Advanced network and application performance analysis and visibility

The challenge of effectively delivering applications to distributed users is growing increasingly complex, for small and large enterprises alike. As organizations delve into new IT initiatives such as virtualization, private cloud consolidation and cloud computing, they are increasingly finding significant gaps in their ability to monitor the performance of critical applications, and gain actionable business-level information about their applications and networks.

Riverbed Cascade is the first integrated network assessment and acceleration solution, combining network and application visibility with the WAN optimization benefits of Riverbed Steelhead® appliances. Cascade collects vast amounts of data from devices such as switches, routers and WAN optimization devices. Then, it combines that data with advanced behavioral analytics to detect problems before end-users are impacted. Cascade provides network and application teams with enterprise-wide application performance analysis, data on server, and application dependencies. It also offers the ability to drill down into network data to immediately determine the source of any performance bottlenecks.

Implementation

Unlike solutions which require deep packet inspection on every WAN link, Cascade's passive, agent-less deployment allows fast and cost-effective implementation and quick time to value. Cascade Gateway collects network flow data and sends this condensed data to the Cascade Profiler. Profiler complements this information with layer 7 application data retrieved from a Cascade Sensor deployed in the datacenter, plus performance data for optimized links, collected from remote Cascade Sensor-VE software running on the Riverbed Services Platform (RSP) in remote offices. The result is complete visibility into business application performance across optimized and non-optimized environments, giving the IT organization the information needed in network investment discussions with senior business executives.