2023-02-15T13:34:00Z

Is the network connection for an SD-WAN router the same as a network connection to a traditional router?

Hello community, 

I am an Information Technology Domain Network and Solutions Architect at a large utility company.

I am currently researching SD-WAN solutions. Is the network connection for an SD-WAN router the same as a network connection to a traditional router? They both employ an ethernet private line for access, is that correct?

Thank you for your help.

FB
Information Technology Domain Network & Solutions Architect at National Grid
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3 Answers
Luis Apodaca - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Support and Network Admin at Escuela Carlos Pereyra
User
Top 5
2023-02-16T14:43:26Z
Feb 16, 2023

More information please!! Of course it's not the same type of solution, but if you're talking about infrastructure, yes it's the same, you just need a patch cable (copper or fiber) from your ISP router connected to your router's WAN IN port.

Otherwise, if you're talking about capabilities, it's normal behavior of the whole network to become slower if your UTM server is not good enough and that depends on how big your current and future network need is, take note of that, it is the main concern that you should focus on.

Personal advice for you; go with a hardware kind router, most of the time it is a better solution and cheaper one, maybe you just don't know yet about the correct one for you, please let me know if I was helpful.

MS
Corporate IT at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
User
Aug 2, 2023

While the SDWAN is traditionally marketed as a substitute to MPLS etc.It is basically an overlay solution and does not replace the underlay.In any network the quality of your underlay in terms of latency,packet loss,jitter etc is the weakest link of the network implementation.Thus SDWAN router is nothing but a better router (highly generalised) and should be compared with your present hardware .U may consider the link or underlay as the road and your SDWAN router as a Tesla car....if the road is smooth and less congested your drive feels better.

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BP
Product Development Manager at a comms service provider with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
2023-02-17T09:21:28Z
Feb 17, 2023

Yes, it will use the same WAN connection actually. However, the difference is if you use SD-WAN, you can get more benefits from SD-WAN features than a traditional router. SD-WAN should be transport agnostic, so no matter the WAN connection that you have in the branch, as long as you can connect to the Internet, they will be connected to each other.  


There are so many features that SD-WAN has, it depends on the SD-WAN vendor itself actually, but mostly will give the same easiness to manage. Moreover, if you have so many branches, by SD-WAN you can get single control for management. The other features are Load Balancer, WAN optimization, or even Next-Gen Firewall.

JC
Network Security Engineer at Social Security Commission
Real User
Top 5
2023-02-17T09:19:02Z
Feb 17, 2023

Yes. Physical connections will remain the same.

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