Glossary

15.1 Emerging SDN technologies and standards

3 min read•august 9, 2024

SDN is evolving rapidly, with new technologies reshaping network management. and are simplifying complex tasks, while offer unprecedented flexibility in packet processing.

and are revolutionizing network configuration, enabling more efficient and reliable management across multi-vendor environments. These advancements are paving the way for more intelligent, adaptable, and easily managed networks.

Intent-Based Networking and Automation

Advancements in Network Management

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  • Intent-based networking transforms network management by allowing administrators to specify desired outcomes rather than detailed configurations
  • Network automation streamlines operations through scripting and programmatic control, reducing manual tasks and potential errors
  • provides vendor-neutral data models for network device configuration and telemetry
  • (gRPC Remote Procedure Call) facilitates efficient communication between network devices and management systems using HTTP/2

Implementation and Benefits

  • Intent-based systems translate high-level business objectives into network policies and configurations
  • Automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef) enable consistent deployment of network changes across multiple devices
  • OpenConfig models support multi-vendor environments, enhancing interoperability and reducing vendor lock-in
  • gRPC offers advantages over traditional protocols (SNMP) including bi-directional streaming and improved performance

Real-world Applications

  • Intent-based networking simplifies complex tasks (creating VLANs across multiple switches automatically based on security policies)
  • Network automation accelerates service provisioning (deploying VPNs or firewall rules across multiple sites)
  • OpenConfig standardizes configuration of network features (BGP routing, interfaces) across different vendor platforms
  • gRPC enables real-time streaming telemetry, providing granular visibility into network performance and health

Programmable Data Planes and Protocols

P4 Language and Its Capabilities

  • (Programming Protocol-independent Packet Processors) allows customization of packet processing in network devices
  • P4 programs define how packets are parsed, matched, and modified in the
  • P4 enables rapid prototyping of new network protocols without hardware changes
  • P4 architecture consists of a parser, match-action pipeline, and deparser

Programmable Data Plane Innovations

  • Programmable data planes provide flexibility to adapt network behavior without replacing hardware
  • and offer reconfigurable hardware for data plane programming
  • Programmable data planes support advanced functions (in-network computing, telemetry) beyond traditional packet forwarding

Segment Routing and Network Optimization

  • simplifies traffic engineering by encoding path information in packet headers
  • SR supports both (SR-MPLS) and (SRv6) environments
  • Segment Routing enables efficient implementation of and
  • SR reduces complexity by eliminating the need for additional signaling protocols (LDP, RSVP-TE)

Network Configuration and Modeling

NETCONF Protocol Features

  • NETCONF () provides a standardized way to manage network device configurations
  • NETCONF uses XML-encoded data and Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs) for configuration operations
  • NETCONF supports transaction-based changes, allowing rollback of failed configurations
  • NETCONF operations include get-config, edit-config, copy-config, and delete-config

YANG Data Modeling

  • YANG (Yet Another Next Generation) serves as a data modeling language for defining configuration and state data of network elements
  • YANG models describe the structure, constraints, and relationships of data elements
  • YANG supports modular design, allowing reuse and extension of existing models
  • YANG models can be translated into various formats (XML, JSON) for use with different protocols (NETCONF, RESTCONF)

Practical Applications and Benefits

  • NETCONF and YANG combined enable programmatic configuration of network devices across multiple vendors
  • YANG models provide a contract between network management systems and devices, ensuring consistency
  • NETCONF's transactional nature improves reliability of configuration changes in large-scale networks
  • YANG models facilitate automation by providing a structured representation of device capabilities and configurations

Key Terms to Review (18)

Automation: Automation refers to the technology that enables the execution of processes and tasks with minimal human intervention. In networking, it enhances efficiency and consistency in managing and operating network resources, allowing for rapid response to changes and automated management tasks.
Control plane: The control plane is a fundamental component of network architecture responsible for managing and directing network traffic by controlling the flow of data packets through the network. It separates the decision-making process from the data forwarding process, allowing for more dynamic and efficient network management and enabling features like programmability and automation.
Data Plane: The data plane is the part of a network that carries user data packets from one point to another. It operates on the forwarding of data based on rules set by the control plane, managing how packets are transmitted and processed through the network infrastructure.
Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs): Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are integrated circuits that can be configured by the user after manufacturing, allowing for a flexible hardware design tailored to specific applications. This adaptability makes FPGAs especially valuable in the context of emerging technologies and standards in Software-Defined Networking (SDN), where rapid changes and custom solutions are often required to meet evolving network demands.
GRPC: gRPC is an open-source remote procedure call (RPC) framework that facilitates communication between services in a networked environment. It enables clients and servers to communicate efficiently using protocol buffers for serialization, providing advantages in performance and interoperability. gRPC supports multiple programming languages and works well in microservices architectures, making it an ideal choice for modern software-defined networking applications.
Intent-based networking: Intent-based networking is a network management approach that uses high-level policies and intentions from administrators to automate network configuration and management. This method helps ensure that the network continuously aligns with the business objectives and operational requirements, allowing for faster responses to changing conditions.
Ipv6: IPv6, or Internet Protocol version 6, is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol designed to replace IPv4. It was developed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses and features a vastly larger address space, enhanced security protocols, and improved efficiency for routing and network configuration.
MPLS: MPLS, or Multi-Protocol Label Switching, is a versatile data-carrying technique that directs packets through a network based on short path labels rather than long network addresses. This labeling allows for more efficient routing and traffic management, making it ideal for creating virtual network overlays and supporting tunneling protocols, as it enables service providers to offer various services over a single infrastructure while maintaining high performance.
Netconf: NETCONF (Network Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol used to install, manipulate, and delete the configuration of network devices. It facilitates communication between network management systems and devices by providing a standardized way to configure and manage devices, making it essential in modern network environments.
Network Configuration Protocol: Network Configuration Protocol (NETCONF) is a network management protocol that allows for the configuration and monitoring of network devices over a secure transport protocol. It uses XML to encode its data and provides mechanisms to install, manipulate, and delete the configuration of network devices, making it essential for managing devices in complex network environments, especially in Software-Defined Networking (SDN) contexts.
Network Processing Units (NPUs): Network Processing Units (NPUs) are specialized processors designed to handle the complex tasks associated with networking functions, particularly in the context of software-defined networking (SDN). They enable high-speed packet processing, traffic management, and the implementation of network protocols, making them crucial for the efficient operation of modern network infrastructures that require dynamic reconfiguration and scalability.
Network Slicing: Network slicing is a technique that allows multiple virtual networks to be created on top of a shared physical infrastructure, enabling different types of services and applications to coexist while maintaining performance and security. This method supports the tailored delivery of network resources according to specific needs, making it vital in contexts where diverse applications require unique characteristics.
Openconfig: OpenConfig is an initiative that aims to provide a standardized way to manage network devices through a common data model, facilitating interoperability and automation in networking environments. By using OpenConfig, operators can define network configurations using modern programming techniques and protocols, which helps in building more agile and flexible networks that can adapt to changing demands.
P4: P4 is a high-level programming language designed for programming network devices, focusing on packet processing and data plane behavior. It enables developers to define the functionality of networking devices in a way that is independent of hardware, allowing for flexibility and customization in how packets are handled across various devices and platforms.
Programmable data planes: Programmable data planes refer to the architecture in networking that allows for the dynamic configuration and management of network devices, enabling customization and flexibility in data processing. This concept allows network operators to define how data packets are handled at the hardware level, improving efficiency and responsiveness to changing network conditions. With the integration of programmable data planes, networks can better adapt to new protocols and applications, fostering innovation and improving overall performance.
Segment Routing: Segment Routing is a network routing architecture that allows for the efficient and flexible management of data paths through a network by encoding the paths into the packet header. This approach utilizes segments, which are identified by labels or identifiers that specify how packets should be routed, enabling more straightforward traffic engineering and reducing reliance on traditional protocols like MPLS. By leveraging a simplified control plane, Segment Routing facilitates improved scalability and adaptability in modern networking environments.
Service Function Chaining: Service function chaining is a networking concept that allows for the orchestration of multiple virtualized network functions (VNFs) into a defined sequence or chain. This enables dynamic and flexible deployment of services such as firewalls, load balancers, and intrusion detection systems, improving overall network efficiency and performance while supporting multi-tenancy and network slicing.
Yang: Yang is a data modeling language used to define the structure and behavior of data in network configurations and services. It enables the development of standardized data models that can be utilized across various network functions, promoting interoperability and flexibility in managing virtualized resources and applications. Yang plays a crucial role in enhancing automation and programmability in networking environments.
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