Peplink SD-WAN - Detailed Review
Networking Tools
Peplink SD-WAN - Product Overview
Peplink SD-WAN Overview
Peplink SD-WAN is an innovative solution in the networking tools category, particularly aimed at simplifying and optimizing wide area network (WAN) management for various types of organizations.Primary Function
The primary function of Peplink SD-WAN is to provide centralized cloud management and virtualization of WAN connections. This approach helps in achieving unbreakable Internet connectivity and optimal application performance by abstracting network hardware and transport characteristics from the applications using the network.Target Audience
Peplink SD-WAN is targeted at businesses of all kinds, especially those with branch offices, remote locations, or mobile operations. It is particularly useful for industries such as retail, OEM endpoints, mobile and industrial applications, public safety, transport, maritime, and broadcasting.Key Features
Centralized Cloud Management
Peplink’s SD-WAN solutions are managed through the cloud-based InControl 2 service, allowing for easy configuration, monitoring, and management of WAN networks.Bonding & Diversity
The ability to combine multiple links (such as Ethernet, 5G modems, and Wi-Fi) into a single connection increases speed and reliability. This also includes provider diversity, allowing links from different ISPs.Automatic Failover
The system continually checks the health of all links and routes traffic around inactive or intermittent connections to ensure continuous connectivity.Encryption
Links can be encrypted to ensure secure data transmission.Load Balancing/Failover
Features like drop-in mode, load balancing, and failover ensure that network traffic is managed efficiently and that there is minimal downtime.High Throughput
The routers offer high throughput, with some models providing up to 1 Gbps router throughput and 400 Mbps PepVPN throughput (without encryption).Modular Architecture
Products like the EPX offer modular architecture, allowing for advanced customization and scalability, including the ability to link up to 18x LTE-A connections. Overall, Peplink SD-WAN offers a flexible, reliable, and secure solution for managing WAN connections, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to enhance their network agility and reduce costs. Peplink SD-WAN - User Interface and Experience
Ease of Use
Peplink’s SD-WAN solutions are characterized by a user-friendly web interface that simplifies the management of multiple WAN links. The Peplink Web UI is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to configure and manage their WAN connections with minimal effort. For example, tasks such as changing the way a satellite WAN is used can be accomplished with a simple drag-and-drop action on the dashboard, which is a significant advantage in terms of usability.
User Interface
The interface is clean and uncluttered, providing only the necessary information to get the devices up and running without overwhelming the user with unnecessary details. This approach ensures that advanced features are available but do not complicate the initial setup or everyday management. The UI is so straightforward that even end users can be given access to manage how WAN links are used, which is a rare feature in enterprise-level equipment.
Centralized Management
Peplink’s SD-WAN solutions also offer centralized management through their cloud-based system, InControl 2. This allows network administrators to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the network from anywhere using a web browser. This centralized management capability enhances the overall user experience by providing real-time views of WAN health and global branch office availability.
Application Awareness and Automation
The interface allows users to set up traffic priorities easily, enabling automatic management of application traffic based on predefined software-defined rules. This means that once the rules are set, the traffic is managed automatically without requiring constant user interaction. Features like load balancing algorithms and automatic failover further simplify the management process, ensuring that the network operates smoothly and reliably.
Conclusion
In summary, the Peplink SD-WAN user interface is engineered for ease of use, with a focus on simplicity and intuitive management. This makes it an excellent choice for users who need to manage complex WAN environments without getting bogged down in complicated configurations.
Peplink SD-WAN - Key Features and Functionality
Peplink SD-WAN Solutions Overview
Peplink SD-WAN solutions offer a range of key features and functionalities that enhance network performance, reliability, and management. Here are the main features and how they work:Intelligent WAN Monitoring and Management
Peplink SD-WAN networks are capable of monitoring WAN health and quality in real-time. This allows the system to make intelligent decisions on application traffic flow. For instance, real-time services like VoIP and video are routed through the lowest latency link, ensuring optimal performance.Intelligent Failover and Active/Active Configurations
The system supports intelligent failover and active/active configurations, which guarantee reliability even when a WAN link fails. If a link drops, the traffic is instantly routed to a working tunnel, maintaining uninterrupted network operations.Centralized Management and Monitoring
Peplink SD-WAN solutions are centrally managed and monitored using a SD-WAN controller. This allows network administrators to provision, monitor, and manage branch offices and remote devices from a single interface. Complex VPN configurations can be created and deployed automatically, with real-time monitoring and notifications for WAN health and branch office availability.Secure VPN
SD-WAN provides secure, local network access to cloud resources through encrypted VPNs. By combining the bandwidth of multiple connections into a single logical WAN connection, it makes branch office VPNs faster and more affordable. Additionally, it allows for offloading public Internet traffic at the network edge, reducing the traffic sent through the VPN.WAN Virtualization
Peplink’s SpeedFusion VPN Bonding technology enables WAN virtualization, where multiple underlying connectivity technologies (such as xDSL, MPLS, cellular, and fiber) are combined into a single logical WAN connection. This presents the connectivity to users and applications as a single direct connection to the Internet or secure site-to-site connection.Load Balancing and Traffic Distribution
The system supports various load balancing algorithms, including weighted, enforced, persistence, priority, overflow, least used, and lowest latency. This ensures that network traffic is distributed efficiently across multiple WAN links, optimizing bandwidth usage and reducing latency.Multiple WAN Link Support
Peplink SD-WAN solutions can combine the bandwidth of multiple connections, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and fixed lines. For example, the EPX router can combine the bandwidth of up to 24 connections, supporting 48 SIM cards, to provide gigabits of bandwidth on-the-go.Mobile and Outdoor Applications
Peplink SD-WAN extends beyond fixed branch office and datacenter connectivity, supporting mobile, outdoor, and body-worn applications. This allows for the creation of personal area networks over cellular and Wi-Fi, all monitored, managed, and controlled centrally.InControl Cloud Management
Peplink’s InControl 2 is a cloud-based device management, monitoring, and reporting system. It provides full control over wide area networks and remote devices, enabling real-time monitoring and notifications for WAN health and branch office availability.SpeedFusion Technology
SpeedFusion allows users to combine any number of connections to form a point-to-point link, achieving ultra-fast data links and sustaining bandwidth-hungry and latency-sensitive tasks without the need for fixed lines. It also maintains secure tunnels over all available WAN links, ensuring uninterrupted network operations.AI Integration
While the provided sources do not explicitly mention the integration of AI into Peplink SD-WAN solutions, the intelligent decision-making processes, such as monitoring WAN health and automatically routing traffic based on latency and other metrics, are driven by sophisticated software-defined rules. These rules are set on the device and manage traffic automatically without human interaction, which can be seen as a form of automated intelligence in network management. However, there is no specific mention of AI technologies like machine learning or deep learning being used in these systems. Peplink SD-WAN - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
Peplink SD-WAN solutions are known for their ability to monitor WAN health and quality, and then make intelligent decisions on application traffic based on these measurements. Here are some performance highlights:WAN Virtualization
Peplink’s technology allows for the combination of multiple WAN links to increase reliability and bandwidth while reducing costs. This includes Intelligent load balancing for Internet access and SpeedFusion VPN Bonding for secure branch-to-branch connectivity.Throughput Testing
The WAN Analysis tool provides raw throughput potential between devices, which is typically higher than the throughput seen in PepVPN tests. This is because WAN Analysis measures point-to-point raw throughput without the overheads of VPN tunnels. In contrast, PepVPN tests measure throughput over the VPN, which includes additional overheads such as encryption and packet rearrangement.Link Quality
To assess the quality of individual WAN links, users can refer to SpeedFusion graphs that show metrics like bufferbloat, jitter, and packet loss. These metrics provide a more accurate view of link health and quality during data transmission.Accuracy
The accuracy of Peplink SD-WAN solutions is closely tied to how well the system can manage and combine multiple WAN links:Link Bonding and VPN Overheads
While VPN bonding can deliver high-speed, highly available site-to-site links, it comes with some overhead. This includes packet overhead for identifying and reconstructing packets across different WAN links, and additional VPN protocol overhead for security and encryption. These overheads can consume 20-30% of the available bandwidth.Latency Sensitivity
VPN bonding is latency-sensitive, as packets need to be rearranged in order at the remote device. This can introduce delays if packets travel over links with different latencies.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite the strong performance and accuracy, there are some limitations and areas where improvements could be made:Traffic Shaping
Currently, Peplink devices have limitations in traffic shaping, particularly in setting download speed limits on WAN links. Users have reported that while upload limits can be set, download limits are often ignored, requiring workarounds such as using additional devices or different configurations.AI Integration
While AI is not yet fully integrated into Peplink’s SD-WAN solutions, the industry trend suggests that future advancements will include AI to make better decisions, detect security threats, and improve overall performance and management. However, this also raises concerns about the security, reliability, and trustworthiness of AI models. In summary, Peplink SD-WAN solutions offer strong performance in terms of WAN virtualization and link management, but there are specific limitations, such as traffic shaping and the potential benefits and challenges of future AI integration. Addressing these areas could further enhance the accuracy and overall performance of the system. Peplink SD-WAN - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Structure for Peplink’s SD-WAN Solutions
eSIM Data Plans
Peplink offers various eSIM data plans that can be integrated with their SD-WAN solutions. Here are the details for the North America and Europe (NA & EU) plans:- Starter Plan: 20GB eSIM data / 200GB SFC usage, valid for 1 year, priced at $79.
- Standard Plan: 30GB eSIM data / 200GB SFC usage, valid for 1 year, priced at $99.
- Plus Plan: 60GB eSIM data / 200GB SFC usage, valid for 1 year, priced at $189.
- Plan D: 250GB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $2,000.
- Plan E: 500GB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $3,900.
- Plan F: 1TB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $7,600.
- Plan G: 2TB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $14,800.
- Plan H: 5TB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $36,000.
- Plan J: 10TB eSIM data, valid for 1 year, priced at $70,000.
SD-WAN Router and Device Pricing
The pricing for Peplink’s SD-WAN routers and devices varies based on the model and features. Here are some examples:- Pepwave MAX BR1 MINI LTEA: A single cellular Cat 7 mobile router, priced at $479.
- Peplink Balance SD-WAN Router: Prices vary by model, but there is no specific pricing listed on the provided sources. However, these routers are part of a broader SD-WAN solution that includes various features like bandwidth bonding, WAN smoothing, and hot failover.
Cloud Management Subscriptions
Peplink also offers cloud management subscriptions through their InControl 2 platform:- InControl 2 Subscription for MAX HD4 MBX: 1-year subscription priced at $999.
- InControl 2 Subscription for MAX HD4 SDX: 1-year subscription priced at $549.
- InControl 2 Subscription for Balance 30 LTE: 1-year subscription priced at $69.
Features Available in Each Plan
- SD-WAN Features: Include bandwidth bonding, WAN smoothing, hot failover, and the ability to combine multiple DSL, cable, 4G LTE, and 3G links into a single high-speed connection. These features enhance reliability and speed.
- Security Features: Peplink’s solutions include multi-layered security defenses, such as encryption using 256-bit AES, Diffie-Hellman key exchange, and the ability to detect and block abnormal packets and suspicious traffic.
- Cloud Management: Centralized cloud management through InControl 2 allows for easy setup, configuration, and maintenance of devices, as well as scheduling automatic firmware updates.
Free Options
There are no free options explicitly mentioned for Peplink’s SD-WAN solutions or eSIM data plans. All plans and subscriptions require a purchase. Peplink SD-WAN - Integration and Compatibility
Peplink SD-WAN Solutions
Peplink SD-WAN solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with a variety of devices and platforms, ensuring reliable and efficient network connectivity.
Hardware Compatibility
Peplink SD-WAN devices, such as the SpeedFusion Engine and the EPX-M8, offer versatile connectivity options. The SpeedFusion Engine, for example, is ultra-compact and can be easily integrated into existing products with its Ethernet port, USB port, and support for embedded 4G LTE/3G modems.
The EPX-M8, on the other hand, is highly customizable with its FlexModule system, allowing users to add various types of ports such as 5G modems, LTE modems, GE WAN ports, and SFP WAN ports. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of deployments, including mobile headquarters, base stations, and regional headquarters.
Network Integration
Peplink SD-WAN solutions support multiple WAN interfaces, including Ethernet, cellular (LTE, 5G), and even Wi-Fi. For instance, the Peplink Balance series can use its Wi-Fi radio as a WAN link, and it can be connected to a MIMO Wi-Fi antenna for enhanced coverage.
These devices can also combine multiple WAN connections to ensure reliable and high-bandwidth connectivity. The EPX-M8 can combine up to 18 LTE-A connections, supporting 36 SIM cards and providing gigabits of bandwidth.
Software and Cloud Management
Peplink SD-WAN is managed through centralized cloud management, which allows for easy control and monitoring of the WAN. This centralized management enables users to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot their networks from a single interface, enhancing network agility and reducing costs.
VPN and SpeedFusion Technology
Peplink’s SpeedFusion VPN technology is a key component of their SD-WAN solution. It allows for point-to-point VPN connections that can bond multiple WAN links together, providing hot failover and increased bandwidth. This technology is particularly useful in scenarios where multiple sites need to be connected reliably, such as in mobile or vehicular deployments.
Compatibility with Other Devices
Peplink SD-WAN devices can work in conjunction with other brands’ routers and network equipment. For example, you can integrate a Peplink Balance router with other-brand routers connected to different WANs, although full SD-WAN capability may require using multiple Peplink devices or specific configurations to utilize the backup WANs effectively.
Conclusion
In summary, Peplink SD-WAN solutions are highly adaptable and can integrate with various hardware and software platforms, making them versatile tools for ensuring reliable and high-performance network connectivity across different environments.
Peplink SD-WAN - Customer Support and Resources
Peplink SD-WAN Support Overview
Peplink SD-WAN offers a comprehensive range of customer support options and additional resources to ensure users can effectively manage and troubleshoot their networking solutions.Support Plans
Peplink provides several support plans that cater to different needs:EssentialCare
This plan includes standard hardware replacement, access to the latest firmware, InControl2 cloud access, and support via email or forums.
SmartCare
Building on EssentialCare, SmartCare adds phone support, advanced hardware replacement (with overnight shipping of replacement equipment), and other enhanced support features.
West Support
This plan offers more extensive support, including troubleshooting of configured systems, advice on all traffic that passes through the device, and friendly service. It can be bundled with either EssentialCare or SmartCare.
West Support SLA
This option provides 24/7 phone support with a 2-hour response SLA, which can be billed monthly or annually.
Technical Support
Users can access various support channels:Phone Support
Available 8-5 or 24/7 depending on the support plan chosen.
Email Support
Available during business hours (8-5).
Troubleshooting
Support includes troubleshooting of router features, basic WAN support, and installed configurations, though it does not cover engineering and design aspects.
Resources
Peplink offers several resources to help users manage their SD-WAN solutions:InControl2 Cloud Access
A central cloud platform for managing and monitoring Peplink devices.
Firmware Updates
Access to the latest firmware for the hardware version in use.
User Manuals and Documentation
Detailed user manuals, such as the Peplink B One Series User Manual, provide step-by-step guides for setting up and configuring Peplink routers.
Online Community and Forums
Support from forums where users can share experiences and get help from the community.
Additional Tools and Features
Peplink SD-WAN also includes several features that enhance user experience and network management:Centralized WAN Monitoring
Real-time monitoring and notifications for WAN health and branch office availability.
Automatic Failover and Load Balancing
Intelligent failover and load balancing algorithms to ensure continuous connectivity and optimal network performance.
Remote Management
Tools for remote configuration and real-time notifications on network status.
By leveraging these support options and resources, users of Peplink SD-WAN can ensure their networks are reliable, efficient, and well-maintained.
Peplink SD-WAN - Pros and Cons
Advantages
Increased Network Agility and Cost Reduction
Peplink SD-WAN offers significant improvements in network agility and cost reduction compared to traditional WANs. It allows for the use of multiple underlying connectivity technologies (such as xDSL, MPLS, cellular, and fiber) simultaneously, presenting them as a single, direct connection to the Internet or secure site-to-site connections.Intelligent Traffic Management
SD-WAN enabled networks can monitor WAN health and quality in real-time, making intelligent decisions on application traffic flow. This includes routing real-time services like VoIP and video through the lowest latency links and implementing intelligent failover and active/active configurations to ensure reliability.Centralized Management and Monitoring
Peplink SD-WAN allows for centralized management and monitoring of branch offices using a single interface. This enables network administrators to provision, monitor, and manage wide area networks and remote devices efficiently, including automatic deployment of complex VPN configurations.Enhanced Security
SD-WAN provides secure VPN connections, combining the bandwidth of multiple connections into a single logical WAN connection. It also allows for offloading public Internet traffic at the network edge, reducing the traffic sent through the VPN and enhancing overall security.Flexibility and Deployment
Peplink SD-WAN solutions offer flexibility in deployment, extending beyond fixed branch office and datacenter connectivity to include mobile, outdoor, and body-worn applications. This allows for connectivity in various scenarios, such as company vehicles and temporary locations without fixed line connectivity.Disadvantages
Higher Equipment Costs
While SD-WAN can reduce networking costs in the long run, the initial investment in on-premise equipment can be high. This is a common challenge with many SD-WAN solutions.Quality of Service (QoS) Issues
SD-WAN services often rely on public Internet connections, which can lack end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. This can lead to inconsistent QoS, particularly for traffic flowing over public Internet links.Variable Vendor Capabilities
The capabilities and performance of SD-WAN solutions can vary significantly between vendors. This variability can make it challenging to find a solution that fully meets the original vision of software-defined networking.Additional Administrative Work
SD-WAN solutions often require more configuration and maintenance compared to traditional MPLS networks, which can add to the workload of IT staff. This additional administrative work is a notable drawback.Security Challenges
While SD-WAN offers sophisticated security features, such as end-to-end encrypted tunnels and advanced threat detection, the increasing sophistication of cybercrime means that continuous security monitoring and updates are necessary to protect the network. In summary, Peplink SD-WAN offers significant benefits in terms of network agility, cost reduction, and centralized management, but it also comes with potential drawbacks such as higher initial equipment costs, QoS issues over public Internet, variable vendor capabilities, and additional administrative work. Peplink SD-WAN - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing Peplink SD-WAN to other AI-driven networking tools in its category, several key points and alternatives come to light.
Unique Features of Peplink SD-WAN
Peplink SD-WAN stands out for its robust reliability and performance, particularly through its patent-pending SpeedFusion technology. This technology allows for the bonding of multiple internet connections (up to 13 links including cable, DSL, 3G/4G/LTE) into a single, high-bandwidth connection. This ensures unbreakable connectivity with failover capabilities, making it ideal for applications requiring real-time data transmission such as VoIP, video feeds, and POS data.Traffic Management and Load Balancing
Peplink SD-WAN offers extensive control over traffic management through its load balancing methods and algorithms. This allows for fine-tuning of how traffic is distributed across connections, enhancing network flexibility and resilience.Cost-Effectiveness
Peplink SD-WAN is generally more cost-effective compared to some of its competitors, although it may require additional investments to match the comprehensive feature sets of other solutions.Customer Service and Deployment
While the deployment of Peplink SD-WAN is straightforward but slightly more time-consuming, the customer service is highly praised by users. However, there is room for improvement in cloud integration and the intuitiveness of the management dashboard.Alternatives and Comparisons
VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN
VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN is known for its advanced features, high scalability, and strong integration capabilities. It offers dynamic multipath optimization and seamless deployment, but is generally more expensive than Peplink SD-WAN. Users have noted the need for better documentation and enhanced customer support.Juniper Networks AI-Native Networking Platform
Juniper’s AI-native networking platform uses a common AI engine to unify campus, branch, and data center networking operations. It is notable for reducing networking trouble tickets by up to 90%, operational expenses by up to 85%, and the time needed for incident resolution by up to 50%. This platform is highly automated and ensures reliable, measurable, and secure connections for all devices and applications.Arista Networks Etherlink AI Platforms
Arista’s Etherlink AI platforms are designed to optimize network performance for demanding AI workloads. These platforms provide continuous network monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation of network configuration and management tasks. They are particularly useful for environments requiring high-performance networking.HPE Aruba Networking Central
HPE Aruba’s Networking Central, integrated with OpsRamp technology, offers expanded observability into network devices such as wireless access points, switches, firewalls, and routers. This platform provides more context and insights into network operations, enhancing overall network management.Cisco DNA Center
Cisco DNA Center is a powerful network management tool that uses AI to automate network operations, including automated troubleshooting, policy management, and real-time analytics. It provides comprehensive visibility into network performance and security, enabling data-driven decisions.Conclusion
While Peplink SD-WAN excels in reliability, performance, and cost-effectiveness, other solutions like VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN, Juniper Networks AI-Native Networking Platform, Arista Networks Etherlink AI Platforms, HPE Aruba Networking Central, and Cisco DNA Center offer advanced features and AI-driven capabilities that might be more suitable depending on specific networking needs. Each of these alternatives has unique strengths, such as enhanced scalability, automation, and integration capabilities, which can be crucial for different enterprise environments. Peplink SD-WAN - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Peplink SD-WAN?
Peplink SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking) is a technology that gives you full control over wide area networks and remote devices using a single interface. It allows for the central management and monitoring of WAN health and availability, and it makes intelligent application traffic flow decisions to benefit your operations.
How does Peplink SD-WAN improve network reliability?
Peplink SD-WAN improves network reliability through several features. It includes intelligent failover and active/active configurations, which ensure guaranteed reliability even when a WAN link fails. The system continually checks the health of all links and routes traffic around inactive or intermittent connections. This ensures unbreakable communication and high-bandwidth connections.
What are the key differentiators of Peplink SD-WAN?
Key differentiators include flexibility in taking multiple links and turning them into a single connection, increased speed and reliability by adding more links, automatic failover, encryption compliant with high standards, load balancing algorithms, site-to-site configuration for secure network bridging, and application awareness for managing traffic priorities.
How does Peplink SD-WAN reduce costs?
Peplink SD-WAN reduces costs by replacing expensive managed circuits (like MPLS or P2P connections) with commonly available internet connections. It also eliminates the need for expensive hardware and service fees associated with traditional WAN solutions. By centralizing security and using SpeedFusion VPN, companies can lower individual circuit costs and reduce management overhead.
What is SpeedFusion technology in Peplink SD-WAN?
SpeedFusion is a technology by Peplink that allows the bonding of multiple WAN connections to form a single, ultra-fast, and reliable data link. This technology enables VPN traffic to be encrypted and distributed over all available WANs, ensuring session persistence and unbreakable communications.
Can Peplink SD-WAN support multiple connectivity technologies?
Yes, Peplink SD-WAN supports multiple connectivity technologies. It can combine the bandwidth of various connections, including wired and wireless links, to form a single logical WAN connection. This includes support for cellular modems, Ethernet connections, and other types of WAN links.
How does Peplink SD-WAN handle traffic management?
Peplink SD-WAN allows for the setup of traffic priorities to manage application traffic automatically. It uses load balancing algorithms to decide how the device transitions between links, ensuring that critical applications like VoIP and video are sent over low-latency links.
What security features does Peplink SD-WAN offer?
Peplink SD-WAN offers several security features, including encryption of WAN links with 256-bit AES, centralized security management, and the ability to enforce a “deny all” policy for inbound and outbound traffic at remote sites. This helps minimize the attack surface and provides a single point of entry and exit for easier monitoring and security.
Can Peplink SD-WAN be managed centrally?
Yes, Peplink SD-WAN is centrally managed and monitored. It uses tools like InControl 2, a cloud-based device management, monitoring, and reporting tool, to manage and monitor all devices from a single interface.
How does Peplink SD-WAN support mobile and remote networks?
Peplink SD-WAN supports mobile and remote networks through its mobile bandwidth bonding feature. This allows the combination of multiple mobile connections to form an ultra-fast data link, which is particularly useful for applications like rolling workplaces, mobile clinics, and HD video streaming without the need for fixed lines.