Azure Virtual WAN FAQ - Microsoft Docs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Azure Virtual WAN

What is Azure Virtual WAN?

Azure Virtual WAN is a networking service that brings together networking, security, and routing functionalities on a global scale. It provides an optimized and automated branch connectivity to Azure. Virtual WAN enables you to connect branches, data centers, and remote offices through a single interface, simplifying your network management and improving performance.

What are the main components of Azure Virtual WAN?

The key components include:

Virtual WAN resource: A global resource that serves as a management plane for your Virtual WAN deployment.
Virtual Hub: A Microsoft-managed network infrastructure deployed in an Azure region. It acts as a transit point for connectivity between your branches, data centers, and Azure virtual networks.
Virtual Hub Router: Integrated into the virtual hub, it handles routing between different types of connections.
Connectivity Scalesets (VPN, ExpressRoute, P2S): These provide the endpoint for connecting your on-premises sites or remote users to the Virtual WAN.

What kind of connectivity options does Virtual WAN support?

Virtual WAN supports a variety of connectivity options:

Site-to-Site (S2S) VPN: Connect your on-premises data centers or branches to your Virtual WAN hub using IPsec VPN tunnels.
Point-to-Site (P2S) VPN: Enable remote users to connect to your Virtual WAN hub securely.
Azure ExpressRoute: Connect your on-premises network to Azure via private connections.
VNet Peering: Connect your Azure virtual networks to your Virtual WAN hub for transitive connectivity.

How does Virtual WAN handle routing?

Virtual WAN uses a dynamic routing model. The Virtual Hub router automatically learns routes from all connected resources (VNETs, VPN sites, ExpressRoute circuits). It then propagates these routes to other connected resources, enabling transitive connectivity. You can also customize routing policies using User Defined Routes (UDRs) within the Virtual Hub.

What are the benefits of using Virtual WAN?

Key benefits include:

Simplified Branch Connectivity: Centralized management for connecting multiple branches.
Global Scale: Leverages Microsoft's global network for optimized performance.
Enhanced Security: Integrates with Azure Firewall and Network Security Groups (NSGs).
Reduced Complexity: Automates many networking tasks.
Cost-Effective: Can be more cost-effective than traditional hub-and-spoke designs for large-scale deployments.

Can I migrate my existing ExpressRoute or VPN connections to Virtual WAN?

Yes, Virtual WAN supports migrating existing ExpressRoute and VPN connections. Azure provides tools and guidance to help you transition your network to the Virtual WAN platform with minimal disruption.

How is Virtual WAN different from a traditional hub-and-spoke model?

While Virtual WAN facilitates a hub-and-spoke topology, it differs in its management and scale. Virtual WAN is a managed service that simplifies the deployment and operation of the hub. It provides native transitive routing across spokes and branches, unlike a traditional hub-and-spoke model which typically requires manual configuration of VNet peering and complex routing tables. Virtual WAN also leverages Microsoft's global network backbone.

What is the role of Azure Firewall in Virtual WAN?

Azure Firewall can be deployed into a Virtual Hub to provide centralized network security for your Virtual WAN. It allows you to inspect and filter traffic between your connected networks, enforce security policies, and protect your Azure resources.

How does Point-to-Site (P2S) VPN work with Virtual WAN?

When you configure P2S VPN, users can connect directly to the Virtual WAN hub from their remote devices using VPN clients. Once connected, they can access resources in any VNet connected to that hub, as well as any on-premises sites reachable through the hub, all managed by the Virtual WAN routing infrastructure.

Where can I find more detailed information?

For detailed technical specifications, deployment guides, and advanced configurations, please refer to the official Azure Virtual WAN documentation. You can typically find links to related topics and services within the documentation portal.

                    
                        # Example: Deploying a Virtual Hub (Conceptual Azure CLI)
                        az network vwan create \
                            --name MyVirtualWAN \
                            --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
                            --location EastUS

                        az network vhub-route-table create \
                            --name Default \
                            --hub-name MyVirtualHub \
                            --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
                            --routes '[
                                {
                                    "name": "MyRoute",
                                    "destinationType": "CIDR",
                                    "destination": "10.0.0.0/16",
                                    "nextHopIpAddress": "10.1.1.4"
                                }
                            ]'
                    
                