topic Before WAAS deployment-queries to send to customer in Application Networking

Before WAAS deployment-queries to send to customer

nilesh.varade — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 05:36:07 GMT

Hi,

There is wan optimization requirement from one of our client. I do not know much on WAAS. only waas product i know.

What kind of queries we needs to ask to client to gather the existing network/servers data.

e.g.

WAN bandwidth,

Servers deatils...

any one who can help to give such queries, so that we can send those to customer to get the details.

Kindly guide.

Thanks & Regards,

Nilesh

Before WAAS deployment-queries to send to customer

asharmav — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:20:44 GMT

Hi Nilesh,

Some of the things to consider before proposing the wan optimization soultion are

1. Wan bandwidth

2. Number of branches

3. Applications to be optimized

4. TCP connections per branch and the expected tcp connections at the datacenter.

5. Existing infrastructure at the core and agg layers.

Also you can use the ROI tool on the link below to demostrate to the customer on how they can save the bandwidth and demonstrate the ROI for various cases.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6870/index.html

Regards

Abijith

Before WAAS deployment-queries to send to customer

nilesh.varade — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:35:05 GMT

Hi Abhijit,

Thanks for the prompt response.

1. Client is having 4 mbps of two MPLS links

2. Optimization between Two Data centers IDC1 & IDC2.

What kind of queries shuld i send to know below details as you said:

3. Applications to be optimized

4. TCP connections per branch and the expected tcp connections at the datacenter.

5. Existing infrastructure at the core and agg layers.

Thanks & Regards,

Nilesh

Before WAAS deployment-queries to send to customer

asharmav — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:02:40 GMT

Hi Nilesh,

Since this is DC to DC replication , the questionair will be as below.

Database

What type of database will be replicated (e.g Oracle, Exchange database, Mainframe’s DB2, etc.)?

What is the total size of the database to be replicated?

What is the database daily change rate?

Replication

What type of replication application are you using? (E.g: EMC’s SRDF/A, Mirror View, NetApp’s SnapMirror etc)

What is the type of the storage system and the hardware and software versions?

Replication will happen between one DC to other DC? Or one main DC to a few other smaller DCs?

How many TCP connections do you have between one DC’s storage system/NAS to the other DC’s storage system/NAS?

Currently, how long does it take to complete one replication cycle?

How frequently do you replicate the data?

Is the data replicated in a compressed or uncompressed format?

Does the customer have a specific throughput requirement or RPO/RTO SLA?

WAN Link

Please specify the WAN link (e.g: DS3, OC-3, OC-12) between the data centers?

Is the link fully dedicated to replication? Or is it shared with other data flows?

If the WAN link is shared with other data, have you dedicated any amount of bandwidth via QOS for replication purpose?

What is the average latency experienced over the WAN link?

What is the average packet loss over the WAN link?

Network Topology

Please provide the diagram of your network topology.

FCIP Environment Specific Questions

Is Write Acceleration enabled on the MDS?

Is Compression enabled on the MDS?

Is encryption enabled on the MDS? If so, turn it OFF

What are the success criteria?

Bandwidth savings?

Reducing backup/replication window time?

Increased compression ratio?

Regards

Abijith