The concept of SDN has surpassed the data center, making wide area networks faster and cheaper, which has promoted the growth of a large number of vendors that provide products and services for software-defined WAN architecture.
In the past, the network consisted of only a single link (possibly with backup) between each branch and the data center. Since the data is collected and stored in the data center where the application is executed, there is no need to link branches in other locations.
Today, branch and data center employees use cloud-based applications to participate in video conferences and view video training via the Internet. Remote users execute complex applications on smartphones and tablets, and all employees need effective Internet access. The simple link between each branch and the data center is no longer sufficient.
Because SDN can centrally exchange decision-making capabilities through software controllers, it is making progress in the big data center and cloud fields. This method can respond quickly to maintain an effective data path and meet quality of service (QoS) parameters. SDN eliminates the limitations of traditional switching and routing algorithms, which cannot always react quickly enough to meet the ever-increasing traffic demand.
Similarly, the SDN platform can dynamically mix and match broadband Internet, carrier Ethernet and LTE connections to meet the rapidly changing WAN connection requirements. Together with traditional multi-protocol label switching (MPLS), these technologies can create cost-effective networks with redundant links across branch offices, mobile users, data centers, and the cloud.
Suppliers respond to the requirements of software-defined WAN architecture
Start-up network vendors and established companies have responded to the need to extend the SDN concept to the WAN.
Start-up network vendors and established companies have responded to the need to extend the SDN concept to the WAN, and have provided multiple product suites for enterprises and service providers. These products are composed of a central controller, which is linked to the subordinate units in the entire network branch. The controller has full network visibility and continuously receives information about each active application. It monitors each link and directs traffic to the cheapest route available, while maintaining the data rate and QoS required by each application.
As the traffic level rises and falls, the controller dynamically allocates application data streams with lower stringent data transmission rates and QoS parameters to lower-quality (lower price) links. Strict QoS traffic retains high-quality links. When MPLS is the only reliable technology, it is necessary for users to sign up for sufficient capacity to support peak usage. By shifting some traffic to lower-priced links, the capacity on the MPLS link can be reduced, thereby reducing overhead.
The above is an introduction to how the software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) architecture changes the market.
VeCloud is a technological innovation enterprise that provides cloud exchange network services for enterprises as its core business. It has 30 data center nodes around the world, more than 200 POP nodes, and serves more than 300 major customers, involving finance, Internet, games, AI, Education, manufacturing, multinational companies and other industries. http://www.vecloud.com