Web Acceleration Titans Akamai, Citrix Link Up - Page 2

Enterprises traditionally connect to the Akamai network using a DNS-based approach. Cohen said a site would connect to a canonical name, so instead of going to mysite.com, they connect initially to akamai.mysite.com.

By doing so, the DNS records are modified so that the content now comes from an Akamai Edge server -- as opposed to the original host.

"From an end-user perspective, if they type in a Web application address, they'll get to an Akamai server where we'll optimize the Internet protocols back to the edge," Cohen explained.

Now, "the edge to the datacenter will communicate with the Citrix NetScaler box via a persistent TCP/IP data connection," he said. "Then the NetScaler box communicates back to the origin server."

Akamai's game

The deal continues efforts by Akamai to better connect the datacenter to its network. In October, Akamai launched its on-premises IP Application Acceleration service.

As part of that service, Akamai deploys a device within a customer's network to serve as an on-ramp to its own network. But Akamai spokespeople said the IP Application Acceleration offering doesn't compete with the Citrix partnership.

"The reason we employ a box in the datacenter is because certain applications, like VoIP and [other] latency- and loss-sensitive applications, benefit by doing optimization not only to the edge but all the way to the datacenter," Cohen said. "It has nothing to do with type of functionality that a Citrix NetScaler-type box does around things like SSL and TCP offload and load balancing, so the offerings are completely complementary."

Additionally, Cohen added that now Citrix and Akamai are partners, there might be some discussion about how to optimize each one's devices for the other.

Another uncertainty is whether Akamai is pursuing similar partnerships with other vendors. Cohen would not say whether the Citrix deal is exclusive and whether Akamai had spoken with other hardware vendors.

"We're not discussing specific details about the contract that we've put together with Citrix," he said. "I can say we're extremely committed to making this partnership successful. It is a big investment and we're very selective with who we choose to partner."

In any event, the news also continues aggressive maneuvering in the application acceleration space. Leading acceleration vendor Blue Coat has been busy lately bolstering its own business with the recent acquisition of Packeteer for $268 million.

While the Akamai-Citrix deal could pose a threat, Blue Coat spokesperson Steve Schick told InternetNews.com that while the partnership should help extend Akamai's reach, it doesn't introduce anything new.

"More importantly, it does not address the branch office problem," Schick said. "The critical application delivery problem exists in accelerating centrally managed data and applications to branch offices. Since the combined solution doesn't solve the branch office challenge, it would not be competitive in any way to our primary business."