🧭Navigating the Network Management Challenge in the SD-WAN Era 💫

In the realm of Software Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), much attention has been given to the technological advancements and innovations driving its adoption. While these are undoubtedly crucial, it's equally important to recognize that SD-WAN is not just about the technology itself; it encompasses a broader ecosystem, including underpinning processes and the human factor. This article delves into the often-overlooked challenges of network management within the SD-WAN landscape.

The Ugly Babies of Network Management: Imagine network management solutions as babies. No parent ever calls their baby ugly, and similarly, no organization would readily admit that their chosen network management solution falls short. This bias leads to a fundamental problem: the failure to recognize and address the limitations of existing network management tools.

In my article titled "If you manage a data centre or network you need to look for ugly," I highlighted the human tendency to overlook flaws in familiar systems, even when they are outdated. The reality is that many network management products in use today were designed based on principles from the 1990s and ideas from the 1980s. These solutions lack the flexibility and understanding required to manage modern SD-WAN environments effectively.

The SNMP Challenge: A significant obstacle in network management is the reliance on SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). SNMP, akin to a Fred Flintstone-designed protocol in the 21st century, struggles to fully comprehend the intricacies of SD-WAN. The absence of a standardized SD-WAN MIB (Management Information Base) compounds the issue, making it unlikely that SNMP will ever fully support SD-WAN management needs.

Diverse Network Mediums: SD-WAN deployments often involve aggregating links from multiple carriers, utilizing diverse mediums such as carrier Ethernet, ADSL, TDM, LTE, GSM, fixed wireless, VSAT, and FTTH, among others. The challenge lies in the lack of common management functionality across these mediums. Unlike the earlier days of frame relay, where link status was straightforward, today's complex Ethernet networks make it challenging to detect link failures accurately.

For instance, an upstream link may indicate as "UP" at the aggregation point, but a downstream interface could be "DOWN" without detection. In response to this issue, creative solutions, such as using alternative signaling for fault notification, have been proposed. While ingenious, such workarounds highlight the limitations of existing management tools in understanding and addressing modern network complexities.

Integrating Carrier Management Systems: Many carriers have developed their own network management systems, tailored to their specific needs. As part of the services offered by carriers to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), API access to these management platforms is provided. While a standardized API across all carriers would be ideal, the reality is far from it. However, the number of different management platform vendors used by carriers is relatively limited, reducing the number of integrations required.

To optimize SD-WAN deployments, it's crucial for the network management platform to seamlessly integrate with these carrier-specific APIs. This integration provides enriched fault detection and causation analysis by tapping into the carrier's network management system.

Wrap: The challenges of network management in the SD-WAN era extend beyond technology and delve into the complexities of processes and human behavior. Recognizing the limitations of existing network management solutions is the first step toward addressing these challenges. As the network landscape continues to evolve, a paradigm shift in network management is inevitable, requiring innovative solutions that can adapt to the ever-changing SD-WAN environment.

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Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Fusion Broadband South Africa - the leading specialized SD-WAN provider in South Africa. Learn more: 👉 Contact Fusion