Deploying Cisco Wide Area Application Services

Implement advanced WAN optimization, application acceleration, and branch virtualization with Cisco WAAS 4.1

 

 

This book brings together all the information you need to design and deploy scalable, transparent application acceleration, WAN optimization, and branch virtualization solutions with dramatically improved Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) 4.1 products from Cisco®.

 

Cisco WAAS insiders Joel Christner, Zach Seils, and Nancy Jin systematically cover new WAAS software enhancements that enable far better performance, simplified workflow, and improved manageability. They introduce powerful new solution components including application-specific acceleration techniques, hardware form factors, and virtualization. They also thoroughly explain recent architectural improvements that provide a solid foundation for future WAAS solutions.

 

The authors begin by reviewing the underlying technologies that comprise today’s Cisco WAAS solution. Next, drawing on extensive personal experience, they walk through collecting requirements, designing effective solutions, integrating WAAS into existing networks, and configuring WAAS 4.1 software.

 

This book is replete with real-world implementation examples and case studies– including extensive coverage of network, branch office, and data center integration. One step at a time, you’ll learn how to deploy Cisco WAAS in a scalable, transparent, and seamless fashion: one that addresses both your business and technical challenges.

• Thoroughly understand WAAS 4.1’s capabilities, and learn how to use and manage it effectively
• Understand both the Cisco WAAS appliance and router-integrated network module hardware family
• Quickly deploy WAAS in lab or production pilot environments to quantify its potential benefits
• Size, design, and deploy Cisco WAAS for maximum performance and value in your enterprise network
• Compare and select design options for branch office and data center network integration
• Deploy the WAAS Central Manager and accelerator WAAS devices
• Implement centralized authentication, authorization, alarm management, monitoring, and reporting
• Configure WAN optimization with the Application Traffic Policy Manager
• Configure, verify, and manage application acceleration
• Leverage WAAS 4.1’s powerful new branch office virtualization capabilities
• Quickly troubleshoot WAAS problems using Cisco’s own best practices

 

This book is part of the Networking Technology Series from Cisco Press®, which offers networking professionals valuable information for constructing efficient networks, understanding new technologies, and building successful careers.

 

 

Joel Christner, CCIE No. 15311, is a distinguished engineer at StorSimple, Inc. Before StorSimple, Joel was a technical leader in the Application Delivery Business Unit (ADBU) at Cisco Systems, Inc., driving the long-term product strategy, system architecture, and solution architecture for the Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) product and the Cisco broader application delivery solution. Previously, Joel was director of product management for Reconnex Corporation (acquired by McAfee), the industry leader in data loss prevention (DLP) solutions. Prior to joining Reconnex, Joel was the senior manager of technical marketing for ADBU at Cisco Systems, Inc, and a key contributor to the WAAS product line, helping shape the system architecture, craft the product requirements, and enable a global sales team to sell and support the product in a hyper-competitive market.

Joel is co-author of the first edition of this book and also co-author of Application Acceleration and WAN Optimization Fundamentals (Cisco Press) with Ted Grevers, Jr, which outlines architecture and relevance for WAN optimization and application acceleration technologies in today’s dynamic IT organizations.

 

Zach Seils, CCIE No. 7861, is a technical leader in the Application Delivery Business Unit (ADBU) at Cisco Systems, Inc. Zach is currently focused on developing the architecture and network integration aspects of next-generation WAN optimization and application acceleration platforms. In addition, Zach is frequently engaged with partners and internal Cisco engineers worldwide to advise on the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of Cisco WAAS. Previously, Zach was a technical leader in the Cisco

Advanced Services Data Center Networking Practice, where he served as a subject matter expert in Application Networking Services for the largest Enterprise and Service Provider customers at Cisco. Zach is co-author of the first edition of this book and was also a technical reviewer of Application Acceleration and WAN Optimization Fundamentals (Cisco Press) by Joel Christner and Ted Grevers, Jr.

 

Nancy Jin is a senior technical marketing engineer in the Application Delivery Business Unit (ADBU) at Cisco Systems, Inc. where she helps develop requirements for product features, drive sales enablement, and manage technical training development for the Cisco WAAS product family. Before Cisco, Nancy held senior systems engineering positions with well-known network and managed service providers, including InterNAP Network Services, Telstra USA, Sigma Networks, and MCI Worldcom.