What is SD-WAN? SD-WAN is a technology that interconnects organizations or branches located in different locations. It simplifies computer network management and enhances security and performance levels. Who needs SD-WAN? SD-WAN is beneficial for any organization that operates multiple branches and seeks to establish seamless connections between them. Why choose SD-WAN? Traditional VPN technologies require complex configurations, are challenging to manage and monitor, leading to increased time and lower quality in problem resolution. SD-WAN addresses these issues effectively. How does it work? SD-WAN utilizes a centralized management system to oversee all devices and employs intelligent routing mechanisms for efficient information transmission, thereby enhancing the availability of business applications. SD-WAN Technical Description Before delving into the technical details, let's use a real-life analogy to grasp the concept better. Consider the scenario of transferring cargo between location A and B using 10 trucks and drivers. Problems arise due to unexpected road issues, causing delays and incurring losses for the company. Problem description:
Drivers independently choose routes without prior knowledge of road conditions.
Lack of real-time information sharing among drivers.
Late notifications of road problems hinder drivers from finding alternative routes promptly.
Solution: Introduce a dispatcher who recommends the most optimal routes to all drivers based on distance and potential delays. The dispatcher shares real-time road condition updates and provides advance route recommendations.
The dispatcher's role mirrors that of an SD-WAN orchestrator, which serves as a central management system. The trucks and drivers correspond to individual routers with local control functions. SD-WAN, or Software Defined WAN, represents a centralized software-controlled WAN computer network that connects geographically distant locations.
According to Gartner's 2022 research, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (Aruba) emerged as the leader in the "magic square," aided by its merger with SilverPeak in 2020. SilverPeak was one of the pioneers in developing SD-WAN technology, a concept they continue to successfully advance.
HPE's SD-WAN solutions consist of two main product lines: Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise (formerly Silver Peak) and Aruba EdgeConnect SD-Branch. Let's explore each of them.
Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise is tailored for large organizations with numerous branches and a Cloud First strategy, where corporate applications are migrated to the cloud. The key components include physical or virtual appliances in branch offices and the Aruba WAN Orchestrator central management system.
Main functionality:
Tunnel Bonding: Aggregates virtual tunnels from multiple providers' connections, enabling simultaneous use of all Internet channels.
Aruba WAN Boost: Optimizes low-speed Internet connections for latency-sensitive and data-intensive applications by using TCP acceleration, data compression, and deduplication.
Path Conditioning: Selects the best transmission channels based on real-time delay and load indicators.
Aruba EdgeConnect SD-Branch covers not only SD-WAN functionality but also includes branch network components like Wi-Fi access points, switches, and network security policies. This solution enables centralized management of WAN connections and LAN devices for branch locations.
Main functionality:
Central Management: Aruba's central management and orchestration system connects SD-WAN routers, switches, and Wi-Fi access points.
Dynamic Segmentation of Computer Network.
SD-WAN Orchestration.
Unified Network Security: Implements easily extensible and flexible Zero Trust and SASE methodologies.