Deployment Modes for the SteelHead
You can deploy SteelHeads into the network in many different ways. Deployment modes available for the SteelHeads include:
Physical In-Path - In a physical in-path deployment, the SteelHead is physically in the direct path between clients and servers. In-path designs are the simplest to configure and manage, and they are the most common type of SteelHead deployment, even for large sites. Many variations of physical in-path deployments are possible to account for redundancy, clustering, and asymmetric traffic flows. Virtual In-Path - In a virtual in-path deployment, you can use a redirection mechanism (like WCCP, PBR, or Layer-4 switching) to place the SteelHead virtually in the path between clients and servers. Out-of-Path - In an out-of-path deployment, the SteelHead is not in the direct path between the client and the server. In an out‑of‑path deployment, the SteelHead acts as a proxy. This type of deployment might be suitable for locations where physical in-path or virtual in-path configurations are not possible. However, out-of-path deployments have several drawbacks that you must be aware of.