Today you cannot avoid WAN discussion without SD-WAN word! Ohhh
– but what is it? In very simple terms SD-WAN is software defined WAN. A truly
SDWAN solution has clear separation between various components (data plane,
control plane and management plane) this separation provides flexibility and
horizontal scalability.
Today or yesterday WAN solutions implemented on purpose-built
hardware (Router) with integrated data forwarding, routing logics and management.
With invent of SD-WAN data plane hardware (light weight router – physical or
virtual) can be deployed at site while other components i.e. control and
management plane can exist remotely (on-prem / in cloud).
End of the day it is routing and switching with countless
number of common features and benefits – transport independent, efficient use
of available paths, Quality of Experience etc. In my view, the OEM who does
routing and switching best is the right SD-WAN provider you should go with –
wait you should not compromise on Security anyway. But what about if leader in
routing switching and security like Cisco provide multiple SDWAN options?
 |
Fig 1.1- SDWAN Topology
|
You
may be thinking who does that; Cisco don’t believe in inventing the wheel every
time. Good acquisitions done in past and maturing the solutions offered by
acquisitions; It did not happen by luck (two SD-WAN Solutions), there is clear
roadmap and target customer for each offering. Let me explain which one to
choose if you in dilemma to choose one over other:
- Cisco SDWAN (Viptela Fabric)
- Meraki SDWAN
Which one should I go with?
As you guys know that both are offered by Cisco and Meraki and Viptela companies are acquired by Cisco.
It’s simple if explained with some of the use-cases :
Meraki SDWAN is right choice if
- A customer already invested in some of the Meraki Solutions (security, switching, IPT, Security or Surveillance)
- LeanIT organisation that enjoys ease of buying and full stack management through single dashboard
- Need integrated threat management capabilities as this solution is primarily implemented over security product (MX Series)
Cisco Viptela SDWAN
- Need end to end segmentation across on-prem and public cloud – each service side (LAN Side) subnet can be put into VPN (VRF) and implement security
- Complex WAN topology with available more than 2 links (MPLS, Internet, Point to Point, LTE); also
- Multiple logical topologies based on the applications such as for voice traffic – mesh topology; for client-server application model – Hub and Spoke topology
- Customer already invested in Cisco ISR 4000 series routers or Viptela vEdge Routers
Key Capabilities
Now I will talk about difference between these two SD-WAN solutions in the below mentioned table.
Cisco
SDWAN vEdge
|
Meraki
SD-WAN
|
Intent based GUI-based WAN configuration and management
|
Single pane of window to manage complete IT (WAN, LAN, Security,
Wireless and more)
|
Supports more than 2 links up to 8 on a router
|
Support up to 2 links with clustering 3 links (LTE)
|
WAN Optimization and TCP Optimization
|
Advanced Malware protection
|
Flexible – segmentation and various topologies per segment / VPN
|
URL Filtering
|
On-prem and cloud management
|
Cloud delivery – Dashboard
|
Leaving you here with promise soon connect with deeper
discussion widely discussed popular technology.