Cisco Cisco WAAS Network Analysis Module Virtual Blade 5.0 Data Sheet

 

 

Data Sheet 

© 2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. 

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NetFlow Version 9 Data Export extends network reporting: By exporting analytics in a standardized 

format, this new capability allows you to use computed NAM data to feed in-house or third-party reporting 

applications that you already own, building up additional value and building out existing investments. 

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Site-based monitoring delivers reporting flexibility: This feature allows you to view network and 

application performance by logical groupings or sites that you can create to mirror your network topology. For 

example, you can create sites by geographic locations, departments, or even managed customer networks 

and view performance data on a per site basis. The feature facilitates tracking site-specific service-level 

objectives, resolving performance issues, or applying optimization. 

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Packet Capture with Error Scan finds problems fast: Ability to perform packet captures using ERSPAN 

traffic source along with the new Packet Capture Error Scan feature highlights packet-level anomalies to 

accelerate root-cause analysis and avoid having to inspect manually the packet data to 

find the “needle in the 

haystack.” 

The Cisco WAAS NAM VSB offers an extensive set of features that provide in-depth insight into Cisco WAAS 

deployments to effectively use WAN optimization to improve end-user experience. It offers a multilayer view of 

network performance to help you successfully navigate the labyrinth of application delivery challenges. Cisco NAM 

provides you access to critical network information to advance optimization decisions, monitor performance 

improvements, and troubleshoot any latency issues. 

Key Features and Benefits 

As a software solution integrated with WAAS devices, Cisco WAAS NAM VSB offers ease of installation and 
reduces hardware footprint. It extends the NAM portfolio, offering deployment flexibility to meet specific 
network traffic loads and deployment requirements. As examples, Cisco WAAS NAM VSB is ideal for small 
data center deployments (fewer than 4000 optimized connections) or for proof-of-concept/pilot phases of 
WAAS deployments. In the latter case, it helps to accelerate the WAN optimization rollouts. 

Provides end-to-end proof points demonstrating how WAAS has improved application delivery (Figure 2), for 
example, decreased application transaction times, improved WAN utilization. In the predeployment phase, 
Cisco NAM helps you to assess which applications and sites are good candidates for optimization. In 
addition, it provides real-time visibility for ongoing optimization improvements and to troubleshoot any 
performance-degradation issues. 

Identifies what applications are running over the network, how much network resources are consumed, who 
is using these applications. Provides real-time and historical reports offering traffic statistics related to 
applications, hosts, conversations, differentiated services code point (DSCP), and VLANs. 

Takes you back to the past using 

the Cisco NAM’s Performance Database to understand what happened 

when an event that affected network performance occurred to accelerate problem resolution or advance 
optimization decision. 

Ease NAM configuration and export of computed NAM data using standards-based APIs (XML/REST for 
configuration, NetFlow Version 9 for data export). 

Cisco NAM Virtual Service Blade licensing is based on Cisco Software Licensing. Additional details can be obtained 

at 

. The Cisco NAM Virtual Service Blade provides for a 60-day evaluation license. 

Existing customers of supported WAAS platforms can download the NAM Virtual Service Blade at 

. 

Table 2 lists the appliances that support Cisco NAM Virtual Service Blade. Note that WAAS NAM Blade is positioned 

for deployments in data centers only even when the supported WAAS appliances can be deployed in both data 

center and branch offices.