1.

2 Introduction to Network Programmability

Understanding Software-Defined
Networking

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What is Software-Defined Networking?

An approach and architecture in networking where control and data planes are decoupled and intelligence and
state are logically centralized.

Enablement where underlying network infrastructure is abstracted from the applications [network virtualization].

A concept that leverages programmatic interfaces to enable external systems to influence network provisioning,
control, and operations.

Is SDN one or more of these statements?

The question of “What is SDN?” is often hard to answer. The notion of SDN emerged almost 10 years ago in
academia in order to advance and develop new IP packet forwarding packet techniques. It was believed traditional
routing protocols that needed to be ripped and replaced. It was then believed networks should be deployed only in-
software (within a hypervisor), and then you learned about programmatic interfaces. It is true, there are many SDN
solutions on the market today that fit the criteria of one or more of these statements, but to be an “SDN,” it does
not have to necessarily meet all three. It is just a few of the concepts that get put under the SDN Umbrella. You will
see even more attributes of SDN throughout this lesson.

Software-Defined Networking is:

 An approach to network transformation

Empowering external influencers to network design and operations

Impacting the networking industry—challenging the way you think about engineering, implementing and
managing networks

Providing new methods to interact with equipment/services via controllers, APIs

Normalizing the interface with equipment/services

Enabling high-scale, rapid network and service provisioning/management

Generating a LOT of ‘buzz’ and attention

Providing a catalyst for traditional Route/Switch engineers to branch-out

There are many characteristics of what an SDN may look like. As you can see, the ultimate promise is of an
extremely dynamic, manageable, cost-effective, and adaptable architecture that gives administrators
unprecedented programmability, automation, and control of their network. It will be touched upon throughout the
course, but the underlying premise is that networking needs better solutions and tools to improve network
operations.

Software-Defined Networking is NOT:

An easy button… [but is intended to make things easier for all!]

A panacea or end-state

Narrowly defined

Designed to replace network engineers

A mandate for all network engineers to become programmers

A new attempt at network evolution

It is important that an SDN is not just something you can go out and buy. There is not an SDN easy button. SDN
offers new approaches to building, managing, and operating networks.

Content Review Question

Which of the following is not an aspect of Software-Defined Networking?

A concept that leverages programmatic interfaces to enable external systems to influence network
provisioning, control, and operations.

An approach and architecture in networking where control and data planes are decoupled and
intelligence and state are logically centralized.

An approach that leverages the existing network infrastructure for centralized control.

Enablement where underlying network infrastructure is abstracted from the applications [network
virtualization].
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