Distributed Consistent Network Updates in SDNs: Local Verification for Global Guarantees

TL;DR

This paper proposes a distributed method for network updates in SDNs that enables switches to locally verify network properties, ensuring global guarantees while improving performance and fault-tolerance.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using local proof labeling systems for distributed verification of network consistency in SDNs.

Findings

Enables local verification of network properties in SDN data planes.

Achieves global network guarantees through distributed local checks.

Improves network performance and fault-tolerance with the proposed method.

Abstract

While SDNs enable more flexible and adaptive network operations, (logically) centralized reconfigurations introduce overheads and delays, which can limit network reactivity. This paper initiates the study of a more distributed approach, in which the consistent network updates are implemented by the switches and routers directly in the data plane. In particular, our approach leverages concepts from local proof labeling systems, which allows the data plane elements to locally check network properties, and we show that this is sufficient to obtain global network guarantees. We demonstrate our approach considering three fundamental use cases, and analyze its benefits in terms of performance and fault-tolerance.