By William Fellows
CacheFlow Inc is extending its web caching appliance line onwards and upwards with a new high-end configuration designed to support carrier-class companies with internet pipes ranging from T3 (45Mbps) to OC12 (622Mbps). Starting at around $40,000 for an entry-level CacheFlow 5000 configuration to support caching on T3 lines, CacheFlow says it can add modules that could command $400,000 for an OC12 implementation.
CacheFlow has optimized its CacheOS 2.0 operating system software to run on the multiprocessing hardware the 5000 uses, which is standard Intel server technology. CacheFlow points to new IDC research which forecasts the caching appliance market – not caching software – will be worth $1bn by 2003, up from $19m last year. Ideally CacheFlow wants to its devices to be regarded much like routers are today.
For the carrier market, CacheFlow has added support for AC and DC power and claims it will be able to provide 99.9999% uptime, up from five nines, or 99.999% guarantees it offers now. It says it can speed delivery of web pages ten times faster than any competitor. It now counts GlobalOne the Deutsche Telecom AG, France Telecom SA and Sprint Corp joint venture, as a customer. CacheFlow reckons one if its chief competitors, Network Appliance Inc, is doing so well out of its filer business that it might soon decide to get out of the caching market entirely. After all it did just 8% or $7.3m out of its $91m quarter on sales of caching devices.
