Microsoft Exchange Load Balancing. Unique Applied Patent Technology By XRoads Networks

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1 Microsoft Exchange Load Balancing Unique Applied Patent Technology By XRoads Networks

2 Microsoft Exchange Server Balancing The following is an introduction and overview as to how the EdgeXOS appliances have unique methods for improving the performance and redundancy for Microsoft Exchange environments. In order for organizations to ensure that they have fast and reliable access to their critical services, the EdgeXOS appliance incorporates both LINK and SERVER load balancing capabilities which provide improved access to those services from the Internet or throughout an organizations private network. The EdgeXOS platform leverages three core components to provide better application delivery (MS Exchange), including Cloud Aggregation, Cloud Shaping, and Cloud Optimization. In addition to these core functions, the EdgeXOS also incorporates real-time network usage reporting so that network administrators can understand how their network, and in this case, specifically Microsoft Exchange traffic is affecting overall network usage.

3 Server Load Balancing XRoads Networks' EdgeXOS platform allows our customers to quickly and easily improve connectivity to critical applications like Microsoft Exchange by spreading inbound connection requests across two or more application servers. Servers are monitored in real-time for potential outages which would automatically bring that server out of production. When multiple servers are available traffic is balanced between them in order to dramatically improve response time and the end-user experience. Server vs. Link Balancing While there are many products on the market today which perform various types of server balancing, and the EdgeXOS appliance provides excellent stand alone server balancing, only the EdgeXOS appliance incorporates both server balancing and link balancing utilizing our unique ActiveDNS technology. What this means is a better return on investment as an organization can leverage both capabilities within a single platform, thus lowering cost, and improving overall uptime through multiple points of redundancy.

4 Server Traffic Shaping In addition to the balancing functions of the EdgeXOS platform, the appliance also includes built-in traffic shaping features which can prioritize Exchange server traffic over lower priority web surfing or other non-critical applications. This can be done by placing the platform between the LAN and WAN networks in transparent (bridge) mode. Since the EdgeXOS platform can be transparently inserted in to the network, this capability provides for a great deal of flexibility in terms of how the appliance is used, which again translates to a better return on investment. Server Load Balancing Deployment Example Within the standard Microsoft Exchange server load balancer deployment, the EdgeXOS appliance is placed between the server farm and the WAN network. As internal clients make inbound connection requests, those requests are directed to the EdgeXOS appliance. The EdgeXOS appliance then forwards those requests to one of several selected servers within the server farm. The EdgeXOS appliance maintains full uptime and persistence statistics for each server which is actively participating in the balancing. If any of the servers should fail, they are removed from the active list immediately and inbound traffic is redirected. The balancer works in conjunction with native POP3, SMPT and MAPI protocols, along with Outlook Express, Outlook Web Access, Outlook Anywhere, and ActiveSync.

5 Server & Link Load Balancing Deployment Example In this example both server and link balancing are being employed. This allows for Exchange traffic to be balanced across both multiple ISP links as well as multiple internal servers. This configuration provides the greatest redundancy possible. Reduced Costs: This scenario also provides organizations with the ability to reduce costs by utilizing lower cost broadband links for delivery, instead of more expensive T1 or other connectivity options, while at the same time increasing reliability. The EdgeXOS appliance includes a fully functional DNS server which enables intelligent DNS responses based on the current status of the available WAN links, remote sites, internal servers, and other administratively defined criteria. ActiveDNS also enables something called "delegation" which allows only those critical URLs, i.e. to be handled by the EdgeXOS appliance, this way the entire domain does not have to be transferred, save time reducing complexity. Note: Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All trademarks are the property of their rightful owners.