The challenges of deploying a software defined network

Abstract

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an innovative approach to network architecture that provides the ability to create a whole new class of functionality. It is however still relatively experimental and therefore requires additional investigation to become a solution suitable for large-scale deployments. The deployment of SDN can be an intricate and challenging task where the ability to create sustainable solutions is paramount. This paper outlines the complexities encountered while deploying SDN in a campus network and offers new methods and techniques to networks operators considering deploying their own solution using the currently available technologies. The paper also suggests changes to the SDN architecture and specification that will remove the need for workarounds and improve overall performance and quality.