DOCUMENTATION 》 TOFFEE (and TOFFEE-DataCenter) optimized Mobile Wireless Backhaul Networks

Here are some of the screenshots of the new upcoming TOFFEE WAN Optimization release and live demo.

Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a new innovative way to provide optimal application performance by redefining branch office networking. Unlike traditional expensive private WAN connection technologies such as MPLS, etc., SD-WAN delivers increased network performance and cost reduction. SD-WAN solution decouple network software services from the underlying hardware via software abstraction.

TOFFEE TOFFEE Data-Center is specifically meant for Data Center, Cluster Computing, HPC applications. TOFFEE is built in Linux Kernel core. This makes it inflexible to adapt according to the hardware configuration. It does sequential packet processing and does not scale up well in large multi-core CPU based systems (such as Intel Xeon servers, Core i7 Extreme Desktop systems,etc). Apart from this since it is kernel based, if there is an issue in kernel, it may crash entire system. This becomes a challenge for any carrier grade equipment (CGE) hardware build.

I started TOFFEE-Mocha WAN Emulation software development on 1-June-2016. I took the existing TOFFEE components as a base. Although the TOFFEE-Mocha is entirely an independent fresh Open-Source WAN Emulation solution. Ever since I am in the process of defining and inventing features. So far I come up with the most important feature which is expected to be present in any WAN Emulation software is the packet delay option.

Large Infrastructure or ISP setup: In case if you are an ISP and interested in deploying a large customer WAN Optimized network or an add-on enhanced (WAN Optimized) network for select few customers, then you can deploy something as shown below. Although this case is not meant for hobby/DIY users. This is a feasible solution for high-end professional application and the same can be deployed.

TOFFEE-Butterscotch yet another variant of TOFFEE can be used to save and optimize your Home/SOHO Internet/WAN bandwidth. Unlike TOFFEE (and TOFFEE-DataCenter) TOFFEE-Butterscotch is a non peer-to-peer (and asymmetric) network optimization solution. This makes TOFFEE-Butterscotch an ideal tool for all Home and SOHO users.

I was doing some specific tests in my TOFFEE and TOFFEE-DataCenter (WAN optimization) scenarios such as variable upload and download speeds. And I was also doing some experiments with speedtest.net and I did some of these tests with TOFFEE-Mocha. I realized there is a case that I can introduce asymmetric constant delays so that you can get different download speed and a different upload speed. And in some cases much faster download speeds and relatively slower upload speeds.

Today I refined the first page consolidated report graphs. TOFFEE-Mocha (unlike TOFFEE) is a WAN Emulator, so the graphs are supposed to highlight this purpose and should display the overall network activity. Unlike TOFFEE, the TOFFEE-Mocha report should contain in general what is received versus what is sent across the wire. In case if the packet drop feature is enabled, you should see few missing bytes and packets. Similarly in future I may support packet duplication feature, in that case you may see more packets/bytes sent versus the packets/bytes actually received.

Now I supported and finished complete GUI support of these parameters so that you can configure, store, reboot and the same will restore upon reboot. Besides I complete the TOFFEE-Mocha Big-Picture page. The Big picture is an interface where you can find all the configuration (or settings) of the TOFFEE-Mocha. This is almost similar to CISCO device show all command but in graphical representation. Sometimes a network admin can also print the Big Picture page and paste it near to the device to refer its settings.