These slides were presented to the IEEE NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad in collaboration with IEEE ComSoc and IEEE WIE. For any further information, please connect; [mehakazeem@ieee.org]

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Biomedical Engineering Student,
Co-Chair Data Science BootCamp 1.0,
IEEE Region10 SAC Member,
IEEE Region10 Collabratec Coordinator,
SDGs Regional Advocate,
IEEE YESIST12 Maker Fair 2020 Ambassador,
Microsoft Specialist.

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Session Outline:
What is networking?
Traditional Networking.
Software Defined Networking and it’s Components.
Why SDN is the best option?
Features, Operations, Use case.
Benefits of SDN.
Companies shifting to SDN.
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4. Software
Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and
execute specific tasks. Opposite of hardware, which describes the physical aspects
of a computer, software is a generic term used to refer to applications, scripts and
programs that run on a device.
Computer software, or simply software, is a collection of data or computer
instructions that tell the computer how to work. This is in contrast to physical
hardware, from which the system is built and actually performs the work.
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Networking
Networking is defined as the act of making contact
and exchanging information with other people, groups
and institutions to develop mutually beneficial
relationships, or to access and share information
between computers.
A computer network is a group of computers that use
a set of common communication protocols
over digital interconnections for the purpose of
sharing resources located on or provided by
the network nodes (redistribution point or
communication endpoint).
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6. Application Programming Interface
API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface, which is a software
intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other.
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7. Architecture of a System
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Controller:
The SDN controller is a logical entity that receives
instructions or requirements from the SDN
application layer and relays them to the networking
components.
Application Layer:
SDN applications are programs that communicate
behaviors and needed resources with the SDN
controller via application programming interfaces
(APIs). In addition, the applications can build an
abstracted view of the network by collecting
information from the controller for decision-making
purposes.

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Traditional Networking
Traditional networking is rooted in fixed-function network devices, such as a switch
or router. These devices each have certain functions that operate well together and
support the network. If the network's functions are implemented as hardware
constructs, then its speed is usually bolstered.
Traditional networks often work well with proprietary provisioning software, but
this software can’t be quickly modified as needed.
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10. Architecture of Traditional Networking
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11. Traits of Traditional Networking
Traditional networking consists of the following traits:
The functions of traditional networking are primarily implemented from dedicated
devices, using one or more switches, as well as routers and application delivery
controllers.
The functionality of traditional networking is largely implemented in dedicated
hardware, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC). One of the negative
aspects of this traditional hardware-centric networking is its limitations.
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12. Software Defined Networking
Software-defined networking technology is an approach to network
management that enables dynamic, programmatically efficient network
configuration in order to improve network performance and monitoring,
making it more like cloud computing than traditional network
management.
SDN Diagram: In SDN, the network forwarding functions are separated
from the control functions. This enables programmable networks that can
rapidly adapt to business applications.
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SDN vs Traditional Networking

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SDN vs Traditional Networking

15. SDN vs Traditional Networking
The most notable difference between SDN and traditional networking is that SDN is
software-based while traditional networking is usually hardware-based. Because it is
software-based, SDN is more flexible, allowing users greater control and ease for
managing resources virtually throughout the control plane.
Control Panel: Inversely, traditional networks use switches, routers and other physical
infrastructure to create connections and run the network.
Northbound interface: Application developers can directly program the network, as
opposed to using the protocols required by traditional networking.
Proactive Arrangement: SDN lets users use software to provision new devices instead
of using physical infrastructure, so IT administrators can direct network paths
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16. Virtualization Epitomizes: The primary difference between SDN and traditional
networking. When SDN virtualizes your entire network, it generates an abstract
copy of your physical network, and lets you provision resources from a centralized
location. Opposingly, with a traditional network the physical location of the control
plane hinders an IT administrator’s ability to control the traffic flow.
Network Segmentation: With SDN, the control plane becomes software-based,
allowing it to be accessed through a connected device. This access lets IT
administrators manage traffic flow with greater detail from a centralized user
interface (UI). The ability to quickly process different network configurations from a
centralized UI is especially beneficial for network segmentation.
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SDN vs Traditional Networking

17. Additional Expense on Infrastructure: SDN became a popular alternative to
traditional networking because it lets IT administrators provision resources and
bandwidths as needed without requiring an investment of additional physical
infrastructure.
Hardware Requirements: Traditional networking requires new hardware to increase
its network capacity. The paradigm for SDN versus traditional networking could be
distilled to the generalization: one requires more equipment for expansion and the
other requires only keystrokes.
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SDN vs Traditional Networking

18. Succinct Advantages of SDN Networking
Software defined networking has the advantage of generating a framework that
bolsters data-intensive applications, such as big data and virtualization.
In addition to centralizing and simplifying the control of enterprise network
management, SDN offers the following succinct advantages:
Traffic programmability
Greater agility
Capacity to generate policy-driven network supervision
Ability to implement network automation
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19. Features of SDN
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20. Centralized network provisioning: SDN helps centralize enterprise management and
provisioning by offering a unified perspective on the whole network. SDN can also
speed up service delivery and boost agility in provisioning virtual and physical network
devices in a central location.
Holistic enterprise management: Networks must meet the rising demand for
processing requests. SDN helps your IT department adjust your network configuration
with no impact on your network.
More granular security: Virtual machines pose a challenge for firewalls and content
filtering, a challenge that’s further compounded by personal devices. By establishing a
central control point for regulating security and policy information for your enterprise,
the SDN controller quickly becomes a boon for your IT department.
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Primary Advantages of SDN Networking

21. Lower operating costs. Several benefits to SDN, such as having an efficient
administration, server utilization improvements, and improved virtualization control,
can dually help cut operating costs. SDN can also help reduce operating costs and grow
administrative savings.
Hardware savings and reduced capital expenditures. SDN adoption helps revive older
network devices and simplifies the process of optimizing commoditized hardware. By
following the instructions from the SDN controller, older hardware can be repurposed
while less costly hardware can be deployed to optimal effect.
Cloud abstraction. Using SDN to abstract cloud resources helps simplify the process of
unifying cloud resources. SDN controllers can manage all the networking components
that comprise the massive data center platforms.
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Primary Advantages of SDN Networking

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Consistent and timely content delivery. One big benefit of SDN is the ability to
manipulate data traffic. It’s easier to have quality of service for Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) and multimedia transmissions if you can direct and automate data
traffic. SDN also helps with steaming higher-quality videos since SDN bolsters
network responsiveness and, therefore, creates an improved user experience (UX).
“Virtualization adoption is being driven by big data and SDN provides the means
to manage virtual machines and big data network traffic.”
Primary Advantages of SDN Networking
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23. Why are companies transitioning to SDN from
traditional networks?
Companies across many industries are already using SDN to reduce costs, drive agility and
accelerate time to market. One organization lowered hardware costs by as much as 90%
and another improved performance of a critical application by up to 40%. By the end of
2021, SDN is expected to influence nearly 80% of all network purchase decisions.
Improved agility by allowing for external control and automation of the network.
Simplified management by improving operational efficiencies.
Cost saving with the ability to drive big systems.
Increased innovation by decoupling network hardware and software.
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24. Transition to SDN
However, while the transition to SDN is the clear objective for network decision-
makers, the path to SDN offers a broad range of choices. Do you choose an open
solution or a proprietary one? Do you have to replace your existing infrastructure? Is
there an easy migration path to SDN? What are some successful applications and use
cases?
Here are the top five factors you should consider as you transition to SDN:
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25. 1- An end-to-end model incorporating data
center, campus, branch and mobile networks:
 One of the biggest opportunities with SDN is to quickly provision applications on the
network. Applications are typically deployed in the data center and used by workers in
campus or branch offices or, increasingly, those who are mobile and using mobile
devices. In the digital workplace, the notion of separate campus, branch and remote
access networks disappears.
 Another characteristic of the digital workplace is that workers need to be connected to
their data and apps and to one another—wherever they are located and whatever
device they are using. This is becoming more important as organizations continue to
embrace cloud models. Workers who use their phone or tablet to connect to a business
application and access a cloud-based business service need the same security and
quality-of-service policies as anyone else on the network.
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26. 2- Support for open standards
However, in order to maximize the benefits of SDN, the network must be built on open
standards with support for an open ecosystem. You want to ensure that everyone can
participate—partners, customers and developers. The benefits of utilizing an open
standards approach to SDN include:
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 Freedom to use best-of-breed technologies wherever they are required, and not be
limited to the solutions of a single vendor, cost efficiencies.
 Ease of adoption in a multi-vendor environment.
 Ability to leverage a broader ecosystem and an easily accessible marketplace to
drive innovation.
 An investment that protects you for the future as technologies and standards
continue to evolve.

27. 3- A solution that doesn’t force you to replace
existing infrastructure
One of the first questions IT leaders ask in the face of transformative change is
whether (and how) they can protect their existing investments?
The ideal way to evolve to SDN is through the use of a hybrid SDN solution that
supports both SDN and traditional networking. A hybrid solution can assist in ease of
adoption, whereby the SDN application can be deployed in a multivendor
environment.
In a hybrid environment, an OpenFlow-enabled switch is deployed at the edge—
where the application is accessed—leaving the rest of the network intact. You can
simply flip a switch to a mode that enables you to go back to traditional networking.
You can also reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by extending the lifecycle of
existing equipment.
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28. A network partner with an ecosystem that
supports a broad range of applications
Why wait to deploy SDN when you can deliver measurable benefits to your business
today? One of the keys to accelerating your deployment of SDN is to work with a
network partner that already has an ecosystem of proven applications.
Before the advent of the app store, SDN solutions were tested and purchased
separately. The app store has lowered the barrier to innovation and allows you to
focus on business outcomes. Solutions are integrated seamlessly and ready to
install with a simple download.
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29. Software-defined networking is an important enabling technology for the digital
workplace.
SDN enables a network infrastructure that is more reliable, agile and cost-efficient
than legacy networks, making it much more suitable for today’s cloud and mobile
era.
For IT and network decision-makers, today’s network investments have to support
the SDN infrastructure of tomorrow.
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30. Thank you! 
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