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Networking > SDN

SDN

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a way to manage networks that separate the control plane from the forwarding plane. SDN is a complementary approach to network functions virtualization (NFV) for network management. While they both manage networks, both rely on different methods.

SDN offers a centralized view of the network, giving an SDN Controller the ability to act as the “brains” of the network. The SDN Controller relays information to switches and routers via southbound APIs, and to the applications with northbound APIs. One of the most well-known protocols used by SDN Controllers is OpenFlow, however, it isn’t the only SDN standard, despite some using “SDN” and “OpenFlow” interchangeably.

Centralized, programmable SDN environments can easily adjust to the rapidly changing needs of businesses. SDN can lower costs and limit wasteful provisioning, as well as provide flexibility and innovation for networks.

To learn more about SDN and how it is changing the networking landscape, check out SDxCentral’s continual updates. Here, SDxCentral will keep you up to date with the latest news, whitepapers, videos, and other resources on SDN.

Also check out Network Virtualization (NV), which is part of the movement toward SDN and NFV. View all the available resources on NV here.

SDN News

New
128 Technology Is Starting a Revolution for Secure SD-WAN, Networking
128 Technology Is Starting a Revolution for Secure SD-WAN, Networking Companies want simplicity and security, so “I don’t think building virtual networks on top of the networks we already have is the way to go,” said 128 COO Patrick MeLampy.
New
Verizon 5G NR Network to Touch 30 Markets by Year-End
Verizon 5G NR Network to Touch 30 Markets by Year-End The move highlights robust plans for the carrier, though it could still lag behind rivals that are promising nationwide coverage in 2020.
New
Ericsson, VMware Cozy Up With Telcos on NFV
Ericsson, VMware Cozy Up With Telcos on NFV The vendors say they have more than 50 communication service providers running live production mobile networks with Ericsson VNFs on VMware’s platform.
View more SDN News...

SDN Analysis

New
The Disaggregated Agile Telco – Faster, Better, Cheaper?
The Disaggregated Agile Telco – Faster, Better, Cheaper? Can applying NFV and SDN principles to a telco organization yield better results?
Beyond SD-WAN: Cisco ACI Anywhere, VMware NSX Everywhere, Is All This Going Somewhere?
Beyond SD-WAN: Cisco ACI Anywhere, VMware NSX Everywhere, Is All This Going Somewhere? The never-ending and quixotic quest for the universal networking fabric.
Software-Defined and Cloud-Native Foundations for 5G Networks
Software-Defined and Cloud-Native Foundations for 5G Networks AvidThink (formerly SDxCentral Research) has put together a research brief that explains the infrastructure changes required, and the role that software-defined and cloud-native technologies will play in the 5G world, including supporting network slicing.
View more SDN Analysis...

SDN Definitions

SD-WAN Essentials: A Guide For Getting Started
Intent-Based Networking Vendors Debate the Term
Considerations for an Intent-Based Networking Architecture
5 Benefits of Intent-Based Networking
What is the Lumina SDN Controller?
View more SDN Definitions...

SDN Op-Eds

Microsoft Ignite Lacks Azure Pizzazz
SDxCentral Drills Into the Silicon Foundation of Network Virtualization
Europe Embraces Network Virtualization, Time Zones Become a Pain Point
Let’s Not Forget European Operators in Open Source Networking
State of SDN and NFV — Hype or Reality?
View more SDN Op-Eds...

SDN Sponsored Resources

New
Lenovo’s Charles Ferland Discusses A Comprehensive, Consolidated Approach to CSP Digital and Network Transformation
Multi-cloud Networking with VMware NSX
Video Series: The Journey to 5G - Get the Inside Edge From Industry Experts
Case Study: Econocom Italia and Pluribus Networks: Delivering the Future Today
Software-Defined and Cloud-Native Foundations for 5G Networks
View more SDN Sponsored Content...

Additional SDN Resources

Summaries
Interviews
Syndicated Content
eBooks
eBriefs
Research
Events

Upcoming SDN Webinars

Multi-cloud Networking with VMware NSX
Multi-cloud Networking with VMware NSX VMware NSX enables a multitude of multi-cloud/hybrid-cloud use cases ranging from seamless data center extension to disaster recovery/avoidance to rapid workload mobility.

On-Demand SDN Webinars

Webinar: Modernize Your Data Center Through Open Source - Tools and Techniques
Webinar: Modernize Your Data Center Through Open Source - Tools and Techniques
5G and SDN - Laying the Software-Defined Foundations for 5G Networks
5G and SDN - Laying the Software-Defined Foundations for 5G Networks
The Open Road to Telecommunications Transformation, Part 4: Grow Your Market By Diversifying Services
The Open Road to Telecommunications Transformation, Part 4: Grow Your Market By Diversifying Services
View more SDN Webinars...

On-Demand SDN DemoFridays

Webinar: Intelligent Cloud Planning, Migration, and Optimization
Webinar: Intelligent Cloud Planning, Migration, and Optimization
Webinar: Transforming a Fortune 100 Network to Enable SaaS Deployments
Webinar: Transforming a Fortune 100 Network to Enable SaaS Deployments
Webinar: Build an Intelligent Network and Future Proof your Digital Transformation
Webinar: Build an Intelligent Network and Future Proof your Digital Transformation
View more SDN DemoFridays...

David Erickson, Forward Networks | CUBE Conversation

Report: Gartner Cool Vendors in Enterprise Networking
Podcast: Packet Pushers Network Modeling and Verification
Video: Why Automated Network Verification Matters

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