SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network) is one of the newest technologies that has emerged in the world of WAN optimization. It is designed to make networks more agile and to provide better security and greater control over traffic routing across wide area networks. This article will explore the various WAN optimization techniques used in SD-WAN.
The first technique used in SD-WAN is called segmentation. Segmentation allows for the separation of the different applications and services running on the network. By doing this, it ensures that each application is provided with its own dedicated bandwidth, meaning that each has access to the same amount of resources, regardless of the other applications' usage. This ensures that all applications are running efficiently, resulting in improved performance.
The second technique is called compression. Compression reduces the size of the files that are being sent across the network, allowing for faster transfers and reducing the amount of network resources required. This makes the overall performance of the network more efficient. There are several types of compression algorithms used in SD-WAN, such as LZ77, LZMA, and Bzip2.
The third technique is called acceleration. Acceleration involves the use of caching and packet-forwarding technologies. These technologies allow for data to be sent across the network more quickly, as well as providing the ability to prioritize certain packets over others. This helps to ensure that the most important traffic is being sent first and makes the network more responsive.
The fourth technique is called Quality of Service (QoS). QoS is responsible for regulating the amount of bandwidth that is given to each application or service running on the network. This ensures that mission-critical applications and services have enough resources to operate without any bottlenecks. QoS also allows for prioritization of certain types of traffic, such as VoIP or streaming media, as well as limiting bandwidth for certain types of data that are not as important.
The fifth technique is called path selection. Path selection is used to determine the best paths for data to travel across the network. This ensures that the most direct path possible is chosen, which leads to improved performance. In addition, it can be used to ensure that certain types of traffic travel along specific routes or even favor certain paths over others.
Finally, the sixth technique is called Traffic Shaping. Traffic shaping is a method of managing traffic in order to ensure equal access to resources for all users. This involves the use of protocols such as IPsec or Diffserv, which allow for specific levels of traffic to be identified and classified. This allows the network to be fine-tuned in order to ensure that resources are used efficiently while still providing good performance to all users.
In conclusion, SD-WAN provides many advantages over traditional wide area networks. Its WAN optimization techniques make the network more efficient and secure and help to ensure that all applications get the resources they need without experiencing any bottlenecks. This makes it the perfect choice for businesses that need to route traffic between multiple sites while also ensuring that mission-critical applications are operating at peak performance.
