Which device acts as the Network Management Plane in Cisco SD-WAN?

In Cisco SD-WAN architectures, the vManage serves as the Network Management Plane, responsible for centralized management and orchestration of the entire SD-WAN solution. It plays a vital role in configuring, monitoring, and managing all aspects of the SD-WAN network, including policies, device configurations, and real-time monitoring of network performance.

The vManage interface allows network administrators to simplify the deployment of WAN services and manage the devices across the network through a unified dashboard. It provides insights into network health, application performance, and allows for analytics and reporting.

This device ensures efficient management of the network by enabling configuration and management of branch and edge devices, monitoring their status, and applying security policies consistently across the network. Additionally, vManage facilitates the automation of network operations, which is a critical aspect of modern SD-WAN implementations.

In contrast, the other components like vSmart and vBond have distinct roles; vSmart handles the control plane functions related to data traffic and policy distribution, while vBond assists in establishing trust and orchestrating the connectivity between vManage and the edge devices. Thus, the role of the vManage distinctly positions it as the Network Management Plane in Cisco SD-WAN architectures.