Software-defined networking (SDN) is an approach to network management that enables network administrators to programmatically control network behavior directly from software applications, rather than through the hardware infrastructure. In traditional network architectures, such as those based on routers and switches, network control and forwarding functions are tightly coupled. SDN decouples these functions, allowing network control to become directly programmable and the underlying infrastructure to be abstracted for applications and network services.
Key components of SDN include:
SDN Controller: The central component of an SDN architecture, the controller is responsible for managing the flow control to facilitate network traffic. It provides a centralized view of the network and communicates with network devices using southbound APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
Southbound APIs: These interfaces allow the SDN controller to communicate with the data plane devices, such as switches and routers, to configure and manage their behavior. Examples of southbound APIs include OpenFlow, NETCONF, and RESTful APIs.
Northbound APIs: These interfaces expose the functionality of the SDN controller to higher-layer applications and orchestration systems. They enable applications to interact with the SDN controller to implement network policies and services. Northbound APIs can vary depending on the specific SDN controller platform.
Network Devices: These are the switches, routers, and other network devices that forward traffic based on instructions received from the SDN controller. In an SDN architecture, these devices typically have simplified forwarding functionalities compared to traditional networking equipment.
2. EVOLVING NETWORK REQUIREMENTS
• Increased Bandwidth and Speed
• Edge Computing Integration
• Enhanced Security Measures
• Support for Remote Work and Collaboration
• Adoption of Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
3. ADOPTION OF SDN
• SDN adoption allows organizations to dynamically allocate resources, automate
network configuration, and respond rapidly to changing requirements,
optimizing overall network performance.
• Networks must support low-power, low-latency communication protocols
suitable for IoT devices, and implement effective device management and
security mechanisms.
4. WHAT IS SDN?
• SDN stands for Software Defined Network which is a networking architecture
approach. It enables the control and management of the network using software
applications. Through Software Defined Network (SDN) networking behavior of
the entire network and its devices are programmed in a centrally controlled
manner through software applications using open APIs.
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6. DATA PLANE
• All the activities involving as well as resulting from data packets
sent by the end-user belong to this plane.
This includes:
• Forwarding of packets.
• Segmentation and reassembly of data.
• Replication of packets for multicasting.
7. CONTROL PLANE
• All activities necessary to perform data plane activities but do
not involve end-user data packets belong to this plane. In other
words, this is the brain of the network. The activities of the
control plane include:
• Making routing tables.
• Setting packet handling policies.
8.
9. WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?
• Better Network Connectivity
• Better Security
• Better Deployment of Applications
• Better Control with High Speed
10. SDN USECASES
• Data Center Networking
• Campus Networking
• Wide Area Networking
• Network Slicing for 5G
• IoT (Internet ofThings)
• Security Policy Enforcement
• Cloud Networking
11.
12. INFRASTRUCTURE LAYER:
• The infrastructure layer is the bottom layer of the SDN
architecture, also known as the data plane. It consists of physical
and virtual network devices such as switches, routers, and
firewalls that are responsible for forwarding network traffic
based on the instructions received from the control plane.
13. CONTROL LAYER
• The control layer is the middle layer of the SDN architecture,
also known as the control plane. It consists of a centralized
controller that communicates with the infrastructure layer
devices and is responsible for managing and configuring the
network.
14. APPLICATION LAYER
The application layer is the top layer of the SDN architecture and is
responsible for providing network services and applications to end-users.
This layer consists of various network applications that interact with the
control layer to manage the network.
