What Is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN, or Service Data Layer, is an application layer that extends to the Internet for internet applications to interact with. An SD-WAN server connects multiple SD-WAN nodes together, providing various applications access to internet resources. Through SD-WAN, it is possible to extend a business’s applications into the web to accomplish certain tasks without requiring employees to move to a remote location.

Essentially, SD-WAN is a type of high-availability application layer. It is composed of several components, which include:

DNS – This component handles the names for the applications, so the servers know where to send the requests to. SD-WAN relies on DNS to process incoming and outgoing DNS requests. The DNS service provided by the provider is normally quick and precise. However, the DNS will experience issues during times of high traffic and network congestion.

SMTP – This is an application used for sending email to users in addition to other purposes. During normal business hours, the SMTP service allows mail to be sent through the SD-WAN. After business hours, the provider performs SMTP security checks to ensure mail is authenticated and protected.

Forwarder – In order to run a SD-WAN node, a provider must have a good number of forwarders. This feature helps increase the chances of packets from the SD-WAN node being routed to the web. Each of the forwarders can handle up to 1000 pings a day.

IP – This is used to provide an IP address to the nodes. With the IP, users will be able to connect to the SD-WAN. There are different types of IP addresses, such as the subnet or the main number.

An SD-WAN service layer consists of many important components, and each of these is used for one particular function, depending on the application. The IP addresses are used to connect the nodes together, while the DNS service is used to verify whether the users are authorized to connect to the internet. These two features make up the operational level of the SD-WAN. At the top level, there is a set of application layers, which act as the application layer.

The next layer is known as the technical layers. The technical layers manage the equipment and the processes used to connect the nodes together. For example, the VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is used to manage the IP addresses, and the routers are used to manage the physical interfaces.

The next layer is the application layer. This layer is responsible for the actual tasks and the operations of the SD-WAN. For example, the dynamic routing is used to route requests within the system.

For the most part, the data service layer is transparent to the end user, but not always. If the network is overloaded, and users request for SD WAN, the SD-WAN may cause the application layer to become unresponsive. This is why most enterprises need to configure their SD-WAN configuration to support simultaneous operation and failover.

The SD WAN is a complex technology to implement and will take some time to master. It is also expensive and requires that companies invest a lot of money in network infrastructure. It is worth noting that when developing SD-WAN applications, security needs to be a top priority, as unauthorized users will be banned from accessing the network.

As with any practical technology, there are a few key points to remember when using this type of technology. To ensure the best results, it is important to use the right software, and make sure that security measures are put in place.