Cisco SDWAN: TLOC & TLOC Carrier
Cisco SDWAN: TLOC & TLOC Carrier
A logical entity called TLOC (Transport Location) in Cisco SD-WAN symbolizes a site's network connectivity. It is used to specify the traffic routing over the SD-WAN fabric for the site.
A TLOC may be connected to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel endpoint or a physical interface. It includes details like the IP address and the mode of transport utilized to link the location to the SD-WAN fabric.
More about TLOC
Purpose of TLOC in Cisco Viptela SDWAN
TLOC Carrier
The service provider or carrier known as a TLOC carrier is responsible for supplying the transport connectivity between the SD-WAN edge device and the SD-WAN fabric. Any service provider offering a supported transport mode, such as MPLS, Internet, LTE, or 5G, can serve as the TLOC carrier.
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| Fig 1.1- Cisco SDWAN: TLOC & TLOC Carrier |
Based on the connection choices available at the site and the policies set up in the SD-WAN fabric, the TLOC carriers allow the SD-WAN solution to dynamically select the optimum path for the site's traffic.
Let's say you have two MPLS clouds that need to be interconnected using NAT. In this case, you might want to use public IP addresses between private colors. This is where TLOC Carrier comes in handy. It's a special attribute that changes the behavior of the WAN edge device.
So, how does it work? If the carrier setting is the same in both the local and remote TLOCS, the WAN edge device will attempt to form a tunnel using the private IP address. However, if the carrier setting is different, then the WAN edge device will attempt to form a tunnel using the public IP address.
But why is this important? Well, imagine you have an important video conference call with a client in another country. You need a secure and stable connection, but you also want to make sure the call quality is top-notch. TLOC Carrier can help you achieve that by connecting your private network with the client's public IP address.
Now, you may be wondering if this is a complicated process. The answer is no! TLOC Carrier is easy to use and can save you a lot of time and headache when it comes to connecting private networks with public IP addresses.
Benefits of TLOC carrier
With TLOC carriers, you can enjoy the ultimate flexibility in connecting your sites to the SD-WAN fabric. No longer will you be limited to a single transport connectivity option. Instead, you can use multiple transport types such as MPLS, Internet, LTE, or 5G to suit your specific needs.
Flexibility: Different sites may have different transport connectivity options, and TLOC carriers allow for the use of multiple transport types such as MPLS, Internet, LTE, or 5G. This means you can connect all your sites to the SD-WAN fabric without having to worry about compatibility issues.
Dynamic path selection: With TLOC carriers, SD-WAN can dynamically select the best path for site traffic based on the site's connectivity options and policies configured in the SD-WAN fabric. This ensures optimal performance and availability for application traffic, so you can rest easy knowing your network is always running smoothly.
Simplified management: The use of TLOC carriers simplifies the management of SD-WAN sites by abstracting the underlying transport connectivity. This means that administrators can manage the SD-WAN fabric and its policies independently of the physical transport connectivity. You won't have to worry about managing multiple devices or configurations.
Improved resiliency: TLOC carriers help to improve the resiliency of the SD-WAN fabric by providing redundant transport options for site traffic. If one transport fails, the SD-WAN solution can automatically switch to another TLOC carrier, ensuring that your network is always up and running.
Cost savings: By allowing the use of multiple transport types, TLOC carriers can help organizations save costs by selecting the most cost-effective transport option for each site. This can be particularly beneficial in scenarios where traditional MPLS connectivity is expensive or not available. You can cut down on costs without sacrificing network quality.
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