A Decentralized Approach to Software-Defined Networks (SDNs)

TL;DR

This paper introduces a decentralized, region-based routing approach for SDNs called SmartRegion Routing, aiming to improve scalability, manageability, and flexibility by absorbing network complexity into regions and leveraging region stacks.

Contribution

It presents a novel region-based routing framework that simplifies SDN management, enhances scalability, and supports multipath planning through a flexible region stack mechanism.

Findings

Provides a basic SmartRegion routing mechanism

Demonstrates improved scalability and manageability

Discusses applications like seamless broadband and beyond IP addressing

Abstract

Redistribution of the intelligence and management in the software defined networks (SDNs) is a potential approach to address the bottlenecks of scalability and integrity of these networks. We propose to revisit the routing concept based on the notion of regions. Using basic and consistent definition of regions, a region-based packet routing called SmartRegion Routing is presented. The flexibility of regions in terms of naming and addressing is then leveraged in the form of a region stack among other features placed in the associated packet header. In this way, most of complexity and dynamicity of a network is absorbed, and therefore highly fast and simplified routing at the inter-region level along with semi-autonomous intra-region routing will be feasible. In addition, multipath planning can be naturally realized at both inter and intra levels. A basic form of SmartRegion routing mechanism is provided. Simplicity, scalability, and manageability of the proposed approach would also bring future potentials to reduce energy consumption and environmental footprint associated to the SDNs. Finally, various applications, such as enabling seamless broadband access, providing beyond IP addressing mechanisms, and also address-equivalent naming mechanisms, are considered and discussed.