Get to know the SD-WAN vs SD-Branch difference? What is their purpose? How does each of them affect my network performance? Here’s everything you need to know!
SD Wan vs SD-Branch Difference
SD-WAN is a branch router, or branch edge router, that sits at the branch office. On the other hand, SD-Branch is a branch module that uses SD Wan technology to connect back to the main location.
It is connected to the main location via a site-to-site VPN connection. Then acts as a proxy and terminates all remote site traffic. SD Wan can be deployed in two ways:
1) Connected to the main location using an MPLS connection.
2) Connected to the main location using an Internet connection (i.e., a broadband link). In which case it becomes an IPsec VPN gateway that terminates all remote site traffic and then tunnels it back to the main location.
SD Wan Features
Here is the number of features for SD-WAN Connectivity:
1. Network address translation (NAT) for IPsec VPNs Dynamic routing (i.e., BGP) Authentication and authorization
2. Uses existing Active Directory or RADIUS infrastructure for authentication and authorization Quality of service (QoS)
3. Uses NBAR2 for classification and marking of traffic Security policy enforcement
4. Uses existing firewall for packet filtering Encryption of data in transit Network access control
5. Uses existing authentication infrastructure for authentication of remote users Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server
6. Provides DHCP services to remote users but does not hand out IP addresses from its own address pool DNS server
7. Provides name resolution services to remote users but does not act as an authoritative server itself Static route provisioning
8. Allows administrators to define static routes on the router that are propagated to the rest of the network Centralized management
9. Provides centralized management using Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Cisco Prime Network Services Controller (Cisco Prime NSC).
The Cisco Prime NSC is required when there are more than 50 SD-WAN devices deployed on the network. Also, when there are multiple locations with more than 50 SD-WAN devices deployed on each one.
SD WAN-Branch Functionality?
SD-Branch is a branch module that uses SD Wan technology. That is to connect back to the main location. It can be deployed in two ways:
1. Connected to the main location using an MPLS connection
2. Connected to the main location using an Internet connection (i.e., a broadband link) in which case it becomes an IPsec VPN gateway. It terminates all remote site traffic and then tunnels it back to the main Location.
SD-WAN has become an essential tool in BCDR strategies. Because it allows organizations to create policies that they can apply across remote locations. So, users can gain secure access to critical applications no matter where they are located.
This is without requiring them to adhere to specific network configurations at each office. SD-WAN is useful for creating backup connections should one of your primary connections fail. It means that you’ll be able to keep your business operations up and running under any circumstance no matter how unlikely it may be that all your WAN connections fail at once.