Packeteer iShared Deployment Guide

iShared Appliances:

Install the iShared Server appliance at your data center site—where it supports Symmetric mode. Install iShared Remote at the branch office—where a single appliance can function as both Server and Remote.

iShared Server:

The iShared Server appliance connects to the main data center's file servers, serving as a protocol gateway for communications with iShared Remote appliances distributed at remote offices. It also manages the locks and leases of all files in use anywhere across the organization, ensuring the same level of protection for users accessing common files remotely or at the data center.

iShared Remote:

The iShared Remote appliance caches data located on file servers in the main data center. It looks just like a standard file server to local computers, which look to it for data as they would any local file server. iShared Remote also provides key IT Services (Domain controller, DNS/DHCP service, a Web proxy, software and application distribution and print).

Main Site WAN Link Deployment:

Size the iShared Server installed at the data center or main site to support its community of iShared Remotes - without needing one-for-one mapping. No need for matching data capacity since the unique single-instance storage technology doesn't require mirroring of the distribute filesystem data.

"Clustered" and redundant configurations at the data center provide business continuity and compliance by enabling High Availability (HA) features. There are two options for High Availability deployments:

Redundancy - Configure redundant iShared systems in the data center so one system takes over should the other system fail. The redundant system copies the active system in its idle time, staying up to date in the event it's called upon.

Hardware-based High Availability - Ensure business continuity with iShared RAID and redundant power/cooling capabilities. In the event of a failure, plug new devices in without work disruption.

Packeteer WAFS technology dramatically improves file access across the WAN, overcoming native protocol limitations and latency.

Branch Deployment Details - Windows File Storage:

In a distributed branch topology where storage is "virtualized" there are two options for user access:

Mapped WAFS Storage - Mapped WAFS storage is an on-LAN deployment—not inline. Users map network drives to the virtual storage on the iShared appliance.

Users can see the iShared file store as a mapped drive...

Namespace Transparent WAFS Storage - Transparency-enabled namespace removes the need for users to map drives. It also supports automatic fail through to the data center in the event of a failure of iShared Remote appliance cached file store.

...or be given access to a transparent view of corporate data, all at LAN-like speeds.

Branch Deployment Details - Advanced Router Features:

Taking advantage of advanced router features requiring additional configuration.

WCCP - WCCP (Cisco Web Cache Communication Protocol) offers seamless integration into Cisco networks and transparent Web cache redirection. This on-LAN deployment—not inline—requires router support for WCCP.

Web Cache Communication Protocol configuration.

PBR:

Policy Based Routing (PBR) requires a "one armed" deployment—not inline. The router must be configured to forward packets—based on a router policy—to the iShared appliance.

Policy Based Routing configuration.