(eBook) SD-WAN Solution

SD-WAN Solution
Author : Ting Leng

Copyright



Author: Ting Leng
Key Contributors: Cheng Sheng, Hanlin Zhao, Jun Hu, Yongbo Wang,
Qiaoqiao Liu, and Heng Ding
Release Date: 2024-9-10
Issue: 08




Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2024. All rights reserved.
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Preface




Author Introduction

Ting Leng: Serves as documentation engineer for Huawei Software-Defined
Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Solution. Ms. Leng joined Huawei in 2005 and
took responsibility for network product software design and development for six
years. Since then, she has been dedicated to development and design of
documentation for network products such as Huawei's iMaster NCE, eSight, and
SD-WAN Solution. She has made significant contributions to developing the
book Software-Defined Wide Area Network Architectures and Technologies.

About This Book

Since its emergence, SD-WAN has been developing dramatically both in
standards and application.

This book starts with the challenges faced by traditional Wide Area Networks
(WANs) and then moves on to the standards, advantages and benefits, solution
architecture, and key technologies of SD-WAN. This book also outlines the
typical networking, device model selection, and typical applications of Huawei's
SD-WAN Solution across industries.


i
Preface
Intended Audience

This book is intended for information and communications technology (ICT)
practitioners, such as network engineers with a basic knowledge of data
communication and operation experience. It is also recommended for anyone
with SD-WAN service requirements or with a general interest in SD-WAN.

Symbol Conventions

Supplements important information in the main text. Note is
used to address information not related to personal injury, equipment damage,
or environment deterioration.



ii
Preface
Table of Contents




Chapter 1 SD-WAN Overview .................................................................................................. 1

1.1 WAN Trends and Challenges ........................................................................... 1

1.2 SD-WAN Emergence and Industry Standards ........................................... 3

1.3 Pain Points Resolved by SD-WAN .................................................................. 6

1.4 Huawei's SD-WAN Solution ............................................................................. 7

Chapter 2 Key Differentiators.................................................................................................. 9

2.1 Flexible Cloud Access: On-demand Interconnection .............................. 9

2.2 Intelligent Traffic Steering: Optimal Experience ................................... 12

2.3 Intelligent O&M: Simplified Deployment ................................................. 13

Chapter 3 Overall Architecture ............................................................................................. 16

Chapter 4 Key Technologies .................................................................................................. 20

4.1 Diverse System Channels: Enhancing Reliability and Security ......... 20

4.2 Multiple ZTP Modes: Plug-and-Play Devices .......................................... 22

4.3 Flexible Networking: Meeting Diversified Networking Requirements
......................................................................................................................................... 23


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Table of Contents
4.4 Application-based Intelligent Traffic Steering: Guaranteeing Key
Applications and Maximizing Bandwidth Utilization .................................. 27

4.5 WAN Optimization: Delivering Optimal Application Experience .... 32

4.6 Intelligent Policy Recommendation: Facilitating WAN Experience
Assurance .................................................................................................................... 37

4.7 Proactive Defense: Building E2E Security ................................................. 39

4.8 Visualized O&M and Monitoring: Improving O&M Efficiency ......... 43

Chapter 5 Typical SD-WAN Networking ................................................................................ 47

5.1 Enterprise HQ + Branch (Hub-Spoke Networking) .............................. 47

5.2 Enterprise HQ + Branch (Full-Mesh Networking) ................................ 50

5.3 Enterprise HQ + Regional Center + Branch (Hierarchical
Networking) ............................................................................................................... 52

5.4 Enterprise Multi-DC + Branch (Multi-Hub Networking) .................... 54

5.5 Multi-Tenant IWG (POP Networking) ...................................................... 56

Chapter 6 Typical Applications .............................................................................................. 58

6.1 Finance Industry ................................................................................................ 58

6.2 Carrier/MSP Resale ........................................................................................... 61

Chapter 7 Product Portfolio .................................................................................................. 64

7.1 NetEngine AR Routers ..................................................................................... 64

7.2 iMaster NCE ........................................................................................................ 66

A Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................ 68



iv
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
SD-WAN Overview




Abstract
This chapter describes the challenges faced by and requirements of
traditional Wide Area Networks (WANs), industry standards, as well as
key technologies and typical applications of Huawei's of Software-
Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Solution.

1.1 WAN Trends and Challenges

Evolving Enterprise WANs

As its name suggests, a WAN is a wide area interconnection network used for
long-distance communication between enterprises or organizations, and can
span multiple countries, regions, or cities. With coverage often ranging from tens
to thousands of kilometers, WANs enable information and resource sharing over
vast distances. Due to costs and construction difficulties, WANs are generally
provided by carriers. Most enterprises set up their own WANs by leasing WAN
private lines from carriers.




1
SD-WAN Overview
With the rapid development of enterprise IT digitalization and economic
globalization, enterprises are now stepping into the cloud era. More and more
enterprises are choosing to build their IT systems on the public cloud in order to
reduce construction costs. They are also choosing to move their traditional
applications to the cloud. In most cases, enterprises are using WANs to access
Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, such as office software and databases.

Challenges Facing Enterprise WANs

Service changes drive enterprise WANs into today's cloud era. Figure 1-1
illustrates the new challenges faced by traditional enterprise WANs in this era, as
a result of the cloudification of enterprise services.

Figure 1-1 Challenges facing enterprise WANs





⚫ Difficult multi-cloud interconnection due to closed architectures
Cloudification is an inevitable trend, with most enterprises expected to move
their services onto clouds in the next few years. To access cloud applications,
enterprise WANs need to interconnect with public clouds, private clouds, and
SaaS clouds. This is currently beyond the reach of traditional WANs due to
their closed architectures, not to mention the mounting burden of explosive
cloud application traffic on traditional WANs after enterprises move services
to clouds.



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SD-WAN Overview
⚫ Increasingly diverse interconnection requirements with more flexible
networking
Amid the trend of globalization, branches are becoming more widely
distributed. The branches may have varying requirements on networks in
different regions, for example, hierarchical networking by one branch and
flattened networking by another; multiple uplinks (> 5) by one branch and
multiple hub sites (> 4) by another. Such varying and complex
interconnection requirements cannot be satisfied with traditional WANs.
⚫ Poor experience of key applications
In the era of cloud and digitalization, cloud computing fuels the explosive
growth of enterprise applications, both in quantity and type. These
applications, including voice, video, file transfer, email, and SaaS, have
varying requirements on link quality. Traditional enterprise private lines
cannot differentiate services, and the newly deployed Internet links cannot
guarantee service quality. As such, when any traffic congestion occurs or link
quality deteriorates, the experience of key services cannot be guaranteed.
⚫ Difficult network O&M and error-prone manual configuration
On traditional WANs, service configuration, network operations and
maintenance (O&M), and fault locating need to be manually performed
onsite, resulting in inefficient but costly service provisioning and network
O&M. Against the backdrop of digitalization and globalization, enterprise
WANs have a growing number of branches that are more widely distributed
and carry more complex services, which means more difficult O&M.
Traditional manual configuration and O&M hold back rapid service
development.

1.2 SD-WAN Emergence and Industry
Standards

Facing such unprecedented challenges, how can enterprise WANs move forward?
This is where SD-WAN comes in.




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SD-WAN Overview
What Is SD-WAN?

SD-WAN was first proposed by the Open Networking User Group (ONUG) at a
conference in 2014. It is a type of network service that applies software defined
networking (SDN) technology to the interconnection of WANs in enterprises.
Leveraging the SDN controller — a centralized network control system — this
type of network service delivers automated configuration for WANs, centralized
control and management, and high openness and programmability.

Building on the initial definition of SD-WAN made by ONUG, many other
standards organizations have actively participated in enriching SD-WAN with
additional characteristics and technical standards. The definitions proposed by
Gartner and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) are now widely accepted.

SD-WAN Defined by Gartner

As the world's most authoritative IT research and advisory company, Gartner's
research scope covers all IT industries, including IT research, development,
evaluation, application, and markets. It is noted for providing objective, fair
demonstrations and market surveys for its customers.

Gartner defines SD-WAN as follows: SD-WAN solutions provide a replacement
for traditional WAN routers and are agnostic to WAN transport technologies. SD-
WAN provides dynamic, policy-based, application path selection across multiple
WAN connections and supports service chaining for additional services such as
WAN optimization and firewalls.

According to Gartner, SD-WAN has three major characteristics: hybrid links,
dynamic path selection, and additional services.

SD-WAN Defined by MEF

MEF is a non-profit organization that focuses on resolving technical issues of
metro Ethernet and dedicates itself to promoting the implementation of existing
and new network standards, Ethernet service definitions, test procedures, and
technical specifications.




4
SD-WAN Overview
MEF has published the industry's first global standard defining an SD-WAN
service and its service attributes: MEF 70. Table 1-1 presents a brief description
of the SD-WAN characteristics defined by MEF.

Table 1-1 SD-WAN characteristics defined by MEF

No. Description

1 Secure, IP-based overlay network

2 Independent underlay network that operates over any type of wired or wireless access
networks

3 Service assurance of each SD-WAN tunnel

4 Application-based traffic steering and forwarding

5 Hybrid access using multiple types of WAN links, featuring high reliability

6 Policy-based packet forwarding

7 Automated service provisioning through centralized management, control, and
orchestration, such as Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

8 WAN optimization



Although different standards organizations have different approaches to defining
and interpreting the functions of SD-WAN, there seems to be a consensus on SD-
WAN fundamentals, illustrated as follows:

⚫ SD-WAN shall implement rapid deployment and rollout of branches through
ZTP, improving service deployment efficiency.
⚫ SD-WAN shall dynamically adjust traffic paths by application type, achieving
flexible, convenient traffic scheduling.
⚫ SD-WAN shall implement centralized network management and control,
network-wide status visualization, and automated, intelligent network O&M.
⚫ SD-WAN shall support plenty of value-added services (VASs) which
exemplify WAN optimization and security to deliver optimal service
experience.




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SD-WAN Overview
In summary, the industry has high expectations for SD-WAN to facilitate fast
deployment, robust flexibility, high scalability, and intelligent O&M.

1.3 Pain Points Resolved by SD-WAN

SD-WAN deeply integrates conventional enterprise WAN technologies, such as
routing, Quality of Service (QoS), security, and WAN acceleration, as well as
future-proof brand-new technologies, including SDN, Network Functions
Virtualization (NFV), and service orchestration. Powered by the SD-WAN
network controller, SD-WAN achieves centralized orchestration, control, and
management of WAN interconnections, resolving many pain points faced by
enterprises and carriers.

⚫ Flexible cloud connectivity
In the cloud era, enterprise WANs need to connect to various cloud resources,
which are abstracted into a cloud site. A cloud site also requires a virtual
gateway device to connect enterprise branches and the public cloud. Such a
device must reside on the cloud and be created quickly. To this end, the
network controller remotely schedules public cloud application programming
interfaces (APIs) and resources, and automatically enables cloud devices to
facilitate seamless communication between branch sites and the public cloud.
⚫ Lower interconnection costs
In recent years, the Internet improved drastically in terms of coverage and
performance, and Internet links are now able to offer network quality closer
to that of private lines. As such, Internet links are becoming a new choice for
WAN interconnections. With SD-WAN, in addition to the MPLS private lines
provided by carriers, enterprises can also use Internet links to connect WAN
branches. This achieves hybrid interconnections and slashes deployment
costs for enterprise WANs.
⚫ Improved application experience
The introduction of hybrid WANs enables enterprise service traffic to be
transmitted over a variety of WAN links. The network quality varies
according to WAN link. For example, MPLS private lines can provide
guaranteed link quality, though they are expensive; even though Internet
links can support bandwidth-hungry applications, they are still prone to large
latency and packet loss. SD-WAN supports application-based traffic steering,



6
SD-WAN Overview
which enables high-value applications to be preferentially transmitted over
high-quality WAN links. This delivers optimal user experience for such high-
value applications.
⚫ Faster service rollout
The provisioning of private lines is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and
is unable to support fast service deployment. SD-WAN makes devices plug-
and-play, enabling fast provisioning of new branch networks and service
rollout. SD-WAN shortens the provisioning time of branch networks from
days or even months to hours, greatly improving the service provisioning
efficiency.
⚫ Higher O&M efficiency
Due to the large number of widely distributed enterprise branches,
enterprise WANs are in urgent need of a system capable of centralized
management and control as well as O&M to improve efficiency. SD-WAN is
such a viable solution.
− Centralized management and control: SD-WAN supports remote
management of devices at branch sites, ZTP, and centralized policy
provisioning.
− O&M: SD-WAN supports visualized, intelligent O&M, and real-time
monitoring of alarms and logs, greatly improving O&M efficiency.

1.4 Huawei's SD-WAN Solution

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution complies with both MEF's SD-WAN standards and
Gartner's definition of SD-WAN. In addition to integration and enhancements on
traditional WAN technologies, this future-proof solution fully utilizes hybrid links
for interconnection between enterprise branches, headquarters (HQ), and clouds,
and implements SDN-based network orchestration, management, and control. In
this way, it implements networking automation, visualized monitoring,
centralized management, and optimized application experience. Figure 1-2
shows the implementation of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution.




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SD-WAN Overview
Figure 1-2 Huawei's SD-WAN Solution



For details about the components and products of Huawei SD-WAN Solution, see
Chapter 7.




8
SD-WAN Overview
Chapter 2
Key Differentiators




Abstract
This chapter describes the key differentiators of Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution: flexible cloud access, intelligent traffic steering, and
intelligent O&M.

2.1 Flexible Cloud Access: On-demand
Interconnection

A growing number of enterprises are deploying their services on the cloud. How
can enterprise WANs enable fast cloud access in multi-cloud interconnection
scenarios involving SaaS, public, and private clouds? Flexible networking and 5G
gigabit wireless links make on-demand interconnection of enterprise services a
reality.




9
Key Differentiators
Flexible Networking, On-demand Interconnection

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution supports diverse networking models, such as hub-
spoke networking, full-mesh networking, partial-mesh networking, multi-hub
networking, MPLS interworking networking, and access through the optimal MSP
Point of Presence (POP) node. In addition, this solution maintains compatibility
with the legacy network to implement smooth migration. Such robust
networking flexibility enables on-demand interconnection.

As shown in Figure 2-1, Huawei's SD-WAN Solution also allows one network to
connect to multiple clouds, such as SaaS and infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
clouds, enabling pervasive access to enterprise services.

Figure 2-1 Connecting one network to multiple clouds via Huawei's SD-WAN Solution





5G Gigabit Wireless access, Enabling Service Access
Anytime and Anywhere

5G networks stand out with high bandwidth, short latency, wide coverage, and
low costs. As such, 5G gigabit wireless links have become another ideal choice.
Leveraging 5G gigabit wireless links, services can be provisioned within minutes
at any site. The use of 5G gigabit wireless links also gives birth to a wide set of
innovative applications, such as smart banking, smart retail, smart healthcare,
and office campus, as shown in Figure 2-2.




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Key Differentiators
Figure 2-2 Innovative applications powered by 5G and SD-WAN





Now, let's look at two typical applications of 5G and SD-WAN in the finance
industry.

⚫ Provisioning of unstaffed banks
Huawei's SD-WAN Solution incorporating diverse WAN links such as the
Internet, while 5G offers more choices to the finance industry. Powered by
5G and SD-WAN, unstaffed banks not only slash link costs but also simplify
network deployment and O&M. The network controller centrally manages all
devices in each branch, without the need of professionals at the site.
⚫ Fast interconnection between smart branches
5G WAN links can quickly interconnect smart branches. The combination of
5G and SD-WAN has several advantages over traditional private lines,
including: zero cabling, short provisioning period, and low maintenance costs.
Meanwhile, with application-based intelligent traffic steering and WAN
optimization, SD-WAN ensures uninterrupted services of key banking
applications.




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Key Differentiators
2.2 Intelligent Traffic Steering: Optimal
Experience

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution adopts intelligent traffic steering and Adaptive
Forward Error Correction (A-FEC) to deliver an optimal user experience.
Application-based intelligent traffic steering ensures user experience of key
applications, and A-FEC ensures smooth audio and video experience even if the
packet loss rate reaches 30%.

Application-based Intelligent Traffic steering

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution supports application-based intelligent traffic steering,
which detects the Service Level Agreement (SLA), including the packet loss rate,
delay, and jitter, of each available path in real time. Based on the SLA, key
applications are preferentially transmitted over high-quality WAN links, ensuring
user experience of key applications. Figure 2-3 illustrates the implementation of
application-based intelligent traffic steering.

Figure 2-3 Application-based intelligent traffic steering





A-FEC

Instant messaging applications, such as voice calls, video conferences, and live
streaming, have stringent requirements on delay and packet loss. When packet



12
Key Differentiators
loss occurs on the network, artifacts or even frame freezing occurs, and voice
transmission is intermittent, severely affecting user experience. In most cases,
when the packet loss rate reaches 1%, user services are slightly affected; when
the packet loss rate reaches 10%, applications are almost unavailable.

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution uses A-FEC to mitigate packet loss. A-FEC identifies
specific data flows through traffic classification, adds redundant packets that
carry check information to the original packets, and decodes the received packets
at the receive end to restore the lost packets. A-FEC ensures smooth video
experience even if the packet loss rate reaches 30%, as shown in Figure 2-4.

Figure 2-4 Smooth video experience powered by A-FEC





2.3 Intelligent O&M: Simplified Deployment

Compared with traditional deployment and O&M systems, Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution builds a simpler, smarter, and more visualized SD-WAN deployment and
O&M system, enabling simplified deployment and visualized O&M.

Simplified Deployment

Rapid deployment and rollout of branch services are crucial to an enterprise's
competitiveness. Through ZTP, SD-WAN implements plug-and-play and
simplified deployment, greatly improving deployment efficiency.

Before deployment, the network administrator preconfigures devices at the site
on the SD-WAN network controller and sends an email containing the device
configuration information to deployment personnel. The deployment personnel
then connect cables, power on the devices, and click the URL in the email for




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Key Differentiators
one-click deployment. The devices automatically register with the SD-WAN
network controller and go online, implementing fast service provisioning.

Visualized O&M

In Huawei's SD-WAN Solution, the SD-WAN O&M system can display the WAN
network topology and monitor alarms, logs, and other key events of devices at
each branch site in real time. This enables the network administrator to centrally
manage, control, and maintain a large number of devices at widely distributed
sites. The SD-WAN O&M system can also graphically display key network
performance data and application experience health. As shown in Figure 2-5, SD-
WAN visualized O&M covers topology visualization, site health visualization, link
status visualization, application quality visualization, and alarm and log
information monitoring.

Figure 2-5 Visualized O&M





Intelligent O&M

In addition to visualization, the SD-WAN O&M system also provides intelligent
O&M capabilities for fault locating and prevention. The SD-WAN O&M system
leverages telemetry technology to collect network data in real time, and uses big
data analytics and machine learning algorithms to learn network behavior and
identify fault patterns.




14
Key Differentiators
The SD-WAN O&M system can also collaborate with professional network
analysis components to implement intelligent root cause analysis, predict faults
and events on the network, and provide warnings or troubleshooting suggestions.

The SD-WAN intelligent O&M system helps O&M personnel proactively detect
80% of all network problems, greatly improving O&M efficiency.




15
Key Differentiators
Chapter 3
Overall Architecture




Figure 3-1 shows the overall architecture of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution, which
consists of the management layer, control layer, and network layer. Each layer
has specific core components and provides different functions.

Figure 3-1 Overall architecture of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution








16
Overall Architecture
Third-party Business Support System (BSS)/Operations Support System (OSS) is
a support system for integration and information resource sharing of
telecommunication carriers. Leveraging the open northbound API capabilities of
the SD-WAN network controller, carriers or enterprise customers can incorporate
the end-to-end (E2E) service process of SD-WAN into the existing third-party
service orchestration systems such as BSS/OSS. This implements integration of
Huawei's SD-WAN Solution and flexible GUI customization.

Management Layer

The network controller is the core component of the management layer and the
smart brain of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution. It provides abundant network
orchestration and management capabilities for E2E SD-WAN service processing.

⚫ Network orchestration: The network controller abstracts service-oriented
SD-WAN network models, orchestrates services related to enterprise WAN
networking and network policies, and automatically provisions service
configurations. It also abstracts and defines the network model of enterprise
WANs, and shields technical details about SD-WAN deployment and
implementation, implementing simplified and flexible WAN configuration
and service provisioning.
⚫ Network management: The network controller implements network
management and O&M functions for enterprise WANs, including but not
limited to the following: collection of fault information such as alarms and
logs of NEs; collection, statistics, and analysis of performance data based on
links, applications, and networks; collection and display of multi-dimensional
O&M information such as network topologies, alarms, and performance
data.

Control Layer

An SD-WAN Route Reflector (RR) is a core component at the control layer and is
responsible for centralized control of route forwarding and topology definition at
the SD-WAN network layer. The RR distributes and filters VPN routes of SD-WAN
tenants, creates and modifies VPN topologies, and creates and maintains overlay
tunnels between sites.

In contrast with the distributed control mode of traditional networks, this
centralized control mode separates the control plane from the forwarding plane



17
Overall Architecture
of enterprise WANs. This simplifies network O&M operations, reduces network
configuration errors, and improves the O&M efficiency of enterprise WANs.

In actual deployments, an RR can be deployed independently or combined with
an existing edge site.

Network Layer

From the perspective of services, enterprise sites include enterprise branches, HQ,
data centers (DCs), and cloud-based IT infrastructure. The network layer consists
of two parts: network devices used for WAN interconnection at different sites
and the intermediate WANs.

According to network functions, an enterprise's SD-WAN network can be divided
into the underlay network and overlay network.

⚫ Underlay network: a physical network, which is a WAN created by
connecting network devices such as routers via physical lines provided by
carriers. Examples of such a network include an MSTP network, MPLS
network, and the Internet.
⚫ Overlay network: one or more virtual networks, which are constructed on
the same physical network through IP and software technologies. Although
different virtual networks share devices and lines on a physical network,
services are decoupled from physical networking and interconnection
technologies on the physical network. As the core networking technology at
the SD-WAN network layer, multi-instance virtual networks can serve
different services (such as multiple departments) of the same tenant or
different tenants.

From the perspective of network device functionality, the network layer of SD-
WAN is mainly constructed using two types of devices: edge and gateway.

⚫ Edge: egress customer-premises equipment (CPE) of an enterprise's SD-
WAN site. In essence, an edge is the start point or termination point of an
SD-WAN tunnel and can be considered as the boundary of an SD-WAN
network. Overlay tunnels between edges can be established over any wired
or wireless underlay WAN.
⚫ Gateway: a device that connects an SD-WAN site and other networks (for
example, legacy VPNs). The gateway enables an SD-WAN network to




18
Overall Architecture
communicate with an enterprise's legacy networks and public cloud
networks.




19
Overall Architecture
Chapter 4
Key Technologies




Abstract
This chapter describes the key technologies of Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution: diverse system channels, multiple ZTP modes, flexible
networking, intelligent traffic steering, WAN optimization, security, and
O&M and monitoring.

4.1 Diverse System Channels: Enhancing
Reliability and Security

Components in Huawei's SD-WAN Solution collaborate with each other to
provide many functions. As shown in Figure 4-1, three system channels can be
abstracted logically, between which data is isolated, ensuring that services do not
affect each other.




20
Key Technologies
Figure 4-1 System channels of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution









21
Key Technologies
⚫ Management channel: used for network configuration and O&M between
the network controller and network devices, such as edges, gateways, and
RRs.
⚫ Control channel: used to distribute forwarding information such as routes
and tunnels between an RR and an edge node or between an RR and a
gateway. This channel uses BGP EVPN.
⚫ Data channel: used to transmit data between the edge and gateway at the
network layer. Data channels are established based on IP overlay tunneling
technology. As data needs to traverse a WAN, data channels generally use
Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) for encryption.

4.2 Multiple ZTP Modes: Plug-and-Play
Devices

Traditional branch network deployment has high technical requirements, is
error-prone, and is time-consuming. Huawei's SD-WAN Solution provides diverse
ZTP modes for deployment in various scenarios. Table 4-1 lists the ZTP modes
supported by Huawei's SD-WAN Solution, and Figure 4-2 shows the deployment
process.

Table 4-1 ZTP modes

ZTP Mode Application Scenario

Email-based This mode is applicable to onsite deployment. The network administrator
deployment sends a deployment email to the specified email address. After receiving the
email, a deployment engineer clicks the URL in the email to automatically
complete the deployment.

USB-based This mode is applicable to batch deployment in warehouses. The device
deployment administrator imports the CPE configuration in the warehouse, and a
deployment engineer only needs to connect cables, insert a USB flash drive,
and power on the device.

DHCP This mode is applicable only to the scenario where CPEs are connected to
option-based the network through Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). A site
deployment deployment engineer only needs to connect cables and power on the CPE.



22
Key Technologies


Figure 4-2 ZTP process





4.3 Flexible Networking: Meeting Diversified
Networking Requirements

LAN-side Networking

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution provides a broad range of interfaces, such as FE, GE,
XGE, and Eth-Trunk interfaces, for LAN-side interconnection and supports Layer
2 and Layer 3 interconnection scenarios.

LAN-side Layer 2 interconnection

At small sites with a simple intranet structure, CPEs typically connect to the
intranet of the site at Layer 2. Figure 4-3 shows the four networking modes for
LAN-side Layer 2 interconnection.




23
Key Technologies
Figure 4-3 LAN-side Layer 2 networking





LAN-side Layer 3 interconnection

A large enterprise site has a complex network structure and facilities (such as a
large number of routers and switches) and often involves a hierarchical, multi-
network design. SD-WAN routers can establish Layer 3 connections with the LAN
side through static, BGP, and OSPF routes using three networking modes, as
shown in Figure 4-4.

Figure 4-4 LAN-side Layer 3 networking









24
Key Technologies
WAN-side Networking

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution provides a wide set of WAN interfaces, such as
Ethernet, LTE/5G, and xDSL interfaces. Multiple networking modes are available,
depending on the number of CPEs deployed at SD-WAN sites and the number of
WAN links connected to the CPEs.

Single-CPE networking

A single CPE is deployed at a small site. Figure 4-5 illustrates the single-CPE
networking.

Figure 4-5 Single-CPE networking





Dual-CPE networking

Dual CPEs are deployed at sites requiring high reliability to provide device-level
redundancy. Figure 4-6 illustrates the dual-CPE networking.

Figure 4-6 Dual-CPE networking









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Key Technologies
On-demand Overlay Tunnel Setup

Overlay tunnels are established on the underlay network to implement
communication between SD-WAN sites. Multiple topology models are available
for WAN communication. Based on the actual service access requirements, you
can configure the VPN topology on the network controller and specify key
topology roles (such as the hub and spoke). The network controller then
automatically converts the topology model into a standard routing policy and
delivers it to an RR. The RR controls the route sending and receiving of different
sites based on the routing policy delivered by the network controller to
implement communication between sites.

Enterprise WAN topology models typically fall into two types: single-layer
network model and hierarchical network model. The former can be further
classified into hub-spoke, full-mesh, and partial-mesh, as illustrated in Figure 4-7.




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Figure 4-7 Enterprise WAN topology models





4.4 Application-based Intelligent Traffic
Steering: Guaranteeing Key Applications and
Maximizing Bandwidth Utilization

Application-based intelligent traffic steering is an important feature of Huawei's
SD-WAN Solution. With this feature enabled, the network quality is monitored in
real time; an SLA-compliant WAN link is dynamically and automatically selected
among multiple WAN links with varying network quality, with the overall WAN
network utilization maximized.




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Huawei's SD-WAN Solution adopts multiple intelligent traffic steering algorithms,
including: link quality-, load balancing-, application priority-, as well as
bandwidth utilization-based load balancing.

Link Quality-based Traffic Steering

Applications have varying requirements on link quality. For example, voice and
video services have a low tolerance for delay (under 150 ms) and packet loss
rate (under 1%). You can select an MPLS link with good quality as the primary
link for the voice and video services and an Internet link as the secondary link. In
addition, you need to configure the SLA requirements of the services for traffic
steering based on the link SLA.

As shown in Figure 4-8, when the MPLS link or network is not congested, the
MPLS link delivers good quality, over which the voice flow (VoIP flow) is
transmitted. The CPE monitors the link quality in real time. If the MPLS link
quality deteriorates due to congestion and the voice service SLA cannot be met,
the CPE switches the voice traffic to the Internet link as it has a light load while
meeting the SLA requirements. In addition, SD-WAN CPEs can detect link faults
in real time. When detecting a fault on the MPLS link, the CPE dynamically
migrates all services on the MPLS link to the Internet link to prevent services
from being impacted.




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Figure 4-8 Link quality-based traffic steering





Load Balancing-based Traffic Steering

If an enterprise with multiple links wants to fully utilize the link bandwidth, you
can configure load balancing-based traffic steering.

As shown in Figure 4-9, an enterprise purchases two MPLS links from different
carriers: 100 Mbit/s MPLS link from carrier A and 50 Mbit/s MPLS link from
carrier B, which are used as the primary links for the voice service. If the quality
of both links meets the SLA requirements of the voice service, voice flows can be
carried over the two MPLS links in load balancing mode, fully utilizing bandwidth
resources.




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Figure 4-9 Load balancing-based traffic steering




Application Priority-based Traffic Steering

If multiple types of service packets are transmitted on the same link, traffic of
high-priority applications is preferentially processed when congestion occurs,
ensuring user experience of high-priority applications. In this case, application
priority-based traffic steering can be used. For example, voice, video, and file
transfer services are carried on an MPLS link. If the link bandwidth is insufficient,
the experience of the voice and video services is preferentially guaranteed.

As shown in Figure 4-10, the MPLS link offers better quality than the Internet
link and is configured as the primary link for both the voice and FTP services,
with the Internet link being the secondary link. The voice service takes
precedence over the FTP service. As the traffic volume of the voice and FTP
services increases, the MPLS link becomes congested. To ensure voice service
experience, FTP service traffic is gradually migrated to the Internet link until
MPLS congestion is relieved. To fully utilize the MPLS link bandwidth, FTP service
traffic is gradually switched back to the MPLS link when the MPLS link recovers.




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Figure 4-10 Application priority-based traffic steering





Bandwidth Utilization-based Traffic Steering

If multiple types of service packets are transmitted on the same link, to
preferentially ensure experience of high-priority applications upon congestion,
low-priority applications can be migrated to other SLA-compliant links when the
link bandwidth utilization reaches a certain threshold. In this case, bandwidth
utilization-based traffic steering can be used. For example, if both the voice and
FTP services are carried over the MPLS link and the bandwidth utilization of the
MPLS link reaches the upper threshold, FTP service traffic can be migrated to
preferentially ensure the voice service.

As shown in Figure 4-11, the MPLS link offers better quality than the Internet
link and is configured as the primary link for both the voice and FTP services,
with the Internet link being the secondary link. The voice service takes
precedence over the FTP service, and the upper threshold for switching traffic
and lower threshold for switching traffic back are set to 70% and 50%,
respectively, for the MPLS link. As the traffic volume of the voice and FTP
services increases, the MPLS link becomes congested. To ensure voice service
experience, FTP service traffic is gradually migrated to the Internet link once the



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bandwidth utilization of the MPLS link exceeds 70%. When the bandwidth
utilization of the MPLS link falls below 50%, FTP service traffic is gradually
switched back to the MPLS link. This maximizes the bandwidth utilization for the
MPLS link.

Figure 4-11 Bandwidth utilization-based traffic steering





4.5 WAN Optimization: Delivering Optimal
Application Experience

Audio and video conferencing and video surveillance technologies are becoming
more and more pervasive, posing higher requirements on bandwidth and delay.
As such, the proportion of WAN-side enterprise data traffic increases explosively,
which greatly increases the cost of enterprise leased lines. The unsatisfying
Internet link quality brings enterprise application experience problems. To solve
these problems, enterprise networks need to introduce WAN optimization
technologies to optimize application access experience and reduce bandwidth
costs.



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FEC

FEC mitigates packet loss by applying traffic policies. It classifies traffic, obtains
specific data streams, adds redundant packets that contain check information,
and verifies packets at the receive end. If a packet is lost or damaged on the
network, the redundant packet can be used to recover it. Figure 4-12 shows the
FEC process.



FEC supports the following algorithms for generating redundant packets:
Determined FEC (D-FEC): Redundant packets are generated at a fixed
redundancy rate.
A-FEC: Redundant packets are dynamically generated based on the packet loss
information returned by the decoder. A-FEC is an improvement over D-FEC, and
solves the problems of D-FEC, such as bandwidth waste and occasional failures
to recover lost packets.




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Figure 4-12 FEC process





1. The transmitting CPE receives packets from the LAN side and implements
packet loss mitigation on the traffic classified by a traffic classifier and
transmitted over an EVPN tunnel.
2. The transmitting CPE performs FEC encoding on original packets.
a. The transmitting CPE encapsulates original packets with a proprietary
FEC header and sends the packets.



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b. The transmitting CPE accumulates multiple original packets as an
encoding block, and encodes the original packets in the encoding block
using FEC to generate FEC redundant packets. The encoding end can
generate multiple redundant packets for multiple packets based on the
generator matrix algorithm.
3. When packets are transmitted on the network, both original packets and
redundant packets in the encoding block may be lost.
4. The receiving CPE performs FEC decoding on the received original packets
and redundant packets.
a. The receiving CPE receives packets from the network, detects packet
loss information, and performs FEC decoding. It calculates a decoding
matrix (restoration matrix) based on the encoding matrix and received
packets, and recovers lost original packets (if any) based on the
decoding matrix and received packets. The lost packets in an encoding
block can be recovered as long as the lost packets are fewer than the
redundant packets.
b. After the receiving CPE completes decoding, it restores the lost packets
and removes the proprietary header.
5. The receiving CPE sends packets to the LAN side at the receive end, and
sends the restored packets to the receive end in sequence.

Multi-Path Packet Duplication

Multi-path packet duplication (dual-fed and selective receiving) mitigates packet
loss. This feature enables the CPE at the transmit end to duplicate data packets
and send the original and duplicated packets over two links. If packet loss occurs
on one link, the CPE at the receive end uses the duplicated packet transmitted
over the other link to restore the lost packet, requiring no retransmission. This
feature is applicable to services with low traffic but requiring high reliability, for
example, VoIP and payment services.

Figure 4-13 shows the multi-path packet duplication process. Leveraging multi-
path packet duplication technology, the CPE at the transmit end makes a copy of
data packets in a data flow and sends these data packets through multiple links.
When combined with intelligent traffic steering, multi-path packet duplication
selects two optimal links for transmission. The CPE at the receive end then




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Key Technologies
caches and deduplicates the received data packets to restore the original data
flow.

Figure 4-13 Multi-path packet duplication





Per-Packet Load Balancing

On a network, elephant flows may exceed the bandwidth of a link, while other
links are idle. In this case, per-packet load balancing can be used to distribute
elephant flows to multiple links, improving link utilization. This feature
significantly improves the transmission efficiency of large files at sites with
multiple egress links and is suitable for applications such as FTP/HTTP large file
download and data backup and replication.

Figure 4-14 shows the process of per-packet load balancing. The transmit end
applies a traffic steering policy to traffic and implements per-packet load
balancing on all available links that meet SLA requirements. The packet
information to be encapsulated includes the packet sequence number, path
number, path-based sequence number, and timestamp. The receive end
resequences the out-of-order packets in the buffer to solve the packet disorder
issue caused by the delay difference between different paths, and forwards data
to devices in sequence.




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Figure 4-14 Per-packet load balancing





4.6 Intelligent Policy Recommendation:
Facilitating WAN Experience Assurance

WANs are large in scale and consist of devices from multiple carriers. The traffic
steering optimization of key applications relies on experience and per-site
configuration, making it difficult to achieve proper load balancing. In addition,
the link costs of enterprises are high. The purchased bandwidth usage cannot be
detected, so there is no basis for expanding or reducing the link bandwidth. The
SD-WAN Solution offers the intelligent policy recommendation function to
improve network-wide bandwidth utilization and speed up the policy
configuration.

Intelligent Traffic Steering Recommendation

Intelligent traffic steering policy recommendation analyzes traffic data of
network links and applications between the HQ and branches, generates global
optimal traffic steering policies that achieve network-level load balancing for top
congested sites and traffic-intensive applications, and displays simulation effects
of service traffic after recommended policies are applied. Users can select the
optimal traffic steering policy with one click after evaluation, automatically
utilizing live-network resources optimally and achieving global optimal network
balancing.




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Key Technologies


Bandwidth Analysis

The bandwidth analysis function models the link traffic, analyzes historical
services and future trends, and provides global optimal bandwidth planning
suggestions for enterprises and chain stores to purchase WAN bandwidth, by
utilizing the live-network traffic model deduction capability of big data. This
function maximizes link bandwidth utilization and improves economic benefits
while ensuring lossless services.




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Key Technologies


4.7 Proactive Defense: Building E2E Security

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution ensures security from the aspects of system security,
service security, and component security, as shown in Figure 4-15.




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Key Technologies
Figure 4-15 SD-WAN security





⚫ System security: basic security capabilities of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution,
which ensure secure and reliable running of the SD-WAN Solution and are
available upon system initialization.
⚫ Service security: independently deployed security functions. Service security
functions can be flexibly deployed based on the service security
requirements of enterprises.
⚫ Component security: security functions provided by iMaster NCE, CPEs, and
RRs. Component security must be considered during component deployment.

System Security

System security involves communication security between components of
Huawei's SD-WAN Solution and multi-tenant security. Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution consists of multiple components. The components and the




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Key Technologies
communication between them may encounter security threats. Therefore,
security measures must be taken to ensure the security and reliability of
Huawei's SD-WAN Solution. Specifically, system security covers:

⚫ Inter-component communication security: Management channels, control
channels, and data channels are established between components using
secure communication protocols to ensure communication data security.
Table 4-2 lists the inter-component communication security functions.

Table 4-2 Inter-component communication security functions

Type Security Function

Management For the email-based deployment feature, the URL in the email is encrypted.
channel
CPEs/RRs and iMaster NCE authenticate each other through certificates.
security
When a device registers with iMaster NCE and goes online, iMaster NCE
verifies the equipment serial number (ESN) of the device. Unauthorized
devices are not allowed to register with iMaster NCE.

NETCONF over SSH is used to ensure security of key configuration data.

HTTP/2 over SSL ensures security of reported performance data.

The site isolation function isolates insecure devices from a network.

Control A CPE registers with an RR through DTLS.
channel
CPEs and RRs authenticate each other through certificates.
security
IPsec is used to encrypt data transmitted between CPEs and RRs.

Data channel The IPsec ESP protocol, SHA2-256 and SM3 authentication algorithms, and
security AES-256, AES-128, and SM4 encryption algorithms are used between CPEs
and between CPEs and gateways to ensure data confidentiality and
integrity during transmission.



⚫ Management VPN: When a CPE accesses a third-party server through an
overlay tunnel, an independent overlay VPN is created on the CPE to
implement secure communication with the third-party server.
⚫ Multi-tenant security: In the carrier/MSP resale scenario, carriers/MSPs
need to provide SD-WAN services for many enterprises. iMaster NCE




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supports multi-tenancy and provides different management and control
channels for tenants, implementing security isolation.
⚫ Certificate management: To ensure security of the entire SD-WAN system,
edges, gateways, RRs, and iMaster NCE use certificates for communication.

Service Security

Service security refers to security of services carried by Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution. Based on the service model of an enterprise, service security covers the
security of the inter-site access, Internet access, and cloud access services.

To ensure service security, Huawei's SD-WAN Solution takes the following
measures to prevent attacks and intrusions from the Internet:

⚫ CPEs provide a wealth of built-in security capabilities, including ACL-based
packet filtering, 802.1X, firewall, intrusion prevention system (IPS), antivirus,
and URL filtering, meeting service security requirements in different
scenarios.
⚫ Physical firewalls can be connected to CPEs in off-path mode to provide
advanced security protection functions as VASs.
⚫ When enterprises access the public cloud and SaaS, third-party cloud
security gateways such as Zscaler and Forcepoint can be deployed to
implement security detection on traffic and provide functions such as access
control, threat prevention, and data protection.

Component Security

Component security covers security of each component, including:

⚫ iMaster NCE
As the brain of the entire network, iMaster NCE is prone to attacks. Its open
APIs and southbound protocols face various security risks and challenges.
iMaster NCE is deployed in an area protected by the firewall. Security
hardening can be implemented on iMaster NCE in terms of authentication
and permission control, data protection, security detection and response,
privacy protection, security management, system protection, and security
deployment, mitigating security risks.
⚫ Edge, gateway, and RR



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The system architecture of the edge, gateway, and RR complies with ITU-T
X.805. Based on the three-layer and three-plane security isolation
mechanism, the control plane, management plane, and forwarding plane are
isolated from each other to ensure that the other planes are not affected
when any plane is attacked. In addition, Huawei's SD-WAN Solution provides
multiple security defense capabilities, such as physical security, data security,
authentication, attack defense, and security audit.

4.8 Visualized O&M and Monitoring:
Improving O&M Efficiency

Digital Dashboard: Integrated O&M Monitoring GUI

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution displays the network-wide status through the
topology, geographic information system (GIS), and over 50 reports, as shown in
Figure 4-16. This improves O&M efficiency and service experience.

Figure 4-16 Digital dashboard









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Topology-based One-stop O&M

Figure 4-17 illustrates the implementation of topology-based one-stop O&M,
making the physical and logical networks visible to each other. In addition,
common diagnosis tools are integrated to locate typical faults with one click.

Figure 4-17 Topology-based one-stop O&M





Agile Reports

Huawei's SD-WAN Solution flexibly displays data such as devices, links, network
performance, and alarms, as shown in Figure 4-18. Through drag-and-drop
operations and self-service analysis, agile reports provide a solid basis for service
decision-making, as shown in Figure 4-19.




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Figure 4-18 Site monitoring report






Figure 4-19 Agile report









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Precise Alarm Email Notifications

As shown in Figure 4-20, Huawei's SD-WAN Solution supports multiple alarm
management methods, which help you understand the network health status in
a timely manner.

⚫ Alarms generated by the controller and CPEs can be reported, including
power-off, restart, and service interruption alarms.
⚫ The fields contained in the alarm information and alarm dumping settings,
such as the number of entries retained and retention period based on service
requirements, can all be customized.

Figure 4-20 Alarm management









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Chapter 5
Typical SD-WAN
Networking




Abstract
This chapter describes the application scenarios, topology, and device
model selection of typical SD-WAN networking models.

5.1 Enterprise HQ + Branch (Hub-Spoke
Networking)

Application Scenario

An enterprise has one or two DCs. Branches access services deployed in the HQ
or DCs through the WAN. A small amount of traffic is transmitted between
branches, or branches do not need to communicate with each other. Traffic
between branches traverses the HQ or DCs.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Networking Topology

Networking: A flattened single-layer hub-spoke network is deployed between
branches and the HQ, as shown in Figure 5-1. The enterprise HQ and DCs
function as hub sites, and branches function as spoke sites.

O&M: Tenants manage all their SD-WAN sites and networks independently.
Typically, one controller is deployed in the central equipment room for the entire
network. If geographic redundancy is required, two controllers need to be
deployed in active/standby mode in the active and standby equipment rooms
and are interconnected with each other at Layer 3.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Figure 5-1 Networking diagram





Device Model Selection

Table 5-1 Device model selection

Site Type Device Model

Hub site AR8140, AR6710-H, AR6280, and AR6300 series

RR site AR8140, AR6710-H, AR6280, and AR6300 series




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Site Type Device Model

Spoke site Large branches: AR8140, AR8700, AR6710-H, AR6280, and AR6300 series
(branch
Midsize branches: AR6710-L, AR6120, and AR6140 series
site)
Small branches: AR5700, AR650, and AR610 series



5.2 Enterprise HQ + Branch (Full-Mesh
Networking)

Application Scenario

The full-mesh topology is applicable to small enterprises with a small number of
sites or large enterprises whose branches need to collaborate with each other.
Large enterprises' collaborative services, for example, high-value applications
including VoIP and video conferencing, have stringent requirements on network
performance such as the packet loss rate, delay, and jitter. To meet requirements
of such services, branches are recommended to directly communicate with each
other.

Networking Topology

Networking: In the full-mesh topology shown in Figure 5-2, branches can
directly communicate with each other, without the need to divert traffic through
intermediate nodes.

O&M: Tenants manage all their SD-WAN sites and networks independently.
Typically, one controller is deployed in the central equipment room for the entire
network. If geographic redundancy is required, two controllers need to be
deployed in active/standby mode in the active and standby equipment rooms
and are interconnected with each other at Layer 3.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Figure 5-2 Networking diagram





Device Model Selection

Table 5-2 Device model selection

Site Type Device Model

RR site AR8140, AR6300, and AR6280 series




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Site Type Device Model

HQ/Branch HQ/Large sites: AR8140, AR8700, AR6300, and AR6280 series
site
Midsize sites: AR6700, AR6140, and AR6280 series

Small sites: AR5700, AR6140, and AR6280 series



5.3 Enterprise HQ + Regional Center +
Branch (Hierarchical Networking)

Application Scenario

This networking features a clear network structure and excellent scalability and
is therefore applicable to enterprises that have a large number of sites or
multinational enterprises with sites widely distributed across countries or regions.

Networking Topology

Networking: This network model can be considered as the combination of
single-layer network models. WANs are divided into multiple areas, which are
interconnected through a centralized backbone area. This implements inter-area
communication between a large number of sites. Figure 5-3 shows the
networking.

O&M: Tenants manage all their SD-WAN sites and networks independently.
Typically, one controller is deployed in the central equipment room for the entire
network. If geographic redundancy is required, two controllers need to be
deployed in active/standby mode in the active and standby equipment rooms
and are interconnected with each other at Layer 3.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Figure 5-3 Networking diagram









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Typical SD-WAN Networking


Device Model Selection

Table 5-3 Device model selection

Site Type Device Model

HQ/DC/Border site AR8140, AR6280, and AR6300 series

RR site AR8140, AR6280, and AR6300 series

Branch site Large branches: AR8140, AR8700, AR6280, and AR6300 series

Midsize branches: AR6700, AR6120, and AR6140 series

Small branches: AR5700, AR650, and AR610 series



5.4 Enterprise Multi-DC + Branch (Multi-Hub
Networking)

Application Scenario

This networking is applicable to enterprises that have multiple DCs and deploy
service servers in each DC to provide services for branches.

Networking Topology

Networking: The essence of this networking is the hub-spoke networking, in
which up to eight hub sites can be deployed. Generally, multiple DCs of an
enterprise function as hub sites to provide services for branches. When branches
need to communicate with each other, you can enable the traffic diversion
function on two hub sites for inter-branch service access. Figure 5-4 shows the
networking.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
O&M: Tenants manage all their SD-WAN sites and networks independently.
Typically, one controller is deployed in the central equipment room for the entire
network. If geographic redundancy is required, two controllers need to be
deployed in active/standby mode in the active and standby equipment rooms
and are interconnected with each other at Layer 3.

Figure 5-4 Networking diagram





Device Model Selection

Table 5-4 Device model selection

Site Type Device Model

Hub site (DC) AR8140, AR6280, and AR6300 series

RR site AR8140, AR6280, and AR6300 series




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Site Type Device Model

Spoke site Large branches: AR8140, AR8700, AR6280, and AR6300 series
(branch site)
Midsize branches: AR6700, AR6120, and AR6140 series

Small branches: AR5700, AR650, and AR610 series



5.5 Multi-Tenant IWG (POP Networking)

Application Scenario

When carriers or MSPs provide SD-WAN access services for enterprises, some
enterprises may have both legacy branch sites and SD-WAN sites, which need to
interwork with each other. This networking is applicable to such a scenario. The
Interworking Gateway (IWG) can connect both SD-WAN sites and legacy MPLS
VPN sites for multiple enterprise tenants.

Networking Topology

In the multi-tenant IWG networking, an IWG site needs to be deployed as the
POP to connect to the legacy MPLS backbone network. Option A based on Layer
3 VLAN/Layer 3 VXLAN or inter-AS MPLS VPN Option B is used for
interconnection, and an independent RR is deployed. Tenant sites and IWGs are
deployed in hub-spoke networking. In addition, the AR6700V-L is deployed in the
Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of the public cloud to implement secure connection
between branches and the IaaS. Figure 5-5 shows the networking.




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Figure 5-5 Networking diagram





Device Model Selection

Table 5-5 Device model selection

Site Type Device Model

IWG AR8140 series, AR6300 series, AR6280 series, and AR6700V-L

RR site AR8140 series, AR8700 series, AR6300 series, AR6280 series, and AR6700V-L

Branch site Large branches: AR8140, AR8700, AR6300, and AR6280 series

Midsize branches: AR6700, AR6120, and AR6140 series

Small branches: AR5700, AR650, and AR610 series




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Typical SD-WAN Networking
Chapter 6
Typical Applications




Abstract
This chapter describes the typical applications of Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution in the finance industry and carrier/MSP resale scenarios.

6.1 Finance Industry

Pain Points

The finance industry covers banking, insurance, and securities sectors. The
traditional financial business model is transforming significantly as the
development of social media and mobile technologies continues to boost
Internet financial services, as shown in Figure 6-1. In addition to traditional
transaction services, pan-financial services are growing rapidly, including online
apps as well as diversified offline services, such as object recognition, big data,
image, voice, artificial intelligence (AI), Virtual Teller Machine (VTM), and self-
help services. This poses higher requirements on the bandwidth, delay, and
service experience of the WAN. However, existing branch private lines offer low
bandwidth, which is insufficient for diversified services. The construction of new



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Typical Applications
MPLS private lines is costly. For example, for 2000 sites each with 10 Mbit/s
bandwidth, the annual private line cost is over CNY100 million. In addition,
provisioning MPLS private lines takes a long time, severely affecting service
provisioning efficiency.

Figure 6-1 Challenges faced by the finance industry





Networking Solution

To cope with the challenges faced by the finance industry, Huawei launches the
SD-WAN Solution for the finance industry. The solution implements real-time
synchronization between systems to ensure service continuity, efficiency, and
stability of all branches, as well as data security.

Figure 6-2 shows the typical architecture of the SD-WAN Solution for the finance
industry.




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Typical Applications
Figure 6-2 Typical architecture of the SD-WAN Solution for the finance industry



⚫ Multi-DC disaster recovery (DR)
DCs are built in multiple cities, and cloud-based interconnection between
DCs is implemented through the core backbone network.
⚫ Layered and flattened networking, delivering an innovative experience
SD-WAN for the HQ and level-1 branches: covers the core backbone network
between the HQ and level-1 branches.
SD-WAN for branches: covers the WAN networking of level-1 branches,
level-2 branches, and sub-branches.
Built-in 5G cards provide the industry's optimal 5G network, allowing high
bandwidth and low latency for innovative financial services.
⚫ Application-based intelligent traffic steering, ensuring experience of key
applications




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Typical Applications
− Application-based intelligent traffic steering enables on-demand
scheduling based on 5G and fibers.
− A-FEC ensures that no frame freezing or artifact occurs even at 30%
packet loss.
⚫ Full-process automation, multi-tenant hierarchical authorization, and
domain-based independent O&M
− Multiple ZTP modes, enabling branch networks to be deployed within
minutes
− Visibility of application, branch, device, and link status, enabling
centralized management and simplifying O&M
− Multi-tenant hierarchical authorization, enabling independent O&M for
HQ, branches, and sub-branches

Customer Benefits
⚫ High bandwidth and low latency for new virtual reality
(VR)/augmented reality (AR) services in smart branches: High-speed
Ethernet and 5G links, application-based intelligent traffic steering, and
optimization ensure that traffic of key services such as securities is always
transmitted over the optimal link, delivering an optimal service experience.
⚫ Provisioning of branch networks within 30 minutes: Leveraging diverse
ZTP modes, branch networks can be provisioned within 30 minutes, ensuring
quick service rollout during branch construction, migration, and capacity
expansion.
⚫ Intelligent O&M and unified management: The status of the entire
network, branch nodes, users, and applications is visualized, simplifying
O&M, achieving a fully automated process, and reducing labor investment.

6.2 Carrier/MSP Resale

Pain Points

A customer's legacy virtual private dial-up network (VPDN) carries services such
as transaction, inventory management, and video surveillance across 1,600 stores.



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Typical Applications
Due to outdated devices, the network cannot meet the customer's fast-growing
application and service expansion requirements.

Networking Solution

As shown in Figure 6-3, a carrier/MSP combines the Internet and SD-WAN
Solution to replace the legacy VPDN network and centrally manage all tenant
networks in the country.

Figure 6-3 Networking diagram









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Typical Applications
Customer Benefits
⚫ 50% lower private line costs: The Internet is introduced to replace or back
up private lines, reducing WAN bandwidth costs and offering higher
bandwidth.
⚫ Fast service provisioning: ZTP enables devices to go online quickly, enabling
fast service provisioning for stores.
⚫ Simplified O&M: A visualized management platform and automatic O&M
services are provided to simplify network O&M.




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Typical Applications
Chapter 7
Product Portfolio




Abstract
This chapter describes the product portfolio of Huawei's SD-WAN
Solution.

7.1 NetEngine AR Routers

Huawei's NetEngine AR routers are core components at the network layer and
control layer in Huawei's SD-WAN Solution. They can function as RRs, edge
nodes, and gateways and are available in NetEngine AR series and NetEngine
AR6700V-L.

NetEngine AR Series Routers

Designed for the cloud era, Huawei's NetEngine AR series routers integrate
various service features such as SD-WAN, cloud management, VPN, MPLS,
security, and voice. These feature-rich routers provide high performance to meet
diversified service requirements of enterprise customers at all scales, including




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Product Portfolio
SOHO/SMB, small/midsize branches, and HQ/DCs. Figure 7-1 shows the portfolio
of NetEngine AR series routers.

Figure 7-1 Portfolio of NetEngine AR series routers





NetEngine AR6700V-L

As shown in Figure 7-2, the NetEngine AR6700V-L is a next-generation virtual
router developed by Huawei to meet various network requirements of
enterprises in cloud scenarios. It can be flexibly deployed in virtualization and
public cloud environments to function as a virtual customer-premises equipment
(vCPE) or virtual gateway in Huawei SD-WAN Solution or function as a cloud
access gateway.




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Product Portfolio
Figure 7-2 Huawei NetEngine AR6700V-L





7.2 iMaster NCE

As the network controller of Huawei's SD-WAN Solution, iMaster NCE is a core
component at the management layer. It provides capabilities such as EVPN, fast
service deployment, multi-network orchestration, application-based experience
optimization, and intent-based monitoring and O&M, implementing automated
and intelligent management across the full lifecycle of SD-WAN networks. Figure
7-3 shows the portfolio of iMaster NCE's network management and
orchestration capabilities.




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Product Portfolio
Figure 7-3 Portfolio of iMaster NCE's network management and orchestration capabilities







In this document, Huawei iMaster NCE refers to iMaster NCE-Campus, which is
an SD-WAN controller.




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Product Portfolio
A Acronyms and
Abbreviations
Acronym and Full Name
Abbreviation

A-FEC Adaptive FEC

D-FEC Determined FEC

FEC Forward Error Correction

ITU-T International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication
Standardization Sector

IWG Interworking Gateway

LTE Long Term Evolution

MEF Metro Ethernet Forum

MPLS Multi-Protocol Label Switching

NFV Network Functions Virtualization

ONUG Open Networking User Group

POP Point of Presence

QoS Quality of Service

RR Route Reflector



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Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronym and Full Name
Abbreviation

SaaS Software as a Service

SD Software Defined

SD-WAN Software Defined Wide Area Network

SDN Software Defined Network

SLA Service Level Agreement

WAN Wide Area Network

WOC WAN Optimization Controller

ZTP Zero-Touch Provisioning





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Acronyms and Abbreviations



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Acronyms and Abbreviations