Abstract

This whitepaper proposes OpenFlow: a way for researchers to run experimental protocols in the networks they use every day. OpenFlow is based on an Ethernet switch, with an internal flow-table, and a standardized interface to add and remove flow entries. Our goal is to encourage networking vendors to add OpenFlow to their switch products for deployment in college campus backbones and wiring closets. We believe that OpenFlow is a pragmatic compromise: on one hand, it allows researchers to run experiments on heterogeneous switches in a uniform way at line-rate and with high port-density; while on the other hand, vendors do not need to expose the internal workings of their switches. In addition to allowing researchers to evaluate their ideas in real-world traffic settings, OpenFlow could serve as a useful campus component in proposed large-scale testbeds like GENI. Two buildings at Stanford University will soon run OpenFlow networks, using commercial Ethernet switches and routers. We will work to encourage deployment at other schools; and We encourage you to consider deploying OpenFlow in your university network too

Keywords

OpenFlowComputer scienceSoftware deploymentComputer networkEthernetNetwork switchPort (circuit theory)Table (database)Software-defined networkingOperating systemEngineering

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Publication Info

Year
2008
Type
article
Volume
38
Issue
2
Pages
69-74
Citations
8278
Access
Closed

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Nick McKeown, Tom Anderson, Hari Balakrishnan et al. (2008). OpenFlow. ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review , 38 (2) , 69-74. https://doi.org/10.1145/1355734.1355746

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DOI
10.1145/1355734.1355746