A Promise Theory Perspective on Data Networks

TL;DR

This paper applies Promise Theory to analyze the evolution of data networks, emphasizing principles like self-healing, scalability, and robustness in the context of Software Defined Networking.

Contribution

It introduces a Promise Theory perspective to understand networking transformations, providing a principles-based framework beyond specific technologies.

Findings

Promise Theory offers a unifying framework for network principles.

The approach highlights self-healing, scalability, and robustness as key network attributes.

It facilitates understanding of current and future networking paradigms.

Abstract

Networking is undergoing a transformation throughout our industry. The need for scalable network control and automation shifts the focus from hardware driven products with ad hoc control to Software Defined Networks. This process is now well underway. In this paper, we adopt the perspective of the Promise Theory to examine the current and future states of networking technologies. The goal is to see beyond specific technologies, topologies and approaches and define principles. Promise Theory's bottom-up modeling has been applied to server management for many years and lends itself to principles of self-healing, scalability and robustness.