Dophiのブログ

    Both Nortel and Riverbed just release new major software for Alteon and Steelhead platforms recently. The new features of Alteon had been introduced in my another blog post and I would like to focus on the new software of RiOS 5.5; a multi-service providing software.

    Just in the beginning of this month, I got a beta version of RiOS 5.5 and had a lab test for Riverbed Services Platform (RSP) feature. Definitely, this is not a new concept in other platforms but has been requested for a long time. Steelhead locates near a gateway but only provides acceleration and Qos control prior to 5.0 in an enterprise network infrastructure. If we think about the price and functionality of Steelhead, this WAN acceleration solution doesn't provide much benefit in the market. Due to this issue, RiOS supports a new multi-service platform which is called as Riverbed Services Platform (RSP). RSP is a VMware-based virtualization platform providing the benefits of the virtualization tool set. The tool set includes the new Universal Threat Management (UTM) security services, proxy solutions like video or network monitoring services, and improved support for out-of-band packages like Windows Active Directory and DHCP. Of course, this is the most interesting feature for me in this release.

    Another significant feature is CIFS Optimization for SMB Signed Traffic. The new CIFS Optimization for SMB Signed Traffic in RiOS version 5.5 enables Steelhead appliances to deliver the same high levels of CIFS performance even when the CIFS traffic is signed by the server. In previous releases of RiOS, signed CIFS traffic would receive Data and Transport Streamlining optimizations but no CIFS Application Streamlining. This new optimization is valuable in environments where the domain controller is also used as a file server and where signing is explicitly enabled either on the client or on the server. But, this new feature only supports Windows 2003 domain.

    Other new features such as Encrypted Microsoft Exchange Acceleration, Microsoft Office AppLock Optimization, Web GUI TCP Dump Tool, and Top Talkers are added in RiOS 5.5 as well. A more flexible and functional Steelhead Appliance has been introduced with RiOS 5.5 and probably I will get some labs to test those new features soon.