OpenRouter: OpenFlow extension and implementation based on a commercial router

Abstract

By analyzing challenges of current OpenFlow in production network, we propose three extensions of OpenFlow about FlowTable, control mode and OpenFlow protocol. Based on these extensions, a commercial OpenFlow-enabled router, named OpenRouter, is designed and implemented using only available and existing hardware in a commercial router. OpenRouter brings the abilities of control openness, integration of inside/outside protocols, and flexibility of OpenFlow message structure, low-cost implementation and deployment. We expect OpenRouter may accelerate the large-scale application and deployment of OpenFlow in production network.