Cisco Cisco Application Performance Assurance Network Module White Paper
White Paper
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the existing network. AON technology can help transform an existing IT infrastructure into a
powerful virtual engine ready for whatever business throws its way.
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Complement to traditional application network infrastructures: AON was designed for
integration with existing IP networks and networking. Unlike other appliance solutions, AON
is a completely network-integrated technology that processes, controls, and manages
messaging flows while integrating with all existing packet-related technologies. For
example, the Cisco AON solution is fully QoS-compliant and works transparently with other
Cisco technologies like load balancers, Web acceleration devices, and caching devices.
Together with Cisco Application Network Services (ANS) solutions, Cisco AON makes
Cisco networks more than just application-ready, but fully application fluent, melding the
power and control of the Cisco network with the broad capability and business relevance of
today’s application and software infrastructures.
Comparing Cisco AON and the Cisco ACE XML Gateway
Cisco AON enabled networks provide a superset of the application-level protocol switching and
mediation services, above and beyond XML processing. AON technology is focused on enabling
intelligent application message processing in the network, in a highly secure fashion, based on
policy definitions driven by business requirements. With both mediation and integration as key
features in the AON network, its business value is to deliver application traffic interoperation by
policy-defined message processing. The Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) XML Gateway
solution is a complementary technology that can interface with Cisco AON to expand its XML
processing capabilities.
Whereas Cisco AON provides a message-processing intermediary, the ACE XML Gateway
delivers an integrated XML firewall. It ensures that XML messages securely and efficiently reach
their intended targets, including the Cisco AON devices. It provides the critical protection needed
at each interface between un-trusted and trusted zones. With a comprehensive XML threat
defense system, it protects against identity, content-based, personnel, response-compliance,
message-transport, and XML denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
AON and ACE XML Gateway offload capabilities from software and applications into the core
infrastructure. Cisco AON focuses on network-based execution of middleware functions and
application infrastructure logic; Cisco ACE XML Gateway offloads and accelerates XML processing
and security. Together, the solutions provide application-layer networking that delivers high
performance and highly secure processing for the borderless enterprise.
Conclusion
Network based applications and services have become core business drivers for enterprises and
service providers with critical operational needs. Cisco AON technology provides control and
optimization of the application traffic at the network packet level in an extendable and scalable
fashion.
For More Information
For more information about Cisco AON solutions, visit
http://www.cisco.com/go/aon
or contact your
local Cisco account representative.