Session Smart Routing How It Works
Session Smart Routing How It Works
Session Smart Routing How It Works
HOW IT WORKS
The service-centric routing fabric for AI-Driven SD-WAN
White Paper
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary..................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 3
Secure Vector Routing................................................................................................................ 3
Application Centricity ................................................................................................................ 4
Session-Aware Data Plane......................................................................................................... 4
Session Detection and Control..................................................................................................................................4
Session Classification and State.................................................................................................................................4
Assured Path Symmetry..............................................................................................................................................5
Session Directionality..................................................................................................................................................5
Waypoint Setting..........................................................................................................................................................5
Session-Based First Packet Processing.....................................................................................................................6
Quality of Service........................................................................................................................ 8
Network Functions and Service Chaining ............................................................................ 9
Network Stateful Firewall...........................................................................................................................................9
Link and Server Load Balancing.................................................................................................................................9
SASE Functionality with Secure Service Edge ........................................................................................................9
Interoperability with Existing Routing......................................................................................................................9
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................12
Resources....................................................................................................................................12
About Juniper Networks..........................................................................................................13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This technical white paper provides a detailed explanation of how Juniper® Session Smart™
Networking and Juniper Session Smart Routers work. It details the application-centric
architecture and the session-aware data plane. Session Smart Networking offers dramatic
benefits over other enterprise WAN solutions in terms of simplicity, agility, security,
performance, and cost.
The SSR Series Router is the routing engine for the AI-Driven SD-WAN, which is cited with
feature descriptions and resources for more information, but is otherwise beyond the scope of
this document.
Introduction
Networks exist to deliver applications and services that businesses need. Most legacy networks include middleboxes
to forward packets with policies that the stateless routed network cannot understand. Examples include firewalls,
load balancing, deep packet inspection, and tunnels. This approach leads to excessive complexity at too high a cost.
It also makes it difficult to run new applications across diverse networks and within cloud environments.
This presents a challenge when supporting video-intensive workloads, for example, or connecting a mobile
workforce with its needed services and applications. The sheer complexity exposes the business to increasingly
sophisticated cyberattacks and the unacceptably high cost of downtime.
The applications running on your network connect clients to services using the language of sessions. They
understand all of the participants, policies, and other resources that may communicate in predetermined ways. Most
legacy networks don’t operate that way.
Failure to understand the language of sessions is the root cause of much that’s nonoptimal in networking today.
Session Smart Routers provide session-level intelligence to the network. When deployed as an SD-WAN solution,
Session Smart Networking enables a closer working relationship between the network and the applications it needs
to support.
Session Smart Routers, which are software based and run on either certified white box (see the Session Smart
Routing datasheet) or purpose-built hardware, understand the source user and network segment, destination
application, and directionality of flows, along with the requirements of named applications, service topology, and
business policies. Session Smart Routers use this information to plot waypoints (IP addresses along the routing path)
through the network in real time; this allows them to better support the businesses they serve.
With Session Smart Networking, the network itself becomes an application-centric fabric that is simpler, more agile,
and secure for both enterprises and service providers to operate. With Session Smart Networking, Juniper provides
a session-aware and high-performance SD-WAN that enables a “zero trust” security model. This results in better
performance at a lower cost for any-sized enterprise in any industry.
Since networks exist to connect users to applications, network design should start with those applications at the
core. SVR enables the network to differentiate the way it delivers applications.
SVR replaces tunnel-based network overlays and inefficient provisioning systems with application-centric control,
simple intelligent application-based routing, and in-band (data plane) session-based signaling (Figure 1). SVR is
fully compatible and interoperable with existing network protocols and architectures, allowing it to be gradually
introduced into an existing IP network without affecting network endpoints or hosts.
Application Centricity
The Session Smart Router’s control plane is centered on delivering applications and services. Applications are the
heart of the SVR design. SVR provides the language for describing the network’s services and applications, user
groups and devices, and associated policies—everywhere on the network.
Applications are exposed via Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs to deliver a full suite of application and
orchestration integration services.
• Deterministic – Session traffic is steered in segments between waypoints, with enforced flow symmetry, all
without tunnel-based overlays.
• Secure – Each route vector controls the directionality of the session when it’s initiated. Every session is
authenticated at each hop. Payload encryption is defined per application and applied per session.
• Dynamic – Paths are established dynamically based on application policies and network state. Statically
provisioned stateful tunnels are replaced with a model based on session state, where sessions are created on
demand and terminated when no longer needed. Link and endpoint session load balancing is native.
• Hypersegmented – Hierarchical and secure segmentation is supported end-to-end across network and Network
Address Translation (NAT) boundaries.
Session Directionality
Session directionality forms the foundation of SVR’s secure routing and segmentation model. It enables an SVR
fabric to behave as a Layer3/Layer4 firewall. As every SVR route defines the direction of a session at initiation, each
route becomes a secure vector that tightly controls access to the destination or service. In this way, SVR unifies
access control and security policies during routing.
Waypoint Setting
SVR defines a location independent and segmented approach to routing and addressing based on waypoints, which
are IP addresses configured on each Session Smart Router. Waypoints are used to govern sessions across network
paths.
Waypoints are separate and distinct from the IP addresses and named services that identify end-to-end network
sessions between devices and applications. Secure vector routes define the path (set of routers) that each session
must follow within an SVR topology. Every Session Smart Router can be reached by one or more waypoints, and
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) is used to test connection and path attributes between the waypoints.
The waypoint-based routing with SVR is inherently segment based, meaning that end-to-end route vectors can
be created based on multiple router (or waypoint) hops. Since each SVR router maintains an overall view of the
topology and service-based policies, dynamic multisegment paths can be established. Ephemeral session state in
each router along the path guarantees symmetric communications (Figure 2).
Waypoint Addresses
To establish a symmetric flow, the ingress router performs NAT on the source and destination IP address of every
waypoint hop and adds metadata to the first packet of each session (Figure 3). This metadata is used to signal
information about a session, including original IP addresses, user, and policy information. The metadata is only
included when the SVR router is aware that there is another Session Smart Router downstream. From there, all
packets for that session follow the same path.
Metadata
Desired application/network
Desired IP address
Original source and destination address
Policies and controls
First Packet
Metadata Payload WPs WPd
Figure 3. The Session Smart Router adds metadata to the first packet of each session to signal information about the session
to another Session Smart Router.
Reverse metadata is included in the first packet on the return path for the same session. The metadata is only
included in the initial packets sent between the two SVR routers. The exchange of metadata is always digitally
signed to prevent tampering and can be optionally encrypted.
WP1 WP2
• Security
N 2 1 N 2 1 1 Meta Payload 1 WP1 WP2 Meta Payload • Access 1 S D Payload
• Quality
Detect New Session Associate Policies Original Addresses Assign 128T-specific Vector Chosen Based on Restore First Packet
in Metadata Waypoint Addresses Policies and Conditions to Original State
When the first packet corresponding to a new TCP, UDP, or other transport session arrives at a Session Smart
Router, it determines the appropriate route corresponding to the session. If a route is found:
• The SVR-based router translates the source address of the packet to its own egress waypoint IP address. The
destination address of the packet is translated to the waypoint address of the destination SVR-based router.
This is necessary to enforce the return path to be symmetric.
• The SVR router adds metadata to the first packet.
• This metadata includes the original source and the destination addresses of the packet, along with other policy
and control parameters. The metadata is then signed and optionally encrypted based on policy.
• The packet is then forwarded to the waypoint address of the next SVR router.
• At the last hop SVR-based router, once authenticated and authorized, the original packet contents are restored
and forwarded to the final destination.
• Subsequent packets from the same session are automatically recognized and forwarded in the same way, but
without first packet processing.
• Similar to the processing described previously, SVR adds metadata to the first reverse packet and follows the
same path as the first forward packet so that complete path symmetry is established.
Metadata may also be used during an active session to communicate service changes or measure link quality. For
more information, see the documentation on SSR Metadata.
AI-Driven SD-WAN
AI-Driven SD-WAN is a centralized management platform for configuration, deployment, and monitoring of all cloud
networking, including AI-driven automation and troubleshooting. Unifying the cloud networking experience in this
solution is Mist™ AI, which provides the portal for management and orchestration. The platform is architected using
microservices for advanced agility.
For more information on Juniper AI-Driven SD-WAN, see the previous links and the Resources section.
Note: Some organizations that support legacy environments or that may need to adhere to certain governmental
guidelines may require an air-gapped on-premises solution. For those cases, the Session Smart Conductor is available.
The Session Smart Routers put session awareness and state where it belongs, in the router. Sessions are the
language of applications and services. Nearly every use of a network involves a stateful exchange of information
between endpoints.
Session state is not new to networking. It exists in most standalone network functions such as firewalls and load
balancers. Putting session state in the router opens the door to integrating network functions natively into routing.
SVR is the technology that enables the Session Smart Router to do that.
The Session Smart Router is a software-based router built around innovative Session Smart technology and SVR
capabilities. Session Smart Routers enable enterprises and service providers to build application-centric fabrics that
lead to new levels of simplicity, agility, security, performance, and savings.
The Session Smart Networking software runs on certified partner white boxes or certified customer premises
equipment (CPE), whether physical or virtual. It can also be run in virtualized hosted private clouds and in public
clouds such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure, or Google Cloud Platform for providing secure cloud on-ramps
and other intracloud routing functions. For deployment in private clouds, the software works with leading cloud
management platforms.
For installations ranging from small branch offices to large data centers, Juniper provides purpose-built hardware for
Session Smart Networking with the SSR100 and SSR1000 Series Routers.
Application Classification
Session Smart Networking applies intelligent heuristics to classify thousands of applications from network
traffic without decryption. It can identify traffic in all routers—not only at the edges. It can also share previously
detected traffic information among other routers for quick detection. With multiple fast acting methods that can
enable early detection, Session Smart Networking allows networks to offer top-of-the-line end-user experiences,
protection, and reporting.
Application Visibility
Session Smart Networking provides fine-grained, session-based analytics and reporting, delivering maximum
visibility into how applications and the network itself are performing. Application and network performance analytics
are available via RESTful APIs, and detailed session telemetry is sent to the cloud.
For AI-Driven SD-WAN, considerable additional visibility is supported through Mist AI, which maintains a constant
stateful inventory of key assets, users, devices, and applications. Juniper Mist WAN Assurance provides real-time
insights into device, WAN link, and application health via Service Level Experiences (SLEs). SLEs provide the basis
for Marvis® Virtual Network Assistant to provide streamlined AIOps including prescriptive actions for a self-driving
network. Long term visibility is provided via Juniper Mist Premium Analytics.
Application Control
A Session Smart Router applies application-specific routing and policies across the network using a simple
contextual data model that is based on named services and groups of users. Application-based policies including
access, security, and quality of service (QoS) are all designed to guarantee that applications meet intended service-
level agreements (SLAs) with the required degree of network security.
Quality of Service
Within Session Smart Networking, the QoS toolset offers several functions that bring best-in-class quality of
experience to end-user applications. The toolset enables differentiated services based on a class model, along with
features such as intelligent path selection, fast failover, prioritization, shaping, duplication, and error correction
across the network.
• Deny-by-default routing: SVR surpasses traditional network security with a zero trust deny-by-default routing
model; this means that no session is permitted without explicit policies to allow it. Directional service routes and
access control lists for multiple groups are one and the same.
• NAT: By default, the Session Smart Router will double NAT (NAT both the source and destination IP port) of the
packet before sending the packet out of a public interface. Double NAT allows the system to hide information
about the source and destination IP port of the flow, keeping the IP port information completely private to the
enterprise. The Session Smart Router also supports source and destination NAT (NAT44, NAT46, NAT64) on a
per-session basis.
• Encryption and VPN: Per-session encryption and per-packet authentication are supported between all instances
of the Session Smart Router. Encryption is performed using AES256, and per-packet authentication is performed
using HMAC-SHA256-128. Combined with hypersegmentation, the Session Smart Router delivers scalable
multisite VPN.
• Adaptive encryption: While performing encryption of the application traffic, the session-oriented nature of the
Session Smart Router can detect whether the traffic is already encrypted using TLS/HTTPS or by IPsec. If the
application traffic is already encrypted, the router won’t re-encrypt the packet, which eliminates the overhead
associated with double encryption.
• PCI-DSS and HIPAA compliance: The Session Smart Router is session-based and provides true zero trust
security (ZTS) and a hypersegmented network architecture, allowing organizations to meet PCI-DSS and HIPAA
compliance requirements.
• FIPS 140-2 compliance: The SSR is FIPS 140-2 Level 1 certified.
• International Council of Securities Associations (ICSA) Labs: The Session Smart Router is ICSA labs network
firewall certified.
Benefits of these features include the ability to provide full Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) functionality when
pairing Juniper or third-party SSE with AI-Driven SD-WAN.
The application-centric fabric is built from the ground up on the principles of zero trust networking. This means
that network security is no longer painted onto the perimeter of the network but is rather baked into the network
fabric itself. These application-centric fabrics are centrally managed and orchestrated with a single pane-of-glass
(Mist AI) that enables AI-Driven SD-WAN (Figure 5) with full network visibility, strong analytics, automated policy
provisioning, and zero touch deployments. Juniper application-centric fabrics are open and programmable through
RESTful APIs.
4G/5G/LTE
Internet MPLS
Figure 5. Juniper Session Smart Networking, a Service-Centric Fabric with AI-Driven SD-WAN
In addition to the application visibility and control discussed previously, enterprises and service providers can
achieve the following benefits with the service-centric fabrics in AI-Driven SD-WAN:
Lossless Application Delivery – Sessions and bandwidth are optimized along the desired path or multiple paths.
Key capabilities are:
• Multipath Session Migration – Instantly migrate existing sessions from primary to secondary paths in the event
of network brownout conditions or failures.
• Multipath Session Redundancy – Mitigate quality problems due to excessive packet loss and duplicate packets,
and send in separate redundant streams on multiple links.
Conclusion
Today’s networks needs to deliver applications and services that the business needs, when and where it needs
them. To do this requires applications, routers, and services that can “speak the language of sessions,” which most
networks are unable to do.
Speaking the language of sessions means understanding how to support only valid sessions on the network. Not
being able to do this turns out to be the root cause of many of the quality difficulties in networking today, and this
is what Juniper Session Smart Networking addresses. The Session Smart Router’s data plane is truly session aware.
Because the Session Smart Router is 100% software-based and cloud-ready, it has the capabilities to understand
source, destination, and directionality of flows, along with the requirements of named applications, service topology,
and business policies. Routers use this information to plot waypoints through the network in real time, to better
support the businesses they serve, turning the network itself into a service-centric fabric that is simpler, more agile,
and secure for both enterprises and service providers to operate.
Session Smart Routers are deployed along the network edge, enabling the network to build a closer working
relationship with the applications and services it exists to support. Session Smart Networking is a key facet of AI-
Driven SD-WAN, providing a “zero trust” security model that’s tunnel-free and doesn’t require IPsec or TLS. This
results in much better performance at a lower cost for enterprises and service providers, and businesses of all sizes.
Resources
Web Pages
• Session Smart Router
• Secure Vector Routing
• AI-Driven SD-WAN
• Mist WAN Assurance
• Mist AI and Cloud
• SD-WAN Elevate Community
Documentation
• Session Smart Networking Platform: What is It and How Does it Work?
Solution Briefs
• AI-Driven SD-WAN: Building Networks with Security at their Core
• Building a Secure AI-Driven SD-Branch
White Papers
• AI-Driven SD-WAN Secures Today’s Cloud Era Networks
• Client-to-Cloud Assurance with an AI-driven Enterprise
• Enabling SASE with AI-Driven SD-WAN
Analyst Reports
• Tunnel-Based Versus Tunnel-Free SD-WAN (ACG Research)
Datasheets
• Session Smart Router
• SSR100 Line of Routers
• SSR1000 Line of Routers
• Advanced Security Pack
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