Citrix is launching a new product for the cloud, addressing the exponential growth the industry has witnessed in recent years.  Called DataStream, the technology behind this virtual “traffic cop” is based on Citrix’s popular NetScaler service delivery networking product line.  Already established in infrastructure data management, this latest move by Citrix has aims to take cloud control to the next level.

What NetScaler DataStream does is inspect data traffic in real-time, applying its optimization and security policies.  Citrix tells me it’s the first networking solution of its kind, specific in applying native data protocol and transaction intelligence to unstructured data, as well as structured data.  It’s this dual capability, and more importantly the support for unstructured data sets, that will set DataStream apart.

“Our new release is the industry’s first solution to understand data protocols,” says Sunil Potti, vice president of product marketing and product management for the Networking and Cloud Group at Citrix.  “It works in front of Microsoft HyperV servers, looks inside their protocol, and can slow down transfer, or speed it up.  Once you do that, all the power of a product applied to the tier can be moved deeper into the cloud.”

This works like an app-aware appliance, studying your data center, rerouting transactions one way or another.  It’s a form of quality control, as well as logistics, that can determine where resources need to be directed.  An online shopper that has items in the cart, for instance, is prioritized over one that’s still browsing.  Being able to discern activity at this level means protocol resources can be used smartly and effeciently.

It’s because of new cloud architectures that Citrix has developed the DataStream product.  And applying it to unstructured data means that more analysis can be applied and utilized around the massive cloud we’ve created.  In many ways, the rapid uptake of mobile services, online video and increased data demands have placed a unique burden on the systems that have carried us through this last wave of communication innovation.  Now it’s time to improve these systems, so they can operate more sensibly for the new protocols.

Right now, DataStream is applicable to MySQL, and is working towards more open cloud services, including Hadoop.  “We’re striving towards a seamless layer between structured and unstructured data,” Potti explains.  “It’s a top request for those looking to scale cloud data.  It’s not just a technology for data, but a way of better understanding the protocols within the data.  The better it’s controlled, the better you can act on it.  From there, you can apply things like security and controls for the data.”

In taking on unchartered territory, Citrix faced a unique set of challenges around the development of DataStream.  Latency was among these obstacles, with Citrix determining to not affect other factors architecturally, as it created a solution to take on unstructured data.  Speed was another area of importance, as there’s a large amount of data being served up.  In this case, execution has to occur at a very high level.

For now, DataStream is a specialized product that works with the range of Microsoft and Oracle MySQL servers, offering the power to control their data policies.  Citrix is looking to expand beyond this, once the foundation has been established around its immediate offerings.