VMware Explore – Amid the ongoing discussions about Broadcom’s purchase of VMware, there’s a renewed focus on VeloCloud, VMware’s SD-WAN unit, now operating independently. Recently, Broadcom highlighted this division by introducing advanced technology aimed at optimizing edge networking for AI workloads.

The innovation, known as VeloRAIN architecture (Robust AI Networking), primarily showcases its capability to identify encrypted application traffic, a challenge that was once deemed unattainable. This development allows organizations deploying AI at the edge to enhance service quality significantly.

Recognizing the significance of timely data for AI applications reliant on proprietary and latency-sensitive information, VeloRAIN’s features are undoubtedly beneficial.

Additionally, many edge environments rely on wireless connections. VeloRAIN addresses this through innovative channel estimation intelligence for 5G and satellite connections, adapting as network dynamics change. The solution is equally effective with mixed network setups involving both wired and wireless links.

By facilitating performance improvement and fostering network expansion across various sites, VeloRAIN also includes dynamic application-based slicing. This feature enables the network to deliver customized experiences per application, based on predefined policies. It also allows network administrators to define user-specific network conditions, though this should be handled with caution.

To back these capabilities, VeloCloud introduces new appliances: the Edge 4100, which offers up to 30 Gbps throughput and can manage up to 12,000 tunnels, and the Edge 5100, with 100 Gbps throughput and an ability to handle 20,000 tunnels.

VeloCloud is also launching a dedicated channel program targeting managed service providers, which signals its operational independence from VMware.