The Advantages of Software Defined Networking
The concept of software defined networking refers to an approach to network management that enables dynamic and programmatic network configuration. The advantages of this approach are obvious: it improves network monitoring and performance. It is more like cloud computing than traditional network management. Let’s look at some of the key aspects of software defined networking. Its benefits are numerous and can be applied to almost any network environment. Here are some of the key areas that software-defined networking can improve:
Control layer
The control layer of software defined networking (SDN) sits between the infrastructure and application layers of a network. Essentially, it is the land of the control plane. The application layer consists of the applications running on a network, such as firewalls, network monitoring, and troubleshooting. The controller connects the two layers and provides a centralized view of network traffic and performance. This layer also has a southbound API for communications between the application layer and networking equipment.
With the Control layer of SDN, IT teams no longer have to worry about manually configuring network devices. Instead, they can reconfigure them with software. Moreover, they can make configurations without affecting the rest of the network. Consequently, SDN creates highly flexible networks that can respond to changing traffic patterns. Here are some of the benefits of SDN:
Application layer
SDN is an acronym for Software-Defined Networking. This new network technology consists of several components that work together to support applications. Application layers consist of network devices and software, as well as a controller that manages network operations. Applications communicate with controllers by using APIs. The application layer collects data from the controller and makes decisions based on the information collected. Applications can include analytics, networking management, and business processes related to data centers.
A key part of SDN is network virtualization. By abstracting network infrastructure from applications, it makes it easier for IT teams to manage their networks. It also enables them to make network resources more flexible, scalable, and agile. By reducing complexity, SDN is ideal for businesses and organizations that deal with a large amount of data and need to adapt quickly to the needs of their customers. Moreover, it allows administrators to control the network from a single console. SDN allows controllers to route information from applications to network devices and vice versa.
Infrastructure layer
SDN consists of several layers, each with its own unique set of functions and policies. The control layer, or SDN controller, connects the application layer and infrastructure layer. It processes the application requirements and communicates those instructions back and forth between the two layers. The infrastructure layer consists of the physical switches and routers that carry out network functions. This layer collects and processes critical information. For example, an application might request a specific network function, or it might want to change the routing protocol.
The SDN concept is a combination of technologies that simplify and automate network functions. These technologies include network virtualization, functional separation, and automation through programmability. The SDN architecture enables the application to control and manage network resources through a logically defined slice. The application can also control the resources and capacity in that slice. In addition, the application can be a part of multiple SDN datapaths. This type of networking architecture allows a service provider to set up pre-engineered virtual network slices that simplify the provisioning of services to a specific class of users.
Security applications
The rise of SDN technology for network security applications has made it possible to program networks, including firewalls, to be more secure. Security applications built upon SDN controllers will have a variety of different aims, including the detection and mitigation of distributed denial of service attacks, botnets, and worm propagation. By leveraging SDN technologies, network security applications will be able to collect standardized network statistics and apply classification algorithms to detect anomalies. As these applications become more advanced, they will be able to instruct the controller to reconfigure data planes accordingly.
One such security application, known as Secure Enterprise Security (SES), allows a company to better monitor network activity, identify suspicious behavior, and protect its information. By analyzing network logs, the Security application supplier can identify suspicious activity and alert the SDN Controller to block it. Despite the complexities of the SDN model, many security applications are designed to be highly customizable. With this in mind, organizations can use SDN to improve their network security visibility.
Redundant controller
The underlying concept of software defined networking is to have a redundant controller to allow network connectivity. In software defined networking, a redundant controller facilitates many-to-many communication channels and is also extensible in the future. To create such a network, you need to connect the controllers to each other. There are several ways to accomplish this. Here are some examples:
The first method is to use redundant controllers in SDN. The redundant controller ensures high availability in a distributed network. This is done by ensuring that all traffic flows are routable. In addition, the redundant controller is designed to ensure high performance and reliability. A redundant controller also supports high-performance data transfer. However, there are many limitations of this method. It may not be suitable for all network environments. To ensure a high level of network availability, network operators should use a redundant controller in SDN.