What are the pros and cons of using SD-WAN for jitter reduction?

SD-WAN offers significant advantages for jitter reduction, primarily due to its ability to manage multiple network connections simultaneously. By dynamically routing traffic across the best available paths, SD-WAN minimizes latency and, consequently, jitter. In my experience, implementing SD-WAN has transformed network performance for businesses reliant on real-time applications like VoIP and video conferencing. Its intelligent path selection and real-time traffic steering capabilities ensure consistent quality of service, even when one link experiences high latency or jitter. Furthermore, SD-WAN's failover capabilities mean that if one link degrades, traffic can be instantly rerouted to maintain performance levels.

In networking, the jitter is the variance of the latency which is the delay in packet transmission in networks due to transport, processing and congestion. An acceptable jitter is 30 ms, an acceptable latency is 300 ms and and acceptable packet loss is 1%. SD-WAN systems have no control over these 3 parameters that are characteristics of the underlying IP circuits building the network fabric. SD-WAN systems measure permanently these 3 parameters (and others) to choose the best path and to prioritize packets. SD-WAN is an overlay logical circuit that is used to take the best advantage of the physical circuits for optimal network usage according to policies. In IP networks, jitter is less important than delay and packet loss.

SD-WAN can be an effective tool for reducing jitter and optimizing network performance but it has its Pros and Cons: Pros: SD-WAN offers big savings over MPLS. It has Dynamic Path Selection with Traffic Prioritization, and this translates into Improved Application Performance. It also has Centralized Management with Path Quality Monitorin and Bandwidth Optimization. Cons: SD-WAN can be complex, costly, and insecure. It relies on the public internet with no guarantees for a low-latency performance.

For my perspective, SDWAN solutions like cisco viptela uses application aware routing or SLA based routing to determine the best path of each application, in the case of application needs low jitter like voice ip, SDWAN uses IOAM protocols like ipsla, ping,... to see the network performance measurements (jitter, rtt, loss) and it select the appropriate path, tunnel or network for the application. pros : best path for applications are selected and updated dynamically without the contribution of net admins in real time. cons : WAN Internet provider limitations complexity & cost also security. overhear added in the network to measure net performance

Even though SD-WAN give you a more insight into the WAN side of your network/business. There are downsides such as Dependence on internet quality as well as limited control over ISP networks. It can't control external factors on the wider internet that might affect performance.

While using SD-WAN for jitter reduction have a lot of pros, it does have some significant cons as well. That includes 1. Implementing SD-WAN can involve significant upfront costs and complexity, including hardware, software, and configuration. There might be a learning curve for staff who are not familiar with SD-WAN technology. 2. Some SD-WAN solutions can be proprietary, leading to potential vendor lock-in. This could limit flexibility if you need to switch solutions or integrate with other systems. 3. While SD-WAN can optimize network traffic, the additional layer of abstraction and management might introduce some overhead, potentially affecting performance if not properly configured.

Before adopting SD-WAN for jitter reduction, several factors need consideration. The existing network infrastructure, the nature of the traffic, and the specific requirements of the business applications are critical. For instance, if real-time applications are not a significant part of your business, the investment in SD-WAN might not be justified. In my consulting work, I always assess the current network performance, application requirements, and budget constraints to determine if SD-WAN is the right solution. Additionally, considering the potential need for future scalability and flexibility is crucial, as these are areas where SD-WAN excels.

Some factors to take into consideration when looking to deploy SD-WAN solution. Cost, most enterprise capable devices require some sort of licensing to provide full SD-WAN functionality. Vendor selection is key as well as current Network infrastructure needs to be assessed accordingly.

SD-WAN essentially puts your network under a microscope for you. From this perspective, you can better configure packet settings, automatically preventing traffic jams by eliminating unnecessary and improperly-timed trips. There is some speculation that the impact of SD-WAN on these trouble areas is no greater than what you could get from WAN optimization. SD-WAN vendors have been criticized in the past for making hyperbolic statements about what their solutions can offer. However, the most-reliable vendors in the industry are constantly inventing new software, included with their solution, that does combat problems it once didn’t.

Organizations are increasingly adopting cloud services. The good news is that SD-WAN enables direct cloud access at the remote branch, thereby eliminating backhauling traffic – routing all cloud and branch office traffic through the data center – meaning that workers can directly access cloud applications regardless of location without burdening the core network with additional traffic to manage and secure. What’s more, SD-WAN improves cloud application performance by prioritizing business-critical applications and enabling branches to directly communicate to the Internet.

When contemplating SD-WAN for jitter reduction, it's also important to consider the broader implications for your network. This includes understanding the security implications of SD-WAN, as it changes how traffic is routed and can introduce new vulnerabilities. Training for IT staff is another consideration, as they'll need to manage and troubleshoot a more complex network. Lastly, consider the potential for future network needs and how SD-WAN might accommodate growth or new technologies. My experiences have shown that while SD-WAN is a powerful tool for jitter reduction, its benefits are maximized when it's part of a holistic network strategy that considers these and other factors.

Not all network traffic is created equal. Luckily, SD-WAN can be configured to prioritize business-critical traffic and real-time services like Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and then effectively steer it over the most efficient route. By facilitating critical applications through reliable, high-performance connections, IT teams can help reduce packet loss and latency issues, thereby improving employee productivity, and boosting staff morale. This is the performance with business impact.

Digital transformation initiatives can add layers of complexity to a network. The result is not only a risk of poor network performance but also over-taxed IT teams and the need for locating onsite personnel at remote sites to manage the local IT infrastructure. Fortunately, SD-WAN can ease the IT burden by simplifying WAN infrastructure, using broadband to off-load non-critical business apps, automating monitoring tasks, and managing traffic through a centralized controller. Consider looking for an SD-WAN solution that can also be integrated into the local branch infrastructure to drive security and management deep into the local LAN.