What is vbond ?

vBond, in the context of Cisco SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking), refers to the vBond orchestrator. It's a crucial component responsible for orchestrating the initial bring-up and authentication of SD-WAN edge devices within the overlay network.

 vBond does:

1. Authentication and Authorization: vBond authenticates and authorizes SD-WAN edge devices (such as vEdge routers) as they join the SD-WAN fabric. It ensures that only authorized devices can participate in the network.

2. Control Plane Establishment: vBond facilitates the establishment of control plane connections between SD-WAN edge devices and the centralized controllers (such as vSmart Controllers). This includes providing information about the available controllers and orchestrating the connections.

3. Secure Communication: vBond ensures secure communication between SD-WAN edge devices and other components of the SD-WAN architecture. It uses secure protocols and certificates to authenticate and encrypt communication channels.

4. Dynamic Key Generation: vBond generates and distributes dynamic encryption keys used for securing communication between SD-WAN edge devices and controllers. These keys are periodically refreshed to enhance security.

5. Orchestration and Management: vBond plays a role in the orchestration and management of SD-WAN deployments. It helps streamline the onboarding process for new edge devices and ensures the overall integrity and security of the SD-WAN fabric.