ABSTRACT
The innovative technologies behind software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) change the long-haul transmission paradigm from a quasi-dumb packet-based network routing system to a smart application-based routing platform. “Being Smart and Efficient” makes the trademark for SD-WAN, which provides agility and flexibility, while maintaining centralized, predefined business policies controlling how applications get routed. Depending on the sophistication of the provider, SD-WAN can be launched immediately and manage congestion, packet-loss, and security issues associated with the public Internet. With regard to network latency, the rates will also vary and on average will be higher with SD-WAN over public Internet than with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) services. The prompt for their adoption of SD-WAN actually was triggered by their upcoming renewal of its existing MPLS contract with an established service provider. Technology and hardware wise, wide-area network relies on circuit-switched phone lines, radio wave transmissions, optic fiber technologies, MPLS/IP packet switching, and Ethernet connections to transport data through telecom networks.
