NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NEAL WEINBERG ON PRODUCT REVIEWS 11/09/04 Today's focus: Redline Networks
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * A front-end device from Redline Networks * Links related to Product Reviews * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Cisco Systems Special Report: Bridging the Gap; Enterprise ROI IT professionals today don't indulge in the latest-greatest technology for their own sake; instead they concentrate efforts on projects that are most likely to help achieve business goals. Read about the challenges and opportunities when IT starts 'bridging the gap' and directly contributes to enterprise ROI. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87977 _______________________________________________________________ WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DATA CENTER? Sign up for Network World's Data Center Newsletter in which Johna Till Johnson and the team at Nemertes Research will provide an ongoing assessment of current data center business drivers and future trends; concrete advice and guidance for IT executives seeking to consolidate data centers, improve disaster recovery, and deploy virtualization techniques. Click here to subscribe: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87886 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Redline Networks By Neal Weinberg Want to give your sluggish Web site a tuneup so it hums along at a faster clip? Try out a device called a Web front-end. These babies include TCP offload, caching and compression, as well as newer features such as URL rewriting and content balancing. Redline's E|X 3250 excelled in our compression and TCP offload tests, and addressed important compatibility details. Additionally, Redline's powerful - albeit complex - OverDrive technology allows for highly customizable rewriting of inbound and outbound data, which can be used to improve security, make sites more adaptable to changes, and even improve performance with cache control. The Redline E|X was built for Web acceleration and is concentrated on realistic details - such as browser compatibility - that might be encountered with a public-facing Web site. Installation and initial configuration is similar to that of the other devices tested: You set up basic network configuration via a serial connection and then perform further configuration via a Web interface or a Secure Shell connection. While Redline provides a clean Web interface that offers some nice monitoring statistics, many features cannot be addressed via the Web interface. It covers basic network and cluster configuration, but ultimately you have to access the command line to tap into the more advanced features such as setting compression details or enabling caching features. >From the load-balancing perspective, Redline's default load-balancing method is that new requests go to the back-end server with the fewest outstanding HTTP requests. Redline engineers point out that by focusing on HTTP requests, literally every request made is considered a health check for the Web server. Like the other products tested, the Redline unit offers TCP connection buffering and management as well as SSL offload and acceleration. However, one area in which the Redline unit really shines is in HTTP compression. The Redline E|X was very aware of edge case issues with browser support for compression, and even opted to use deflate over standard Gzip compression for improved compatibility with browsers, given that some browsers have bugs that only occur with Gzipped content. Redline provides more control over the degree of compression you can use than the other devices tested, even if you have to use command-line interface in this case. Redline OverDrive's AppRule language lets an administrator write powerful rules to filter and rewrite HTTP requests and responses. We were very impressed with this feature when we applied a rule to change the name of one company to another in a set of test HTML files. Redline's new "3G" caching feature lets developers create a cache on the unit and write AppRules to hold content in the cache depending on file extension, response code or whatever metric seems appropriate. Once the object is cached, future requests for it will be serviced by the Redline box, thereby freeing the origin server from the request. The Redline E|X is clearly designed from the HTTP layer downwards. The product excels in HTTP compression, application-level redirection and balancing, and request and response rewriting. The 3G caching feature does not live up to its fancy name (implying it's seasoned code), although it can be useful if properly employed. For the full report, go to <http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/1025rev.html> RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS Review: Peribit's compression appliance Network World, 07/19/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/071904peribitrev.html Redline boosts server performance Network World Fusion, 03/16/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0316red.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Neal Weinberg Neal Weinberg is features editor at Network World, in charge of product reviews, Buyer's Guides, technology primers, how-tos, issue-oriented feature stories and the Technology Insider series. You can reach him at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Cisco Systems Special Report: Bridging the Gap; Enterprise ROI IT professionals today don't indulge in the latest-greatest technology for their own sake; instead they concentrate efforts on projects that are most likely to help achieve business goals. Read about the challenges and opportunities when IT starts 'bridging the gap' and directly contributes to enterprise ROI. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=87976 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Reviews archive: http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NEW! Website dedicated to Networking for Small Business now available The editors of NW Fusion and PC World have combined all their expert advice, authority, and know-how into a powerful new tool for small businesses, the new Networking for Small Business website. Get news, how-to's, product reviews, and expert advice specifically tailored to your small business needs. Find help with Security, Broadband, Networking, Hardware, Software, and Wireless & Mobile technology at: <http://www.networkingsmallbusiness.com/> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. 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