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Microsoft Corp. and Packeteer Inc. last week jointly announced a branch office appliance designed to provide WAN throughput optimization capabilities in tandem with native Windows applications.
With the new Packeteer iShaper device, IT workers will be able to manage and speed up WAN traffic in branch offices while utilizing Microsoft technologies such as Active Directory and the Internet Security and Acceleration Server to boost security protections, said Bala Kasiviswa-nathan, director of Windows Server branch and storage solutions at Microsoft.
Microsoft and Cupertino, Calif.-based Packeteer are collaborating on the engineering and marketing of the iShaper appliance, which is being manufactured by Packeteer.
Scott Erickson, chief technology officer at Erickson Retirement Communities LLC in Catonsville, Md., uses Packeteer's existing PacketShaper appliance and is beta-testing the iShaper device. "Certainly, it has potential," he said.
Cost Considerations
Erickson said iShaper's $11,000 starting price appears to be low enough that he could afford to install one of the appliances at each new branch office as his company, which builds and manages retirement housing communities, continues to grow.
In addition, Erickson hopes to use iShaper to combine file services and other applications with his WAN for easy ...