Difference between SDN and SDN- WAN

Prerequisite – Local Area Network & Wide Area Network

1. Software Defined Networking (SDN) :

SDN was built for supporting computer needs to found in Local Area Networks (LANs) also as in commission Provider networks. The goal was to develop dynamic, flexible, scalable connectivity to support changing demands within the DC (data center) and on core networks. SDNs are directly programmable, providing an agile centrally managed platform that decouples the Control Plane – decisions about where traffic is routed – from the info Plane – which determines how traffic is forwarded.

Advantages of SDN:

• Centralized control: SDN allows network administrators to manage the network from a central location, which can simplify network management and reduce administrative costs.
• Automation: SDN can automate many network management tasks, such as network configuration and provisioning, which can reduce errors and improve network efficiency.
• Agility: SDN allows network administrators to quickly and easily adjust network configurations to meet changing business needs.
• Scalability: SDN can easily scale to support large and complex networks, which can be difficult with traditional network technologies.

Disadvantages of SDN:

• Complexity: SDN is a complex technology that requires skilled IT professionals to design and maintain.
• Cost: Implementing SDN can be expensive, especially if it requires specialized hardware and software.
• Security concerns: SDN can introduce new security risks, and proper security measures need to be in place to protect the network.

2. Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) :

SD-WAN may be a commonly used alternative solution which allows organizations to link together numerous distributed locations through the utilization of broadband and MPLS. The most difference between SDN and SD-WAN is that SD-WAN focuses on delivering a good Area Network (WAN) which connects multiple sites together.

Advantages of SDN-WAN:

• Improved performance: SDN-WAN can optimize traffic routing to improve application performance and reduce latency.
• Centralized management: SDN-WAN provides centralized management and control, which can simplify network management and reduce administrative costs.
• Scalability: SDN-WAN can easily scale to support large and complex networks.
• Cost-effective: SDN-WAN can reduce costs by using low-cost commodity hardware and by optimizing traffic routing to reduce bandwidth usage.

Disadvantages of SDN-WAN:

• Complexity: SDN-WAN is a complex technology that requires skilled IT professionals to design and maintain.
• Security concerns: SDN-WAN can introduce new security risks, and proper security measures need to be in place to protect the network.
• Dependence on service providers: SDN-WAN depends on service providers for connectivity, which can lead to downtime if the service is disrupted.

Similarities :

• Centralized Network Management: Both SDN and SDN-WAN rely on a centralized software controller to manage and orchestrate network resources. This allows for greater visibility and control over network traffic, configurations, and policies.
• Software-Defined Networking: Both SDN and SDN-WAN utilize software-defined networking, which abstracts network resources from the underlying hardware, making it easier to manage and scale network resources.
• Automation: SDN and SDN-WAN both use automation to simplify network operations, reducing manual configurations and minimizing the risk of errors.
• Flexibility: Both SDN and SDN-WAN provide greater flexibility in managing network resources and traffic, enabling network administrators to dynamically adjust network policies, configurations, and routing as needed.
• Cost Savings: SDN and SDN-WAN can both reduce network complexity and costs by enabling network administrators to centrally manage and automate network operations, reducing the need for manual configurations and expensive hardware.

Difference :
Both SDN and SD-WAN are supported an equivalent methodology of separating the control plane from the info plane to form networking more intelligent. Like identical twins, they could look and sound an equivalent , but they’re quite different from each other. The main difference between SDN and SD-WAN is what they’re used for.

Difference between SDN and SDN- WAN :

S.NO	SDN	SDN-WAN
1.	Software Defined Networking.	Software-Defined Wide Area Networks.
2.	Operates a LAN or a service provider’s core network.	Enables connections between networks and users across geographies.
3.	Programmable by the user to deliver bandwidth on-demand.	It is programmed to give operational simplification, integrated security and traffic prioritization.
4.	Offers visibility into the real-time analytics and also in the  core network performance.	Offers visibility into the real-time analytics and also in the WAN environment.
5.	Provides a centralized view for automation of network services.	Focuses on software-defined application routing capabilities.
6.	Designed by the user.	Configured by the vendor.
7.	Variations of commodity and specialized switching hardware.	Off-the-shelf x86 appliances – physical, virtual, cloud.
8.	Technology has taken a long time to mature.	Recent technology but maturing very rapidly.
9.	Similarities of separating the control and data plane.	Similarities of separating the control and data plane.
10.	SDN was developed 1st and it is building stone for SDN-WAN.	SDN came later and is based on SDN technology.
11.	Key vendors of SDN – Cisco Juniper Cyan	Key vendors of SDN-WAN – Riverbed Fat Pipe Citrix

Conclusion:

 While both SDN and SDN-WAN utilize software-defined networking and centralize network management, they differ in terms of network scope, traffic optimization, network management, security, and deployment. SDN is ideal for managing and optimizing traffic within a single network or data center, while SDN-WAN is designed to optimize traffic between remote sites over a wide area. Choosing the right solution depends on your organization’s specific needs and network requirements.