Introduction to SDN and NFV

Abstract

Software defined network (SDN) and Network function virtualization (NFV) are the two new networking paradigms changing the way traditional networks work. SDN works on the concept of centralization so that all the decisions related to controlling the networks is done in a centralized place in a centralized manner. To provide a centralized control, SDN decouples the control plane and data from the traditional routing devices to take it in the centralized position. The data plane is still intact with the routing devices, but they now become mere forwarding devices and the decisions are made at the centralized place called the controller. The controller is basically the x86 server that is connected to the forwarding devices and communicates with them for all control decisions such as routing. NFV is based on virtualization of network functions in the form of software running over a high end server. This kind of virtualization helps in easy setup of networks as well as easy migration.