SDN need can be explained with the help of real life analogy corresponding to water supply system. Water reservoir has pipes (data cables) attached to it to carry water (data) to the destination. Water regulation is done with the help of numerous valves (routers and switches).
Plumber (network admin) is the in charge of addition, up gradation of pipes and valves. As the pipe changes, corresponding valves need to be changed. This is costly and time consuming process, which causes lot of overhead in case of frequent infrastructural updates as the valves need individual-manual intervention. Bulk updation may cause installation errors or are more likely to faulty installations.
Considering the above scenario it is desirable to have remotely controlled updation (increased width, new connections, extensions etc) regarding the pipe (data cables) & valves (switches and routers). So if this analogy is applied to real networking scenario, the SDN concept comes in picture. SDN provides programmable switches & routers which can be controlled remotely and will not require any manual intervention.
Table of Contents
1. NEED OF SDN
2. HISTORY/BACKGROUND
3. DEFINITION OF SDN
4. TERMINOLOGIES OF SDN
5. SCENARIO BEFORE SDN
6. SDN GROWTH
7. HOW SDN WORKS
7.1 Fully centralized control plane
7.2 Semi/logically centralized control plane
7.3 Fully distributed control plane
8. SDN OPERATION
9. SDN DEVICES
10. SDN CONTROLLERS
11. Introduction to OpenFlow
12. BUILDING BLOCKS OF OpenFlow
13. OpenFlow Messages
14. Virtualization
15. Platform uniformity improves operational efficiency
16. SDN Abstractions
17. Mininet and POX Installation
Objectives and Core Themes
This book serves as an introductory guide to Software Defined Networks (SDN), aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of how decoupling the control plane from the data plane revolutionizes network management. The central goal is to explain the transition from traditional, hardware-centric networking to programmable, software-defined architectures, exploring how this shift enables greater flexibility, automation, and efficiency in modern network environments.
- Evolution of networking technologies and the shift towards SDN
- Core architectural components including the control plane, data plane, and SDN controllers
- The role of OpenFlow as a standard communication framework
- Virtualization techniques and the implementation of Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
- Practical SDN simulation and application development using Mininet and POX
Excerpt from the Book
1. NEED OF SDN
SDN need can be explained with the help of real life analogy corresponding to water supply system. Water reservoir has pipes (data cables) attached to it to carry water (data) to the destination. Water regulation is done with the help of numerous valves (routers and switches).
Plumber (network admin) is the in charge of addition, up gradation of pipes and valves. As the pipe changes, corresponding valves need to be changed. This is costly and time consuming process, which causes lot of overhead in case of frequent infrastructural updates as the valves need individual-manual intervention. Bulk updation may cause installation errors or are more likely to faulty installations.
Considering the above scenario it is desirable to have remotely controlled updation (increased width, new connections, extensions etc) regarding the pipe (data cables) & valves (switches and routers). So if this analogy is applied to real networking scenario, the SDN concept comes in picture. SDN provides programmable switches & routers which can be controlled remotely and will not require any manual intervention[1, 2, 3].
Chapter Summaries
1. NEED OF SDN: Analyzes the limitations of manual network management using a water supply analogy to highlight the benefits of programmable infrastructure.
2. HISTORY/BACKGROUND: Traces the transition from early circuit-switched networks to the packet-based paradigms that paved the way for modern SDN.
3. DEFINITION OF SDN: Defines SDN as a technique to decouple control and data planes, allowing for programmatic network control and infrastructure abstraction.
4. TERMINOLOGIES OF SDN: Outlines fundamental SDN terminology, including forwarding devices, data planes, and interface abstractions.
5. SCENARIO BEFORE SDN: Details the challenges of traditional networks, such as high complexity, consistency discrepancies, and poor scalability.
6. SDN GROWTH: Provides a chronological overview of technology and networking evolution from the 1960s to the 2010s.
7. HOW SDN WORKS: Explains the architectural foundation of SDN, focusing on plane separation and centralized vs. distributed control models.
8. SDN OPERATION: Describes the functional layers of SDN and the basic flow of operations when handling network packets.
9. SDN DEVICES: Compares software and hardware implementations of SDN switches and their respective packet processing flows.
10. SDN CONTROLLERS: Examines the role of the SDN controller in managing network elements via northbound and southbound APIs.
11. Introduction to OpenFlow: Introduces OpenFlow as an open-source technology for managing communications between the control and data planes.
12. BUILDING BLOCKS OF OpenFlow: Breaks down the components of the OpenFlow protocol, including wire protocols and configuration management.
13. OpenFlow Messages: Categorizes and explains the different message types used in the OpenFlow protocol for controller-switch interactions.
14. Virtualization: Discusses the necessity of virtualization in networking and the role of NFV in overcoming resource and scalability challenges.
15. Platform uniformity improves operational efficiency: Highlights the outcomes of implementing NFV, such as increased reliability and data rates.
16. SDN Abstractions: Focuses on Mininet as a key emulation tool for creating and testing SDN topologies.
17. Mininet and POX Installation: Provides practical guidance on setting up the Mininet and POX environments for SDN experimentation.
Keywords
Software Defined Networks, SDN, OpenFlow, Network Function Virtualization, NFV, Data Plane, Control Plane, Mininet, POX, Network Programmability, Virtualization, Networking Evolution, Packet Switching, API, Infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core purpose of this book?
This book provides a foundational overview of Software Defined Networks, explaining how decoupling network control from hardware enables modern, flexible, and programmable networking.
What are the primary topics covered?
The text covers the evolution of networking, the architectural components of SDN, OpenFlow protocols, network virtualization (NFV), and practical experimentation using Mininet and POX.
What is the primary goal or research question of the work?
The work aims to explain how SDN solves the limitations of traditional networking—such as rigidity and manual management—by implementing programmable, software-based control.
Which scientific methods are discussed?
The book discusses architectural analysis, network modeling, and experimental emulation using Mininet to simulate SDN topologies and evaluate network performance.
What is the focus of the main body chapters?
The main chapters analyze the theoretical foundations of SDN planes, detailed controller operations, OpenFlow message structures, and the practical implementation of SDN/NFV environments.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms like Software Defined Networks, OpenFlow, NFV, Control Plane, Data Plane, Programmability, and Network Virtualization.
How does Mininet contribute to SDN development?
Mininet serves as a lightweight emulator that allows researchers to build realistic SDN topologies on a single machine, facilitating cost-effective testing of applications and protocols.
What distinguishes hardware SDN switches from software-based ones?
Hardware switches offer high-speed packet processing using specialized memory like TCAMs, whereas software switches prioritize flexibility, vendor neutrality, and ease of implementation in virtualized environments.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Prof Sheetal Thakare (Autor:in), Dr. M.A. Pund (Autor:in), Prof. Anand A. Chaudhari (Autor:in), 2020, Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Networks, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/935676
