Riverbed Satellite Solutions
Riverbed Technology recognizes that satellite communications are more than simply an extension of the terrestrial enterprise. Space-based networks comprise a unique set of environmental and operational attributes that set them apart from their land based counterparts, requiring a customized approach to wide area network (WAN) optimization.
Satellite networking comprises:
- Propagation delays ranging from 540 ms to 1000s of millseconds depending on the architecture
- Multiple sources of loss, including weather effects, blockage, look angles and signal interference
- Bandwidth constraints due to transponder availability and the limitations of the transmission technology
- Dynamic bandwidth allocation and interactions with the network’s modem technology
And perhaps most important, satellite bandwidth is generally priced 6x the cost of traditional WAN bandwidth, making satellite WAN upgrades a significant, and often unfeasible, IT expense.
Rather than shoehorn WAN optimization technologies designed for terrestrial WANs into the satellite network, Riverbed has developed a set of satellite-specific technologies for the SteelHead product line. By providing cross-layer optimization with a focus on the unique TCP-layer behaviors that satellite requires, Riverbed WAN optimization solutions for satellite provide an immediate ROI on expensive space segment investments.
Riverbed WAN Optimization for Satellite Features
- Data streamlining reduces bandwidth utilization on satellite links
- Multiple TCP satellite-variants, featuring SkipWare, provide flow control and congestion avoidance
- Seamless interoperability with common modem technologies, including the most current dynamic bandwidth systems
- Optimized performance over high bit error rate (BER) links with rapid recovery from packet loss and packet reorder
- High-availability, high-bandwidth hub systems
- Low size, weight and power (SWaP) appliances for remote sites, as well as client software and virtual implementations for direct terminal integration
- Support for hub and spoke, partial mesh and full mesh architectures