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Network Dictionary – Application Delivery Controller
Application Delivery Controller (ADC) – Historically known as a “load balancer”, until someone put a shiny chrome exhaust and new buttons on it and so it needed a new marketing name.
However, the Web Application Firewall and Application Acceleration / Optimisation that are in most ADC are not really load balancing so maybe its alright.
Feel free to call it a load balancer when the sales rep is on the ground, guaranteed to upset them.
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Hi Greg,
I’m going to have to beg to differ with you on your definition. An application delivery controller is not just a “new marketing name” for an old technology. There are significant differences between load-balancers and application delivery controllers that go much deeper than security and acceleration add-ons.
Layer 7 switching is one very big difference, as well as Content based routing.
An ADC is a platform, a load-balancer is not. And as a platform, an ADC offers a great deal more flexibility and functionality than a load-balancer.
Thanks,
Lori
No need to beg
, and, please, feel free to disagree, but don’t expect me to fall down in marketing rapture at F5’s markitecture for load balancers.
For example, modern routers not only forward IP packets, they also do QoS, Filtering, Network Monitoring and Reporting, virtualisation and so on. Has the market renamed them Advanced Packet Controllers ? Packet Service Engines ? (actually, not for lack of trying either now that I think about it.)
ADC is just a name to try and differentiate your product from competitors. Sure you do all those things, and more, but lets not overdo the hype.
Keep it real.
Good point on the routers. The terminology isn’t to differentiate from competitors, however, as every “load balancer” in the market is generally using the term ADC now. It is, in part, to differentiate between load-balancing, which is a rudimentary method of handling application scalability and reliability, and application delivery, which takes a more intelligent, interactive approach to the problem.
I do see where you’re coming from, though, and understand the frustration with terminology and what you see as marketing over substance. But generally speaking when we start talking to folks about things other than basic load-balancing they’re surprised by what else they can do – because they think the products are just “load-balancers”. That’s a good reason to differentiate between the two products because there are “just load-balancers” out there that don’t have the capabilities that an ADC does.
Apologies if my passion for the market in general comes across as hype.
I’ve been involved in load-balancing and ADCs for much longer than I’ve been at F5 and the evolution and capabilities of all the products in the market have grown so much that sometimes I get a little (okay a lot) excited about it.
Lori
I think my point cuts both ways, as consumers we should understand what we are buying so that fancy names don’t blind us to reality. Thats is mostly the point of my tongue in cheek approach.
Love passion, that’s what lets me do this too.
Folks, go over to http://www.theapplicationdeliverynetwork.com/ and keep up to date with Lori personal site (skip the F5 one). I may not always agree but , respect!, she has got tons of it when it comes to this stuff.