VirtuWind: virtual and programmable industrial network prototype deployed in operational wind park

With anticipated exponential growth of connected devices, future industrial networks require an open solutions architecture facilitated by standards and a strong ecosystem. Such solutions should also deal with range of quality of service requirements imposed by industrial networks. Preserving strict quality of service is particularly challenging when services pass across domains of multiple provides. VirtuWind aims to develop and demonstrate a Software Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization ecosystem, based on an open, modular and secure framework to address stringent requirements of the industrial networks. A prototype of the framework for intra‐domain and inter‐domain scenarios will be showcased in real Wind Parks, as a representative use case of industrial networks. This paper details this vision and explains steps forward. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. VirtuWind‡ aims to develop and demonstrate a software defined networking and network function virtualization ecosystem, based on an open, modular, and secure framework to address stringent requirements of the industrial networks. A prototype of the framework for intra‐domain and inter‐domain scenarios will be showcased in real Wind Parks, as a representative use case of industrial networks. This paper details this vision and explains steps forward.