Apple released a new software update for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The new software offers a number of important fixes, security enhancements and interesting features.
Typically, Apple software updates are large (100-150 Megabytes), but IOS 4.2 is gigantic at over 600 Megabytes. In addition, the software download will generally try to consume all available bandwidth to complete the downloading process as soon as possible.
While great for Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users, the software update can cause major issues for corporate networks, especially Internet connection points and Wide Area Network (WAN) links to branch offices.
The impact is two-fold. First, a download of over 600 megabytes is substantial for any Internet gateway or WAN link. When multiplied by the demands of numerous users, for example 20 or 60 in a single office, the network effect can be monumental.
Second, since the download process is aggressive, it only takes one or several users to completely consume a company’s Internet gateway connection or WAN link and prevent anything else from operating. A company’s ability to access the Internet or use applications that need Internet access would be greatly diminished or curtailed.
Similarly, a company’s ability to access mission-critical applications and conduct communication across the WAN would be severely restricted or stopped.
Some strategies companies can use to prevent such software updates from clogging Internet gateway connections and WAN links:
1. Ask employees to be vigilant and try to avoid updates to iPhones or iPads from taking place while at work, but rather defer them for when they are connected at home. This may not be a feasible solution, as the updates may occur automatically.
2. Employ an appliance with advanced proxy cache technology, such as the Blue Coat ProxySG appliance, that can cache the software update at the company’s Internet gateway and also at branch offices so that the update need only be downloaded one time to serve the needs of the entire company or branch office.
3. Employ an application visibility and control solution, such as Blue Coat PacketShaper appliance, to control how much bandwidth can be used for software downloads or at what kind of day they can be performed. In addition, such a solution can ensure that mission-critical applications can get the amount of bandwidth they need regardless of what other applications try to consume.
Source:http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?id=49818&t=1&c=33&cg=4&mset=
