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Software defined networking
Top SD-WAN benefits and the case for deployment
Make the case for an SD-WAN implementation, and explore the benefits and main use cases for SD-WAN in enterprises, beyond traditional hybrid WANs. Continue Reading
Consider these 6 SD-WAN challenges and the flip-side benefits
Cost, complexity, security, training, troubleshooting and software bugs are some of the top SD-WAN challenges. Discover more about these issues and how to offset them. Continue Reading
SD-WAN (Software-defined WAN)
Software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is technology that uses software-defined networking (SDN) concepts to distribute network traffic across a wide area network (WAN). Continue Reading
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What is the difference between SDN and NFV?
SDN and NFV are siblings but not twins -- while they have a lot in common, they aren't identical. Here's what you need to know about their differences. Continue Reading
software-defined networking (SDN)
Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network architecture that aims to make data center networks agile and flexible. Continue Reading
How does SD-WAN analytics monitor network performance?
With SD-WAN analytics, administrators can fine-tune their WAN connections and determine how well their network is performing.Continue Reading
Better security through software-defined perimeter know-how
Network attacks keep changing, which means your strategy for protecting the network must too. Learn one advancement that's replacing traditional network architectures.Continue Reading
How is service mesh architecture different from SDN and NFV?
Service mesh separates itself from SDN and NFV approaches with its clear focus on managing the communication and forwarding between multiple microservices.Continue Reading
What is a programmable data plane and where does P4 fit in?
A programmable data plane presents a versatile way to forward packets and supports various formats and protocols. The P4 language is used to configure the forwarding actions.Continue Reading
How do SDN protocols compare to those used in SD-WAN?
Traditional SDN controllers use northbound and southbound APIs to communicate. But software-defined WAN controllers don't rely on those same SDN protocols.Continue Reading
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What is a software-defined perimeter, and do I need it?
An evolving network world requires evolving network security. Learn how software-defined perimeter offers a compelling answer to network vulnerabilities.Continue Reading
SDN controller (software-defined networking controller)
An SDN controller is an application in a software-defined networking (SDN) architecture that manages flow control for improved network management and application performance.Continue Reading
What is the status of VNF deployments among service providers?
Although service providers are undertaking VNF deployments in the network core, they're hard-pressed to deploy them at the network edge due to complexity and cost.Continue Reading
Does software-defined networking architecture use segment routing?
Segment routing steers packets using a list of instructions, and it can be used in MPLS and IPv6 architecture. But does software-defined networking architecture support it?Continue Reading
Does software-defined networking architecture need network overlays?
Network overlays and software-defined networking architecture share a history. But while overlays offer flexibility, they also bring extra overhead and troubleshooting complications.Continue Reading
Software-based networks lay foundation of networking's future
Software-based networks are evolving, reshaping how companies do business and blending into legacy networking. Enterprises will have to sort out which approaches work best.Continue Reading
Your guide to embedding SDN in data centers, from start to finish
Wondering if it's time for your enterprise to transition to an SDN data center? Expert help is available to help answer that question and plan your next steps.Continue Reading
Understanding SDN components and where they're going
What is SDN, and how does it differ from NFV? In part two of this series, IT expert Andrew Froehlich explains SDN technologies and where we can expect to see them in the future.Continue Reading
Minecraft paves the way to grow enterprise SDN, seriously
Insight from the Minecraft video game points to how enterprise SDN adoption could grow faster with a single interface for monitoring, confirmation and troubleshooting.Continue Reading
SDN technologies break into the networking space
Networking expert Jim Metzler talks to TechTarget's Kara Gattine about the past, present and future of software-defined networks.Continue Reading
SDN starter kits remove some do-it-yourself aspects of an SDN deployment
Not many network engineers can confidently design and launch an SDN deployment from scratch. But with SDN starter kits, there's less need to do that on their own.Continue Reading
What's the holdup on enterprise network software adoption?
Enterprise network software uptake is lagging due to a wide range of adoption barriers. The good news is that these challenges shouldn't be difficult to overcome.Continue Reading
Five reasons IT pros are not ready for SDN investment
Vendors will tell you all the reasons you should buy SDN, but we talked to a group of IT leaders who explain why they can't yet recommend SDN investment. (Think: security!)Continue Reading
What is 'real SDN'?
Networking pros continue to argue about what 'real SDN' is. Here is a breakdown of the major SDN categories that exist in research and real-world environments.Continue Reading
Translating network policy in SDN isn't a one-protocol show
SDN allows for separation of control from the data plane, and creativity in network policy. Learn the many protocols that can make this possible.Continue Reading
What is a CPU-based SDN switch? Infoblox's Stu Bailey explains
InfoBlox's Stu Bailey talks about the differences between the CPU-based LINCX SDN switch and ASIC-based switches, and how users can get involved with the development of LINCX.Continue Reading
What is OpenDaylight's SDN Interface application?
OpenDaylight developer Rafat Jahan explains OpenDaylight's SDNi application as it relates to the release of Helium, the organization's second open source project.Continue Reading
How software-defined storage and SDN connect through orchestration
Software-defined storage and SDN are separate infrastructures, but they can be co-managed and provisioned through orchestration tools.Continue Reading
When SDN meets Hadoop big data analysis, things get dynamic
SDN can provide the network orchestration necessary to bring dynamic Hadoop big data analysis to life today.Continue Reading
How the open transport switch will make operator SDN a reality
SDN holds plenty of promise in operator networks, but it'll take open transport switches to translate protocols like OpenFlow to the underlying network.Continue Reading
SDN optical transport networks: Programmability, but first, challenges
SDN can be used to optimize optical transport networks, but first, engineers must learn to apply it to the diverse architectures of operator networks.Continue Reading
How software-defined networking will boost carrier Ethernet services
Now that SDN controllers can reach into optical networks, the technology could boost the performance and cost efficiency of carrier Ethernet services.Continue Reading
The SDN transition: Understanding SDN vendors, concepts and challenges
SDN expert Ethan Banks breaks down what network engineers need to know about SDN vendors, architectures, products and operational requirements.Continue Reading
SDN basics: Understanding centralized control and programmability
Network engineers who want to learn about SDN basics must begin with the concepts of centralized control and network programmability.Continue Reading
Will Facebook push Intel chips into SDN and open networking?
Facebook and the Open Compute Project have taken on the quest for open networking and SDN, and Intel is playing a key role.Continue Reading
SDN, networking monitoring: Challenge or a change for the better?
In SDN network monitoring there are both challenges and the potential for change that will bring network management capabilities to a new level.Continue Reading
IPv6, SDN: When worlds collide ... in a good way
IPv6, SDN and the cloud seem like separate initiatives, but they are interdependent. SDN and IPv6 will enable cloud agility. The good news is they are also complementary.Continue Reading
Jennifer Rexford: The road to SDN programming language started at AT&T
SDN researcher Jennifer Rexford talks about her work with SDN programming languages and Pyretic, a Python-based language for OpenFlow networks.Continue Reading
SDN WAN optimization and security applications emerge
Managing remote offices is tough, but SDN WAN optimization and security bring centralized management that simplifies pushing policy to the branches.Continue Reading
New SDN book looks beyond OpenFlow and central control: Author Q&A
A new SDN book posits that OpenFlow and central control are important, but open source software networking and programmability are just as crucial.Continue Reading
Where SDN and DPI technology meet: Centralized control and automation
When SDN and DPI technology meet, network engineers can apply monitoring and management policy to the whole network instead of individual components.Continue Reading
How to choose the right SDN controller platform
When choosing the best SDN controller platform for your company, look at the problem you need to solve, the end goal and various end-to-end solutions.Continue Reading
SDN: From business problem to technical solution
Learn how software-defined networking (SDN) technology strategies can help in reducing the complexity and management of your network.Continue Reading
Software-defined networking: IT decision center
The evolution of software-defined networking (SDN) is creating a massive transformation that will affect every part of the network. SDN enables centralized programmable networks that separate the control and data planes from the underlying ...Continue Reading
Path Computation Element primer: Are PCE and SDN connected?
Is there a role for Path Computation Element -- a seven-year old IETF protocol that separates the control plane from the head-end router -- in SDN?Continue Reading
programmable network (PN)
A programmable network is one in which the behavior of network devices and flow control is handled by software that operates independently from network hardware.Continue Reading
Primer: A new generation of programmable ASICs
Programmable application-specific integrated circuits allow the data plane of switches to support new technologies, like software-defined networking.Continue Reading
NetScaler (SDX)
Citrix NetScaler SDX is a service delivery networking platform for enterprise and cloud datacenters. NetScaler SDX supports multiple NetScaler instances on a single hardware appliance.Continue Reading
Embrane
Embrane is a company that makes software products for the delivery of SDN (sofware-defined networking) services, including load balancers, firewalls and VPNs.Continue Reading
Specialized SDN controllers: Are they necessary?
An SDN controller, with or without OpenFlow, is not required for a software-defined network, and SDN architecture vendors take different approaches.Continue Reading
Is SDN a centralized or distributed network architecture?
A software-defined network can have a centralized or distributed network architecture in the data center, LAN and WAN, depending on business needs.Continue Reading
What is the difference between an overlay network and SDN?
A software-defined network can be deployed as an overlay network to a physical network or natively as the primary network to improve flexibility.Continue Reading
Does software-defined networking require special SDN switches?
Software-defined networks do not require special SDN switches; instead, vendors offer a variety of SDN controllers, network fabrics and hardware.Continue Reading
Where do network fabric and SDN technologies intersect?
Networks can use a network fabric and SDN technologies together, and vendors' SDN architectures integrate them in a variety different ways.Continue Reading
Why you need a hybrid network while migrating to SDN
While migrating to software-defined networking, hybrid SDN and traditional networks must support both physical and virtual switching environments.Continue Reading
The role of northbound APIs in an SDN environment
Northbound APIs on SDN controllers enable applications and orchestration systems to program the network and request services from it.Continue Reading
Distributed Control Plane Architecture (DCPA)
A Distributed Control Plane Architecture (DCPA) is a network architecture that makes it possible to allocate control protocol functions across multiple processor levels in the network system.Continue Reading
Floodlight
Floodlight is a Java-based OpenFlow controller.Continue Reading
SDN technologies primer: Revolution or evolution in architecture?
SDN can be implemented with a centralized controller or distributed architecture. In choosing SDN technologies, is a complete overhaul necessary?Continue Reading
SDN application (software-defined networking application)
An SDN application is a software program designed to perform a task in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. SDN applications can replace and expand upon functions that are implemented through firmware in hardware devices in a ...Continue Reading
Do I need to use an SDN controller for software-defined networking?
An SDN controller, with or without OpenFlow, is not required for a software-defined network, and SDN architecture vendors take different approaches.Continue Reading
hybrid SDN
A hybrid SDN (software-defined network) is a network where both traditional networking and SDN protocols operate in the same environment.Continue Reading
Plexxi
Plexxi is a Cambridge Massachusetts company that makes software-defined networking (SDN) software. The company was founded with venture-based funding in 2011. Plexxi's management team is composed of networking professionals.Continue Reading
application-defined networking
Application-defined networking (ADN) is a networking scenario in which applications have the ability to adapt network environments to meet their needs, rather than having resources allocated by the network.Continue Reading
OpenFlow controller
An OpenFlow controller is an application that manages flow control in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment.Continue Reading
FlowVisor
FlowVisor is an experimental software-defined networking controller that enables network virtualization by slicing a physical network into multiple logical networks.Continue Reading
application-aware networking (app-ware networking)
Application-aware networking is the capacity of an intelligent network to maintain current information about applications that connect to it and, as a result, optimize their functioning as well as that of other applications or systems that they ...Continue Reading
SDN overlay (software defined networking overlay)
An SDN overlay is a deployment method for network virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN) that involves running a logically separate network or network component on top of existing infrastructure.Continue Reading
Nicira Inc.
Nicira is a network virtualization and SDN (software-defined networking) company that Martin Casado, Nick McKeown and Scott Shenker founded in 2007.Continue Reading
A primer on northbound APIs: Their role in a software-defined network
This primer explores the concept of SDN northbound APIs, their key benefits, who's using them and why.Continue Reading