As users confront greater geographic diversity in their networks, WAN optimization vendors are looking to boil additional software features into their appliances.

First up is Riverbed, which today announced deals with a raft of vendors, including Opsware, Compuware, NetScout, and Opnet, to enable third-party software to collect and compile information from Riverbed’s Steelhead appliances.

Opsware, which is now part of HP, will collect device configuration data from the appliances, whereas Opnet is building software agents that will troubleshoot Riverbed's devices. NetScout’s software will work with the Steelhead appliances to provide network performance data, something which is becoming increasingly important, according to Riverbed.

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