Introduction to SDN & SD-WAN
SDN and SD-WAN are latest technologies which are changing how Network functions are performed. SDN and SD-WAN are quite similar is some of behaviors like they both decouple the network control and forwarding functions, this enables the network control to become directly programmable by the customer or end user.
Both SD-WAN and SDN architectures take an entire network and turn it into a single manageable entity. Infact, they simplify the network management, allowing IT teams to focus on other areas of your technology management.
The objective of both technologies is to create a fully dynamic and scalable setup that allows reduced setup time and automatic provisioning. Notable is that SDN is predecessor of SD-WAN and latter was born from former. It’s also equally true that SD-WAN is becoming increasingly more popular than SDN.
Comparison Table: SDN vs SD-WAN
Difference between SDN and SD-WAN is shared in below table:
PARAMETER | SDN | SD-WAN |
| Abbreviation for | Software-Defined Networking | Software-Defined Wide Area Network |
| Target Area | Focused on Customer LAN or Data Center environment | Focused on providing software defined routing over WAN |
| Programming | Configuration and management is performed by customer itself | Configuration and management is performed by Service provider and not customer. |
| Chronology | Was developed 1st and is building stone for SD-WAN | SD-WAN came later and is based on SDN technology. |
| Key vendors | •OpenDaylight •VMware •Juniper •ConteXtream •Big Switch Networks •Cyan •Alcatel-Lucent/Nokia •Cisco | •Aryaka •Cisco •Citrix •CloudGenix •FatPipe •Riverbed •Silverpeak •Talari |
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Download the comparison table: SDN vs SD-WAN
Continue Reading:
Introduction to Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being – “The more you share, the more you learn.”
I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband.
I am a strong believer of the fact that “learning is a constant process of discovering yourself.”
– Rashmi Bhardwaj (Author/Editor)
