I have read and heard much hype over the last few years about the Service Delivery Network( or SDN). My take on this is that it is essentially where hardware infrastructure is a commodity, and basically all network devices run via virtualized software clients.

We are seeing more and more virtual software solutions for environments where a hardware device use to be a necessity. Examples include PBXs ( Mitel’s virtual appliance) and WAN Optimisation( Silverpeak’s virtual appliance) plus the fact that most router/switch companies now offer virtual modules in their routers/ switches.

The real benefit is that SDNs are driving down the cost of provision of networks, as well as providing more options around redundancy.

As an example, SilverPeak, (who was recently awarded Number 1 WAN Optimisation technology by Info tech, as well as being in Gartner’s WAN Optimisation Leader’s Quadrant), have slashed the price of their virtual clients to the point where their recent pricing decreases suggests that WAN Optimisation is now a commodity product in commercial reach of all organizations.

For a video overview of a sample client,  http://blog.silver-peak.com/largest-steel-fabricator-moves-data-fast-video