Prior to software-defined wide area networks, there were traditional extended networks
Previously, the construction of a wide area network ( WAN ) was complex. To build a multisite network and link the offices of a company, it was necessary to manually configure the devices to graft a multi-hop path to the backbone of a telecommunication company. As the bandwidth for private network was more expensive, it was necessary to make things more complex by prioritizing the different classes of applications for transport over the WAN. If, with this last solution, the organizations gained in the exchange (less bandwidth to buy without affecting the performance of the main applications), in practice, however, the configuration of such a level of prioritization was complicated and presented the risk never use It.
Software Defined Networking ( SDN )
With a software defined network (SDN), such a configuration is automatically processed by the network and set in real time in a web portal. Result: faster implementation and elimination of errors and interruptions caused by misconfiguration. Difficult tasks for IT, such as complex routing protocols and obscure application prioritization schemes, are a thing of the past.
Software Defined Wide Area Network ( SD-WAN )
With the advent of software-defined networking, WANs have become intelligent, leading to Software Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN ) . The configuration of a network is done automatically, according to the options chosen by the customer in a web portal with subscription. Networks have become so aware. Rest assured, it simply means that they are constantly looking to optimize the path that applications take between sites. The IT administrator of a SD-WAN also becomes notified. It has access to a dashboard displaying end-to-end network performance, congestion points and bandwidth consumption by application type. With direct access to information on the portal of the SD-WAN, your IT team can easily diagnose performance issues, handle user complaints, and adjust network settings.
Goals and Advantages of Software Defined Networking
Networks are exposed to ever increasing demands. They are getting bigger and more complex and at the same time dynamic changes and degrees of virtualization are increasing. Conventional network components, which are equipped with their own intelligence and operate largely autonomously, are no longer up to these requirements.
Changes in conventional networks often result in a huge amount of manual effort as configurations on many individual devices need to be changed and adjusted. Often, the devices also have different operating systems or software versions, which further increases the cost of customization and complexity. At the same time, the susceptibility to errors in the network is increasing.
Software-defined networking (SDN) moves away from the concept of distributed intelligence and the use of different operating systems. In the SDN, the intelligence of the network is moved to a central instance and the configuration of individual devices or operating systems is superfluous. The goal of the concept is to reduce network maintenance and administration while increasing intelligence and flexibility of a network implemented with SD-WAN. In addition, the hardware can concentrate on its actual task, the data forwarding, and is relieved of control and management functions.
Software-defined networking and SD-WAN offers major advantages in the virtualization of network structures. Certain features are no longer required to run on dedicated hardware, but can be dynamically assigned to other devices through the Network Controller. Changes in the network are virtually realizable in real time. Also advantageous is the SDN / SD-WAN concept for the administration of security policies. The security policies can be centrally defined and enforced in the entire network.
