1. Technology
  1. PacketShaper System Architecture
  1. Layer 7 Classification
  1. Network Application Monitoring
  1. QoS & Rate Control
  1. Compression/Caching
  1. Protocol Acceleration
  1. Branch Office in a Box
  1. WAFS WAN Optimization
  1. iShaper Dual Plane Architecture

Layer 7 Plus Classification

Leverage deep application classification to understand what's really running on your network, troubleshoot issues and allocate resources according to business, not bandwidth, demands.

Far Beyond Standard Layer 7

Since 1996, Packeteer continues to update its deep packet inspection technology—originally offering Layer 7 to mitigate the impact of Napster™ on university and enterprise networks. Today, Packeteer's Layer 7 Plus far surpasses simple bit offset and string matches of standard Layer 7 to identify the true nature of network traffic.

Deeper Application Classification

Peer deeply into Layer 7 across several packets—using specialized search algorithms to gain a more precise reading of application classification. Layer 7 Plus validates high-impact traffic types as well as uses historical and behavioral information to differentiate between business-critical traffic and some recreational applications.

Layer 7 Plus
Layer7 Plus
Only Packeteer offers deep Layer 7 Plus application classification.
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Auto-Discovery of Applications

Packeteer locates all the applications running on the network using our Auto-Discovery mechanism to automatically identify over 500 application services. "Classes"—or containers—are created for each service. Packeteer measures utilization, response time and hundreds of statistics for each class discovered or configured. Or customize to fit your needs.

Flexible, Hierarchical and Automatic Sub-Classifications

Further break down network traffic by adding your own classification criteria—even on multiple hierarchy levels. Add specific IP address criteria—host lists and subnets—to identify different network segments, servers or customers. Or link level information—PVCs, VLAN or DiffServ—to map to network configurations.

Tearsheet with PDF link

Even More Granularity

For more granularity, set up classes by PVC, VLAN, subnet, and sub classifications for Citrix®, DICOM, Oracle®, PostgreSQL, RTCP and RTP. Opt for traffic discovery within the class, and break it down into yet more specific containers. Combine them to get your unique view of the network.

Examples

Subnet (e.g., Engineering)–Discover all running subnet traffic and create child classes.

Oracle® and PostgreSQL–Create sub-classes for each discovered database.

Citrix®–Create sub-classes by published application.

DICOM–Automatically discover DICOM client or server applications.

SSL–Subclassify by application common name.

High Performance Validation

Specialized search algorithms quickly classify and validate traffic types. Packeteer differentiates—and validates—between applications using common ports (Port 80), masquerade (P2P), hop ports (stateful applications) or tunnel. Packeteer looks inside the tunnel to identify actual applications, even over non-standard ports.

Business Web, XML and Encrypted Traffic

As more enterprise applications are delivered via Web technologies—and encrypted with SSL—that ability to break them down—and control them separately—will become increasingly important. Break down HTTP by Host DNS Name, URL, content type, Web browser or user agent, IP addresses and subnets.

Also, analyze your custom XML applications and automatically create Layer 7 Plus classifications for your PacketShaper with a specialized WSDL classification tool. And separate SSL-encrypted applications, differentiating by the application name.

Plug-In Architecture

Packeteer's Layer 7 Plus technology uses a plug-in architecture to simplify adding new applications—with periodic releases of new classifications based on customer requirements. As plug-ins, new classifications can be easily downloaded when available—without waiting for a major software release.

BLUE COAT ACQUISITION

Blue Coat has acquired Packeteer, a leading provider of intelligent WAN Optimization solutions. Blue Coat ProxySG is and will remain our strategic product offering for WAN Optimization. We will continue selling PacketShaper, IntelligenceCenter and PolicyCenter and invest heavily in development to revitalize the PacketShaper technologies and feature sets and integrate those into the Blue Coat ProxySG product line. Packeteer's iShared, iShaper, SkyX and Mobiliti products currently will remain available for sale to existing customers. However, we are not recommending or proposing that new customers purchase these products. We are currently assessing plans for these products and will soon announce decisions as to their future status.

More details can be found at bluecoat.com/packeteer

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