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Lecture 9

Software Defined
Networks
 OUTLINE
• What is Computer Network
• What is Computer Software
• Background to Software Defined Network
• Introduction to Software Defined Network
• What is Software Defined Network
• Principles of SDN
• Advantages of SDN
• How SDN Function
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 Computer Networks
• Computer network, two or more
computers that are connected with
one another for the purpose of
communicating data electronically
and sharing of resources with each
other.

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 Computer Software
Software is a set of instructions, data or
programs used to operate computers and
execute specific tasks. It is the opposite of
hardware, which describes the physical
aspects of a computer. Software is a generic
term used to refer to applications, characters
(scripts) and programs that run on a device.
It can be thought of as the variable
(adjustable) part of a computer, while
hardware is the invariable part.
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 Background to Software Defined
Networks
Traditional Networking uses hardware
and software to direct traffic across a
series of routers and switches to transmit
data over a network. Software Defined
Networks was originally designed to
virtualize the network by separating the
control plane that manages the network
from traffic plane which the data flows.
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 Software Defined Networks Introduced

SDN changes how a networking is

fundamentally done. Instead of having a
network intelligence, in every router and
switches, SDN centralizes the brain (the
command and control) into a central
node. This will be distributed into a
central control and forwarding plane.
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The forwarding plane, forwards the
packets from one device to another,
while the control plane routes the
data to the correct traffic. These
routing decisions are taken on basis
of the routes configured on the
router and also the routes learned
from the adjacent nodes or
adjacent routers.
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 What is SDN
It is a network architecture approach
that enables the network to be
intelligently and centrally controlled, or
'programmed,' using software
applications.
SDN enables consistent management of
the network, which may be made up of
complex technology parts.
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 Figure 1. An overview of SDN Architecture. Source: www.google.csearch
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Note that traditional network connect
different networks using routers, it
defines the best path to route data from
computer A to computer B. They follow
Open Shorter Path First (OSPF) protocol
method. They also follow the actual data
packet to the next device based on the
address of the destination machine, this
function is performed by the data plane.
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1) SDN separates the functions of the control
plane and the data plane. The data plane is
managed by forwarding Packets to the next
layer, while the control plane is managed by
the controller.
2) SDN identifies the routes, using open flow
Application Programing Interface (API).
3) Developer write an application that control the
traffic for both audio and video apps, which
enables it to run on any system or machine.
4) SDN abstracts the lower layer network from the
upper layer network (Application Layer)
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Figure 2. Expanded SDN Architecture showing How SDN will change the future NW

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 Principles of SDN
• It makes the networking & IP Routing flexible
• Decoupling control & Data Plane: It enables packets to reach
its destination, It does same with helping software &
dynamic algorithms with full flexibility and Agility instead of
wasting many days in performing its function
• Offloads brain to centralized controller
• Central View of Resources: Used in resource allocation and
keeping of end to end eye on network services.
• Programmable network are centrally managed: The true
power of SDN is Abstraction, the whole logic flow is so
automated that network applications can make requests to
SDN controller which in turn will adjust the network
resources, change the configurations all in a one network.
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 Advantages:

• More dynamic Network

• Centralized network provisioning
• Consistent and timely content delivery.
• Holistic enterprise management.
• For better security.
• Hardware savings and reduced capital
expenditures.
• Lower operating costs.
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 Disadvantage:
• Complete Network Short down: Since
Networks are centrally managed, If there is a
fault from the central point of connection, the
entire network will be down.

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SDN is making IP network much
more programmable so that packets
routing is possible with lots of
flexibility and agile. It is based on
concept of programmatic and
dynamic control of Network. SDN is
a powerful tool for customizing
network to the next level.
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Through SDN new bandwidth and defined
traffic flow just like never before. SDN is
about networking control function for
routing policy definition through
automation. With SDN IP & Networking
reachability is going to happen well on time.
SDN provides a new level of
programmability and abstraction to
Network layer which is a phenomenal role
in automating the networks.

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 How does SDN work and how it is helping?

• For network to reach its destination, we need

multiple things such as the IP allocation,
Bandwidth allocation, Policy opening, routing
changes and end to end reachability. All
these take a lot of time. Preparing, designing,
executing the changes we need to do in each
router and switches are not easy. They are
prone to mistakes and take days even weeks,
to avoid these challenges SDN is needed.
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SDN changes how a networking is
fundamentally done. Instead of
having a network intelligence, in
every router and switches, SDN
centralizes the brain (the
command and control) into a
central node. This will be
distributed into a central control
and forwarding plane.
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The forwarding plane forward the
packets from one device to another,
while the control plane routes the
data to the correct traffic. These
routing decisions are taken on basis
of the routes configured in the
router and also the routes learned
from the adjacent nodes or adjacent
routers.
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S.N CONTROL PLANE DATA PLANE
Data plane refers to all the functions
Control plane refers to the all functions and processes that forward
01. and processes that determine which path packets/frames from one interface to
to use to send the packet or frame.
another based on control plane logic.

02.
It is responsible for building and It is responsible for forwarding actual
maintaining the IP routing table. IP packet.

03.
Control plane responsible about how Data plane responsible for moving
packets should be forwarded. packets from source to destination.

04.
Control plane performs its task Data plane performs its task
independently. depending on Control plane.

In general we can say in control plane it is In general we can say in data plane
05.
learned what and how it can be done. the actual task is performed based on
what is learned.

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 Difference between Control Plane & Data
Plane
S/N CONTROL PLANE DATA PLANE

The forwarding plane/data plane

Control plane packets are processed by router
06. forwards the packets based on
to update the routing table.
the built logic of control plane.

It includes Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) It includes decrementing Time
07. To Live (TTL), recomputing
Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Dynamic
IP header checksum etc.
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)etc.

08.
Control plane packets are locally originated by Data plane packets go through
the router itself. the router.

09.
Control plane acts as a decision maker in data Data plane acts as a decision
forwarding. implementer in data forwarding.

10. Routing is performed in the control plane.

Switching is performed in the
data plane.

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 Discussion Questions
• What is your understanding about Software
Defined Network (SDN)?
• What are the functions of the Control Plane
(CP) and Data Plane (DP) in SDN?
• How is SDN different from a normal network?
• What on four (4) advantages of SDN
• What is the likely drawback of SDN?

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 END
THE

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