This case study offers a comprehensive scenario of several applications of software-defined networking. This study will help you understand how flexible data traffic and integrated control of networks have improved software-defined networking adoption across the globe. Employment of SDN has enhanced significantly across network industries. This case study also contains a detailed analysis of network complexities, network flexibility, and cost & time efficiency along with various benefits of software-defined networking such as networking control, managing data traffic, and others. In number of emerging networking industries, SDN is generating highest interest in the recent developments

This case study offers a comprehensive scenario of several applications of software-defined networking. This study will help you understand how flexible data traffic and integrated control of networks have improved software-defined networking adoption across the globe. Employment of SDN has enhanced significantly across network industries. This case study also contains a detailed analysis of network complexities, network flexibility, and cost & time efficiency along with various benefits of software-defined networking such as networking control, managing data traffic, and others. In number of emerging networking industries, SDN is generating highest interest in the recent developments.

Factors such as rising demand for enterprise mobility, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), and growing cloud services are driving the software-defined networking demand. SDN uses a unique approach to designing, operating, and building networks, where control is divide from the hardware and handed to a software application called as controller. In the typical architecture of software-defined networking, the decoupled network policies and logic from the fundamental network equipment allows an enhanced programmable network which supports business agility.

Software-defined networking architecture

The ONF (Open Networking Foundation) is the group which is associated with the standardization and development of software-defined networking. According to the ONF, “SDN is an evolving architecture which is dynamic, adaptable, manageable, and cost-effective, making it ideal for the dynamic nature, high-bandwidth for applications. The SDN architecture decouples the forwarding functions and network control allowing the network control to become programmable and the fundamental infrastructure to be distracted for network services and applications.

According to the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), the SDN architecture is:

• Agile: Extracting control from forwarding allows administrators to dynamically adjust network traffic to meet changing requirements of the network.
• Directly Programmable: SDN control is directly programmable as it’s decoupled from various forwarding functions.
• Centralized management: Network intelligence is centralized in SDN controllers which maintain the network across the globe.
• Vendor-neutral and open standard-based: When implemented with open standards, software-defined networking simplifies network and operation as instructions are provided through SDN controllers instead of vendor-based devices and multiple protocols.
• Programmatically Configured: Software-defined networking enables network engineers to manage, configure, optimize, and secure network resources very fast through automated, dynamic SDN programs.

Benefits of software-defined networking:

• Flexibility

Software-defined networking helps to create flexibility in network operations.

• Saves operational cost

Software-defined networking helps to save operating cost. SDN services can be available for network owners.

• Better management

MSP’s (Managed Service Providers) can implement a single toolset to control virtual networking, storage resources, and computing.

• Improved Uptime

By removing manual intervention, software-defined networking lets resellers to reduce deployment and configuration errors which can influence the network.

• Infrastructure Savings

Separating switching or route intelligence from forwarding reduces hardware costs as switches and routers must strive on price-performance feature.

• Planning

Improved visibility into storage resources, computing, and planning means reseller could also plan information technology strategies effectively for their consumer.

Case Description:

With more than 15,000 students and over 1,200 staff, the Deltion College in the Zwolle, Netherlands has always been an early adopter of innovative technologies and is currently leading the way in SDN. The college has just implemented the first European software-defined networking which is based on HP’s Virtual Application Network (VAN) controller and Kemps’ flexible load balancing technology for software-defined networking.

The Deltion College decided to change its Cisco network with an innovative software-defined networking environment to provide Lync, Microsoft SharePoint, and Exchange services which aim to support high availability for all educational programmes, from pre-university and vocational courses to company training and adult education schemes.

For the expert IT team at Deltion, the new approach of eliminating the control of its physical infrastructure by software will let them support to respond more quickly and multi-vendor infrastructure to shifting requirements. “Software-defined networking is easier to manage, less complex, more dynamic and more saleable and robust,” reported Robert Vos, Manager at Deltion College. “There is a high investment, it will help us to save on hardware, so the profit on investment case was fascinating”. One of the important features of software-defined networking for Deltion College was the ability to configure its networking bandwidth and server with various automate activities like back-ups, application upgrades, and deliver high protection from various cyber attacks.

When making the decision of selecting the best vendors to roll out its revolutionary software-defined networking, the Deltion team analyzed the market wisely and chose the HP VAN controller. This controller is completely based on the OpenFlow, it is a standard communication protocol that is defined by the ONF (Open Networking Foundation), which provides communication and access between the infrastructure and control layers of software-defined networking.

However, Deltion also recognized that load balancing will also play a significant role in the performance and efficiency of its software-defined networking and supporting applications as well as QoS. The Deltion College already deployed Kemp technologies’ load balancers, so when it recognized that Kemp had a working Software-Defined Networking product solution and also was able to interrelate with the HP VAN Controller.

“Our experience of HP VAN and outstanding support made it an excellent choice to switch our Microsoft load balancing to manage traffic through the software-defined networking controller,” stated Hans Hoeven, Security Officer at Deltion College. As result, Kemp technology uses Layer 2 information such as server and network congestion mined from the software-defined networking controller to enhance its Layer 4 and 7 load balancing strategies for making robust decisions and improving application delivery, service levels, and user experience.