Computer tools can combat complex content challenges
This has a significant effect on the network because servers have to deliver rich graphical web page content to users that sometimes takes four times the amount of bandwidth, he says.
“A lot of applications today cannot be purchased without a web front-end because this is the only way to access them.”
He says the effect is not so much on the local area network (LAN), which in most cases provides 1 gigabit per second throughput. But the burden of carrying rich content over the wide area network (WAN) is significant because bandwidth capacity is at a premium, he says.
Another challenge is the need to carry voice and video content over the WAN because it means transmitting a constant stream of content that cannot be interrupted, says Louw.
Companies therefore have to implement technology solutions that will allow them to prioritise network throughput for these applications, he says.
“Most companies are allocating a dedicated portion of bandwidth to Voice over IP (VoIP).”
Other applications, such as SAP Financials, will also need to be given priority at certain times of the month, he says.
To prioritise different types of applications, network routers and switches need to have the intelligence to identify what content is coming through the network from which application, and when, says Louw.
He says network management hardware and software tools are available for managing data and traffic effectively. They include tools for compressing data and others that recognise the most frequently used data, and store the data as close to the users as possible, such as at branch level.
Load balancing devices can be attached to the network that will route users to the data centre closest to them when they are accessing applications.
In addition, web acceleration engines are available that will minimise the effect of web-based traffic by applying compression techniques.
Louw says one of the most popular solutions in this area internationally is the F5 range of application enhancement software tools that integrate with each other and address all these requirements in one package.
Enterweb has recently been appointed the local distributor for the product, which is used by more than 10000 companies globally, including SAP, Microsoft, Oracle and eBay.
When purchasing network utility tools it is important to ensure they will all work with each other, but this is not always the case, which adds complexity to the management of the network, says Louw.
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