Software Defined Networking Explained

If you are fond of reading about the tech world you might come across topics related to the Software-defined networking also known as SDN as it is a highly emerging approach that is based on having full control over the network in a flexible cost-effective programmable dynamic way that matches today’s applications. Want to know more? this blog is an in-depth explanation of the famous SDN-based networking.

What is software-defined networking? What makes it special?

SDN is an approach of architecting a network enabling users to intelligently and centrally control the network via programming it according to their needs using software applications providing greater automation capacities. SDN is based on several types of technologies, including functional separation, network virtualization, and automation technologies

It is a smart approach  that has many intelligent smart features such as:

• Directly programmable: enables the network to be programmatically configured by proprietary or open-source automation tools
• AGILE: enables administrators to dynamically adjust the network traffic
• Centrally managed: a software-based SDN controls the entire network and gives a general view of its functions.
• Configurable: enables users to manage security and optimize network easily

SDN architecture

There are many usages of DSN

• Supporting DevOps initiatives: Application updates, deployments, and even IT infrastructure components can all be automated through SDN.
• Managing Data center security: SDN supports more targeted protection and simplifies firewall administration.
• Improving business campus network:   the automation and centralized management provided by SDM helps businesses deliver more high-quality services in their network.
• Improving service provider networking: SDN helps service providers simplify and automate the provisioning of their networks for end-to-end network and service management and control.

How does it work?

It is too complicated to be easily explained. An SDN is based on cloud-like computing that adequates the network and enables its users from engineers & administrators to quickly respond to changes in business requirements managing a centralized control software. Generally speaking, the SDN creates a centralized brain for the network that can communicate and command the rest of the network. Using open APIs, SDN centrally programs all the network behavior and separates the network control plane and the forwarding plane.

A control plane makes decisions about how packets should flow through the network the data transfers accordingly. These packet-handling rules are sent to the switch from the centralized controller.

The data plane device which is the switch guides the controller and provides information about the handled traffic. Users can implement end-to-end overlays to abstract the underlying network and segment network traffic.

How does software-defined networking maintain security?

SDN leverages security at different levels:

Its centralized intelligence keeps IT, administrators, over the track of security policies that can be maintained and enforced through central control.

The abstraction layer that SDN creates between the software and the hardware provides real transparency for gathering insights and possible threats in the event a security breach occurs.

Also SDN scalable security by reducing the need of Ultimately, expensive, proprietary hardware and security controls which helps  IT teams can create new clouds and applications provisionally and adaptivity to business changes

Benefits of adopting software-defined networking

Adopting software-defined networking comes with huge impacts and benefits on organizations. It simply makes the job of network engineers so much easier as they no longer have to deal with every change individually and shape traffic per section and so they can benefit from a faster and smarter automated approach.

Instead, SDN takes care of this task, directing these individual “switches” to provide services when the business requires them.

Conclusion

Many businesses are investing in SDN looking for high data-heavy-apps support and enjoy the following advantages :

• Gives users a general centralized view of the entire network which enables greater provisioning and management of the process
• Makes fluctuations and sudden changes in business demands easier to manage by configuring extra scenarios without imposing any impact on the network.
• Provides a centralized security practice that Improves security of the  central controller, enables the  creation and distribution of security policies throughout the enterprise efficiently and easily
• Reduces operating expenses
• Enables businesses to re-commoditize their hardware leverage more affordable hardware through the same intelligent central switch.
• Helps businesses unify, their cloud resources
• Helps IT teams to improve their service delivery and  network responsiveness