Maturing of OpenFlow and Software-defined Networking through deployments

Software-defined Networking (SDN) has emerged as a new paradigm of networking that enables network operators, owners, vendors, and even third parties to innovate and create new capabilities at a faster pace. The SDN paradigm shows potential for all domains of use, including data centers, cellular providers, service providers, enterprises, and homes. Over a three-year period, we deployed SDN technology at our campus and at several other campuses nation-wide with the help of partners. These deployments included the first-ever SDN prototype in a lab for a (small) global deployment. The four-phased deployments and demonstration of new networking capabilities enabled by SDN played an important role in maturing SDN and its ecosystem. We share our experiences and lessons learned that have to do with demonstration of SDN’s potential; its influence on successive versions of OpenFlow specification; evolution of SDN architecture; performance of SDN and various components; and growing the ecosystem.