In the world of networking, the term "best path" has long been synonymous with routing protocols that determine the most efficient route for data to travel across a network. These protocols have previously relied on metrics like hop count, cost, bandwidth, and delay to compute the best path for reaching a specific destination. This approach has proven to be scalable, resilient, and mature, enabling networks to manage vast numbers of devices and destinations effectively. However, as the demands on networks have evolved, so too have the limitations of these legacy best path computations.
The Shortcomings of Legacy Routing
While legacy routing protocols have served us well, they are not without their limitations, particularly in the context of modern networking needs. Here are some of the key challenges:
Destination-Centric Routing: Legacy routing protocols compute the best path based on the destination, not the specific needs of the user application. This means that all traffic heading to the same destination is treated equally, regardless of its nature or importance.
Lack of Real-Time Adaptation: Legacy routing protocols do not account for real-time events, such as packet loss on the last mile or congestion in the backhaul. This can lead to suboptimal routing decisions, as the protocols are unaware of the current state of the network.
Underutilization of Lower Bandwidth Links: Lower bandwidth links are often disregarded by legacy routing protocols because they are not computed as the best path. As a result, these links remain unused, leading to inefficient utilization of available resources.
Enter SD-WAN | A New Approach to Best Path Computation
Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has revolutionized the way networks operate, bringing a more sophisticated approach to best path computation. SD-WAN addresses the limitations of legacy routing protocols by introducing the following innovations:
Application-Centric Routing: Unlike legacy routing protocols, SD-WAN computes the best path on a per-application basis rather than per-destination. This means that the optimal path for a bulk traffic application may differ from that of a voice application, even if both are heading to the same destination. This level of granularity ensures that each application receives the quality of service it requires.
Real-Time Link Assessment: SD-WAN continuously monitors the state of all available links in real-time. It factors in the current capabilities of each link, such as latency, packet loss, and jitter, when making routing decisions. This allows the network to dynamically adapt to changing conditions and select the best path based on the actual performance of the links.
Active/Active Utilization of All Links: SD-WAN enables the use of all available links in an active/active manner, regardless of their bandwidth. This means that even lower bandwidth links can be leveraged to carry traffic, improving overall network efficiency and ensuring that no resources go to waste.
The Impact of SD-WAN on the Last Mile
The last mile—the final leg of data delivery from the service provider to the end-user—has previously been a challenging area for network optimization. This is where SD-WAN truly shines, offering several key benefits:
Improved Resilience: By continuously monitoring the state of all links, including those in the last mile, SD-WAN can quickly detect and respond to issues such as packet loss or congestion. This ensures that traffic is rerouted to a healthier path, maintaining a high quality of experience for users.
Optimized Application Performance: With its application-centric approach, SD-WAN ensures that critical applications receive the necessary resources and are not impacted by issues in the last mile. This is particularly important for latency-sensitive applications like voice and video, which require stable and low-latency connections.
Cost Efficiency: SD-WAN allows organizations to make better use of lower-cost broadband links alongside more expensive MPLS links. By utilizing all available links in an active/active manner, SD-WAN reduces the need for costly overprovisioning and makes the most of existing resources.
The Rise of SD-WAN & Its Future
SD-WAN has quickly become one of the most successful applications of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), revolutionizing the way organizations manage their WANs. The technology's ability to optimize the last mile while reducing costs has led to a surge in adoption and a flurry of mergers and acquisitions in the SD-WAN space.
As SD-WAN continues to evolve, it is increasingly being integrated with security services, public cloud offerings, and zero-trust architectures. The overlay model that SD-WAN introduced is now making its way into data centres, and the next step is to seamlessly stitch these various fabrics together into a cohesive network.
SD-WAN has not only transformed wide area networking but is also shaping the future of networking as a whole including cloud connectivity. Its impact on the last mile is just one example of how this technology is driving innovation and improving the user experience in ways that were previously unimaginable. As the networking landscape continues to evolve, SD-WAN will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of this transformation, delivering even greater benefits to organizations worldwide.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Nepean Networks - the leading specialized SD-WAN provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN provider in the world! 👉 Contact Nepaen
