This document discusses extending software-defined networking (SDN) into transport networks. It provides motivation for why the industry is interested in SDN, including capital expenditure savings through virtualization and resource sharing. It outlines a vision for transport SDN, with a multi-layer, multi-domain, multi-vendor network controlled by a centralized SDN controller. Examples are given of transport SDN use cases and control plane models. Benefits of extending SDN to transport include lowering operating costs through open orchestration and lowering capital costs by optimizing resource usage across layers.

1. 1 | Infinera Confidential & Proprietary
Extending SDN
into the Transport Network
Nanog 59
Wayne Wauford
Infinera

2. 2 | Infinera Confidential & Proprietary
Why is the Industry Interested in SDN?
IntegrationofNetworkwithIT
Business Applications
Orchestration
VM
Hypervisor Controller
Network
Resources
IT
Resources
 CapEx savings via
virtualization & sharing
 Accelerate introduction
of new services across
whole network
 Automate workflow
processes to reduce OpEx
& scale operations
 Optimize resource
consumption via global
view of resources
Network Svcs
SDN Control Layer

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SoftwareDefined Networking
Open Network,Spur Innovation,Drive CostReduction
Packet
Forwarding HW
Packet
Forwarding HW
Ap
p
Ap
p
Ap
p
Packet
Forwarding HW
Ap
p
Ap
p
Ap
p
Operating
System
Operating
System
Operating
System
• Tight linkage between OS and switch
• Features locked in distributed control plane
• Rigid & un-customizable
• Vendor in control
Features take
a long time
Source: ONF Tutorial, Open Network Summit 2012
APP APP APP
App
Simple Packet
Forwarding HW
Simple Packet
Forwarding HW
App
Simple Packet
Forwarding HW
SDN Control Layer
Open interface to HW
Open API
Innovation!
Separation of control from data plane
Open interface to switches
Centralized view of network
Programmability and Innovation

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Packet World
• Connectionless
• Enterprise origins
• Dynamic flows
• Innate control plane
(EMS/NMS independent)
• Numerous distributed CP
solutions
• Monolithic, closed systems
Transport World
• Connection (circuit) oriented
• Service provider origins
• Static pipes
• EMS/NMS + Cross-connect
paradigm
• Nascent CP (GMPLS)
• Open, programmable
systems
NetworkProgrammability -
The Transport World is Different
Historically, transport networks have been programmable.

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• Application-driven bandwidth
• Centralized, integrated, uniform network view, across layers &
vendors
Network Virtualization & Programmability
• Globalized multi-layer, multi-domain service orchestration &
optimization
• Simplify & automate workflow operations
Enhance Capital Efficiency & Streamline Operations
Motivations for Extending SDN to Transport

6. 6 | Infinera Confidential & Proprietary
Transport SDN Vision Multi-layer, Multi-Domain,Multi-
Vendor Networking
Domain 1 Domain 2
WDM
OTN
IPVendor A Vendor B
Vendor X Vendor Y
= SDN Control
A B C D
IHGFE
J K L M
RQPON
Applications see simple,
flat virtual network
Centralized SDN controller
Data Center Data Center
• Multi-layer integration &
Optimization
• Virtual Network Slicing (NaaS)
• Application driven Bandwidth
• Inter-domain connection
management

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Network Virtualization & SP
Data Center Interconnection
Provider Network
Enterprise Networks
ONF Optical Transport Use Cases
SDN
Controller
Client
Controller
Network Provider
Controller
Packet-Optical Integration
Provider Network
Transport
Network
Packet Network
Client
Controller
Network Provider Controller*
Transport Network Controller
Packet Network Controller
Optimization
*May one or multiple systems

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Extending SDN to Transport
Open & ProgrammableNetworking
 P-OTN convergence
enables flexibility & agility
 SDN unifies control over
multi-layer, multi-vendor
network
 Abstraction simplifies
network representation
 Benefits:
• Rapid & Flexible Bandwidth
• Simplify/Automate Operations
• Global resource optimization
• Speed New Service Deployment
Business Applications
Transport SDN
Control Layer
Network
Abstractions
Discover,
Monitor,
Control
• Multi-layer
• Multi-vendor
• Multi-domain
Packet, OTN, Optics
Transport Network
Control API
NB API
Control +
Apps
Virtualization

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Open Transport Switch
Abstract & Simplify
OTS-Mgmt
Agent
OTS-Control
Agent
OTS-Data
Agent
Control Plane
Monitoring Discovery &
Configuration
Provisioning
(OpenFlow)
SDN Controller
Data Forwarding Plane
Physical
Interfaces
N
Internal Comms
Common interface, user request mediation, network virtualization
• Lightweight virtual
switch representation
• Capabilities exposed
depends on NE
• Discovery, Configure,
Provision, Monitor
• Runs on NE or in the
cloud
• Embeds open control
onto the platform

10. 10 | Infinera Confidential & Proprietary
Transport SDN Control Plane Models
SDN Controller
Explicit (Direct) Model
OpenFlow
• Network abstraction per domain
• Leverages existing control plane
POTN
OTS
P-OTN
LSR LSR ENET
OTS OTS
MPLS LSR
Ethernet
LSR
OTS
LSR
OTS
POTN
OTS
POTN
OTS
POTN
OTS OTS ENET
OTS
ENET
OTS
ENET
OTS
POTN
POTN
POTN
OTS
P-OTNLSR
LSR
LSR
LSR ENET
ENET
ENET
ENET
OTS OTS
OTS
MPLS LSR Ethernet
Implicit (Indirect) Model
OpenFlow
SDN Controller
• Network abstraction per domain
• Multi-domain orchestration
• Leverage existing control plane
POTN
OTS
• Centralization of all network control
• Individually controlled NE’s
• Hop-by-hop provisioning
MPLS CP GMPLS CP
Hybridized network control model combines best of both worlds

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 Dynamically configurable
transport network
 Customer managed
Bandwidth on Demand
 Same approach can be
used for other applications
• Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)
• Increased L3/L2 VPN capacity
• Reconfiguring transport
network after router failure
Transport SDN
Data CenterRelatedApplications
Virtual Network Slice
Client Controller
20G 
Network Provider Controller
L1 VPN APP

12. 12 | Infinera Confidential & Proprietary
ESnet Transport SDN Demo Configuration
bnl-tb-wdm-3 bnl-tb-wdm-4
40G
100G
20G 20G
20G L1 Tunnel
 SDN Controller communicating with transport network via OpenFlow extensions
 Bandwidth on Demand application for Big Data RDMA transport
 3 physical transport path options (with varying latencies)
 Implicit & explicit provisioning of 10GbE/40GbE services demonstrated
Topology Monitoring App BW on Demand App
ESnet SDN Controller
Mellanox Mellanox
Path #1
Path #2
Path #3
ESnet LIMAN Production Network
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Testbed

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 Lowers opex via open multi-layer, multi-vendor, multi
domain orchestration
 Lowers capex by optimizing flows across layers
 Speeds service delivery for internal Data Center
customers
 Makes transport resources dynamic & visible to
applications
 Creates the ability to easily slice the network
Summary
ExtendingSDN to Transporthas significantbenefits