Satellite Internet Forum

[martinm]

Hi, is there anybody in this forum that have any kind of experience deploying
Riverbed's Steelhead solution over vsat or scpc satellite links?

[Searl-Tate]

Virtualized Solution Broadens WAN Optimization Deployment Flexibility for Virtual Data Centers, Ruggedized Environments and Space Constraints

Riverbed Technology in July 2010 announced the release of Virtual Steelhead(TM), a virtual version of its Riverbed(R) Steelhead(R) wide area network (WAN) optimization appliance. With the release of Virtual Steelhead, Riverbed is extending the reach of its market-leading WAN optimization solutions. Virtual Steelhead enables customers to deploy Riverbed WAN optimization solutions in a wider range of environments that may have specialized requirements, such as ruggedized environments or environments with space limitations, as well as data centers that have been heavily virtualized. Enterprises and governments now have the freedom to choose among physical Steelhead appliances, Steelhead Mobile software and Virtual Steelhead as best suits their various locations. Additionally, service providers and systems integrators that deliver managed services based on Riverbed WAN optimization now have the option to deliver a virtualized solution.

The Riverbed Steelhead product family offers organizations of all sizes acceleration of applications and data regardless of location. Riverbed WAN optimization solutions speed application performance in some cases by up to 100 times, making the WAN feel more like the LAN. More than 8,300 customers, across a wide range of markets, have implemented Riverbed WAN optimization solutions to improve remote and mobile employee productivity, enable private clouds, and provide enterprise-wide network and application visibility. As enterprises and government organizations have demanded more deployment options, Riverbed has developed innovative WAN optimization solutions with mobile, physical and now virtual form factors.

With the introduction of the Virtual Steelhead, built for the VMware vSphere(TM) Platform, organizations have the flexibility to provide anywhere access for employees from a comprehensive set of solutions that meets the needs of customers in any environment.

Getting Acceleration in a Wider Range of Environments The Virtual Steelhead offers customers greater flexibility to deploy Riverbed WAN optimization technology in a wider range of environments that have specialized needs and require resilience and customization, while still offering simplified management. With the Virtual Steelhead, a virtualized WAN optimization solution can now be deployed in virtualized data centers, as well as on hardened military or first responder equipment, news vans and construction trailers that are in rugged environments or where a Steelhead appliance won't fit due to physical space limitations.

The Virtual Steelhead appliance allows users to deploy WAN optimization to remote locations with satellite links as the only means of data communication. It gives great optimization benefits with the Steelhead appliances by allowing users to reduce their hardware footprint, especially since most of the field offices are severely space-constrained and subjected to harsh environmental conditions.

Virtualization in the data center holds the promise of improved server utilization, more rapid deployments and lower power consumption. With this release, organizations can virtualize the Steelhead appliance in these environments. The virtualized platform gives customers the ability to leverage existing virtual infrastructure and scale on demand. Additionally, enterprises and governments are able to update and upgrade all of their Virtual Steelhead deployments from a central location as IT resources may not be available locally. The Virtual Steelhead is available in a wide range of configurations, up to a Steelhead 2050H model appliance equivalent.