Survey on security aspects of distributed software-defined networking controllers in an enterprise SD-WLAN

Abstract

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) improves network management by separating its control logic from the underlying hardware and integrating it into a logically centralized control unit, termed the SDN controller. SDN adaptation is essential for wireless networks because it offers enhanced and data-intensive services. The initial intent of the SDN design was to have a physically centralized controller. However, network experts have suggested logically centralized and physically distributed designs for SDN controllers, owing to issues such as a single point of failure and scalability. This study addressed the security, scalability, reliability, and consistency issues associated with the design of distributed SDN controllers. Moreover, the security issues of an enterprise related to multiple physically distributed controllers in a software-defined wireless local area network (SD-WLAN) were emphasized, and optimal solutions were suggested.