Ict122 Switching Principles And Wan Assessment Answers

Described in the supplied "Reports format and style" document, about “Software Defined Networking (SDN)”. Your report will try to answer following questions.

1. What is “Software Defined Networking”?

2. What are the benefits of SDN over traditional Network?

3. What is the main difference between SDN and traditional Network?

4. Equipment and/or other resources required to implement SDN.

5. Skill requirement to implement SDN.

6. Any other information you can collect

Software Defined Networking:

Software defined network is the computer network platform which makes the network administrators to initializing, controlling, changing, and managing the functionality of lower level using open interfaces and abstraction. Open flow is the commonly used protocol in SDN which is used for remote communication between network packets and switches. It is the network architecture which is best suitable for the application due to its dynamic, cost-effective, adaptive, manageable, and high bandwidth nature. It works on eliminating the complexity of the distributed network by creating the layer of abstraction between data forwarding plane and network control plane by making use of physical and virtual devices. The technology of SDN works on improving the network agility and automation. The dynamic and adaptive operation modes are used by SDN for controlling the routes of data packets. The operation of decoupling is required for controlling the network and forwarding functions which helps in creating the abstraction layer between network services and applications. The abstraction is designed for the placement of control plane function on the controller of SDN. The key driving factors which are responsible for the evolution of SDN are changes required in traffic pattern, trend of BYOD, evolution of cloud services, and management of Big Data.

Benefits of SDN over traditional network:

• Software defined network is used for managing accuracy, flexibility, and consistency in the configuration of network: The manual configuration is required in traditional network. The SDN approach is used to bring automation in the configuration process of devices. The accuracy and consistency can be increased in configuration process which results into boosting of network and responsiveness. The configuration setting can be changed according to the network requirement.
• Optimization in the data flow: The most exciting feature of SDN approach is the data flow optimization. The SDN controller is able to generate multiple paths for sending packets between source and destination. It helps in managing traffic across multiple nodes.
• Integration: The SDN approach is used for integrating different setups together. The functionality which is provided by the SDN approach are integration of hardware with controller, decoupling of Wi-Fi access points. Active directory installation requires domain controller.
• Visibility and Reporting: The network visibility is the key feature of the success of SDN architecture. The standalone logging information is required for designing individual components. The correlation should be developed between data and arranged in the logical manner. The traffic reporting system is used for managing traffic by knowing location of the current device and information of the connection.
• Events and alerts: The automatic monitoring system is required for managing network events and generation of alerts through notification. The internal and external traffic can be managed by traffic reporting system. The policy engines are used for transforming policies according to the requirement.
• Security: The security measures which are included in the SDN architecture are network zoning, SSID and WiFi authentication, Protection form live threat, and port security. Specific hosting requirements are needed for transforming the security policies according to the business requirement.
• Reliable connectivity: The reliable connection should be developed between network devices with the implementation of SDN architecture. The formulation of different connectivity helps in developing reliable solution. The operational database should be used for developing cloud connection. The internal and external traffic should be distributed for managing traffic. The reliable connectivity should be managed with several functionalities. The offline measures should be taken for executing configuration to remain active. The traffic should be intelligently managed between WAN for managing bandwidth and reliability.
• Traffic prioritization: The quality of service algorithm is used for giving priority to the network users and application. Open flow protocol is used for managing communication between data plane of physical and virtual switches. It provides instruction to the data plane for forwarding the data packets.

Difference between SDN and traditional network:

The traditional networking system is based on fixed function of associated network devices like routers, switches, FCoE switch, MPLS switch, FC switch, and Ethernet switch. Every network devices perform specific function for the efficient working of the network. “It helps in bringing coordination among network devices” (Nataranjan, 2016). It is faster because it is based on hardware functionality. The flexibility is the major problem of traditional network. The traditional network does not utilize much APIs between the implementation of hardware and software. Proprietary switching software are used for switching according to the user choice. The control plane of the networking devices is used to provide information to the forwarding table. The data plane of the network communicates with the forwarding plane. The forwarding plane decides the route of sending data frame and packets. The traditional network is based on two factors:

• The appliances are implemented with network functionality. The multiple switches are controlled application delivery controllers
• The dedicated hardware is associated with specific functionality. Application specific integrated circuits are used for adding functionality to the hardware.

There are some limitations of the traditional network which are described below:

• Error prone and time consuming configuration of traditional network: There are number of steps have to be followed for removing network devices from the network. The manual configuration is required for the implementation of network devices such as firewalls, routers, and switches. The tools which are used for device level management requires periodic update such as ACLs and VLANs through configuration settings. It is a complex task to implement set of policies.
• High level expertise is needed for managing Multi-vendor environments: The different vendors require variety of equipment. It is incompatible in traditional network to manage the requirement of multiple vendors simultaneously.
• Network segmentation is complex in traditional network: The designing risks are associated with the connectivity between different hardware devices.

“The software defined network is able to add programming concept in the network. This is not possible with traditional networking” (Sakya, 2013). The control plane of SDN architecture helps in offloading the software. This makes the SDN architecture flexible. The abstraction is designed for the placement of control plane function on the controller of SDN. The SDN controller is the server side software for running the SDN network. Open flow protocol is used for managing communication between data plane of physical and virtual switches. “It provides instruction to the data plane for forwarding the data packets” (Sezer, 2014). The SDN architecture is capable of bringing flexibility in the network according to the requirement of the user. This architecture provides the centralized control on the application. It helps in bringing network automation among different network devices. The traffic reporting system is used for managing traffic by knowing location of the current device and information of the connection. The implementation of network commands on multiple devices can be done by using API. The two factors which are responsible for decoupling of network devices are:

• The control plane is used to decide the path of the traffic
• The data plane is used to execute decision related with forwarding traffic.

The review of differences between SDN and traditional network can be depicted from the table below:

Equipment and resources required to implement SDN:

The equipment and resources required to implement SDN are listed below:

1. Controller plane: The logical separation is required between data plane and controller plane by using the technique of decoupling. The SDN controller requires the connectivity between intra-domain and inter-domain. The Northbound interfaces are used for managing interaction between SDN clients. The abstract views are combined with virtualization to generated partitioned view.
2. Network elements: “The network elements are associated with modelling of processing behaviour for generating virtual network functions” (Hakiri, 2014). Packet and circuit switching techniques are supported by network elements for connectivity. The diversification in hardware and software platform helps in providing the flexibility to the protocols. The collection of resources which are used for managing network node with the level of abstraction.
3. Related technologies with network virtualization: “The static and dynamic support should be developed between network technologies” (Miniman, 2013). The virtual network functions are used for managing network traffic.
4. Network function virtualization is used form managing data plane services: The network traffic is identified through service chain by using the forwarding graph created by virtual network function. The quality of service protocols are used for implementing the technique of encryption and content replication. The services can be managed by virtual network functions.
5. Coexisting of hybrid scenario in SDN controlled network: The SDN controller are used for partitioning elements. The overlay network is used for managing SDN control. “The responsibilities should be partitioned for the configuration of SDN forwarding plane” (Jesus, 2015). The interconnection should be maintained between SDN controlled network.

Skill Requirement to implement SDN:

The following requirements should be addressed for the implementation of SDN architecture:

The expert should possess skills for the implementation of SDN are knowledge of network domain, knowledge of industrial mathematics to understands the technical issues, formulation of mathematical model, and computer techniques used for implementing solution, the knowledge of open source software which are required for utilizing the tools and application of SDN, knowledge of handling big data, and knowledge of cyber security. The big data analytics involves data driven decision for managing data efficiently. The protection should be given to the resources for managing their privacy, availability, and integrity.

Conclusion:

From the research, it has been concluded that the SDN architecture which is best suitable for the application due to its dynamic, cost-effective, adaptive, manageable, and high bandwidth nature. The abstraction and standard protocols are used for managing adoption of rapid SDN architecture. The SDN controller is the server side software for running the SDN network. Open flow protocol is used for managing communication between data plane of physical and virtual switches. The reliable connection should be developed between network devices with the implementation of SDN architecture. The SDN architecture is capable of bringing flexibility in the network according to the requirement of the user. This architecture provides the centralized control on the application.

References:

[1]M. Dabbagh, Software defined networks security: Pros and cons, 1st ed. 2016.

[2]M. Dhawan, Detecting security attacks in software defined networking, 1st ed. 2014.

[3]L. Gupta, SDN development, adoption, and research trends, 1st ed. 2013.

[4]A. Hakiri, Software defined networking: Challenges and research opportunities for future internet, 1st ed. 2014.

[5]W. Jesus, Software defined networking: Management requirement and challenges, 1st ed. 2015.

[6]S. Miniman, Networking revolution: Software defined networking and network virtualization, 1st ed. 2013.

[7]S. Nataranjan, A survey of security in software defined networks, 1st ed. 2016.

[8]R. Sakya, Benefits of SDN: Solving network infrastructure, 1st ed. 2014.

[9]G. Sezer, SDN security: A survey, 1st ed. 2013.

[10]K. Thomson, Traditional vs Software defined networking, 1st ed. 2014.

[11]M. Xia, Framework for SDN: Scope and requirement, 1st ed. 2015.

[12]C. Yoon, Enabling security function with SDN: A feasibility study, 1st ed. 2015