Cisco Cisco WAAS Network Analysis Module Virtual Blade 5.0 Data Sheet

Data Sheet

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Figure 1. Cisco NAM Virtual Blade Typical Deployment

The integrated browser-based NAM Traffic Analyzer GUI can be used to create WAAS data sources to handle

WAAS Flow Agent data (see Figure 2). The NAM Traffic Analyzer GUI provides for IAP-based statistics like

response time, as well as other traffic statistics derived from Flow Agent data sources including applications, hosts,

and conversations.

Figure 2. NAM WAAS Device Configuration

The Cisco NAM Virtual Blade is installed using the Cisco WAAS software. The Cisco WAAS software includes a

Central Manager that eases Cisco NAM Virtual Blade rollouts by defining virtual environments within the WAAS

products, copying NAM Virtual Blade images to local disks, and installing the NAM software within the virtual

instance. Customers can use the WAAS Central Manager install of the Virtual Blade. More information about the

Cisco WAAS software can be found at

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6870/index.html

Cisco NAM Virtual Blade for Proof of Concept Scenarios

The NAM Virtual Blade provides integrated performance management capabilities for “before and after” analysis of

the WAN optimization solution. Users currently have to use manual methods to evaluate the user experience

improvements gained by deploying WAAS products. These manual methods may include capturing packets or

observing performance using “stop watch” mechanisms. Improvement of user experience is also difficult to pinpoint

in manual methods, especially when dealing with a number of transactions or flows. Cisco NAM Virtual Blade eases

this process by providing users with the ability to view IAP-based statistics and understand performance

improvements. Figure 3 highlights how average transaction time helps identify user experience improvements due to

WAAS.