Software Specified Network Infrastructure Management

Abstract: The heart of networking is about change and managing it is a challenge. For operation, maintenance and security of communication network, network operators rely on low level vendor specific configuration to implement complex network policies. The interdependence among the components in a network has led to fear of change in network as change in any part can lead to failure of whole network. This rigidity of underlying network infrastructure presents few possibilities for innovation or improvement. Software Specified Network Infrastructure Management is a paradigm that changes how we design, operate and manage network so that changes to network become practical and reliable. It is implemented by separating data plane and control plane, making network switches as simple packet forwarding devices and leaving the centralized software to logically control behaviour of network. Software Specified Network Infrastructure Management redefines the management and configuration methods of a network. In this paper, we identify the problems of current network configuration and management mechanisms and introduce improved architecture for managing the network.

Keywords: OpenFlow, controller, centralized, ONF, virtual.