WAN file protocol optimization: three methods to accelerate CIFS and NFS

One of the main trends of IT is to integrate the servers, storage, and data of branches into the central data center. The benefits of this integration are obvious: simplifying it management, improving data compliance, control, and reducing hardware, software, and management costs.

However, such centralization may also bring application performance challenges. Traditional file sharing protocols such as NFS-the main protocol used for * nix file sharing and CIFS-the main protocol used for Windows File Sharing) are very sensitive to latency, it cannot run well through the WAN connection at all. This is because they rely on the request-response chain to move data. A simple operation may require hundreds of round-trip transfers, as a result, it may take several minutes to open a file on the LAN in milliseconds. What enterprises need is a WAN that is the same as a traditional LAN.WAN file protocol optimization can adopt different methods to change such dialog mechanisms to eliminate these cumbersome protocols and reduce additional latency.

Method 1: upgrade your applications, protocols, and performance

Most enterprise applications have transitioned to Web Technology for delivery. For example, file management systems such as Microsoft SharePoint, Documentum, Jive, and Google Docs are all transmitted over HTTP and SSL. The latest Microsoft Exchange and Outlook versions have also been used to interface mapis from message applications) transfer to HTTP. You should consider upgrading your enterprise application to the latest version, because the latest version can use these Web protocols more efficiently. This upgrade can also reduce WAN consumption and meet end users.

Method 2: Priority

The WAN optimizer can adjust traffic and ensure that enterprises can control how to use their limited WAN bandwidth. This means that some applications, devices, or users can obtain the bandwidth, which may also mean limiting the bandwidth they obtain. This method can be used to optimize file protocols for traditional applications that rely on extra bandwidth, significantly improving performance.

Method 3: Accelerate file transmission through compression, cache, and prefetch

One of the key functions of the optimizer is the ability to prefetch data. The optimizer knows when file transmission will take place, and they can prefetch part of the file or the entire file to the remote optimizer as soon as possible through the WAN. The Protocol Communication destination at the remote end is a server in the data center) is intercepted by the remote optimizer, and then the remote optimizer generates an appropriate response, so that most of the tedious protocols will never reach the WAN. The remote optimizer provides local files to be transmitted through the Protocol.

The optimizer can also use cache and compression technologies to reduce the amount of data transmitted. The optimizer intelligently stores data in the cache and compares transmitted files and cached files at the byte or block level. This means that any data that has been sent, even a part of a completely different file, does not need to appear. In some cases, this may reduce the WAN Traffic by up to 95%.

By using the WAN optimizer, enterprises can further leverage their investment in traditional applications and file systems and still enjoy the advantage of centralization. Enterprises that have not centralized applications and file servers of all branches should consider the three methods that can contribute to centralized file protocol optimization.