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The Internet continues to grow, with seemingly no end in sight. As more data
traverses the global IP backbone, the need for continuous connectivity and
reliable data access becomes more crucial. To ensure constant Internet access,
networks ranging from a corporate entity to e-commerce sites are deploying
multiple nternet connections, usually through multiple Internet service
providers (ISPs). This network architecture is commonly referred to as
multi-homing. Although this design creates a more resilient network and Internet
access model, it also introduces certain complexities that are not always easily
resolved. To help manage traffic in such a network design, an Internet link
application switch can guarantee full connectivity–delivering reliable, high
performing and cost-effective connectivity for uninterrupted enterprise
communications.
With the increased level of competition amongst enterprises, customers will
not stand for performance degradation. Route control solutions deliver reliable
and continuous Internet access and content assurance in gigabit speeds.
End-users benefit from fast content delivery and IT overhead is reduced by the
optimal usage of bandwidth based on cost.
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Enterprises today are faced with the challenge of providing cost-effective
bandwidth over access links. Simply supplying more bandwidth, however, does not
solve the problem since delays often result from the content that must pass
several network elements from the content provider to the enterprise. So one
needs to look for connectivity solutions that provide content gateway services
with intelligent caching and bandwidth management that streamlines content
delivery to users and reduces bandwidth consumption and costs.
It is important that the solution provides load balancing between service
providers without the need for coordination between them. Features that are
particularly important here include: application, Web and content switching;
optimal content routing that ensures the fastest inbound and outbound content
delivery using a proven proximity detection method. Other features include
simplified management of IP address ranges assigned to the network by various
ISPs, and provision for user-defined algorithms. Also important is the ability
to combine link availability, link load and link speed to make load-balancing
decisions. A full-featured solution can increase link availability by monitoring
the health of all the defined paths within the service provider network
directing traffic around any failed links, bandwidth management and enhanced
application security.
The solution should use optimal content routing to ensure that information is
transmitted through the best performing link. For ISPs, it should ensure the
fastest content delivery as well as high scalability and network availability.
It should enable ISPs to provide better response performance by redirecting
users through the best performing link to the backbone each time. In large
enterprises, it should keep the routing of multiple links simple by
transparently redirecting traffic through optimal links with no need for user
configuration.
Nikhil Karan Taneja, country manager–India and SAARC Radware (India)
Trends that Will Drive the Storage Management Software Market
Latest research from IDC has noted a 74 percent increase in the storage management software market in India, from $8.5 million in 2000 to $14.8 million in 2001. This market will be fuelled by the development of Internet data centers (IDCs), the greater awareness of the need for data recovery solutions, opening up of banking and insurance sectors, and demand for 24x7x365 business continuance. Talking about the key market trends beyond the year 2002, a market research company suggests that the demand for storage management software will be triggered off by the drop in prices for storage devices, which is expected to stimulate the purchasing cycle. Also, large enterprises are expected to improve their business processes by investing in enterprise applications that will encourage demand for storage devices and storage management software.
IDC says that the storage management software market has attracted a significant amount of interest with recent worldwide events and local governments encouraging businesses to invest in disaster-recovery solutions. There is a uniform sustained interest in storage management software solutions, but expectedly growth rates are lower in countries, such as Australia and Singapore, where purchasing of storage capacity and management software have been integrated into normal business IT practices and budgets over the years.
As for vendor standing, according to IDC, in the Asia-Pacific region EMC topped the overall storage software market, almost doubling its revenue base between 2000 and 2001, to reach a market share of 33 percent. Veritas and Computer Associates followed behind in close succession to each other, with market shares of 15 and 10 percent, respectively. IDC states that strong growth rates were recorded by Veritas (56 percent) and Legato (55 percent), as well as StorageTek (61 percent) and Sun Microsystems (67 percent), albeit from a smaller revenue base. Looking forward, IDC says, the competition in the market will become more intense, particularly from these two players, who have both cited storage software as a key focus area from 2002 onwards.