Looking for a snappier user experience with Citrix Files when previewing or transferring files? The WAN optimization component of Citrix SD-WAN provides substantial performance benefits for Citrix Files customers with on-prem storage zones.

The WAN optimization component has improved end-user experience for more than a decade, optimizing different types of traffic flowing over a WAN by means of compression, data de-duplication, and protocol-specific optimizations. Optimizations include file transfer, protocols such as CIFS/SMB, MAPI, TCP, HTTP, HTTPS, and, last but not least, HDX/ICA. And our measurements show significantly faster uploads, downloads, and file previews with Citrix Files.

The Test Case

The Citrix SD-WAN WAN Optimization Edition (WANOP) and Premium Edition is a book-ended solution, so we installed one appliance at each end. In other words, one appliance was installed at the location where end users are situated, and the peer appliance was installed where the Citrix Files storage zone was located. Please note, this solution applies only for the on-prem variant of Citrix Files, popularly known as storage zones controller. Here’s the high-level deployment diagram:

After installing the appliances and plumbing them into the enterprise network, we configured the appliances for accelerating HTTPS traffic. Because all Citrix Files traffic goes over HTTPS, we had to install the encryption certificates on the appliances. This is all that’s needed to optimize Citrix Files traffic. Now, let’s take a look at the results.

Did It Hold Up to Real-World Testing?

Download speeds improved by about 50 percent on the second pass, and there were bandwidth savings of about 60 percent. So if different users are accessing the same file across an enterprise’s network, then, per user, an enterprise can save at least 60 percent of bandwidth; cut down on times to download the file by over 50 percent; and create a smooth user experience that enhances productivity. Also, compression performance tends to increase as compression history gets built up by users accessing the same file. The ensuing bandwidth reductions can hit up to 90 percent!

But what happens when different files are shared across the WAN? In that case, both the download times and bandwidth consumption go down as the files exchanged get stored in the SD-WAN appliances’ compression history. So, imagine you’re creating a PowerPoint presentation, uploading the same file over and over, each with slight tweaks, until you arrive at your masterpiece. In that case, as well, only the delta between the previous version and current version goes over the WAN. The result? Much faster uploads and downloads. In our tests, upload performance increased by about 70 percent (and up to 80 percent in some scenarios).

That’s not all. Because WAN optimization technology can serve files right from the appliance’s compression history at either location, it helps Citrix Files infrastructure scale better because file servers only need to serve traffic that hasn’t been optimized by SD-WAN appliances. But can all editions of Citrix SD-WAN optimize/compress Citrix Files traffic? Only the WANOP Edition and the Premium Edition can optimize/compress Citrix Files traffic. Standard Edition also can help with delivery of Citrix Files traffic by aggregating multiple WAN links and by always choosing the link with best network conditions. However, the performance improvement for Citrix Files traffic might not be as dramatic as with the other editions.

The Best of Both Worlds

Citrix SD-WAN Premium Edition combines the WAN optimization functionality with the virtual WAN functionality, giving your users an experience few SD-WAN vendors can match. And, our integration with Citrix Files as part of Citrix Workspace is unrivaled.

Looking for more technical details? Check out our refereence architecture.

Ready to try our Citrix SD-WAN with Citrix Files and your on-prem storage zone? Request a demo now.