branch office box (BOB)

A branch office box (BOB) is a server appliance that has been optimized to provide distributed support for simple utility functions that are required locally but are difficult to provide over a WAN. When WAN connections are unreliable, a BOB may be used as part of a local business continuation solution. When WAN connections are reliable, a BOB may not be a cost-effective alternative to using protocol wrapping solutions (like MPLS) to address WAN latency. BOBs are usually optimized for the type of protocol traffic a business uses in most communication with a central office or data center. BOBs also are optimized for the type of persistent service that may be needed locally in the event of a WAN disruption.

BOB deployment is an alternative to providing complex server support locally for necessary utility applications like:

Download this free guide

Download: Overcome Virtual Network Management Challenges

The virtualized network poses challenges to network management systems -- and as more hardware components become virtualized, that challenge becomes even greater. This handbook discusses the steps IT must take to both build and corral their virtualized infrastructure.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

• email
• printing
• file serving and caching
• DNS
• DHCP
• HTML
• XML
• HTTPS
• encryption and decryption