SD WAN

SD WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that uses software to manage and optimize wide area network connections.

What is SD WAN?

SD WAN is a network architecture that uses software to manage and optimize WAN connections, providing greater flexibility and efficiency.

Main Features

Centralized Management

  • Centralized control: Management from a central point
  • Policies: Centralized policy application
  • Monitoring: Centralized monitoring
  • Configuration: Centralized configuration

Optimization

  • Load balancing: Automatic load balancing
  • Failover: Automatic failover
  • QoS: Quality of service
  • Compression: Traffic compression

Security

  • Encryption: Traffic encryption
  • Firewall: Firewall functions
  • VPN: VPN connections
  • Segmentation: Network segmentation

Benefits

Costs

  • Cost reduction: Lower cost than MPLS
  • Flexibility: Greater flexibility
  • Scalability: Easy scaling
  • ROI: Better return on investment

Performance

  • Better performance: Traffic optimization
  • Reduced latency: Lower latency
  • Bandwidth: Better bandwidth usage
  • Availability: Higher availability

Management

  • Simplification: Simplified management
  • Automation: Task automation
  • Visibility: Greater visibility
  • Control: Better control

Architecture

Components

  • Edge devices: Edge devices
  • Controller: Central controller
  • Orchestrator: Orchestrator
  • Analytics: Analysis and monitoring

Layers

  • Application: Application layer
  • Control: Control layer
  • Data: Data layer
  • Physical: Physical layer

Implementation

Phase 1: Planning

  • Requirements analysis: Define needs
  • Design: Design architecture
  • Selection: Select provider
  • Budget: Estimate costs

Phase 2: Deployment

  • Installation: Install devices
  • Configuration: Configure system
  • Integration: Integrate with existing systems
  • Testing: Validate operation

Phase 3: Operation

  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring
  • Maintenance: System maintenance
  • Optimization: Continuous optimization
  • Scalability: Plan growth

Providers

Enterprise

  • Cisco: Cisco SD-WAN
  • VMware: VMware SD-WAN
  • Fortinet: Fortinet SD-WAN
  • Palo Alto: Palo Alto SD-WAN

Cloud

  • AWS: AWS Transit Gateway
  • Azure: Azure Virtual WAN
  • Google: Google Cloud Interconnect
  • Oracle: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Open Source

  • OpenWrt: OpenWrt
  • VyOS: VyOS
  • FRRouting: FRRouting
  • BIRD: BIRD Internet Routing Daemon

Use Cases

Companies

  • Branches: Branch connectivity
  • Remote work: Remote work support
  • Cloud: Cloud service connectivity
  • Backup: Backup connections

Providers

  • Services: Connectivity services
  • Managed services: Managed services
  • SLA: Service level agreements
  • Support: Technical support

Best Practices

Design

  • Redundancy: Implement redundancy
  • Security: Security by design
  • Scalability: Plan scalability
  • Monitoring: Implement monitoring

Implementation

  • Phased: Phased implementation
  • Testing: Test before implementing
  • Documentation: Document configuration
  • Training: Train staff

Operation

  • Monitoring: Continuous monitoring
  • Maintenance: Regular maintenance
  • Updates: Regular updates
  • Optimization: Continuous optimization

References