First time settings for SD-WAN Manager

Updated: July 7, 2026

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Explains initial configuration concepts and fundamental requirements, equipping administrators with the knowledge to properly understand and plan the first-time setup of Cisco SD-WAN Manager.

First time settings on Cisco SD-WAN Manager refer to the initial configuration process after onboarding that includes

a guided task flow to assist you through the initial setup.
option to choose either a Standard or Express setup.
a setup button on the toolbar allows toggling the task flow open and close.

Guided task flow

After onboarding, SD-WAN Manager provides a guided task flow for essential configurations, including both mandatory and recommended settings. Using the toolbar options in the setup, you can manage the progress of the task flow. The guided task flow allows you to:

Mark steps as complete using the Mark as complete option.
Skip optional steps individually with Skip or all at once with Skip remaining.
Stop or restart the task flow at any time after configuring mandatory steps.
While configuring optional steps, return to a specific step using the Go to this step option.

After you update all the basic settings, you can mark the guided task flow as Complete. The Monitor > Overview page opens.

Standard setup

You may choose either a Standard or Express setup.

We recommend that you use the standard setup to complete the initial configurations that are needed to set up the system and onboard network devices. The tables below provide information about system and management setup.

Table 1. System setup
Setting	Category	On-Prem Deployments	Cloud Deployments
Tenancy mode	Mandatory	Yes	NA
Organization name	Mandatory	Yes	NA
Control component settings	Mandatory	Yes	Yes
Proxy settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Smart account credentials	Optional	Yes	Yes
Cloud services	Optional	Yes	Yes
Certificate settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Add control component	Optional	Yes	Yes
Validator address	Optional	Yes	NA

Table 2. Management
Setting	Category	On-Prem Deployments	Cloud Deployments
Identity provider settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Users and access	Optional	Yes	Yes
Alarm notification settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Account lockout settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Web server certificate settings	Optional	Yes	Yes

Express setup

In an express setup, complete the steps that are essential for onboarding network devices.

The tables below provide information about system and management setup.

Table 3. System setup
Setting	Category	On-Prem Deployments	Cloud Deployments
Tenancy mode	Mandatory	Yes	NA
Organization name	Mandatory	Yes	NA
Control component settings	Mandatory	Yes	Yes
Proxy setting	Optional	Yes	Yes
Validator address	Optional	Yes	Yes
Certificate settings	Optional	Yes	Yes
Add control component	Optional	Yes	Yes

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