Getting started > Deployment options > Out-of-path topologies > Directing traffic with policy-based routing

Directing traffic with policy-based routing

Using Policy Based Routing (PBR), you can deploy your Exinda appliance in the network out-of-path but retain in-pathIn-path refers to placing an between network devices that send and receive data packets to each other, like a switch and a router. An appliance deployed in-path automatically inspects all packets traveling along the path. optimization capabilities. To achieve this, configure the router with the policy that determines whether traffic is sent to the requested destination or to the Exinda Appliance.

Policy-based routing topology

The Policy Based Routing feature offers the following benefits:

An Exinda Appliance can be deployed physically out-of-path, but logically in-path which makes it useful in virtual environments where an in-path deployment may undesirable or impossible.
Increased selectivity of traffic to be optimized. For example, redirect all web traffic to an Exinda Appliance.
Increased network topology configurability. Depending on the router's capability, the traffic is redirected based on access-lists which may use the port, source/destination address, etc.

The following scenarios represent common deployment topologies in which PBR can be used with the Exinda.