Lessons learnt from the NetIDE project: Taking SDN programming to the next level

TL;DR

This paper discusses the lessons learned from the NetIDE project, highlighting the development of a multi-controller SDN framework that supports various protocols to promote multi-vendor interoperability and address existing challenges.

Contribution

It introduces a novel multi-controller SDN framework that supports multiple southbound protocols, including a proof of concept with OpenFlow, to enhance vendor interoperability.

Findings

Identified key challenges in current SDN deployments

Developed a multi-controller architecture supporting diverse protocols

Gained insights into OpenFlow protocol limitations

Abstract

SDN promises to overcome vendor lock-in by enabling a multi-vendor hardware and software ecosystem in operator networks. However, we observe that this is currently not happening. A framework allowing to compose SDN applications combining different frameworks can help revert the trend. In this paper, we analyze the challenges in the current SDN landscape and then present the multi-controller SDN framework developed by the NetIDE project. Our architecture supports different SDN southbound protocols and we have implemented a proof of concept using the OpenFlow protocol, which has given us a greater insight on its shortcomings.