Method for modifying an sd-wan using metric-based heat maps

A system for modifying a software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN), comprising:

• a set of managed forwarding elements (MFEs) configured to forward data message flows through the SD-WAN;
• and
• a management and control server coupled to the set of MFEs, the management and control server configured to:
• collect metrics associated with the data message flows from the set of MFEs;
• generate a heat map based on the collected metrics, the heat map accounting for the data message flows, locations of the set of MFEs, and locations of destinations of the data message flows;
• identify at least one modification to make to the SD-WAN based on the generated heat map to improve forwarding of the data message flows;
• and
• implement the at least one identified modification to the SD-WAN.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of a management and control server, cause the processing unit to perform a method for modifying a software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN), the method comprising:

• collecting metrics associated with data message flows from a set of managed forwarding elements (MFEs) that forward the data message flows through the SD-WAN;
• generating a heat map based on the collected metrics, the heat map accounting for the data message flows, locations of the set of MFEs, and locations of destinations of the data message flows;
• identifying at least one modification to make to the SD-WAN based on the generated heat map to improve forwarding of the data message flows;
• and
• implementing the at least one identified modification to the SD-WAN.