Software-defined networking (SDN) changes how the network’s control (brains) and forwarding (muscle) planes interact to improve automation and orchestration, creating one of the most disruptive technologies to hit networking in decades.
In today’s cloud environments, administrators can spin up new compute and storage in minutes, only to be stymied for weeks by cumbersome network operations. SDN‘s innovative approach to designing, building, and managing networks provide a flexible way to control the network so it can function more like the virtualized versions of compute and storage.
Whether for enterprise or providers, SDN offers the potential for faster and more agile provisioning; lower OpEx and/or CapEx; and more comprehensive network visibility and maintenance. SDN technology and the SDN market still are in their early, evolving stages. Here, we provide a primer on SDN resources, including the fundamentals of software-defined networking, and how to integrate it with networks today.
SDN Basics
What is Intent-Based Networking? Intent-based networking is a relatively new term in the information technology space. But what exactly is intent-based networking and what are the characteristics? The keyword in intent-based networking is intent.
What is Software Defined Networking (SDN)? Definition Software-defined networking (SDN) is comprised of multiple kinds of network technologies designed to make the network more flexible and agile. Learn more.
What Is an Operations Support System (OSS)? Definition An operations support system (OSS) is a software component that enables a service provider to monitor, control, analyze, and manage services on its network.
What is a Spine Switch? A spine switch make up heart or backbone of a leaf-spine network architecture by connecting to underlying leaf switches providing predictable latency.
What are Leaf Switches? Learn how ethernet leaf switches aggregate traffic from network server connections in a leaf-spine network architecture for data center network deployments.
What is Software Defined Compute? - Definition See how software defined compute can drive business agility and efficiency by moving applications and computing power into the cloud.
What is the Software Driven Cloud Networking? Learn about how the growth of software driven cloud networking, cloud computing, and SDN is driving a software-driven cloud networking architecture.
What is SDN Orchestration (SDN Policy Orchestration)? Learn about how software-defined networking (SDN) technology is used to orchestrate applications and services through SDN orchestration.
Understanding the SDN Architecture - SDN Control Plane & SDN Data Plane The SDN architecture uses an SDN control plane & SDN data plane as an approach to building a “disaggregated” network. Learn more.
Software-Defined Networking Tutorial - The Basics This software-defined networking tutorial aims to better explain the emerging SDN technology to anyone interested in its adoption.
What Is Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (or Cisco ACI or Cisco SDN)? Part 1
What is the OpenDaylight Project (ODL)? The OpenDaylight Project (ODL) brings together several companies focused on creating a community-led, open source framework to highlight SDN benefits.
SDN
What are SDN Northbound APIs (and SDN Rest APIs)? SDN Northbound APIs are usually SDN Rest APIs used to programmatically communicate to the SDN Controller what a network device or service should do.
What are SDN Southbound APIs? SDN Southbound APIs enable an SDN Controller to dynamically make network changes according to real-time demands and needs.
What are SDN Controllers (or SDN Controllers Platforms)? SDN Controller Platforms relay information between switches/routers 'below' and applications and business logic ‘above’ the SDN Controllers.
SDN & NFV
What is SDN-WAN and Why Does it Matter? SDN-WAN is a term used to describe how network operators can leverage SDN to deliver services across MPLS, LTE or broadband.
What Is Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO)? Definition Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) encompasses all network domains that require coordinated end-to-end management and control to deliver on-demand connectivity services and to assure their overall quality and security.
What is an NFV OpenStack? Definition Learn about how NFV OpenStack can be used to deploy next generation Network Function Virtualization services and applications.
What is an NFV Strategy for Deploying New Services? See how cloud and communications service providers can use Network Function Virtualization (NFV) to deliver new services using a business NFV strategy.
What is Software-Defined Security for SDN?
Why SDN or NFV Now? Software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) are how networks are built today
What is NFV - Network Functions Virtualization - Definition? Network functions Virtualization (NFV) offers a new way to design, deploy and manage networking services. Learn more about NFV at SDxCentral.
SDN & SD-WAN
SD-WAN 101: Guide for Getting Started SD-WAN 101 is part of a new series of definitional guides that bring together our best definitional content on important topics.
Nuage’s SD-WAN Uses a Single Network Policy Framework Nuage SD-WAN distributes business policies and network intelligence across both the data center and the WAN.
What Is CloudGenix’s SD-WAN Approach? CloudGenix prides itself on the fact that its CloudGenix SD-WAN solution is defined by software instead of hardware. Learn more here.
What Is AT&T’s SD-WAN Approach? In AT&T’s evolving SD-WAN ecosystem, VeloCloud remains an essential component, but AT&T also aims to be a force in the market with its own solution.
SD-WAN vs. MPLS: The Pros and Cons of Both Technologies SD-WAN provides benefits such as cost, agility/flexibility, and ease of use/deployment. But MPLS will always be in demand.
The Primary Benefits of SD-WAN Technology SD-WAN technology routes traffic to remote locations such as branch offices, transferring the burden of traffic management from physical devices to software.
The Essentials of SD-WAN Architecture: Advantages and Options The SD-WAN architecture provides a networking foundation, abstracting software from hardware and making the network more elastic.
What is the Difference Between SD-WAN and iWAN? SD-WAN is a specific application of SDN that is applied to WAN connections and iWAN is the name of Cisco’s SD-WAN product.
What is iWAN and Why Does It Matter? iWAN is an acronym for intelligent WAN and is a traffic control product that Cisco developed that is now part of the company’s SD-WAN platform.
What’s the Difference Between Hybrid WAN and SD-WAN Hybrid WAN connects WANs to a branch office using different types of connections while SD-WAN uses SDN to deliver services over different connections.
What is Networking as a Service or NaaS? Learn about Networking as a Service (NaaS) technology, which can include Private Networks (VPNs), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) & other services.
What are Network Overlays? Learn how network overlays like VxLAN, GRE, and over technologies are used to virtualize networks, providing additional application and security benefits.
SDN & 5G
What Is the Radio Access Network? Components of the radio access network include a base station and antennas that cover a given region, depending on their capacity.
How Is the RAN Network Evolving? The RAN network has been in use since the beginning of cellular technology. How is it evolving toward 5G?
What Is 5G Network Slicing? One of the most innovative aspects of the 5G architecture will be its reliance on network slicing, which lets operators provide portions of their networks.
What is Network Slicing? What is network slicing? It's a networking architecture that is used to dedicate parts, or slices, of the network to certain services.
What is Dynamic Network Slicing? Dynamic network slicing is a concept that calls for the will be to optimize 5G networks so that they efficiently address all use cases
Verizon's 5G Urgency: An Ambitious Plan for the 5G Future Although 5G is expected to be introduced in the United States around 2020, Verizon wants to bring that date closer.
The Birth and Growth of Nokia’s '5G First' The Nokia 5G First solution is targeted toward operators seeking the first-to-market advantage. Read more about their 5G First solution here:
In the World of 5G, Virtualization Is Everything The 5G virtualization will occur both at the network’s core and at the network’s edge in order to serve the boom in mobile network bandwidth. Read more:
What Are the Top 5G Security Challenges? Experts are concerned about 5G security threats and risks that the new 5G standard will face. What are the new risks that 5G networks will bring? See more.
How 5G SDN Will Bolster Networks 5G SDN will play a crucial role in the design of wireless networks. It'll provide an intelligent architecture for network programmability. See more.
5G Technology Promises Faster Connections, Lower Latency 5G technology will power wireless networks of the future, enabling virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), robotics, and automated vehicles.
What Are the Top 5G Business Cases? In the interest of market competition, providers are studying the key 5G business cases. Here are a few of the top 5G business cases.
What is 5G? Everything You Need to Know – Definition 5G is the term used to describe the next-generation of mobile networks beyond the 4G LTE mobile networks of today. Learn more about what is 5G here.
More SDN Definitions
What is the Lumina SDN Controller? The foundation of the Lumina SDN Controller is the OpenDaylight controller, which is comprised of three parts. Learn more.
The Microsoft Cloud Storage Market Strategy Reports point out that Microsoft cloud storage product Azure is making significant gains in the cloud market, quickly catching up to its rival, AWS.
Security Tips: How to be Safe in Cloud Computing Maintaining due diligence is the number one best practice for cloud computing safety. Remain updated on top of the latest security issues and strategies and review additional tips to stay safe in cloud computing here.
What Is Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO)? Definition Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) encompasses all network domains that require coordinated end-to-end management and control to deliver on-demand connectivity services and to assure their overall quality and security.
What is Ryu Controller? The Ryu Controller is an OpenFlow Controller that works in SDN environments to help manage traffic flows. Learn more here.
What is Open vSwitch (OVS)? Open vSwitch enables massive network automation through programmatic extension, while still supporting standard management interfaces and protocols.
What is the Cisco ONE Controller? The Cisco ONE Controller, a software package that acts as an interface between northbound and southbound APIs, supports the SDN standard OpenFlow.
What is Cisco onePK? Cisco onePK gives programmers the ability to create their own applications that integrate with Cisco’s hardware as part of Cisco Open Network Environment.
What is an OpenFlow Controller? OpenFlow Controller manages the flows and allows for direct control of the infrastructure in an SDN environment.
How Virtual Network Security Works & Why
What is an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO)? Definition Read how the NFV Orchestrator is a key component of the NFV-MANO architecture and works with other NFV-MANO functional blocks such as the VIM VNFM.
What Is Open Virtual Network (OVN)? How It Works What is Open Virtual Network? Learn how Open Virtual Network (OVN) is helping standardize the functions of virtual networking.
What Is Virtual Networking? How It Works What is Virtual Networking? Learn how virtual networking enables data centers to adapt to the new requirements of modern applications in the cloud.
How Does Micro-Segmentation Help Security? Explanation Micro-segmentation is a security technique that enables fine-grained security policies be assigned to data center applications, down to the workload level.
What Is Network Automation With Network Virtualization? Network automation with network virtualization is a benefit of SDN and NFV technologies, expected to speed up delivery of network-based services.
What is the Docker Platform and Container Components? Definition Learn how multiple components of Docker’s open source containerization scheme coalesce to form the Docker platform to virtualize workloads.
What is an SDN POC? SDN proof of concept (or SDN POC) is an important step to better understanding how software-defined networking can help your business goals.
What's Networking Software? Networking software allows users to access network resources and helps deploy, manage and monitor computer networks. Learn more at SDxCentral.
What is CoreOS Flannel? Definition
What is Network Service Chaining? Definition Network service chaining and service function chaining use SDN capabilities for service chain provisioning to connect virtualized network services.
SDN & Intent-Based Networking
Intent-Based Networking Vendors Debate the Term Leading intent-based networking vendors discuss, debate, and voraciously defend the technology. Learn more here.
Considerations for an Intent-Based Networking Architecture Intent-based networking architecture is an addition to an already existing networking architecture instead of being a separate architecture of its own. Learn more here.
5 Benefits of Intent-Based Networking One of the most attractive benefits to intent-based networking (IBN) is the relieving the IT department from updating all networking devices to complete a business objective. Read about more IBN benefits here.
SDN & Performance Management
The NFV Performance Management Challenges As with all network solutions, performance management is vital to NFV's success. View the challenges to NFV Performance Management here.
Performance Management & SDN: New Issues Need New Solutions The areas of performance management and SDN are changing. The arising issues stemming from SDN necessitate the implementation of a unified performance management tool, which converges SDN and network functions (NFV), and automated solutions via machine learning (ML).
What is NPM? Then and Now — A Definition What is NPM? NPM stands for Network Performance Management, which identifies the methods to monitor a network's performance levels.
What is APM? Definition and Characteristics What is APM? It stands for Application Performance Management, which is the tools used to analyze and track a software application’s performance.
What is a VNF Manager (VNFM)? Definition The VNF Manager (VNFM) is a key component of NFV-MANO architecture that works with the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and NFV Orchestrator (NFVO).
What is Nuage Networks VSC? Nuage Networks VSC is the SDN Controller for the company's Virtualized Services Platform (VSP) that works with OpenFlow and OVSDB.