Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN (Viptela) Sandbox (20.18.x)
Solution overview
This sandbox environment features a pre-configured network topology designed to showcase the diverse capabilities of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solution. The incorporated set of components within the lab topology includes Controllers and IOS-XE WAN Edges (Catalyst 8000V), all running on 20.18.1/17.18.01a code.
In August 2025, Cisco released Catalyst SD-WAN version 20.18, introducing key enhancements in visibility, automation, and security. The release adds QoS queue statistics with real-time and historical per-tunnel insights, and integrates Cisco RADKit into SD-WAN Manager for streamlined automation and troubleshooting. Cloud OnRamp is enhanced with application path status alarms, user-defined SaaS probe endpoints, and extended AWS Transit Gateway connectivity.
New capabilities include traffic and security connection event logs powered by SD-WAN Analytics, custom IPS signature packages, and integration with Security Cloud Control for centralized security policy management. Certificate handling is improved through automated enrollment with EST/SCEP, certificate staging on WAN edge devices, and Cisco PKI support.
Operational improvements feature an upgraded device software workflow, protocol pack lifecycle management, and new advisory tools for security vulnerabilities and EoX/EoS visibility. Additional reliability updates include BFD troubleshooting, new system alarms, safety barriers, and controller group redundancy. Cisco also enhanced SD-WAN Manager with global search, security policy versioning, topology tagging, and JWT-based API access, while expanding support for rugged platforms with raw socket transport, LTE module monitoring, and ignition power management.