VNX100 Versa Certified SD-WAN Associate Questions and Answers

Security zones in a Versa Secure SD-WAN solution group interfaces into security domains, controlling how traffic is processed and filtered through the network. These zones play a key role in the segmentation of traffic, improving security posture by enforcing distinct policies for different zones. They do not separate routing information into different routing tables or hide interfaces from tenants in a multi-tenant environment; rather, they are integral in the enforcement of security boundaries within the network.

In a Versa Secure SD-WAN solution, security zones are utilized primarily to group interfaces into security domains and provide segmentation of traffic. This approach enhances the security posture by isolating different types of traffic based on organizational policies or compliance requirements, thereby limiting the spread of threats across zones.

• Security Zones Group Interfaces into Security Domains (Answer A): Security zones in Versa SD-WAN are used to group multiple interfaces (either physical or virtual) into distinct domains. This grouping is strategic for enforcing security policies that are specific to a zone. For instance, a zone could be designated for guest access and have different access restrictions and monitoring compared to an employee zone.
• Security Zones Provide Segmentation of Traffic (Answer B): Traffic segmentation within Versa SD-WAN is achieved through the use of security zones. By segmenting traffic, organizations can enforce security policies tailored to the type of traffic or the sensitivity of the data within each segment. This is crucial for controlling resource access and reducing the potential impact of security breaches.

Security zones do not inherently separate routing information into separate routing tables (Option C), nor are they primarily used to hide interfaces from tenants in a multitenant environment (Option D).

References:This detailed explanation is based on the security management practices and capabilities defined in Versa Secure SD-WAN solutions, as outlined in the Versa Networks Academy Library and supplemented by standard network security principles.

In a Versa Analytics cluster, the node personalities include Search and Analytics. These personalities reflect the different roles each node in the cluster plays. The Search nodes are responsible for ingesting and indexing data, enabling fast and efficient search operations, while the Analytics nodes are responsible for processing and analyzing data, providing insights and reports. This separation of duties is key to the operation of a Versa Analytics cluster, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of the analytics platform.

URL-based Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) is an approach where the URL of a Versa Operating System activation website is emailed to the installer at the customer site. The installer then connects a laptop to the Wi-Fi or LAN port of the Versa branch device, clicks on the URL, and completes the provisioning process. This method does not require a console connection and is one of the methods provided by Versa to provision and configure new VOS devices, making the process convenient and straightforward.​

In the event of a network outage, to verify the live status of the WAN links, Versa Director device monitoring dashboard and Versa Analytics sites availability dashboard are the tools to use.These components provide real-time visibility into the status and health of WAN links, allowing for rapid identification and troubleshooting of connectivity issues.​

In a remote Versa branch, the Control Virtual Router (Control VR) is the routing instance that has the default route to reach the Versa head-end components. This Control VR is typically dedicated to carrying control plane traffic between branch nodes and the SD-WAN controller, facilitating secure communications essential for the management and operation of the SD-WAN network.

In a scenario where a device is onboarded with two Internet interfaces and Direct Internet Access (DIA) is being configured, the following statements hold true:

• Each underlay interface belongs to its own VR instance (Answer B): Typically, in Versa SD-WAN configurations, each underlay interface is assigned to its own virtual router (VR) instance. This approach allows for greater flexibility and isolation in managing routing and security policies specific to each interface. It supports independent operation and control, which is crucial for optimizing performance and security management.
• Both Internet interfaces can be selected for DIA in workflows (Answer C): In Versa workflows, it is possible to configure both Internet interfaces for DIA. This configuration enhances redundancy and ensures that there is always an active path for Internet access, which is critical for maintaining high availability and network resilience.

The option A (All underlay interfaces belong to the same VR instance) is not typically true in complex deployments where separation of control and data planes is required for better management and security. Option D (Only one Internet interface can be selected for DIA in workflows) is incorrect because Versa SD-WAN allows multiple interfaces to be configured for DIA to leverage failover and load-balancing capabilities.

References:This explanation is based on the standard practices of deploying Versa SD-WAN solutions, where the architecture supports multiple virtual routers and the capability to configure multiple interfaces for DIA.

By default, when configuring Direct Internet Access (DIA) through workflows, the protocol that runs between the tenant virtual router (VRF) and the transport WAN Virtual Router (VR), connected by the TVI interfaces, is EBGP (External Border Gateway Protocol). This protocol is used to control route distribution and is a fundamental part of the VOS Edge Device DIA Architecture. In such a configuration, the tenant VRF uses EBGP to advertise the default route, which is resolved using the logical tunnel created for DIA​​.

In the context of Versa SD-WAN, Class of Service (CoS) refers to mechanisms within the network that manage traffic prioritization and resource allocation. CoS is essential for ensuring that critical business applications receive the necessary bandwidth and low-latency treatment they require to function effectively.

A.Remarking: Remarking is a process that manipulates the Class of Service bits (in the IP header's DSCP field) or Layer 2 CoS fields (in the VLAN tag's priority code point - PCP). By remarking these fields based on Layer 3 (IP), Layer 4 (TCP/UDP ports), and Layer 7 (application identification) details, the network can differentiate and prioritize traffic. This ensures that critical applications, such as voice and video, are given higher priority over less time-sensitive data.

C.Queuing: Queuing mechanisms within Versa SD-WAN determine how packets are treated as they are processed through the network. Various queues can be assigned different priorities and weights to control the order in which packets are sent out through the network interface. High-priority queues might be reserved for voice traffic to reduce latency, while lower-priority queues could be used for bulk data transfers that are less sensitive to delays.

Versa CPEs support a variety of Quality of Service (QoS) functions to ensure effective bandwidth management and priority handling of network traffic. The three functions supported are:

• Hierarchical queuing (Answer B): This QoS function allows for the creation of a multi-level queue structure, enabling more granular control of traffic prioritization and bandwidth allocation among various traffic classes.
• Egress policing (Answer C): This involves setting maximum bandwidth limits for outbound traffic on network interfaces to prevent any traffic class from consuming excessive bandwidth and impacting the performance of other critical applications.
• Classification (Answer D): This is the process of marking packets based on predefined criteria, which can include source or destination IP addresses, ports, or application types. Classification is essential for applying the appropriate QoS policies to different types of traffic.

References:These functionalities are extensively described in Versa’s configuration manuals, where the setup and implications of each QoS feature are discussed, ensuring optimal network performance and adherence to organizational policies.

Versa Director acts as an orchestrator within the Versa SD-WAN ecosystem, providing centralized configuration management and monitoring of controllers, branch sites, and hubsites. It does not function as a log forwarder, BGP route reflector, or VPN concentrator. As an orchestrator, it manages the lifecycle of Versa VOS instances, enabling zero-touch provisioning and other orchestration functionalities through a single pane of glass.

Versa Secure SD-WAN features multitenancy, allowing multiple tenants to be managed within the same infrastructure with complete isolation and privacy. Additionally, it offers Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to define and limit the permissions and access for users based on their roles within the organization. Versa also provides single-pane-of-glass management with embedded analytics, offering a consolidated view for managing, monitoring, and analyzing the SD-WAN infrastructure and traffic. This unified management approach simplifies administrative tasks and provides deep insights into the network and security operations.

The SLA profile shown in the exhibit appears to be set with thresholds for various metrics such as jitter, packet loss, and latency. These thresholds determine the acceptable performance criteria for the network. The profile is configured with specific maximums for packet loss, both in the forward and reverse directions, and for latency. If any of these configured values are exceeded, the SLA profile is triggered, indicating a breach of the desired service level agreement parameters. Therefore, if the packet loss value exceeds the maximum set in the profile, it will trigger an event or alert, which can then be used for remediation or for activating pre-defined traffic steering rules to maintain application performance.

Using Versa Workflows, administrators can configure various routing protocols, including BGP for dynamic routing with external entities, OSPF for internal routing optimizations, and Static routing for fixed path network designs. These protocols are key components of SD-WAN deployments, enabling efficient and intelligent path selection, which is critical for the performance and reliability of the network.

A Versa Analytics reporting view provides the capability to send reports by email, generate reports periodically, and create custom reports. This means administrators can set up automated report generation to be received at specific intervals, providing insights into the network's performance and security posture. These reports can be tailored to specific needs through custom report creation, ensuring relevant data is highlighted and presented as required.

The Versa Secure SD-WAN Head-end consists of the Versa Controller, Versa Director, and Versa Analytics. However, when referring to headend nodes as components, the Versa Director and Versa Analytics are part of it. The Versa Controller, while an integral part of the SD-WAN control plane, is not listed under 'Headend Node' in the provided documentation. The Versa Director and Versa Analytics work in conjunction to manage a network of VOS devices, with the Director being the provisioning and management application and Analytics providing the analytics engine. Versa Gateway is not mentioned as part of the head-end components in the context provided.​