This paper is the second in a series. The first, Acceleration 101, describes acceleration features and terms. This paper focuses on topology options for deploying acceleration features in an Application Delivery Network (ADN).
F5 White Paper
Acceleration 102: Asymmetric
or Symmetric?
Both asymmetric and symmetric acceleration technologies can deliver great benefit to your users. But how and where do you deploy them?
by Peter Murray Technical Marketing MangerWhite Paper Acceleration 102: Asymmetric or Symmetric?
Contents
Introduction 3
Acceleration Topology Types 5
Asymmetric Acceleration 6Asymmetric Acceleration Misconceptions 6Asymmetric Acceleration Functions 7Asymmetric Acceleration Benefits 8
Symmetric Acceleration 10Deploying Symmetric Acceleration 11 Data Center to Data Center Deployment 11 Large Branch and Regional Office Deployment 11 Symmetric Web Acceleration 12 Symmetric Acceleration Using Client-based Acceleration Software 12 The Wonder Widgets Symmetric Solution 13 The Combined Wonder Widgets Solution 15
Tying it All Together 17
Conclusion 18
2White Paper Acceleration 102: Asymmetric or Symmetric?
Introduction
This paper is the second in a series. The first, Acceleration 101, describes acceleration features and terms. This paper focuses on topology options for deploying acceleration features in an Application Delivery Network (ADN).
Acceleration is an excellent technology for overcoming the limitations inherent in today's networks and applications. An application acceleration solution can significantly reduce application response times-improving the chances for success for application rollouts; increasing user productivity; and increasing revenues from e-commerce sites by minimizing abandoned transactions or shopping carts due to slow page loads, failed transactions, or error messages.
You can deploy acceleration asymmetrically, symmetrically, or in combination. Where you deploy asymmetric and symmetric acceleration features depends largely on the geographic distribution of your organization's members and customers. Table 1 summarized the acceleration features described in the Acceleration 101 white paper (http://www.f5.com/pdf/white-papers/ acceleration-101-wp.pdf), and illustrates how each can be deployed in a network.
Asymmetric Symmetric Feature BenefitDeployment Deployment
Server Load Ensures users access the best performing XBalancing information source at that moment.
Global Server Ensures that users access the highest-performing XLoad Balancing site at that moment.
Decreases transmitted data:
Asymmetric compression condenses web data Compression X X for transmission to a browser.
Symmetric compression condenses any data for transmission to a remote acceleration device.
Replaces previously-sent data with dictionary Data pointers, minimizing transmitted data and ensuring XDeduplication rapid user response time. Also ensures data is current and delivered only to authorized users.
33White Paper Acceleration 102: Asymmetric or Symmetric?
Asymmetric Symmetric Feature BenefitDeployment Deployment
Increases TCP performance:
Asymmetric optimization aggregates requests for any TCP protocol to reduce connection processing. TCP It optimizes TCP processing for TCP/IP stacks that X XOptimization increases client-side connections to speed web page downloads.
Symmetric optimization aggregates transactions inside tunnels that connect acceleration devices.
Web Browser Manipulates HTTP responses to increase browser XObject Caching caching and decrease HTTP requests.
Reduces client response times by serving web Remote Web X objects directly from a remote device rather than Object Caching from a central server.
Reduces client response times by serving files Non-Web X directly from a remote device rather than a Object Caching central server.
HTTP Protocol and Web Manipulates web requests and responses to XApplication increase HTTP and web application efficiency.Optimization
Table 1: Acceleration feature deployment
Asymmetric acceleration uses a centrally located acceleration device to perform optimizations that increase performance for all users connected to that data center. Some asymmetric optimizations, such as TCP optimization and load balancing, are useful for many applications and protocols. Others, like web acceleration are application-dependent. Regardless, no special software is required for client systems; asymmetric acceleration uses techniques that ... [download for more]
