Understanding MPLS and SDWAN

[paradox622]

This next semester for college I have to write a 20 page paper about migrating from MPLS to SD WAN. I only know the very basics of SD WAN and know nothing about MPLS. I am asking for advice on the best way to get a good grasp on both topics. I honestly don’t know where to begin since I have 0 experience with both as they are something I never encounter.

I recently got my CCNA and working towards getting a degree in networking and hope to attempt the ENCOR within the next few years. I want a good jump start on this research before the fall semester starts.

[Leo Laohoo]

What is the difference between SD-WAN and MPLS?

[MHM Cisco World]

Friend 

Use any AI to get good answers.

If AI answer you with something difficult to understand share here to make us help you to clarify it.

MHM

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Just tried: "does ai always give correct answers"

and received: (Duck.ai)

No, AI does not always give correct answers; it can generate wrong or misleading information, especially when it is more focused on producing responses rather than ensuring accuracy. Users should verify the information provided by AI systems to avoid relying on incorrect outputs.

and: (GPT-4o)

No, AI does not always give correct answers. While AI can provide useful information and generate coherent responses, it can also produce incorrect, misleading, or incomplete information. Factors such as limitations in training data, context misunderstanding, and the complexity of certain topics can contribute to inaccuracies. It's important for users to verify information from AI with reliable sources, especially for critical or sensitive topics.

Both those AI answers do seem good, to me.

@paradox622 I often suggest starting with Wiki subject articles.  Their technical subject articles are usually very good and usually provide additional references.

Oh, having been a college instructor teaching networking, what we're looking for in a paper like this, isn't just a list of what the two technologies are, but a basic understanding of both so you could migrate from MPLS to SD-WAN.

[MHM Cisco World]

Again dont waste my time 

Dont mention me again for any reason.

MHM

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Sorry, your request is unclear.  I didn't explicitly mention you, and how you spend your time, is up to you.

I haven't made any request upon it.  If I did make a request upon your time, if you thought it would be wasteful, well don't grant me that time.

If you're upset about attaching my reply to yours, that's to supply other readers context.  I can, though, just quote your material, if you would prefer.

If you're upset with this particular reply of mine, unclear why, as I confirmed your suggestion to use AIs to obtain good answers.

If your request is to not make a reply or do anything in reference to yours, sorry no.  I make such actions for the benefit of others, even marking your replies helpful or a solution.

If you want to avoid public peer review, you might resume what you've done in the past, send private messages to the OP.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

BTW, just curious, is the paper assignment more specific what's it looking for in "migrating" from MPLS to SD-WAN?

The reason I ask, the two technologies are not necessarily mutually exclusive, so it's not a question like, perhaps, replacing RIP or OSPF with EIGRP, but more like a question, perhaps, migrating from 802.1Q to IP routing, or perhaps, migrating from 802.1Q to VXLAN or similar.

For example, in the Wiki article on SD-WAN, we find:

Gartner research firm has defined an SD-WAN as having four required characteristics:^[1]

• The ability to support multiple connection types, such as MPLS, last mile fiber optic network or through high speed cellular networks e.g. 4G LTE and 5G wireless technologies

So notice, MPLS is explicitly mentioned as a possible connection type supporting SD-WAN.

Possibly, the "migration" is some functions of MPLS being replaced by SD-WAN?

As you mention you know nothing about MPLS, at its most basic, it's tagged packets, much like 802.1Q tagged frames.  Originally designed to allow L3 "routing" to performed as quickly as L2 "switching".  However, such tagging has allowed MPLS to support many interesting features.  It's some of the latter that might be replaced by SD-WAN.