The document discusses the integration of Citrix and NetApp solutions for optimizing data center storage replication and backup over WAN. It highlights how CloudBridge technology can improve replication performance by addressing issues such as latency and packet loss through techniques like TCP optimization and data compression. Testing results demonstrate significant replication time reductions, especially under challenging network conditions.

1. CloudBridge and Storage Solutions
The killer app
Gopinath Durairaj
Director, Product Management, Citrix Cloud Networking Group
Cedric Courteix
Technical Alliance Manager, NetApp Global Alliances

2. Citrix + NetApp joint solutions

3. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
Data Center
Data Center
(Backup)
Storage Replication
• Synchronous Replication  limited by latency
• Asynchronous Replication  Periodic updates
• NetApp SnapMirror
• Uses multiple connections
• Up to two per volume
• Full volume or incremental replicates
• Typical Replication Options
• Nightly – finish within the assigned window
• Continuous – co-exist with critical flows
Storage

4. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
Replication Performance over WAN
Latency
• TCP sender transmits data upto the
window size and waits for Ack
• Round-trip time impacts utilization even
if bandwidth is plenty
Packet Loss
• TCP dramatically reduces the window
size when packets get lost
• Slow ramp up back to the original
window size
Standard TCP Behavior

5. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
CloudBridge Optimization Technologies
TCP Flow
Control
Compression
Protocol
Accelerators
QoS
AutoOptimizer™ Engine
Application
Mix
Network
Conditions
Improve
inefficient
protocols
Data
compression /
De-duplication
Overcome
loss/latency
penalties
Prioritize
critical
traffic
  

6. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
TCP Flow Control
Slow Start Slow Ramp
Without CloudBridge
Average
Utilization
Throughput
Time
With CloudBridge
Average
Utilization
Throughput
Time
Link Speed
Tight RPO  Less data loss with failures
Adjusts for both latency and packet loss

7. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
QoS
NetApp SnapMirror
Bulk Transfers
WAN
Application Traffic
Without CloudBridge
60%
20%
20%
Bulk Transfers
Application Traffic
NetApp SnapMirror
With Cloudbridge
Application level granularity
Deep classification, prioritization and shaping
Run SnapMirror in shared links

8. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
CloudBridge with SnapMirror
Issue SnapMirror SnapMirror + CloudBridge
Low WAN utilization –
due to latency, packet loss
Increase window size to address
latency
Optimized window size +
congestion behavior to
increase WAN utilization
Limited WAN throughput Native compression Offload compression to
CloudBridge  increased file
serving capacity
Shared link with other
critical traffic
N/A Preferential treatment for
high priority traffic and
bandwidth allocation.
Enable link sharing, running
SnapMirror in background

9. Test Results

10. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
NetApp SnapMirror Testing
NetApp SnapMirror Async
CloudBridge 5000 CloudBridge 5000
NetApp Storage NetApp Storage
Database Server Database Server
DC1 DC2
FAS 3270 FAS 3270

11. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
SnapMirror Replication times
Greater benefits under high latency or lossy WAN conditions
Using 50ms RTT WAN latency and 0.01% loss
Results depend on WAN condition and data compressibility
119
578
52 59
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
0% Loss 0.01% Loss
Replicationtime,Seconds
Baseline Optimized
1180
376
95
37
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
No de-dup De-dup
Replicationtime,Seconds
Baseline Optimized

12. © 2013 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
References
Citrix Sales Knowledge Base
Joint Citrix and NetApp White paper
http://www.citrix.com/skb/articles/RDY9621
Deployment Guide
http://www.citrix.com/skb/articles/RDY9506
NetApp Technical Report
SnapMirror Async Overview and Best Practices Guide
www.netapp.com/us/library/technical-reports/tr-3446.html

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