1.4 Key components of SDN architecture

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) architecture has key components that work together to create a flexible, programmable network. The SDN controller, network operating system, and various APIs form the backbone of this architecture, enabling centralized control and dynamic network management.

OpenFlow protocol and SDN-enabled devices play crucial roles in implementing SDN principles. These components, along with SDN applications and network virtualization technologies, allow for advanced traffic engineering, security, and network optimization capabilities in modern networks.

SDN Controller and Network Operating System

Core Components of SDN Architecture

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  Software Defined Network (SDN) and OpenFlow Protocol in 5G Network View original

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  Software Defined Networking — Define The Cloud View original

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• SDN controller functions as the centralized intelligence of the network
• Network operating system serves as the foundation for SDN controller operations
• Northbound APIs facilitate communication between applications and the SDN controller
• Southbound APIs enable interaction between the SDN controller and network devices
• East-West APIs support communication between multiple SDN controllers in distributed architectures

SDN Controller Functionality and Features

• Maintains a global view of the network topology and state
• Implements network policies and makes routing decisions based on programmed rules
• Dynamically adjusts network behavior in response to changing conditions or requirements
• Provides abstraction layer between applications and underlying network infrastructure
• Supports various protocols (OpenFlow, NETCONF, OVSDB) for device configuration and management

Network Operating System Capabilities

• Manages network resources and services across multiple devices
• Provides a platform for developing and deploying SDN applications
• Handles low-level details of network device communication and configuration
• Offers APIs for application developers to create custom network services
• Implements security features to protect against unauthorized access and attacks

OpenFlow Protocol and Network Devices

OpenFlow Protocol Fundamentals

• Standardized communication protocol between SDN controllers and network devices
• Defines message types for device configuration, flow table manipulation, and statistics gathering
• Utilizes a match-action paradigm for packet processing and forwarding decisions
• Supports multiple versions with evolving features and capabilities (OpenFlow 1.0, 1.3, 1.5)
• Enables fine-grained control over network traffic flows and forwarding behaviors

OpenFlow Switch Architecture

• Flow tables store rules for packet matching and actions
• Group tables allow for more complex forwarding behaviors and load balancing
• Meter tables implement rate limiting and quality of service policies
• Pipeline processing enables multiple stages of packet evaluation and modification
• Counters and statistics provide visibility into network performance and utilization

SDN-Enabled Network Devices

• OpenFlow-compatible switches support native SDN functionality
• Hybrid switches combine traditional networking protocols with SDN capabilities
• Virtual switches (Open vSwitch) enable SDN in virtualized environments
• White box switches offer flexible hardware platforms for SDN deployments
• SDN-enabled routers integrate routing functionality with programmable control plane

SDN Applications and Network Virtualization

SDN Application Categories and Use Cases

• Traffic engineering optimizes network resource utilization and performance
• Security applications implement dynamic access control and threat mitigation
• Load balancing distributes traffic across multiple servers or network paths
• Network monitoring and analytics provide real-time visibility and troubleshooting
• Service chaining creates customized network services by linking virtual network functions

Network Virtualization Concepts and Technologies

• Network hypervisor abstracts physical network resources into logical networks
• Virtual networks isolate traffic and provide multi-tenancy in shared infrastructures
• Network function virtualization (NFV) implements network services as software components
• Overlay networks create virtual topologies on top of physical infrastructure
• Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) applies SDN principles to wide area networks

SDN Application Development and Deployment

• Northbound APIs (REST, JSON-RPC) enable creation of custom SDN applications
• Intent-based networking allows high-level policy definition for network behavior
• DevOps practices integrate network automation with application development workflows
• Containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) facilitate SDN application deployment
• Open-source SDN controllers (ONOS, OpenDaylight) provide platforms for application development and testing