Device-aware dynamic protocol adaptation in a software-defined network

An example consistent with this disclosure includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to dataflow devices in a network. The controller receives device information from a dataflow device and determines features supported by the dataflow device based, in part, on the device information received from the dataflow device. Using a driver configured to use the features supported by the dataflow device, the controller transmits a command to the dataflow device. The controller then receives a response to the command from the dataflow device. The response to the command may include information that indicates different features are supported by the dataflow device than previously determined. The controller updates its determination of the features supported by the dataflow device and updates the driver used to transmit the command to the dataflow device.