Gilles,

How does the ACE replace/improve on the functionality of the CSS/CSM? The information on Cisco's website is very buzzword oriented, and I need a real technical person's perspective.

I am currently using CSS's in multiple datacenters to both load-balance internally, and load-balance between datacenters for web accessible applications. How would I use the ACE to improve this service?

Regards,

--Brandon

ACE offers up to 16G of throughput.

The on-board SSL functions are faster than those of the CSS and offers more possibilities.

ACE has many HTTP features the CSS does not have - like possibility to insert data in the http header or dynamic cookie stickyness.

You also get generic layer4 payload analysis which let's you do loadbalancing/stickyness of your own/personal protocols.

There are many other features that do not exist on the CSS.

Finally, ACE will support IPv6 in the future and the CSS won't.

Gilles.

please see the attached pdf outlining CSS/CSM/ACE feature comparison