SDN help in network automation, removing its hardware constraints and improving agility, security, scalability, and programmability. IBM offers a consultancy-based approach that enables you to build the dynamic, resilient, cloud-enabled network your business needs.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Software-Defined Networking Services
SDN Consulting
To develop a future strategy for your network, identify the gaps that inhibit SDN implementation, determine overall automation needs, define an orchestration strategy, and create a broad and detailed roadmap.
Software-Defined Data Centers
IBM enables clients to transform their enterprise data centre networks based on software-defined networking technologies from multiple vendors. IBM creates a highly programmable network fabric spanning the data centre/cloud (SDN-DC) by integrating functions to provide the best solution to meet customer needs.
SD-WAN Strategy and Assessment
IBM uses a scorecard-based SD-WAN vendor comparison tool to provide a vendor-neutral SD-WAN strategy and roadmap. You can take advantage of the complete cycle of IBM SD-WAN services, from system and assessment to design and implementation to monitoring and management.
What can SDN do for you? Sdn help in network automation
Simplify operations
Reduce complexity by decoupling data and control planes while increasing automation security and scalability.
Speed time to market
Deploy apps and services faster by leveraging open APIs. Easily integrate third-party products.
Develop programmable networks
Eliminate manual configuration. Provision and manage data centres, campuses, and wide area networks.
Set the foundation for intent
Centralize cloud configuration, automation, control, monitoring, service delivery, and automation.
What is SDN? Sdn help in network automation
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) offers a centralized, programmable network consisting of an SDN controller, downstream APIs, and upstream APIs.
SDN controllers are the brains of the network, providing a centralized view of the entire network.
Downstream APIs pass information to switches and routers on the network.
Upstream APIs communicate with applications and implementation services.
How does SDN work? Sdn help in network automation
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is designed to make networking flexible and agile. SDNs allow you to design, build and manage networks by separating the control and forwarding planes. As a result, the control plane can be programmed directly, abstracting the underlying infrastructure for applications and network services.
Network intelligence is logically centralized through programmable SDN controllers. And also, implemented in software, these controllers maintain a consistent view of the network domain. For application and policy engines, SDNs are like a logical switch.
What are the Benefits of Software-Defined Networking (SDN)?
- Fast, automated application deployment
- On-demand application delivery and mobility at scale
- Greater flexibility and use of resources
- And also, reduced IT costs with the increased benefits of data centre virtualization
What is the relationship between SDN and intent-based networks?
Software-defined networking has automated the network management process. Intent-based networks add context, learning, and reliability capabilities by tightly coupling policy and intent. And also,SDNs can be a staple of intent-based networks.
What is the Relationship Between SDN and NFV?
Network functions virtualization (NFV) uses hypervisor and cloud computing technology for network orchestration and automation. NFV works best in the context of network services (OSI level 4 and higher) that require high computing power with low to medium bandwidth performance.
SDNs combine application and network service management on extensible, centralized orchestration platforms. And also, SDNs are optimal for high-performance network forwarding (OSI levels 0 to 3), where bandwidth-intensive workloads need effective traffic management.
What are the different SDN Models?
Although the premise of centralized software controlling the flow of data across switches and routers applies to all software-defined networks, there are different models of SDN.
Open SDN: Network administrators use a protocol such as OpenFlow to control the behaviour of virtual and physical switches in the data plane.
SDN over API: Instead of using an open protocol, application programming interfaces control how data travels through the network on each device.
SDN Overlay Model: Another type of software-defined networking runs a virtual network over an existing hardware infrastructure, creating dynamic tunnels to different local and remote data centres. And also, the virtual network allocates bandwidth across multiple channels and assigns devices to each track, leaving the physical network intact.
Hybrid SDN: This model combines software-defined networking with traditional network protocols in a single environment to support the different functions. And also, standard network protocols continue to direct some of the traffic, while SDN takes responsibility for another part, allowing network administrators to phase in SDN in a legacy environment.
How are SDNs different from Traditional Networks?
The critical difference between SDNs and traditional networks is infrastructure: SDNs are software-based, while conventional networks are hardware-based. Since the control plane is software-based, SDNs are much more flexible than traditional networks.
They allow administrators to control the network, change configuration settings, provision resources, and increase network capacity, all from a centralized user interface and without adding additional hardware.
There are also security differences between SDNs and traditional networks. With increased visibility and the ability to define secure paths, SDNs offer better security in many ways. However, since software-defined networking uses a centralized controller, protecting it is crucial to maintaining a secure network, as this single point of failure represents a potential SDN vulnerability.
What is an SDN Architecture like? Sdn help in network automation
While there is no single model for software-defined networking, this network architecture has evolved.
Moreover, one of the first SDN communication protocols was the OpenFlow model, which was the basis for SDN’s early development and standardization. Administered by the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), this approach requires organizations to implement network devices, such as SDN controllers, routers, and switches, specifically built to support the OpenFlow protocol. As SDNs have evolved, many found this initial model limited and developed workarounds.
Finally, the result was network virtualization models that allowed the creation of virtual networks. These virtual networks can be decoupled from the underlying networking hardware and controlled programmatically.
Conclusion
SDN-based network automation’s security, efficiency, and visibility benefits can drive organizations to greater profitability. To implement SDN as a well-defined service offering, it is also imperative to standardize automation processes to facilitate lifecycle adoption and usage. And also, Professional training and cross-functional team collaboration are the crucial cultural elements that business leaders must address to reap the benefits of SDN.
At Acadia Technology Group, we understand the benefits and challenges of getting started with SDN. Our experienced Cisco engineers will advise you and help you implement a network solution that works for you. To learn more about SDN, contact us today.
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