siliconindia | | March 202219BUILD YOUR OWN LAYER CAKEWhether you are planning to replace an MPLS network that you deployed ten years ago or building a multi-site, private network from scratch, evaluating a software-defined, wide-area-network (SD-WAN) is likely going to be of interest to you. SD-WAN can be described as a next-generation or advanced feature, virtual-private-network (VPN) platform. Examples include support for: dynamically creating multiple VPN tunnels across one or more network connections to other, allowed nodes or sites; sending/receiving packets across multiple links; automated failover between connections; packet duplication across multiple links to reduce packet loss or errors; software-based quality of service (QoS); direct local internet access for trusted partner communications (e.g., private cloud); centralized management; zero-touch provisioning (ZTP); cellular out-of-band and cellular path of last resort; and the list goes on. What qualifies a technology to be named an SD-WAN platform can also be a point of debate.There are several WAN solution elements, a layer cake of sorts, that should be considered in the quest to design and deploy a platform that will fulfill each organization's unique needs. As you continue to read, you will also learn that understanding each layer is relevant to the overall design. These layers are summarized below (the layer cake):(If figure 1 does not directly follow, list of bullets that match the table should be added)(Each section that follows should be titled, either with a snip of the layer cake or text-based title)Secure WAN ­ This is the SD-WAN platform. There are scores of companies offering solutions, including VeloCloud, Viptella, Aruba, SilverPeak, Maraki, and Fat Pipe. Requesting demos is an essential part of building knowledge of features and identifying those that may be important to your organization. This can be done at tradeshows or directly by sales teams from your existing or new value-added resellers (VAR). Build a checklist of features that may qualify or disqualify each vendor. A vendor short-list will likely emerge. Consider features that may become important in the future. Completing a proof-of-concept (POC), with the vanilla offering from multiple SD-WAN suppliers, is a quick way to kick the tires. I recommend as many as three, and one will likely stand out to you. Run the POCs sequentially as they are typically time-bound, e.g., four weeks. Insist on engineering resources from the supplier, so you have the proper guidance. Tip: The vanilla offering, direct from the SD-WAN supplier, is often the fastest to kick-off a proof-of-concept. Other purchase channels (e.g., telco bundled offering) can be more complex to navigate for proofs-of-concept. If you need more time, don't be shy to ask for it. Be aware that some vendors may charge POC fees or ask for an agreement that will automatically result in an equipment purchase of the POC hardware, beyond an agreed POC end date. This should not be cause for alarm, and it will be money well spent, even if the result is ruling the platform out. For each platform, document your findings, as this will be the basis for discussions to compare platforms. Plan for two internet connections, in the case of a basic POC, or four, in order to evaluate the features that SD-WAN platforms are so well known for. You may be able to get creative with the connections you already have. Consider ordering new links for the POC, as a permanent lab is something I highly recommend. Depending on your scale, conclude vendor selection after piloting at a sampling of sites that are representative of your business. A hybrid of multiple solutions may be necessary in some environments due to M&A or cost. E.g., SD-WAN nodes plus traditional hardware VPN nodes.Hardware­You might think this is obvious, but I beg to differ. There are some options.1. Hardware from the SD-WAN software provider (vanilla offering). Understanding system capacities is about the only By John Walshaw, Director of Telecommunications, KamanCXOINSIGHTS
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