Using transparent WDM metro rings to provide an out-of-band control network for OpenFlow in MAN
Abstract
OpenFlow is a protocol that enables networks to evolve and change flexibly, by giving a remote controller the
capability of modifying the behavior of network devices. In an OpenFlow network, each device needs to
maintain a dedicated and separated connection with a remote controller. All these connections can be described
as the OpenFlow control network, that is the data network which transports control plane information, and can be
deployed together with the data infrastructure plane (in-band) or separated (out-of-band), with advantages and
disadvantages in both cases. The control network is a critical subsystem since the communication with the
controller must be reliable and ideally should be protected against failures. This paper proposes a novel ring
architecture to efficiently transport both the data plane and an out-of-band control network.
capability of modifying the behavior of network devices. In an OpenFlow network, each device needs to
maintain a dedicated and separated connection with a remote controller. All these connections can be described
as the OpenFlow control network, that is the data network which transports control plane information, and can be
deployed together with the data infrastructure plane (in-band) or separated (out-of-band), with advantages and
disadvantages in both cases. The control network is a critical subsystem since the communication with the
controller must be reliable and ideally should be protected against failures. This paper proposes a novel ring
architecture to efficiently transport both the data plane and an out-of-band control network.
Research Areas
