SOFTWARE DEFINEDD NETWORKING

Software defined networking (SDN) is an approach to network management that

enables dynamic, programmatically efficient network configuration to improve
network performance and monitoring. It is a new way of managing computer
networks that makes them easier and more flexible to control.
In traditional networks, the hardware (like routers and switches) decides how data
moves through the network, but SDN changes this by moving the decision-
making to a central software system. This is done by separating the control
plane (which decides where traffic is sent) from the data plane (which moves
packets to the selected destination).

SDN Architecture
In a traditional network, each switch has its own control plane and data plane.
Switches exchange topology information to build a forwarding table that decides
where to send data packets. In Software-Defined Networking (SDN), the control
plane is removed from switches and assigned to a centralized SDN controller. This
allows network administrators to manage traffic from a single console instead of
configuring each switch individually.
The data plane remains in the switch, forwarding packets based on flow tables set
by the controller. These tables contain match fields (like input port and packet
header) and instructions (forward, drop, or modify packets). If a packet doesn’t
match any entry, the switch contacts the controller, which provides a new flow
entry to decide the packet’s path. A typical SDN architecture consists of three
layers.
 Application Layer: It contains the typical network applications like intrusion
detection, firewall, and load balancing.
 Control Layer: It consists of the SDN controller which acts as the brain of
the network. It also allows hardware abstraction to the applications written on
top of it.
 Infrastructure Layer: This consists of physical switches which form the data
plane and carries out the actual movement of data packets.
The layers communicate via a set of interfaces called the north-bound
APIs(between the application and control layer) and southbound APIs(between the
control and infrastructure layer).
What is a Data Plane?
All the activities involving and resulting from data packets sent by the end-user
belong to this plane. Data Plane includes:
 Forwarding of packets.
 Segmentation and reassembly of data.
 Replication of packets for multicasting.
What is a Control Plane?
All activities necessary to perform data plane activities but do not involve end-user
data packets belong to this plane. In other words, this is the brain of the network.
The activities of the control plane include:
What are the Components of Software Defining
Networking (SDN)?
The three main components that make the SDN are:
 SDN Applications: SDN Applications relay requests or networks through
SDN Controller using API.
 SDN Controller: SDN Controller collects network information from
hardware and sends this information to applications.
 SDN Networking Devices: SDN Network devices help in forwarding and
data processing tasks.
Where is Software Defined Networking Used?
 Enterprises use SDN, the most widely used method for application
deployment, to deploy applications faster while lowering overall deployment
and operating costs. SDN allows IT administrators to manage and provision
network services from a single location.
 Cloud networking software-defined uses white-box systems. Cloud providers
often use generic hardware so that the Cloud data center can be changed and
the cost of CAPEX and OPEX saved.
Why Software Defined Networking is Important?
 Better Network Connectivity: SDN provides very better network
connectivity for sales, services, and internal communications. SDN also helps
in faster data sharing.
 Better Deployment of Applications: Deployment of new applications,
services, and many business models can be speed up using Software Defined
Networking.
 Better Security: Software-defined network provides better visibility
throughout the network. Operators can create separate zones for devices that
require different levels of security. SDN networks give more freedom to
operators.
 Better Control With High Speed: Software-defined networking provides
better speed than other networking types by applying an open standard
software-based controller.
How Does Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Works?
In Software-Defined Networking (SDN), the software that controls the network is
separated from the hardware. SDN moves the part that decides where to send data
(control plane) to software, while the part that actually forwards the data (data
plane) stays in the hardware.
This setup allows network administrators to manage and control the entire network
using a single, unified interface. Instead of configuring each device individually,
they can program and adjust the network from one central place. This makes
managing the network much easier and more efficient.
In a network, physical or virtual devices move data from one place to another.
Sometimes, virtual switches, which can be part of either software or hardware, take
over the jobs of physical switches. These virtual switches combine multiple
functions into one smart switch. They check the data packets and their destinations
to make sure everything is correct, then move the packets to where they need to
go.
What are the Different Models of SDN?
There are several models, which are used in SDN:
 Open SDN
 SDN via APIs
 SDN via Hypervisor-based Overlay Network
 Hybrid SDN
Open SDN
Open SDN is implemented using the OpenFlow switch. It is a straight forward
implementation of SDN. In Open SDN, the controller communicates with the
switches using south-bound API with the help of OpenFlow protocol.

SDN via APIs

In SDN via API, the functions in remote devices like switches are invoked using
conventional methods like SNMP or CLI or through newer methods like Rest API.
Here, the devices are provided with control points enabling the controller to
manipulate the remote devices using APIs.
SDN via Hypervisor-based Overlay Network
In SDN via the hypervisor, the configuration of physical devices is unchanged.
Instead, Hypervisor based overlay networks are created over the physical network.
Only the devices at the edge of the physical network are connected to the
virtualized networks, thereby concealing the information of other devices in the
physical network.
Advantages of SDN
 The network is programmable and hence can easily be modified via the
controller rather than individual switches.
 Switch hardware becomes cheaper since each switch only needs a data plane.
 Hardware is abstracted, hence applications can be written on top of the
controller independent of the switch vendor.
 Provides better security since the controller can monitor traffic and deploy
security policies. For example, if the controller detects suspicious activity in
network traffic, it can reroute or drop the packets.
Disadvantages of SDN
 The central dependency of the network means a single point of failure, i.e. if
the controller gets corrupted, the entire network will be affected.
 The use of SDN on large scale is not properly defined and explored.