M bps) and needs additional bandwidth, it would typically have to upgrade to a T3 line (45M bps) or a bonded T1. However, this may utilize more bandwidth than is required, significantly increasing cost.

This same scenario can be accomplished with two 768K bps DSL links that can be combined for a total aggregated bandwidth equivalent to a T1 at a fraction of the cost. Additional lower speed links such as DSL, cable, wireless and others can be added with a relatively small increase in cost that can more closely match the SMB’s needs. In addition to receiving more cost-effective bandwidth, the SMB dramatically increases the reliability of its WAN network due to the new levels of redundancy through the aggregation of multiple Internet links.

WAN link controllers use various techniques to direct traffic load between two or more WAN links to optimize resource utilization and improve application delivery. They are fully compatible with DSL, cable, wireless, T-1, E-1, T-3, E-3, satellite, Fibre Channel, frame relay and other link types. This flexibility allows the mixing and matching of connectivity to best fit needs.

Marc Goodman is the Director of Marketing at Ecessa. Marc has over 29 years experience in the technology industry, with a history of building industry-leading brands for emerging companies, managing product marketing and marketing communications. Joining Ecessa in 2008, Marc is responsible for leading the company's overall corporate and product marketing. Prior to Ecessa, Marc ran marketing for KEMP Technologies. From 1998 to 2001, Marc served as senior director of marketing at F5 Networks, where he led the marketing organization, developed an industry-leading brand and managed all marketing functions through a successful IPO. Marc has also served in marketing management positions at UBmatrix, Threshold Networks, SPRY/CompuServe, Cogent Networks, Attachmate and Wall Data. He can be reached at mgoodman@ecessa.com.