Expand
Networks
Selected
for
US
Marine
Corps
Disaster
Recovery
and
Database
Replication
Projects
in
Iraq
9
June
2009
Expand
Networks
announced
Multi-National
Forces
–
West,
the
highest
level
of
command
for
the
US
Marines
Corps
Marine
Air
-Ground
Task
Force
(MAGTF)
in
Iraq,
has
deployed
Expand
Networks
WAN
optimization
technology
to
improve
the
performance
of
critical
applications
over
satellite
links
used
in
its
operations
in
Iraq.
The
optimization
technology
successfully
supported
the
US
Marines
relocation
from
Camp
Fallujah
to
Al
Asad
Air
Base,
and
continues
to
optimize
traffic
to
overcome
database
replication
time-outs
of
its
Biometric
Automated
Toolset
(BATS)
technology
between
checkpoints
in
the
region.
Holding
sensitive
biometric
data
such
as
fingerprints
and
retina
scans,
BATS
is
used
by
all
Marines
manning
military
checkpoints
in
the
region
and
is a
significant
intelligence
application
for
capturing
known
or
suspected
terrorists.
Critical
to
users
across
the
spectrum
involved
in
intercepting
suspected
terrorists,
it
is
vital
this
database
remain
accurate
and
updated.
However,
design
limitations
of
satellite
networks
can
cause
high
latency
and
packet
loss
that
can
severely
affect
application
performance
resulting
in
delayed
file
transfer
and
slow
response
times.
Experiencing
database
replication
time-outs
of
the
information
at
its
remote
locations,
the
US
Marines
recognized
it
could
apply
a
WAN
optimization
strategy
to
keep
all
databases
across
the
region
synchronized
reliably
and
efficiently.
Captain
Criston
W
Cox,
MNF-W
Data
Systems
Officer,
comments,
“Before
implementing
the
optimization
technology,
our
throughput
averaged
8 to
9
kbps
with
multiple
timeouts
over
the
TDMA
SATCOM
links.
To
overcome
the
issues,
we
were
regularly
updating
alternative
servers
at
base
and
would
fly
them
out
to
the
isolated
sites
via
helicopters
to
keep
the
data
updated.
This
created
a
significant
cost
in
manpower
and
air
transport
requirements.”
“Once
we
put
the
Expand
Accelerator’s
online,
the
BATS
server
interface
indicated
a
constant
transfer
rate
at
5.8
mbps,
with
no
time
outs
or
data
corruption,
and
this
was
over
a 2
mbps
link.
The
efficient
compression
and
TCP
acceleration
combined
successfully
to
significantly
increase
performance,
which
in
turn
alleviated
the
burden
of
physically
updating
and
flying
servers
out
to
the
remote
locations.”
Expand
Networks’
integrated
WAN
optimization
technology
combines
techniques
such
as
byte-level
caching,
dynamic
compression
and
TCP
acceleration
to
enable
available
satellite
bandwidth
and
real-time
interactive
TCP
traffic
be
maximized,
as
Captain
Cox
explains,
“There
are
many
products
out
there
that
can
do
each
of
these
functions,
but
Expand
has
the
ability
to
provide
a
multilayered
approach
to
network
optimization
in a
single
platform.”
Expand
Accelerators
were
also
part
of
the
migration
of
17
terabytes
of
data
from
Camp
Fallujah
to
Al
Asad
Air
Base
in
support
of
the
MNFW
Headquarters
Element
relocation.
To
move
the
data,
the
US
Marines
decided
to
execute
the
Disaster
Recovery
plan
that
was
in
place
in
order
to
back
up
all
data
held
at
Camp
Fallujah
to
the
new
base
at
Al
Asad.
Cox
explains,
“During
the
relocation
exercise,
we
noted
a
performance
problem
in
keeping
the
NetApps
SNAP
mirror
sessions
up-to-date
over
the
link.
By
utilizing
the
optimization
techniques
of
the
Expand
Accelerators,
the
issue
was
immediately
mitigated
and
we
saw
throughput
increase
from
around
120k
to
6mbs,
enabling
a
smooth
and
quick
transition.
“I
based
my
decision
to
go
with
Expand
on
previously
observed
performance
during
my
own
empirical
analysis
of
several
competing
Protocol
Enhancement
Proxies
as
part
of
my
Naval
Postgraduate
School
thesis
work,
and
have
since
been
very
impressed
with
the
product
and
the
team
of
engineers
at
Expand
who
were
always
available
to
provide
support
and
quickly
answered
any
technical
questions.”
Howard
Teicher,
Expand
Network’s
Vice
President
for
Public
Sector
&
Satellite
Markets
concludes,
“Within
any
military
environment,
performance
is
everything
and
we
understand
that
the
network
is
no
exception
to
this
rule.
We
have
a
long
experience
and
leadership
position
in
the
military
sectors
at
Expand,
and
we
are
committed
to
delivering
the
superior
performance
and
communication
so
vital
to
the
military
in
these
challenging
environments.
This
deployment
is a
great
example
of
how
our
technology
successfully
addresses
the
problematic
congestion
and
latency
issues
experienced
by
the
forces
over
satellite
links
to
ensure
all
users
are
placed
in
virtual
proximity
of
their
applications,
even
in
the
most
remote
location.”
