How Software Defined Networking could Completely re-define Network Management and Development?

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is all set to change the field of networking and holds a lot of promise. Broadly put, it implements the control plane (which, in simple terms, maintains information about routes available for a packet in a logical map) in software that resides on servers instead of in the networking hardware. The data plane (which, in simple terms, determines what to do with incoming data), can then be implemented in standard networking hardware. Thus, it brings about a drastic change in the architecture of a network by separation of the two functional areas mentioned above, across different systems instead of putting everything into the same SKU.

Naturally, protocols need to be developed for this in order to ensure interoperability and compatibility, the most notable one so far being OpenFlow. This leads to major benefits for network administrators in any organization. They can, via trial-and-error, find the sweet spot for deciding how their networking policies should be, because the information which needs to be referred is now implemented in server-side software. In order for them to implement the data plane in networking hardware, they will gain insights into behind-the-scenes working of hardware that is usually as opaque as a black box.

Vendors such as HP have steadily begun to roll out solutions that take advantage of the possibilites of SDN.

“To solve the challenges created by legacy networks, organizations need the ability to automate the network from end to end by leveraging SDN to abstract the control plane from the physical infrastructure,” said Joe Skorupa, vice president and distinguished analyst, Gartner. “For maximum performance, utilization and simplicity, customers must ensure that there is a suite of SDN technologies across the entire network, from the hardware infrastructure to the control plane to the applications, and also from the data center to the desktop; in order to move beyond today's complexities and improve business agility across the enterprise.”

As companies move to cloud and other computing environments, manual configuration of networks through command-line interface (CLI) coding has proven to be error prone, as well as time and resource intensive. SDN overlay-point products offer a centralized control plane, but fall short by not enabling automated configuration of network infrastructure or providing SDN applications to roll out new services for campus and branch networks. This incomplete approach creates complexity and unnecessary manual coding requirements.

“In the cloud era, clients need a single point of control for the entire network, which enables them to deploy any application or service directly to the user within minutes,” said Prakash Krishnamoorthy, country manager, HP Networking, HP India.

The infrastructure layer of the SDN architecture delivers open programmable access through OpenFlow, a networking protocol that automates hardware configurations. New SDN functionality in the infrastructure layer enables clients to simplify network configuration. The control-software layer creates a centralized view of the network. By eliminating thousands of manual CLI entries, the controller enables network administrators to easily and flexibly program and scale their network environment for single-touch automated applications. It also provides application program interfaces (APIs) to third-party developers to integrate custom enterprise applications. The application layer delivers open programmable interfaces to automate applications across the network.

SDN with Internet of Things

Next year, the Internet of Things is expected to be a key tech according to a recent Gartner report. When the number of end-point devices connected to the Internet will increase, it will bring about a considerable rise in the number of addressable objects online. Care has to be taken to do this addressing in the most efficient manner possible and at a low cost. Traditional networking technologies will still be used to reach the existing access locations but the complexity of increase in the number of objects and end-to-end polices applied to these objects will be handled by the distributed global software abilities of SDN.

The Road Ahead

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting SDN, continues to accelerate the standards, deployment and advanced use of SDN. The Foundation is driving technical work forward through the addition of four new initiatives focusing on new network orchestration interfaces, OpenFlow beyond Ethernet connections for optical networks, northbound APIs for management and billing, and future forwarding plane models. The efforts include Architecture and Framework, Northbound API, Forwarding Abstractions, and New Transport. With these efforts, ONF is accelerating and enabling advanced use of SDN, and supporting the creation of better tools to build and program software-defined networks.

“ONF is taking on myriad opportunities inherent to the growth of the SDN marketplace,” said Scott Shenker, member of the ONF Board of Directors and Professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley. “With these efforts in the Foundation, member companies will further refine SDN technologies and their capabilities to continue driving commercialization of the standard. Recognizing the increasingly diverse scenarios where OpenFlow-based SDN can add value for customers, ONF stays at the forefront of network innovation. Like the OpenFlow protocol itself, these efforts are evidence that ONF — designed to be agile — is evolving with the market and technology to ensure that user demands are met rapidly and efficiently.”

Do you see value in terms of how SDN can help you? Have you already considered going for SDN-based networking? What are the reasons? Let us know by writing to us at pcquest@cybermedia.co.in.