SDxCentral
Join Login
SD-WAN 3 5G 6 MEC IoT 3 SDN 5 NFV 7 Containers 5 Cloud 8 Security 6 AI 2 Converged DC 2 SD-Storage 3 NPM/APM 1

Login to SDxCentral

Your login link has been emailed to you.

Or login with your password

Enter Your Password

Forgot your password? Login as a different user?
  • Directory
  • Reports
  • Webinars
  • eBooks
  • eBriefs
  • White Papers
  • Sponsored Content
  • Videos
  • Resources
  • Use Cases
  • Participate

Join SDxCentral and get information tailored to your particular interests everyday.

Join
Sponsored:
Citrix 4 Dell EMC 1 Linux Foundation 10 Lumina OCP OpenStack 11 Palo Alto Networks 1 Riverbed 1 Verizon 20 VMware 9

SDN > SDN Resources > What is Open SDN?

What is Open SDN?

Software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) have a vast open source community, committed to growing projects that promote open standards. In order to better understand open source, it’s important to understand first what open SDN entails.

Attributes of Openness in SDN

When trying to ascertain what is and isn’t open, remember that one or more of the below can help determine openness.

  • Open Standards: Freely and generally available specifications for hardware or software developed and maintained through a shared process, like OpenFlow
  • Open Source Software: Source code available for anyone to modify or enhance, like OpenStack and OpenDaylight
  • APIs and SDKs: Application program interfaces (APIs) act as tools for creating software applications, often dictating how software components should communicate with one another (not all APIs are open, consider Amazon Web Services APIs); software development kits (SDKs) are packages of pre-written code that minimize the amount of unique code developers have to write themselves; several SDKs are published APIs, available for anyone to write into their own applications
  • Open Hardware: Designs with open reference for compute and networking products, like Open Compute Project

The above gives a glimpse into why many companies and organizations can label themselves or their products as “open.” However, when contemplating what is and isn’t “open,” one must consider the degree or type of openness attributed to a certain product or company.

Foundational technologies — considered the building blocks of SDx (software-defined everything) — can be SDN/NFV products, including protocols, SDN Controllers, vSwitches, or application APIs. They are held to a higher standard than supporting technologies, which enable other technologies to interact with each other.

How to Determine a Project’s Openness

Consider these areas when trying to understand the degree of a project’s openness.

  • Contribution and/or Participation Requirements: Participation requirements sometimes depend on the project. The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) requires membership, while OpenDaylight allows anyone to participate, but only paying members have voting rights. An easy rule of thumb when determining a project’s openness is to pinpoint the top 10 contributors. If more come from a single company, the less likely the project is more open.
  • Governance: This refers to the process a project follows when accepting code contributions. While every project has its own methods and processes, it’s important to identify who holds responsibility of standards.
  • Intellectual Propert Protection and Licensing Rights: Free and open software (FOSS) gives users the ability to run programs for any purpose, as well as alter and redistribute them without paying royalties to the original developers. Reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) licensing assurance means the patent holder will not gouge the market with licensing fees once the standard is adopted. Both of these licenses reduce legal risks and point to a more open project.
  • Ownership and Ability to Fork: Intellectual property (IP) disputes are not few and far between, so knowing who ultimately owns the open standards or open software is important for openness. Make sure an agreement dictates who will own the TP that results from any open project. Also, be sure to ask if a final product can be “forked” — turned into a unique piece of software based on source code from someone else.

To be truly open, foundational technologies must meet the following criteria: FOSS-based licensing; a level of clearly defined IP protection to ward off patent infringement or copyright claims; an open and transparent governance model with a board that represents the entire community; and open participation requirements that offer well-established merit-based processes on how code will be accepted.

SDxCentral holds foundational technologies to a higher standard than supporting technologies, or those that enable other technologies to interact with each other. SDxCentral also believes the most truly open projects are those governed by an independent foundation.

When taking into account these factors, the projects OpenStack and OpenDaylight could be deemed more open due to their open allowance of contributors, the foundation governance, and their free and open licensing rules (Apache 2.0 for OpenStack, Eclipse Public License for OpenDaylight). Also based on SDxCentral’s criteria, the most open foundational technologies would be found in any software project or protocol from the Apache Foundation, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Linux Foundation, or ONF.

SDN & SD-WAN Open Source

The application of SDN to network connections across a wide geographic area is called software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN). SD-WAN is considered an addition of SDN in that it uses it to unify networks within an enterprise despite geographical distances. This technology has seen a rise in popularity among enterprises for several reasons, mainly for cost-effectiveness and for enhanced security. Another important reason there is a growth SD-WAN usage is due to its open source technologies. The SD-WAN open source resources provide customers with a way to access SD-WAN at a lower price point. The open source community also spurs advancement in the technology.

Additional Open SDN Resources

Open SDN Series Article #1: Defining Openness for Open SDN and NFV: A Primer for Network Operators

Open SDN Series Article #2: Why — and When — is “Openness” Important in Networking?

Open SDN Series Article #3: Open is the New Closed (or, When is “Open” Not Really Open?)

What is a Southbound API?

What is a Northbound API?

Who is the Open Networking Foundation (ONF)?

Open Source: The Biggest Risk to SDN

SDxCentral’s Open Source Topic Page

SDxCentral 2017 Network Virtualization Report: SDN Controllers, Cloud Networking and More

SDxCentral 2015 SDN & NFV Market Size and Forecast Report

SDN Controller Wars Part #1

SDN Controller Wars Part #2

What is Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)?

Resources

  • SD-WAN Resources
    • What is Software-Defined WAN (or SD-WAN or SDWAN)?
    • The Essentials of SD-WAN Architecture: Advantages and Options
    • SD-WAN as a Service Using Orchestration
    • What is Hybrid WAN and Why Does it Matter?
    • What’s the Difference Between Hybrid WAN and SD-WAN
    • What is SDN-WAN and Why Does it Matter?
    • What is SD-WAN as a Service?
    • What is iWAN and Why Does It Matter?
    • What is the Difference Between SD-WAN and iWAN?
    • SD-WAN vs. MPLS: The Pros and Cons of Both Technologies
    • Riverbed SD-WAN Offers Different Options
    • What Is CloudGenix’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • What Is AT&T’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • Versa’s SD-WAN Combines Networking and Security
    • Nuage’s SD-WAN Uses a Single Network Policy Framework
    • What is Citrix’s SD-WAN Product?
    • What Is Cisco’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • What Is Juniper’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • Silver Peak’s SD-WAN Solution Targets Enterprises
    • What is Verizon’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • What Is VeloCloud’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • What Is Viptela’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • 2017 SD-WAN and Virtual Edge Report – Download
  • MEC Resources
    • What Is Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC)?
  • Containers Resources
    • Inside the Linux Container Ecosystem Report – Download
    • What are Containers?
    • How Does Container Networking Work?
    • Containers vs VMs: Which is better in the Data Center?
    • What is Docker Container? Part 1: The Docker Open Source Project
    • What is Docker Container? Part 2: How Docker Containers Work
    • What Is Docker Security & How Do You Use It?
    • What is the Docker Platform and Container Components?
    • What is CoreOS Flannel?
  • SDN Resources
    • What is Software Defined Networking (SDN)? Definition
    • Software-Defined Networking Tutorial – The Basics
    • Why SDN or NFV Now?
    • What are SDN Northbound APIs (and SDN Rest APIs)?
    • What are SDN Southbound APIs?
    • What is Open SDN?
    • What is the OpenDaylight Project (ODL)?
    • What is OpenFlow?
    • Who is the Open Networking Foundation (ONF)?
    • What are SDN Controllers?
    • SDN, NFV, and Network Virtualization Define The Wave of New IP Infrastructure
    • Understanding the SDN Architecture – SDN Control Plane & SDN Data Plane
    • What’s a Software-defined Data Center?
    • What is SDN-WAN and Why Does it Matter?
    • SDN Webinar Videos, Presentations, and Demos
    • What is SDN Orchestration (SDN Policy Orchestration)?
    • 2015 SDN & NFV Market Size and Forecast Report
    • What is the Brocade SDN Controller (BSC)?
    • What is Cisco APIC? Part 2 of Cisco ACI Definition
    • What is Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)? Part 3
    • What is a Cisco XNC (Extensible Network Controller)?
    • What is a Floodlight Controller?
    • What is the Juniper Contrail Controller?
    • What is the NEC OpenFlow ProgrammableFlow Controller?
    • What is an OpenDaylight Controller?
    • What is an OpenFlow Controller?
    • What is Ryu Controller?
    • What is Cyan Blue Planet?
    • What is Nuage Networks VSC?
    • What is the Software Driven Cloud Networking?
    • SDN Controller Comparison Part 1: SDN Controller Vendors (SDN Controller Companies)
  • Network Virtualization Resources
    • What is Network Virtualization?
    • What is Overlay Networking (SDN Overlay)?
    • What is Network Automation With Network Virtualization?
    • What is Virtual Networking?
    • What is Network Service Chaining?
    • What are Network Overlays?
    • What is Networking as a Service or NaaS?
    • What is a VXLAN?
    • What is Network Service Chaining?
    • What Is Network Automation With Network Virtualization?
    • Business Agility Drives Network Virtualization Demand
    • What Is Open Virtual Network (OVN)?
    • How Does Micro-Segmentation Help Security?
    • What is Juniper Networks Network Virtualization?
    • What is NEC Network Virtualization?
    • What is Nuage Network Virtualization?
    • What is Cisco Network Virtualization?
    • How Does Micro-Segmentation Help Security?
  • NFV Resources
    • What is Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)?
    • What is a Virtual Network Function or VNF?
    • What is an NFV POC?
    • Which is Better – SDN or NFV?
    • How Does ETSI NFV Operate?
    • What is ETSI ISG NFV?
    • What is OPNFV or Open Platform for NFV Project?
    • What is NFV MANO?
    • What’s CloudNFV?
    • What’s NFV Software?
    • What’s in an NFV Cloud?
    • What’s a Virtual Router (vRouter)?
    • What is an NFV Strategy?
    • An Overview of NFV Elements
    • What is an NFV Data Center?
    • NFV Webinar Videos, Presentations, and Demos
    • What is an NFV OpenStack?
    • What is an NFV Orchestration?
    • What is an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO)?
    • What is Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM)?
    • What is a VNF Manager (VNFM)?
  • Cloud Resources
    • What is the Cloud?
    • What is Private Cloud? The Benefits and the Providers
    • What is Hybrid Cloud? A Scalable and Customizable Computing Solution
    • What is Software Defined Everything – Part 1: Definition of SDx
    • Software Defined Everything Part 2: Cloud Infrastructure
    • Software Defined Everything Part 3: SDx infrastructure
    • Software Defined Everything Part 4: SDx Infrastructure Buyers
    • Software Defined Everything Part 5: SDx Use Cases
    • Software Defined Everything Part 6: Infrastructure Attributes
    • Software Defined Everything Part 7: Infrastructure Form Factors & Delivery Models
    • Software Defined Everything Part 8: Succeeding in an SDx World
    • What are Cloud Service Providers?
    • Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure
    • What is Software-Defined Storage?
    • What is Software Defined Compute?
    • What is Storage Virtualization?
    • What is KVM?
    • What is Cloud Networking or Cloud Based Networking?
    • What is the Definition of IEEE Intercloud?
  • Security Resources
    • 2017 SDx Infrastructure Security Report – Download
    • SDN Security – Challenges Implementing SDN Network Security in SDN Environments
    • What is Security Virtualization?
    • What is Cloud-Based Security?
    • Data Security Regulations
    • How to Deliver Data Center Security via Network Virtualization
    • The Top Cloud Security Tools for Threat Monitoring & Threat Protection
    • Future of Virtual Security: Micro-Segmentation & Visibility
  • Open Source Resources
    • What is OpenStack Networking?
    • What is OpenStack Neutron?
    • What is Open vSwitch (OVS)?
    • What is Open vSwitch Database or OVSDB?
    • What is KVM?
    • What Is Mirantis OpenStack?
  • White Box Resources
    • What is White Box Switching & White Box Switches (& are they SDN Switches)?
    • What is a Data Center Fabric?
    • What is a Networking Switch Fabric?
    • What Are 40G Switches?
    • What is a Cisco Nexus Switch?
    • What Is Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (or Cisco ACI or Cisco SDN)? Part 1
    • What are Leaf Switches?
    • What is a Spine Switch?
  • DevOps Resources
    • SDN Automation, Programmability, and Programmable Networks
  • Cisco Resources
    • What is Cisco OpenFlow?
    • What is Cisco OpFlex?
    • What is the Cisco ONE Controller?
    • What is Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)? Part 1
    • What is Cisco APIC? Part 2
    • What is the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC)? Part 3
    • What is Cisco onePK?
    • What is a Cisco Nexus Switch?
    • What is a Cisco XNC (Extensible Network Controller)?
    • What is Cisco Network Virtualization?
    • What Is Cisco’s SD-WAN Approach?
    • Cisco Data Center Channel
  • VMware Resources
    • What is VMware NSX and VMware SDN?
    • What is VMware Network Virtualization?
  • Arista Networks Resources
    • What are Arista Switches?

About SDxCentral

  • About Us
  • Editorial Team
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Work With Us
  • Careers at SDxCentral
  • Support
  • Legal
  • Contact Us

Engage With us

This material may not be copied, reproduced, or modified in whole or in part for any purpose except with express written permission from an authorized representative of SDxCentral, LLC. In addition to such written permission to copy, reproduce, or modify this document in whole or part, an acknowledgement of the authors of the document and all applicable portions of the copyright notice must be clearly referenced. All Rights Reserved.

© 2012-2018 SDxCentral, LLC, All Rights Reserved. SDNCentral™, the SDNCentral logo, SDxCentral™, SDxCentral logo, SDxNews™, SDxTech™, SDx™, the SDx logo, and DemoFriday™ are trademarks of SDxCentral, LLC in the U.S. and other countries.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy

Please enter your Business Email to view this asset:

We are requesting you provide a valid business, education, non-profit or government email address not from free or temporary email providers or ISPs. If you feel that our filters are incorrectly disallowing your email, please contact us at support@sdxcentral.com.