The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) is opening up its OpenFlow Conformance Testing Program to non-members as of today, with the aim of extending the software-defined networking (SDN) ecosystem.

The highest level of assurance currently in the market, the ONF Certificate of Conformance endorses compliance with certain versions of OpenFlow. ONF allows networking vendors to earn the certificate for networking hardware and software. All those who pass will see their products listed on the ONF website.

Conformance testing hasn't been around long. Meru Networks got its certificate in June, just the second vendor to receive one after NEC passed the test in October 2013.

Allowing non-members to use the program would propel SDN adoption, says Erica Johnson, director of the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL) and chair of ONF's Testing Leadership Council. Having a diverse range of products certified for use with OpenFlow builds confidence in the market for the SDN standard and adoption of the network technology as a whole, she says.

"Our main interest is in welcoming other players in the open SDN ecosystem whose business models do not lend themselves to the committed engagements of full-fledged membership," said Johnson in an email to SDxCentral. (Considering membership costs $30,000 per year — less for startups — it makes sense that some companies wouldn't want to join.) Johnson went on to say that ONF does see this as an opportunity to grow the organization's membership by making other SDN companies and businesses more fully realize ONF's benefits beyond conformance testing.