RiOS Features |
Benefit |
| Data Streamlining (Bandwidth Optimizations) |
| Scalable Data Referencing |
Removes redundant WAN data for all TCP traffic |
| QoS Using Hierarchical Fair Service Curves (HFSC) |
Manage / allocate WAN bandwidth use by application / port while independently prioritizing packets based on latency sensitivity – TCP and UDP traffic |
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| Transport Streamlining (TCP Optimizations) |
| Virtual Window Expansion |
Send much more data per payload on each round trip for TCP |
| HS-TCP (High Speed TCP) |
Fill the pipe more effectively on high bandwidth, high latency pipes but retain back-off if there is congestion on the link |
| MX-TCP (Max TCP) |
Fill the pipe to the maximum possible without backing off in the face of congestion |
| SSL Acceleration / Optimization |
Accelerate encrypted WAN traffic by decrypting data and applying Riverbed’s optimizations – without distributing certificates to the edge |
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| Application Streamlining (Latency Optimizations) |
| CIFS Optimizations |
Accelerate Microsoft Windows file sharing |
| MAPI Optimizations |
Accelerate Microsoft Exchange (2000, 2003) |
| HTTP / HTTPS Optimizations |
Accelerate web-based applications (whether or not they are encrypted) |
| NFS Optimizations |
Accelerate UNIX file sharing for NFS v 3.0 |
| MS-SQL Optimizations |
Accelerate applications built on MS-SQL |
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Other Key Features |
| Ease of Deployment |
| Transparent Deployment |
Deploy Steelhead appliances with no changes to networks or other infrastructure |
| Enhanced Auto-Discovery |
End-to-end auto-discovery across multi-hop deployments |
| Asymmetric route detection |
Detect the presence of asymmetrically routed networks; use connection forwarding (below) to enable optimization in those cases |
| Connection Forwarding |
Forwards connections to originating Steelhead appliance in asymmetrically routed networks (easier integration into complex networks) – both client-side and server-side |
| Centralized Key Management |
Store SSL certificates centrally even while decrypting traffic at the edge of the WAN |
| Multi-port cards (optional) |
Optional 4 port card - Up to 12 ports on larger Steelhead models |
| Agent-less Pre-Population |
Preposition content from file servers, filers, from storage onto remote Steelhead appliances to avoid “cold” hits |
| Port / application Auto-discovery |
Automatically discover / label well known ports; custom naming of specific ports |
| Flexible Deployment Options |
In-path, out-of-path (PBR, WCCP), Virtual In-Path, High Availability (Serial or Parallel); Asymmetric Networks |
| Proxy File Service (PFS) |
Continued access to local files in the event of a WAN outage |
| Active-Active Failover |
For high availability deployments, pre-warm segment stores; either Steelhead appliance can act as primary |
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| Security |
| Appliance to appliance IPSEC Encryption |
Optional encryption of optimized traffic between Steelhead appliances |
| Auto-Discovery |
Steelhead appliances automatically find each other across the WAN – no tunnels required. Any Steelhead appliance can peer with up to 4100 others |
| Support for RADIUS / TACACS |
Ensure administrative security / authentication |
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| Management |
| Central Management Console |
Manage up to 500 Steelhead appliances from one console |
| NetFlow Export |
Integration with NetFlow for traffic transparency / reporting |
| Over-the-wire Upgrade |
Upgrade / rollback RiOS versions |
| Software Upgrades |
Some models are software upgradeable (100 to 200; 520 to 1020) |
