Microsoft and Packeteer Announce Windows-based Branch Office Solution
For IT people, branch offices really stink. They're far removed and the network connections between them and the main office are often expensive and sometimes unreliable. The problem is getting the necessary data and applications down to the branch offices without compromising network performance.
One solution for doing that is a network accelerator that optimizes, prioritizes, and compresses traffic as it moves from the main office to the branch office. But, too often these tools have been historically vaporware or too expensive.
To combat this, Microsoft recently announced a partnership with Packeteer -- a company well-known for its network traffic shaping technology -- to produce a branch office solution that will do just that. The solution, called the iShaper...
...according to a Network World article, "...includes intelligent acceleration of applications, compression, performance monitoring, caching and a range of Microsoft services."
Packeteer's web site discusses features like the ability to, "Streamline branch office infrastructure and slash operational costs by replacing servers and consolidating multiple tools in a single, easy-to-manage appliance. Deliver the benefits of consolidation, convergence and beyond by enabling true data and server consolidation while also providing new levels of performance and quality for all applications, including voice and video. Extend the data center to the branch by providing genuine Microsoft® services — from printing to authentication — natively from one appliance."
If this tool is being co-developed along with Microsoft I suspect it will go far into solving the branch office problem. Note now that this isn't so much to tackle those problems solved through Terminal Services or Citrix. This solution appears to resolve problems associated with the need for installing servers at remote sites for data storage and application servicing.
This is a good direction for Microsoft.
Check out the Microsoft press release at: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/may07/05-07PacketeerPR.mspx
Also, the Network World article with a review of the product at: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/050707-packeteer-microsoft-services.html
Probably the best technical info can be found on the Packeteer web site at: http://www.packeteer.com/ishaper/
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