Do you have a question about the Silver Peak UNITY EdgeConnect and is the answer not in the manual?
Identifies physical network ports (fiber, copper) and supported interface features like MDI/MDI-X and auto-negotiation on the appliance.
Details connecting appliance power cables to local power sources, emphasizing redundancy.
Outlines steps to verify that power supplies and front panel LEDs illuminate correctly after powering on.
Guides connecting management ports (MGMT0, MGMT1) to a PC or network for local access, using specific cables.
Describes navigating the Orchestrator to find, approve, and assign discovered appliances to groups.
Details proceeding through the Configuration Wizard, including license registration and initial deployment settings.
This document describes the Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect appliance, a device designed for Wide Area Network (WAN) optimization and connectivity. It facilitates the creation of a software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) by integrating various network functions and providing robust management capabilities.
The Unity EdgeConnect appliance serves as a core component in an SD-WAN architecture, enabling enterprises to build a unified network fabric across diverse locations. Its primary function is to optimize WAN performance, enhance application delivery, and simplify network management. The appliance achieves this by intelligently routing traffic, applying quality of service (QoS) policies, and providing secure connectivity. It supports both physical and virtual deployments, making it adaptable to various network environments. The EdgeConnect system integrates with the Silver Peak Cloud Portal, which acts as a central repository for appliance registration and account association. This cloud integration streamlines the initial setup and ongoing management of the appliances.
The device is designed to be installed into a network and then powered on. It automatically registers its serial number with the Silver Peak Cloud Portal upon power-up, associating it with a specific account. This auto-registration feature simplifies the deployment process, especially for large-scale rollouts. Once registered, the appliance can be configured through the Unity Orchestrator, a centralized management platform. The Orchestrator allows administrators to discover, approve, and configure EdgeConnect appliances, assign them to groups, and manage their network settings.
The EdgeConnect appliance supports various network interfaces, including copper RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet and fiber interfaces, to accommodate different network infrastructures. It is capable of handling both LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN connections, acting as a gateway for traffic optimization. The device can be deployed in various modes, including DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) for automatic IP address assignment or with static IP addresses for more controlled environments. It also supports the creation of tunnels to peers, enabling secure and optimized communication between different EdgeConnect appliances in the SD-WAN.
The EdgeConnect appliance features multiple network interfaces to ensure versatile connectivity. For copper connections, it utilizes RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. These interfaces support MDI/MDI-X (Medium Dependent Interface/Medium Dependent Interface Crossover) auto-negotiation, which means they can automatically detect and configure the correct cable type (straight-through or crossover) for connection to other network equipment. This simplifies installation by eliminating the need for specific cable types.
For fiber optic connections, the appliance supports LC connectors. These fiber interfaces are compatible with both multi-mode 50µ fiber and 62.5µ fiber, providing flexibility for different fiber optic cable types commonly found in enterprise networks. The presence of both copper and fiber options allows the EdgeConnect appliance to integrate seamlessly into diverse physical network infrastructures, from traditional Ethernet to high-speed fiber backbones.
Power supply configurations vary by model, with some appliances featuring a single power supply and others offering redundant power supplies. Redundant power supplies enhance reliability by providing a backup in case one power supply fails, ensuring continuous operation. The power supply circuits should be protected by a minimum 15A and maximum 20A circuit breaker, indicating the power requirements and safety considerations for installation.
The management interfaces, MGMT0 and MGMT1, are also RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces that support MDI/MDI-X auto-negotiation. The MGMT0 interface is assigned a default IP address of 169.254.0.1 with a subnet mask of /16 (255.255.0.0). This default IP allows for direct local access and configuration. The MGMT0 interface can be connected to network equipment using a blue straight-through cable, while the MGMT1 interface can be connected directly to a PC using a red crossover cable for local management access. This dual management interface setup provides flexibility for initial configuration and troubleshooting.
The appliance's software version is indicated by a numerical format (e.g., 7.3.0.0_55994), which is important for software updates and compatibility. The device also tracks uptime, providing an indication of its operational stability.
The Unity EdgeConnect appliance is designed for ease of use, from initial installation to ongoing management. The physical installation process is straightforward:
Once powered on, the appliance automatically registers with the Silver Peak Cloud Portal. The Unity Orchestrator then facilitates the discovery and approval of these appliances. Administrators can access the Orchestrator to view discovered appliances, approve them, and assign them to specific groups. This process initiates the configuration wizard, which guides users through essential setup steps, including:
The configuration wizard is designed to be user-friendly, with each step applied before moving forward. It also allows users to reset or move back to previous steps without applying changes, providing flexibility during configuration. The Orchestrator provides a centralized view of all managed appliances, displaying their IP addresses, serial numbers, models, software versions, groups, sites, and discovery times. It also features an alarm system to notify administrators of critical, major, minor, or warning events.
The Unity EdgeConnect system incorporates several features that aid in maintenance and troubleshooting:
In summary, the Silver Peak Unity EdgeConnect appliance is a robust and user-friendly SD-WAN solution designed to optimize network performance, simplify management, and ensure high availability through its advanced features and centralized control.
| Brand | Silver Peak |
|---|---|
| Model | UNITY EdgeConnect |
| Category | Network Hardware |
| Language | English |
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