The vBond orchestrator is an SD-WAN router responsible for authenticating and orchestratingconnectivity between the vSmart controllers and SD-WAN routers. It is the sole device in the network that requires a public IP address for all SD-WAN devices to connect to it. The vBond orchestrator has three major functions:

Controller discovery: The vBond orchestrator acts as the initial point of contact for all SD-WAN components that join the network. It authenticates the devices using pre-installed credentials and assigns them to a vSmart controller. The vBond orchestrator also provides the IP addresses of the vSmart controllers and the vManage NMS to the SD-WAN routers.

NAT traversal: The vBond orchestrator facilitates the establishment of secure DTLS or TLS tunnels between the SD-WAN components that are behind NAT devices. The vBond orchestrator acts as a rendezvous point for the NATed devices and helps them exchange their public IP addresses and port numbers. The vBond orchestrator also performs NAT keepalive and hole punching to maintain the NAT bindings and prevent the NAT devices from timing out the sessions.

Certificate management: The vBond orchestrator acts as the certificate authority (CA) for the SD-WAN network. It generates and signs the certificates for the SD-WAN components and distributes them to the devices. The certificates are used to authenticate the devices and encrypt the control and data plane traffic.

References:

Cisco SD-WAN Architecture Overview

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Getting Started Guide

New Training: Identify Cisco SD-WAN Components

 The new operational paradigm is a way of designing, deploying, and managing networks that leverages the power of intent-based networking. Intent-based networking is a network architecture that aligns the network with the business goals and policies, and uses artificial intelligence and automation to translate the intent into network configurations and actions. The new operational paradigm requires three foundational elements:

Fabric: A fabric is a network topology that consists of interconnected nodes that provide a consistent and scalable way of delivering network services and functions. A fabric can span across multiple domains, such as campus, branch, data center, and cloud, and can support multiple protocols, such as IP, Ethernet, MPLS, and VXLAN. A fabric enables the network to operate as a single entity, rather than a collection of disparate devices and links. A fabric also simplifies the network design and management, as it reduces the complexity and variability of the network elements and interfaces.

Assurance: Assurance is the process of continuously monitoring, verifying, and optimizing the network performance and behavior, based on the defined intent and policies. Assurance uses telemetry, analytics, and machine learning to collect and process data from the network devices and applications, and to provide insights and recommendations for network optimization and troubleshooting. Assurance also enables the network to self-heal and self-optimize, by applying corrective actions and adjustments to the network configurations and policies, based on the feedback loop from the data and analytics.

Policy-based automated provisioning of network: Policy-based automated provisioning of network is the process of applying the intent and policies to the network devices and services, using automation and orchestration tools. Policy-based automated provisioning of network abstracts the network complexity and heterogeneity, and allows the network operators to define the network requirements and outcomes in a high-level and declarative way, rather than specifying the low-level and imperative commands and parameters. Policy-based automated provisioning of network also enables the network to be agile and adaptive, as it can dynamically adjust the network configurations and policies, based on the changing network conditions and business needs.

References:

Cisco Intent-Based Networking

Cisco Digital Network Architecture

Cisco Routed Optical Networking

Cisco Operational Insights: A New Way of Seeing Operations

SD-Access - High Level Branch Design-Software Defined Access @ 0:34https://salesconnect.cisco.com/sc/s/learning-activity-from-plan?ltui__urlRecordId=a0c8c00000O0wmZAAR <ui__urlRedirect=learning-activity-from-plan<ui__parentUrl=

https://www.ciscolive.com/c/dam/r/ciscolive/apjc/docs/2020/pdf/BRKCRS-3493.pdf

= Border nodes are the component of the SD-Access fabric that is responsible for communicating with networks that are external to the fabric. Border nodes serve as the gateway between the fabric domain and the network outside of the fabric. Border nodes are responsible for network virtualization inter-working and SGT propagation from the fabric to the rest of the network1. Border nodes also perform LISP Proxy Tunnel Router (PxTR) functions, which convert policy and reachability information, such as SGT and VRF information, from one domain to another2. Border nodes can connect to internal networks, such as data center or WAN, or external networks, such as internet or cloud3.

Edge nodes, control plane nodes, and intermediate nodes are not responsible for communicating with networks that are external to the fabric. Edge nodes are the access-layer switches where all of the endpoints reside. Edge nodes detect clients and register them with the control plane nodes. Edge nodes also providean anycast L3 gateway for the connected endpoints and perform encapsulation and de-encapsulation of data traffic4. Control plane nodes are the devices that run a host tracking database to map location information. Control plane nodes receive endpoint ID map registrations from edge and/or border nodes and resolve lookup requests from edge and/or border nodes to locate destination endpoint IDs5. Intermediate nodes are the devices that provide underlay connectivity between edge nodes and border nodes. Intermediate nodes do not participate in the fabric overlay and do not have any fabric roles6.

References :=

Role of Fabric Border Node & IS-IS protocol in Cisco SD-Access

Software Defined Access Network Fabric Roles - Study CCNP

Cisco SD-Access

SD-Access Fabric Troubleshooting Guide - Cisco

Cisco SD-Access Solution Design Guide (CVD) - Cisco

Cisco SD-Access Solution Design Guide (CVD) - Cisco

Cisco SD-Access Solution Design Guide (CVD) - Cisco

 Cisco ISE benefits our customers by providing network access control and helping them stop and contain real-time threats. Network access control is the ability to enforce policies on who and what can access the network, based on the identity and context of users, devices, and applications. Cisco ISE allows customers to authenticate, authorize, and audit network access, as well as to segment and isolate network traffic based on security and compliance requirements. Cisco ISE also helps customers stop and contain real-time threats by leveraging intel from across the network and security ecosystem, and by automating threat response actions. Cisco ISE can integrate with various security solutions, such as Cisco Stealthwatch, Cisco Firepower, and Cisco Umbrella, to detect and mitigate attacks on the network quickly and effectively. References:

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) - Cisco1

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) - Cisco2

Network Visibility and Segmentation (NVS) - Cisco3

Rapid Threat Containment - Cisco4

https://salesconnect.cisco.com/sc/s/learning-activity-from-plan?ltui__urlRecordId=a0c8c00000Kfw0AAAR <ui__urlRedirect=learning-activity-from-plan<ui__parentUrl= Slide 3 - ISE is critical to your customer – • Visibility in to users, devices & applications • Access control and segmentation • Stop and contain threats in real-time

Cisco DNA Assurance provides three key differentiators that our competitors are unable to match:

Proactive approach to guided remediation: Cisco DNA Assurance uses AI and machine learning to analyze network data and provide insights on network performance, issues, and optimization. It also offers guided remediation options that automate the process of issue resolution and performance enhancement. This reduces manual troubleshooting operations and saves time and resources for network administrators12.

Apple Insights: Cisco DNA Assurance integrates with Apple devices and applications to provide enhanced visibility and analytics on the user experience and network performance. It also leverages the Fast Lane feature to prioritize critical iOS and macOS traffic over the wireless network. This improves the quality of service and collaboration for Apple users and applications13.

Network time travel: Cisco DNA Assurance allows network administrators to go back in time and view the network state and health at any given point. This enables them to identify the root cause of issues, compare network performance over time, and troubleshoot historical problems. This feature is unique to Cisco DNA Assurance and provides a powerful tool for network analysis and optimization1 .

References:

1: Cisco DNA Assurance: AI/ML guided IT operations (AIOps) At-a-Glance 2: Leveraging Cisco Intent-Based Networking DNA Assurance (DNAAS) 3: Cisco DNA Assurance Unlocking the Power of Data, page 39 : Cisco DNA Assurance Unlocking the Power of Data, page 74

The protocol that runs between the vSmart controllers and between the vSmart controllers and the vEdge routers, and unifies all control plane functions under a single protocol umbrella is the Overlay Management Protocol (OMP)12. OMP is a proprietary protocol that is designed to enable the Cisco SD-WAN solution, which provides a software overlay that runs over standard network transport, including MPLS, broadband, and internet to deliver applications and services3. OMP provides the following services12:

Orchestration of overlay network communication, including connectivity among network sites, service chaining, and VPN or VRF topologies

Distribution of service-level routing information and related location mappings

Distribution of data plane security parameters

Central control and distribution of routing policy

OMP is an all-encompassing information management and distribution protocol that enables the overlay network by separating services from transport. Services provided in a typical VPN setting are usually located within a VPN domain, and they are protected so that they are not visible outside the VPN. In such a traditional architecture, it is a challenge to extend VPN domains and service connectivity. OMP addresses these scalability challenges by providing an efficient way to manage service traffic based on the location of logical transport end points. This method extends the data plane and control plane separation concept from within routers to across the network2.

References:

1: Routing Configuration Guide for vEdge Routers, Cisco SD-WAN Release 20.x - Unicast Overlay Routing 2: Introduction to Overlay Management Protocol in Viptela 3: Cisco SD-WAN vEdge vManage vSmart IBM