What is Cisco SD-WAN Architecture?

Businesses today need fast, reliable, and secure networks because of mobile devices, cloud apps, and IoT. Old-fashioned networks can't keep up, leading to slow speeds and high costs.

SD-WAN solves this by making network management easier and improving performance, ensuring important applications run smoothly and securely. SD-WAN helps businesses adapt to modern technology.

In this article, we will discuss the Cisco SD-WAN architecture and its benefits in present-day networking technologies. Further enrolling in our Cisco courses can help you master SD-WAN technologies,

What is Cisco SD-WAN Architecture?

Cisco SD-WAN architecture transforms complex legacy WANs into secure and scalable overlays. It achieves this by separating transport from service sides, and control, data, and management planes.

Cisco SD-WAN Architecture

The Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solution consists of distinct orchestration, management, control, and data planes, each serving a specific function: 

● Orchestration Plane: This component facilitates the automatic onboarding of SD-WAN routers into the SD-WAN overlay, streamlining deployment. 

● Management Plane: Responsible for centralized configuration and monitoring, this plane ensures that network settings are easily managed and adjustments can be made efficiently. 

● Control Plane: This plane is tasked with building and maintaining the network topology. It also makes critical decisions regarding traffic flow, optimizing performance across the network. 

● Data Plane: This component handles the actual forwarding of packets based on the directives received from the control plane, ensuring efficient data transmission.  

Together, these planes work cohesively to provide a robust and efficient SD-WAN architecture that enhances network performance and management.

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SD-WAN Architecture Components 

The Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solution is composed of several key components, including the SD-WAN Manager (management plane), the SD-WAN Controller (control plane), the SD-WAN Validator (orchestration plane), and the WAN Edge router (data plane). 

1. SD-WAN Manager: This software-based network management system features a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies the monitoring, configuration, and maintenance of all Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN devices and their connected links within both the underlay and overlay networks. It provides a unified view for Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2 operations. 

2. SD-WAN Controller: Serving as the centralized control plane for the SD-WAN network, this software component maintains secure connections to each WAN Edge router. It distributes routing and policy information via the Overlay Management Protocol (OMP), functioning as a route reflector. Additionally, it orchestrates secure data plane connectivity between the WAN Edge routers by reflecting crypto key information, enabling a scalable, IKE-less architecture. 

3. SD-WAN Validator: This software component handles the initial authentication of WAN Edge devices and orchestrates connectivity among the SD-WAN Controller, Manager, and WAN Edge routers. It also facilitates communication for devices located behind Network Address Translation (NAT). 

4. WAN Edge Router: Available as either a hardware appliance or software-based router, the WAN Edge router is deployed at physical sites or in the cloud. It ensures secure data plane connectivity across various WAN transports. Its responsibilities include traffic forwarding, security and encryption, quality of service (QoS), and support for routing protocols like Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).

Type of SD-WAN Architecture

The three types of Cisco SD-WAN Architecture based on their deployment location are:

1. On-Premises SD-WAN

The SD-WAN hardware resides on-site, providing direct and secure access with enhanced control over the network. This offers enhanced security for sensitive information.

It aims to replace or boost the effectiveness of existing private networks, enabling real-time traffic shaping and bandwidth increase while potentially lowering costs.

2. Cloud-Enabled SD-WAN

This connects to a virtual cloud gateway over the internet, which enhances network accessibility and facilitates better integration and performance with cloud-native applications.

Gateways keep cloud application sessions active during internet failures, rerouting connections upon restoration or switching to a different circuit.

3. Cloud-Enabled with Backbone SD-WAN

This architecture adds a security layer by connecting the network to a nearby point of presence (PoP), like a data center. Traffic can shift from the public internet to a private connection, improving security and providing a fallback during connection failures.

This backbone ensures low latency, packet loss, and jitter, which improves the performance of voice, video, and virtual desktop traffic.

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Different Types of SD-WAN Deployment

1. DIY (Do It Yourself): The organization's in-house IT team sets up and manages all SD-WAN components.

2. Managed SD-WAN architecture: A service provider handles implementation and management, offering an out-of-the-box solution with security and application management. Telco and MSP Managed Service SD-WANs fall under this category.

3. Co-managed SD-WAN architecture: The organization controls certain elements (e.g., security policies, application routing) while outsourcing the rest to a service provider. Also called Hybrid.

Benefits of Cisco SD-WAN Architecture

● Optimizes application performance with intelligent path selection.

● Reduces costs by utilizing affordable internet connections.

● Simplifies management through a central dashboard (vManage).

● Enhances security with integrated firewalls and threat protection.

● Routes traffic based on application needs for efficiency.

● Provides seamless and secure cloud connectivity.

● Streamlines deployment with zero-touch provisioning.

Conclusion 

Cisco's SD-WAN architecture stands out as a transformative solution for modern enterprise networking. By effectively addressing the challenges posed by traditional WAN infrastructures, it enables organizations to enhance performance, scalability, and security in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

With its separation of orchestration, management, control, and data planes, Cisco SD-WAN offers a flexible and efficient approach to connectivity that adapts to the needs of diverse applications and user environments. 

The integration of advanced features such as centralized management, robust security protocols, and real-time analytics empowers businesses to optimize their network resources while ensuring reliable access to critical applications.

Additionally, the ability to seamlessly incorporate various transport methods—ranging from MPLS to broadband—further enhances operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.