Controlling a Software-Defined Network via Distributed Controllers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a distributed OpenFlow controller framework that enhances scalability and reliability in data center networks, supporting dynamic controller management with minimal disruption.

Contribution

It presents a novel distributed controller architecture and coordination framework compatible with existing OpenFlow controllers, enabling seamless scalability and dynamic controller management.

Findings

Framework achieves high scalability and reliability

Supports dynamic addition/removal of controllers without network interruption

Demonstrated effective performance on experimental testbed

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a distributed OpenFlow controller and an associated coordination framework that achieves scalability and reliability even under heavy data center loads. The proposed framework, which is designed to work with all existing OpenFlow controllers with minimal or no required changes, provides support for dynamic addition and removal of controllers to the cluster without any interruption to the network operation. We demonstrate performance results of the proposed framework implemented over an experimental testbed that uses controllers running Beacon.