The question of where, physically, to locate WAN-optimization features isn't easy to answer.

Some industry watchers have predicted that WAN optimization could become part of the application-layer infrastructure, merging with load-balancers and other application-oriented technology. Others back the idea of a services platform wherein WAN optimization becomes one of many services (print, file, DHCP, DNS) running on an appliance. In addition, some advocate adding WAN optimization features to the routing platform - an approach 3Com is advancing. (Compare Application Acceleration and WAN Traffic Optimization products)

Earlier this year 3Com partnered with Expand Networks to provide a WAN optimization module that plugs directly into 3Com's Multi-Service Router (MSR) devices.

The packaged offering depends on 3Com’s Open Services Networking (OSN) model, which provides a means for customers to add applications and functions to 3Com’s MSR platform by selecting modules such as security, VPN, VoIP and (with technology from Expand) WAN optimization and application acceleration.

It’s an approach that’s working well for LSI Mortgage Plus, a national mortgage company based outside Atlanta.

Expand Networks' WAN optimization module plugs right into the 3Com platform, says Brian Beaman, director of IT at LSI. “It’s an Open Services module that plugs into the OSN port on the router, so it appears in the rack as a single 1U device,” Beaman says.

LSI started looking into WAN optimization technology when it became clear the company needed to either upgrade its 4.5Mbps connection between Atlanta and St. Louis, or make better use of its existing capacity.

“We were upgrading to a 3Com phone system, and we were already overtaxing the link between here and St. Louis,” Beaman says. “I had to either buy additional bandwidth to meet the needs or find an alternative.”

LSI has more than 120 remote employees and was looking, in particular, to improve the performance of its Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) traffic. It’s also using the 3Com-Expand platform to speed HTTP traffic.

Deploying 3Com’s MSR with a built-in WAN optimization module from Expand has allowed LSI to forgo upgrading the connection between its headquarters and St. Louis site, and has yielded 40% to 50% improvements in data throughput for certain applications. In particular, users of a loan origination system for evaluating bigger mortgages have seen files load in half the time it used to take, thanks to the Expand and 3Com gear.

Beaman expects to recoup the cost of the new gear - based on what the company would have spend on bandwidth upgrades - in about 20 months.

Ann Bednarz is associate news editor at Network World.