We are excited to announce the upcoming arrival of VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN Edge models 710-5G, 720 and 740, the latest additions to the VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN family! These new appliances will enhance enterprise branch networking capabilities and security, and provide a foundation for edge AI.
VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN and Edge appliances make infrastructure AI-ready
VeloCloud is one of the three key aspects of Broadcom’s software-defined edge strategy. Our vision is to create an AI-ready infrastructure that radically transforms how companies consume and leverage data at the edge to gain a competitive advantage. Supporting edge AI requires precise computing resources and suitable network capabilities. This is achieved through VeloCloud SD-WAN, an intelligent overlay network that efficiently manages and directs resources to meet specific workload demands. VeloCloud provides both physical and virtual Edge appliances, with the Edge serving as the core element of this intelligent overlay.
Simplified VeloCloud Edge portfolio for entry to mid-tier enterprise branch offices
As Broadcom continues its engineering effort at the edge, we have significantly simplified the VeloCloud portfolio across the board. With the 700 series, we’ve consolidated eighteen Edge 600 models to four (710-W, 710-5G, 720, and 740). This simplified Edge portfolio not only makes it easier for customers to understand and choose the products that best meet their needs, but also streamlines operations by reducing administrative complexity. It allows Broadcom to better focus on R&D and market demands, enhances agility, and enables quicker responses to market changes, thereby accelerating innovation cycles.
For information regarding the Edge 710-W model released earlier this year (February 2024), see the blog post here.
VeloCloud Edge 710-5G, 720, and 740 platform highlights
The new Edge 700 series is designed to provide secure, reliable, scalable, and flexible WAN connectivity for enterprise networks of all sizes. A key innovation is its ability to consolidate multiple functions—SD-WAN, firewall, router, switch, and Wi-Fi 6 (Edge 710/710-5G)—into a single, compact, high-performance appliance. This design not only reduces clutter and simplifies management but also results in substantial cost savings.
Designed for entry-level branch networks, the Edge 710-5G greatly enhances deployment flexibility, supporting cellular connectivity in scenarios such as retail stores, ATMs, or remote branch deployments. With zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), the device activation process is rapid and effortless. This model supports dual physical SIMs for 5G/LTE and includes SIM failover, which automatically switches to an alternate circuit if coverage is diminished or lost. It is also backward compatible with 3G and 4G. Furthermore, the embedded eSIM unlocks transformative opportunities in scalability, provisioning, management, and deployment.
Designed as mid-level appliances, the Edge 720 and 740 provide high-performance, secure, and scalable WAN connectivity for enterprise branch offices or regional headquarters. Compared to the predecessor Edge 600 series, Edge 700 provides higher throughput and better scalability with lower latency. The Edge 720 and 740 feature Intel Atom class processors, multiple Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 and SFP+ ports, USB 3.0 slots for external connectivity, and support for Secure Boot and TPM 2.0.
The new Edge 710-5G, 720, and 740 appliances require VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN software release 5.2.4 or higher, and are expected to be generally available in October 2024.
Support for 5G/Fixed Wireless Access and satellite
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and satellite technologies have traditionally served as backup options for locations with limited connectivity. However, transforming them into viable primary solutions for businesses requires robust mechanisms to ensure consistent availability and quality. VeloCloud SD-WAN effectively addresses this need.
All Edge 700 series appliances are capable of supporting both wired and wireless WAN underlays. The intelligent overlay built among Edges and Gateways seamlessly integrates various wireless network underlays—including 4G-LTE, 5G, FWA, and satellite—selecting the optimal path to maximize bandwidth and minimize issues such as packet loss, latency, and jitter. This capability facilitates the rapid deployment of SD-WAN in remote or rural areas where traditional wired infrastructure may be challenging to implement.
Furthermore, VeloCloud enhances the reliability and availability of wireless transport for edge applications, enabling the use of edge AI anywhere. Ongoing developments also include VeloCloud SD-WAN’s ability to gather telemetry from wireless underlays and dynamically configure them to optimize quality, coverage, and user experience.
State-of-the-art security functions
VeloCloud offers state-of-the-art security functions—such as DoS protection, stateful inspection, application intelligence and control, segmentation, IDS/IPS, URL filtering, malicious IP filtering—through the Edge appliance. Consolidating multiple functions into a single appliance leads to substantial cost savings. These features also underscore our ongoing commitment to protecting businesses against evolving threats and ensuring a resilient networking infrastructure.
The latest Enhanced Firewall Service capabilities ensure that your business-critical networking infrastructure remains robust and highly available. URL filtering creates a safer digital environment by blocking certain content categories – such as gambling, malware and phishing, or social networking – throughout the entire infrastructure. The malicious IP filtering feature uses an intelligent IP reputation database to block traffic from known harmful addresses, helping to combat botnet attacks through early detection and blocking, thus providing an additional layer of security.
Integration with advanced AI analytics & SIEM partners
Tightly integrated with VMware Edge Intelligence, Edge 700 series uses AI/ML technology to offer deep visibility and analytics of endpoints and IoT devices. This means organizations can remain ahead of the curve by leveraging actionable insights for seamless network troubleshooting and analytics.
VeloCloud SD-WAN also integrates seamlessly with leading SIEM providers like QRadar, Microsoft Sentinel, and Splunk, enhancing security monitoring and threat detection across network infrastructures. This integration allows for real-time analytics and alerts, helping organizations swiftly identify and respond to potential security incidents.
Manage it all with VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator
The Edge 700 series, along with other VeloCloud Edge models—physical and virtual—are all managed through VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator, allowing for easy configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting through a single pane of glass. The Orchestrator also manages VMware Edge Compute Stack for a comprehensive and well-protected edge implementation, from retail stores to factory floors to emergency vehicles.
VeloCloud SD-WAN serves as an integral component of VMware software-defined edge, a distributed digital infrastructure designed to connect, secure, and manage workloads across geographically dispersed locations, proximate to data-producing or data-consuming endpoints. The addition of the Edge 700 series to the VeloCloud SD-WAN family demonstrates our commitment to delivering an intelligent overlay network layer. This layer provides enterprise-grade performance, security, visibility, and control over the WAN, ensuring optimized user access to applications across both public internet and private networks, thereby enhancing overall network efficiency and security.
Learn more
- Read the press release from VMware Explore 2024 Las Vegas announcing the new VeloCloud Edge models and much more.
- Dive deeper into VMware VeloCloud SD-WAN on the web page.