A Low-Load QoS Routing Method for OpenFlow Networks

As the volume of Internet traffic continues to grow, there is a need for mechanisms that ensure communication quality that is suitable for different applications. OpenFlow implements per-flow routing control but can have adverse effects on communication quality when the number of flow entries is increased. In this study, we propose a routing method that controls traffic flows by labeling them with numbers representing the source switch, destination switch and required communication quality. The OpenFlow controller then sets up flow entries on a per-label basis rather than on a per-flow basis, allowing it to reduce the number of flow entries. In an evaluation test, we confirmed that the labeling method could prevent this reduction in communication quality.