future proofing your data center network

Future-proofing Your Data Center Network

An Overview of Software Defined Networking

Presented To: Innotech San AntonioPresented By: Mark Thames

Technology delivered with CARE

The Evolution of Networks Since 2000

2000 • Files and Web Traffic• Basic Routing and Switching • ATM and Frame Relay WAN• MySpace• We cared about speed • Video Conferencing and ISDN



2004 • Video, Streaming, Media Rich

Applications• Routing and Switching from L2 to L3• MPLS WAN• QoS and CoS• Latency, Packet Loss, Jitter a big deal• Server Virtualization and SANs taking off



Today • Mobile, Cloud, Big Data, HD Streaming,

IoT• Routing and Switching Evolving to

Software• Network Virtualization • Security at a Critical Stage• Google Fiber and the Evolution of Bandwidth• Dynamic Networking Needs


Network Challenges Today

Today • Networks are difficult to manage and

evolve• Closed systems – proprietary hardware

and software• Lack of dynamic networking in LAN• No way to have lab networks on production

networks• Network Virtualization?


Software Defined Networking

Definition from Open Networking Foundation:“Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging architecture that is dynamic, manageable, cost-effective, and adaptable, making it ideal for the high-bandwidth, dynamic nature of today's applications. This architecture decouples the network control and forwarding functions enabling the network control to become directly programmable and the underlying infrastructure to be abstracted for applications and network services. The OpenFlow™ protocol is a foundational element for building SDN solutions.”


SDN Basics

SDN Overview• A way of organizing network functionality• Separation of the Control plane and Data plane• Application Layer, Control Layer, Transport

Layer• OpenFlow current API/protocol for SDN between Control

and Transport Layer• Dynamically model and shape traffic• Network Virtualization and application integration

(Hypervisor, Openstack)


Benefits of SDN


Overview of SDN Architecture


Infrastructure Layer

Data Plane• Packet Forwarding• Top of Rack Switches / Network Devices• Flow Tables• Multiple Vendors have SDN OpenFlow enabled

switches• Major Vendors have full product lines for SDN


Controller Layer

The Network OS/Control plane• Software that works to dynamically pull the

intelligence away from the hardware• Architected to control the entire network – what

is the topology and tell the switches what to do• Single plane of glass, single switch• VLAN, ACL, Firewall• Controller interfaces with applications, including security

controls• Auto-provisioning and fast upgrades


Application Layer

“API Integration”• API Integration between the Application Layer and

Control Layer• Dynamic network provisioning for traffic engineering• SDKs for programmers to develop new services• Security Integration • Easier customization and integration with software (Hypervisor,

Openstack)• Flexibility with programmability. Program your network, don’t

configure it• Orchistration


SDN Application Benefits• Directly programmable: Network control is directly programmable

because it is decoupled from forwarding functions.• Agile: Abstracting control from forwarding lets administrators dynamically

adjust network-wide traffic flow to meet changing needs.• Centrally managed: Network intelligence is (logically) centralized in

software-based SDN controllers that maintain a global view of the network, which appears to applications and policy engines as a single, logical switch.

• Programmatically configured: SDN lets network managers configure, manage, secure, and optimize network resources very quickly via dynamic, automated SDN programs, which they can write themselves because the programs do not depend on proprietary software.

• Open standards-based and vendor-neutral: When implemented through open standards, SDN simplifies network design and operation because instructions are provided by SDN controllers instead of multiple, vendor-specific devices and protocols.

• Source ONF


Virtualization

“Abstraction between physical resources and their logical representation” • Server Virtualization Widespread• Storage Virtualization• Desktop Virtualization• Network Function Virtualization


Virtualization Usage


Open Networking Foundation

ONF• User Driven Organization Dedicated to

the Promotion and Adoption of SDN • Over 100 Members (All Major SDN

Players)• Clean Slate, Stanford University 2007 • Launched OpenFlow in 2011• More than 20+ Vendors with OpenFlow in 2012• Solid SDN Solutions Available in 2013


OpenFlow

OpenFlow IS NOT SDN, it is a API/Protocol• OpenFlow is an open API that is the interface

between the Controller Layer and Interface Layer• Enables visibility and programmability of your

network• Openflow enabled switches: SW – Secure Channel• Openflow enabled switches: HW – Forwarding

Table• Traffic to controller is SSL• Can I have an SDN without OpenFlow?• How long will OpenFlow be the standard?


OpenFlow vs. Traditional Networks


Security Benefits and Gotchas

Benefits• DDoS Black Holes• True NAC at the virtual level• Dynamic firewall and UTM• Deep packet inspection at the hypervisor level• Malware protection


Security Benefits of SDN


Security Benefits and Gotchas

Gotchas• API integration to software controllers

can lead to more attacks• BYOD devices can take over your

network if not secured properly• As controller software gets more

popular, be careful the products are from reputable companies with a security focus as well


Do I Need SDN Now?

Key Questions to Ask• Do I need to deploy 10 gig in my data

center?• Do I need to add Operations Staff?• When is your data center network off the books?• Do you need to dynamically shape and schedule

traffic?• Are you hosting private clouds• How many outages do you have?


The Future

Next 3 Years• Might seem small now but it is going to

get big very quick• “Holy Grail” LAN and WAN SDN Integration• MPLS bandwidth cost changes• Devices (your phone) will control the API’s to control

your network• Major investment in SDN• Incumbents will do well and acquire the best


The Future

Organizations and Startups• Open Daylight Org• ON.LAB – Open Networking

Operating System (ONOS) • Versa• OpenContrail (Juniper Networks)• Stanford University Pantou (OpenWRT)• ONF


Key Takeaways

SDN Recap• Networks have been the last to evolve, but

the evolution has begun• SDN at its basic level is separation of the

control plane and data plane• OpenFlow is at the heart of SDN, but is NOT SDN• Test, Test, Test• Sticking with the incumbent network providers is not a

bad strategy• Start planning now for SDN


Questions?


Thank You!


Mark Thames| Sacramento Technology Group, LLC

[email protected] | www.sactech.com

future proofing your data center network

Business

network control

sdn openflow

sdn basics sdn

benefits of sdn technology

network services

network resources

network intelligence

network design