Introduction of SDN:

SDN stands for Software Defined Network. It is a software-based technology which provides a
centralize control for the network. It makes a network more flexible and easier to manage.
Software-defined networking (SDN) separates a router's control plane from the data
(forwarding) plane. The control plane makes routing decisions. The data plane forwards data
(packets) through the router. With SDN routing, decisions are made remotely instead of on
each individual router.

Types of SDN:
Software Defined-Access (SDA):
This software-based solution is used for campus networks or LAN networks. Software-defined
access, applies the principles of software-defined networking, or SDN, to the access edge of the
network. SD-access puts the access edge under the management of a centralized network
controller instead of managing each access switch as an independent entity.

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Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI):
This software-based solution is used in Data Centre. Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure
(ACI) is a software-defined networking (SDN) solution designed for data centers. ACI is an open-
source, centralized policy model that connects to all components of the data center and
controls the network and information flow. Cisco ACI allows network infrastructure to be
defined based upon network policies – simplifying, optimizing, and accelerating the application
deployment lifecycle. Cisco ACI enables organizations to easily create a software-defined data
center, which provides several benefits.

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Software Defined – WAN (SD-WAN):
This solution brings an advantage to Wide Area Network (WAN). Software-Defined Networking-
WAN you will administer and control the WAN by a software. SD-WAN offers enterprises
flexible solutions to connect physical locations and remote users to each other and to control
how mission-critical applications are routed through public and private network connections in
real time. SD-WAN's intelligent software can be seamlessly integrated alongside your current
WAN. allows you to monitor network health and application performance in real time.

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Traditional Network:
We can see in the below diagram that how we use to connect our network using traditional
deployment method. The LAN users are connected to Access layer switch. The Access layer
switches are further connected to Distribution layer switches. The Distribution layer switches
are further connected to Core layer router in HA and the core routers are connected to firewall.

Distributed Control:
In our traditional network, we were required to configure each LAN devices on individual basis.
It was not centralized.
Manual Configuration:
Even the same configuration was supposed to be configured on each device manually. It was a
time-consuming task and there was a chance of human-error.
Slow Extensibility:
If we are needed to set-up branch network in new location, it was time taking process. We had
to add the devices in Access layer, Aggregation layer & Core layer and manual configuration
was required on each device.
Software Upgradation Difficulty:
The IOS upgradation was difficult as we had to upgrade the software on each device manually.

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SDN Solution:
With SDN solution, we get a centralized controller to manage the devices. The switches are now
just “Dumb” devices that only have a data plane Just the hardware, no control plane. The SDN
controller is responsible for sending control signals to the data plane of these switches with
information from its control plane. having a central controller is that we can configure the
entire network from a single device. This controller has full access and insight into everything
that is happening in our network. So network engineers can have a birds-eye view of the
network all the time which gives more advantages in a data center level implementation.

Centralized Control:
We can manage all the network from a centralized location.
Automation:
We can push the configuration from a centralize manager to the devices using template
configuration. This provides automatic configuration on devices that minimizes human-error.
Fast Extensibility:
This SDN solution provides the network extensibility very easier. We get Zero Touch
Provisioning (ZTP) feature with this SDN solution that requires a very minimal amount of
configuration on a device deployed in new branches.
Low Cost:
In traditional network, we were required more engineer to configure & troubleshoot the
devices. With SDN solution, we are just required the limited amount of Network Administrator
as all the devices are getting managed from a centralize manager. It helps to reduce the cost.
Easy Upgradation:
We can upgrade all the devices from the centralize manager automatically.
Easier Troubshooting & Visibility:
We can monitor the entire network from a centralize manager that helps troubleshoot the
network easier.

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Traditional WAN & SD-WAN:
The traditional WAN edge devices were divided into two parts: Control plane and Data plane.
below, the control plane & data plane are in the same chassis and interconnected with switch
fabric. As we know, there are two type of packets that could be entered on data ports.

When a Routing Packet gets received on data port, it gets forwarded to control plane. Control
plane or CPU creates a Routing Information Base (RIB) table and update the received routing
information into its RIB table. Once updated the RIB, the RIB information gets handover to Data
plane via switch fabric and Data plane update it into its FIB table. If a Routed Packet gets
received on data port, it will just be shared with Data plane and data plane will check the FIB
table with exit interface information to forward it.

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In SD-WAN solution, we have separated the Data plane & Control plane. The Data plane is now
located on SD-WAN edge devices (i.e., vEdge, cEdge, iEdge) and Control plane is located on
controller (i.e., vSmart) at different location. The Control plane & Data plane get connected via
Transport Circuit (i.e., MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), Internet, and LTE etc.). The routing
information will be distributed to all SD-WAN edge devices (vEdge, cEdge) deployed at
different-different location from controller (vSmart) so that they can communicate to each
other.

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