WAN Virtualization: Buttressing the Bridges Between Branch Offices
I wrote an article for the Data Center Journal about WAN Virtualization – technologies for connecting branch offices to headquarters or data centers. Here is brief excerpt:
“…
WAN virtualization, for example, is attracting a lot of attention. Much like server virtualization, WAN virtualization is a technology that uncouples various ISP transports from the IP connectivity, so these ISP transports can be pulled together into a single fast and reliable WAN connection. WAN virtualization adds intelligence and management, enabling network managers to dynamically build a simpler, higher-performing IP pipe out of real WAN resources, including existing private WANs and various Internet WAN links like DSL, cable, fiber, wireless and others.
With WAN virtualization using broadband bonding techniques, various numbers of Internet lines can be bonded together into a single connection or tunnel. This technique provides faster connectivity, equal to the sum of all the individual line speeds, as well as intelligent management of the latency in the tunnel. Broadband bonding is a cost-effective solution for even global firms that have hundreds of branch offices scattered around the world because it can be achieved with existing infrastructures, enabling disparate offices to have the same level of connectivity as the headquarters without requiring too much capital outlay. The end result is a faster connection with multiple built-in redundancies that can keep IP sessions alive in case of link failures. Broadband bonding also combines the best attributes of the various connections, boosting speeds and reliability…”
Cahit Akin, CEO, Mushroom Networks, Inc.
Mushroom Networks is the provider of SD-WAN (Software Defined WAN) and NFV solutions capable of Broadband Bonding that enables self-healing WAN networks that route around network problems such as latency, jitter and packet loss.