MPLS Vs SDWAN: Quick Study
MPLS Vs SDWAN
Today we will go through MPLS and SDWAN together and will also see the difference between these two technologies. Let's talk about both these technology one by one
SDWAN: Software Defined WAN
SD-WAN so called Software Defined WAN solution, where control plane or management plane is separated from the physical devices.
Compared to conventional wide area networks, SD WAN includes application and user awareness, which allows it to deliver traffic over the most efficient path with the lowest latency and highest performance. SD WAN, as an overlay solution, can enhance the efficiency of your existing infrastructureFig 1.1- SDWAN Architecture |
Benefits of SDWAN
- Centralized management system
- Flexible private overlay
- Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)
- Automation through templates
- Network insight & troubleshooting tools inbuilt
MPLS:MPLS stands for Multi Protocol Label Switching
MPLS which actually using switching ( Label) in the core and routing on the edges. MPLS is always the core of the service provider and the connectivity from one PE router to another PE router will be via MPLS technology.
Fig 1.1- MPLS networks |
MPLS technology where you have internal routing protocol for data traffic like OSPF( Open shortest path First ) and IS-IS ( intermediate system to intermediate system ) and the concepts of the label which is handled by the protocol LDP/TDP ( Label distribution protocol or Tag distribution protocol ) and the control plane traffic flows from the indirectly connected MP-iBGP protocols between two PE routers across the globe of the single Service provider.
MPLS & SDWAN together
MPLS is important as a underlay infrastructure for SDWAN if you have QOS as an important factor in your network. SDWAN as a overlay and MPLS as a transport layer is the right choice You may be using multiple transports like Internet, VPLS. 4G/5G as an another transport as an underlay for your network if QOS is not specifically you are using as delay/jitter is the factor for the transport like internet.