Steelhead Reviews

Name: Steelhead
Brand: Riverbed
Rating: 4.2 (24 reviews)

Vendor: Riverbed

4.2 out of 5

24 reviews
95% willing to recommend

525 followers

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What is Steelhead?

Steelhead is the leading network optimization and application performance solution chosen by over 30,000 organizations worldwide. The performance of networks and applications directly impacts business productivity. Riverbed draws from nearly two decades of experience in driving network and application performance over Wide Area Networks with its flagship offering, SteelHead. SteelHead delivers the underlying technology that helps enterprises of all sizes maximize the efficiency and performance of the networks and applications used to run modern business.

Get the Steelhead Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Steelhead, Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform, Exinda and more!

Steelhead is the #3 ranked solution in top WAN Optimization solutions and #13 ranked solution in top WAN Edge solutions. PeerSpot users give Steelhead an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Steelhead is most commonly compared to Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform: Steelhead vs Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform. Steelhead is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 64% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 23% of all views.

Helped 838,640 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Raj Metkar

Director, Head of Networks at MUFG, EMEA

There are several features specific to branches, like keeping data hot and active on Steelhead devices. These features prevent unnecessary data travel across the international MPLS. Additionally, functions like acting as an NTP server, DNS, DHCP for branches and auto-optimization mode enhance efficiency along with really good QoS for bandwidth shaping.

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Chaudhary Muhammad Moez Manzar

Senior Network Engineer at Arwen Tech

I have had hands-on experience with the initial setup of Steelhead, particularly in deploying it for a banking system in Pakistan. The deployment involved two cities, Karachi and Larkana, with around sixteen to eighteen branches. To start, we needed licenses for both Steelhead devices, crucial for optimizing traffic. Understanding the volume of traffic between the nodes is essential. For instance, if there is a 1 GB traffic requirement, we need to select a license capable of optimizing that volume. While the claim is that Steelhead can optimize up to 90%, we typically set realistic expectations, aiming for 60-70% optimization. Choosing the right device, analyzing its processing capabilities, ensuring hardware compatibility with the selected license, and understanding the specific requirements are key aspects of the setup process. The initial installation of Steelhead is more about careful planning than complex configuration. The trickiest part is deciding on the right device, box, and license. Figuring out which box suits the purpose and which license can handle the expected traffic volume is crucial. Once that is sorted, the configuration itself is relatively straightforward, mostly done through a user-friendly GUI. The key for engineers is understanding how to analyze the graphs and reports. During deployment, the focus shifts to selecting the appropriate box, software version, and license. The reports become essential for ongoing optimization. The full installation of Steelhead typically takes around one day. However, I usually monitor the system for about a week after deployment to gather mature data and generate comprehensive reports. The deployment of Steelhead is a team effort, not a solo task. Typically, it involves a presales person and a technician, especially if we are setting up in a data center. The infrastructure management and operations team, including system, network, and software teams, are also part of the process. In total, around nine to ten people might be involved, depending on the specific needs.

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Djurre Woudstra

Senior Network Engineer at a legal firm with 201-500 employees

We use the solution to optimize traffic between our vastly geographically dispersed offices I find the most valuable to be the compression and exchange replication. It is very useful, user friendly, and the documentation manuals are helpful. They should include a network switch in a future…

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Steelhead mindshare

Product category:

As of February 2025, the mindshare of Steelhead in the WAN Optimization category stands at 13.6%, down from 20.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

WAN Optimization

PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	WAN Optimization	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Steelhead vs Cato SASE Cloud Platform	Feb 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Steelhead vs Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform	Feb 21, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN Platform	4.3	18.7%	100%	22 interviews Add to research
Exinda	4.4	4.2%	87%	9 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Steelhead is highly valued for WAN optimization, adaptive transfer schemes, and powerful compression capabilities. Users appreciate Scalable Data Referencing for local access and data caching which boosts speed. Performance graphs assist in troubleshooting and reporting enhances application visibility. Path selection, QoS, TCP window optimization, and Office 365 enhancements are also praised. These features together reduce bandwidth requirements, optimize cost, and simplify device management, enabling efficient operations across multiple branches and improving end-user performance.

"Steelhead has drastically improved user experience."
"There are several features specific to branches, like keeping data hot and active on Steelhead devices. These features prevent unnecessary data travel across the international LAN."
"One of our most valuable features is Steelhead's cloud migration optimization. Moving to the cloud helped optimize our workflow, improving performance for end-users."

Room for Improvement

Steelhead requires enhancements in traffic handling, user interface logic, and alert notifications. Quality of service setup can be more intuitive. There are issues with upgrade processes, support, and scaling hardware. Integration capabilities need expansion, particularly with SDN. Application response times and encrypted traffic management require better optimization. Monitoring traffic on individual interfaces is limited. High Availability features need refinement. Additionally, cost efficiency and security could be better addressed by users.

"There was a significant challenge when moving from an older version to a newer one due to changed quality of service policies."
"There was a significant challenge when moving from an older version to a newer one due to changed quality of service policies."
"The product needs improvement in its integration with SDN."

ROI

Steelhead significantly reduced bandwidth usage by optimizing WAN, resulting in considerable cost savings. Users noted noticeable impacts when optimization was disabled. A reported 3x to 10x bandwidth increase eliminated the need for costly IPClear circuit upgrades, saving around £50,000 annually. The investment proved beneficial by optimizing bandwidth and enhancing user experience.

Pricing

Steelhead pricing is generally perceived as high, with users noting significant upfront hardware costs and expensive service contracts, such as $30,000 annually. Many find the licensing complex and advise evaluating needs before purchase. Despite costs, users appreciate the performance benefits and exceptional support. Licensing is per machine, with varied pricing across different device scales and session capacities. Maintenance costs, while still significant, are considered manageable compared to initial expenses.

"Across our 12 data centers, we spend around $150k annually."
"The solution is expensive and the service contacts are costly too. The cost of the device makes the value proposition borderline acceptable for us. The service contract fees we pay is approximately $30,000 annually."

Popular Use Cases

Steelhead is primarily used for WAN optimization, significantly enhancing network and application performance across geographically dispersed offices. It addresses latency issues, improves data throughput, and is critical in banking systems for optimizing data replication between primary and backup centers. Organizations use it to save bandwidth costs and prioritize essential traffic, especially in scenarios with limited bandwidth. Its application extends to optimizing traffic for Amazon users and globally within multinational manufacturing entities.

Service and Support

Steelhead customer service is efficient and professional. Their technical support team is knowledgeable, trained, and responsive, handling remote sessions effectively. Riverbed TAC provides globally valuable assistance, though responses may require follow-up. Support is commendable for resolving typical issues promptly, but complex problems, such as Active Directory integration, can be time-consuming. Though generally satisfactory, users note the need for improved local technical knowledge transfer. Support is rated highly with swift responses for higher-priority tickets.

Deployment

Setup for Steelhead was mostly straightforward and simple. Many users found it easy, noting the need for initial IP address configurations. Some described the process as equivalent to an L2 device installation. Preparation, such as choosing the right license and device, was crucial. Deployment generally involved minimal staff and took a few hours. Occasional challenges arose with configurations and ensuring compatibility, but users appreciated the user-friendly interface for ongoing management.

Scalability

Steelhead is generally scalable with minimal challenges. While some face limitations with hardware upgrades, most find scaling up to meet growing demands straightforward. License deployment and appliance replacements are smooth, supporting both small businesses and large enterprises. Although some encounter issues with older models not supporting newer technologies, recent versions have successfully handled thousands of users. Expanding networks, such as adding remote sites, is typically simple and efficient.

Stability

Steelhead is described as highly stable, with few issues reported. Users appreciate its reliability, noting minimal downtime and smooth upgrades. Some mention that specific data flows require bypass rules, while others highlight occasional problems with licenses after power issues. Despite instances of RAM leakage impacting remote access, support is prompt in addressing concerns. Users value its resilience, especially during power outages, and consider it a top choice for WAN optimization.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Steelhead Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

23%

Manufacturing Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

10%

Real Estate/Law Firm

University

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Construction Company

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Legal Firm

Logistics Company

Retailer

Hospitality Company

Non Profit

Outsourcing Company

Consumer Goods Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Insurance Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Leisure / Travel Company

Wellness & Fitness Company

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Learn more about Steelhead

SteelHead is proven to dramatically speed up the performance of applications anywhere in the organization while delivering the best end-user experience even under sub optimal network conditions. Reduce bandwidth utilization by up to 95%, deferring costly network bandwidth upgrades. Increase performance by up to 100x for on-premises applications.

Steelhead was previously known as RIverbed Steelhead.