Many people still misunderstand SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking), largely due to the way some vendors market their solutions. Often, SD-WAN is mistakenly associated with proprietary hardware, leading businesses to believe that special, vendor-specific devices are required to unlock its full potential. In reality, the true power of SD-WAN lies in the software, not the hardware.
The Misconception of Proprietary Hardware in SD-WAN
Some SD-WAN solutions come bundled with proprietary hardware, giving the impression that their functionality is tied to specialized devices. However, true SD-WAN solutions are fundamentally software-based and leverage standard, off-the-shelf hardware commonly used in servers—specifically, Intel processors and network controllers. These types of hardware are optimized for general-purpose computing and are more than capable of handling the demands of SD-WAN at the edge of business networks.
The Role of the Linux Kernel
At the heart of a software-driven SD-WAN solution is the Linux kernel. This is where SD-WAN software taps into the wide range of networking and processing optimizations built into Linux. By leveraging the latest Linux build, SD-WAN solutions gain access to advanced packet processing, network routing, and traffic management capabilities without the need for proprietary hardware.
One key advantage of using Linux is its continuous improvement. New versions of the Linux kernel come with performance enhancements, improved security, and support for newer hardware. This ensures that SD-WAN solutions using Linux remain cutting-edge and optimized for modern networking environments.
Unfortunately, many vendors—particularly from Silicon Valley—are plagued by using outdated forks of the Linux kernel. These legacy versions lack the latest optimizations, security patches, and features, making the SD-WAN solution less efficient and far from state-of-the-art. Solutions that rely on decades-old software are inefficient, resource-hungry, and harder to maintain, ultimately affecting network performance and security.
The Importance of Intel Hardware & Standardized NFV
When it comes to Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), SD-WAN solutions that are software-first rely on standardized, open technologies such as libvirtd to enable virtualization capabilities. In such setups, standard Intel hardware works seamlessly with virtualization layers, optimizing both CPU utilization and memory efficiency. Proprietary systems, on the other hand, need to be hacked or heavily customized to support NFV, often with poor results. These proprietary systems consume unnecessarily high amounts of memory and processing power and typically don’t integrate well with standard virtualization technologies.
The reliance on Intel hardware also speaks to the broader point: there’s simply no need for expensive, proprietary ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) at the business edge. Intel processors, with their optimized architectures, provide more than enough power for SD-WAN deployments, which manage network traffic, prioritize applications, and ensure security at the edge. ASICs may be relevant in ISP core gateways or routers where specialized address table processing and forwarding are necessary, but they are not critical for the business edge where SD-WAN operates.
Wrap | Software, Not Hardware, is the Key
At its core, SD-WAN is all about the software. With the power of Intel-based hardware, the Linux kernel, and NFV technologies like libvirtd, true SD-WAN solutions can provide scalable, flexible, and high-performance networking without relying on expensive, proprietary hardware. Businesses that buy into the myth that SD-WAN requires specialized devices are missing out on the real benefits of this transformative technology. A software-first approach ensures that SD-WAN remains adaptable, cost-effective, and future-proof, leveraging the best that open-source technologies have to offer.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Fusion Broadband South Africa - the leading specialized SD-WAN provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN in the world: 👉Contact Fusion🚀
