Hifn'S Flow Classification Software First to Identify Internet Traffic, Help ISPS and ASPS Apply Quality of Service
MeterFlow 6.1 Classifies Complex Applications and Up to 3,500 Associated Protocols
LOS GATOS, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Network security and flow classification market leader Hifn (Nasdaq: HIFN - news) today released its latest version of MeterFlow(TM), a flow classification software package that makes the recognition of data flows and their associated applications for any one of 3,500 protocols visible to service providers and corporate network managers.
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Version 6.1 delivers to equipment manufacturers of network infrastructure major new capabilities for differentiated services, including H.323 and Microsoft® media protocol support, and a 25% boost in packet analysis performance.
In addition to flow classification, Hifn offers a set of optional performance metrics that can track up to 25 different measurements of traffic flows, ranging from jitter and response time to connection statistics and many others. This information allows policies based on performance to be implemented and metered. For example, performance metrics make it possible to determine if a real-time streaming video was delivered to its destination without any breaks or delays.
The software consists of approximately 500KB of executable code, with proven 600 Mbps performance. An unlimited number of flows is supported, with 256 bytes of memory required for each flow (up to 1K bytes per flow if metrics are enabled).
MeterFlow provides unique, highly granular application visibility for quality of service, dynamic policy management, traffic monitoring, bandwidth management, billing, security, priority queuing, capacity management and service level agreement systems. MeterFlow can accurately track most of today's advanced applications, such as VoIP (Voice over the Internet Protocol), Oracle databases and RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol).
MeterFlow can be used by end-users or by OEMs as technology embedded into their own solutions and product offerings. Systems such as firewalls, NAT (Network Address Translation) devices, intrusion detection systems and policy-based management tools can benefit from the application-aware, deep classification information and services that MeterFlow provides. Multiple patents are pending on the MeterFlow technology.
``There are products that classify data packets, but MeterFlow can recognize whole data flows and applications for most of the Internet communication protocols,'' says Bob Wheeler, Senior Analyst, The Linley Group. ``This means that ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and ASPs (Application Server Providers) can now charge for services according to the application being delivered, and they can set quality of service (QoS) and policy management rules accordingly.''
MeterFlow returns stateful results in real time, which means that it evaluates each and every processed packet while preserving context information relative to the flow and to other packets. Unlike existing packet classification technologies, MeterFlow extensively analyzes application-specific data in real time, allowing it to determine the content of a single packet as well as the relationships between packets. This lets MeterFlow follow connection and transaction workflows that use the most complex protocols and applications, including Internet e-commerce, and major ERP applications like SAP, Microsoft Exchange and Oracle.
Firewalls, NAT, PAT (Port Address Translation), intrusion detection systems and policy-based management tools can use application information obtained from MeterFlow not only to define more robust and reliable policies, but also to enforce them. Applications currently requiring specialized equipment or being held back from wider Internet deployment due to a lack of classification tools include teleconferencing, streaming media, VoIP, and a number of others that are precluded from passing through corporate firewalls.
``Applications such as streaming video seldom make it to corporate desktops without a dedicated infrastructure or creating holes in the policy systems,'' says Rahul Patel, Hifn business line manager. ``Flow classification makes it possible to deliver such applications through firewalls while keeping out potentially dangerous data. MeterFlow is a key ingredient for robust, reliable and effective productivity, accountability and the growth of the Internet.''
MeterFlow 6.1 recognizes 3,500 different protocol combinations, including 800 unique protocols, 40 of which are state-based protocols. It recognizes the most widely deployed protocols such as SAP/R3, PeopleSoft, Oracle, Microsoft Exchange, HTTP and H.323, reporting data, voice, video, and tele- or video-conferencing sessions in real time. The package is available in ANSI C source code for easy portability to all environments, including standard operating systems or real-time operating systems. It is currently ported to Windows NT, Solaris, Linux, FreeBSD, pSOS, VxWorks and VRTX operating systems.
MeterFlow 6.1 is available for a one-time license fee of $350,000 per product platform plus royalty charges on shipments. The MeterFlow Performance Metrics add-in package is priced at $150,000 per product platform. |
