Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network monitoring revolution focusing on a centralized and dynamic approach. Traditionally, network devices such as routers and switches were designed to handle both the control plane, which determines the path a packet should take through the network, and the data plane, which forwards the packet to its destination. However, as networks grew in complexity, it became increasingly difficult to manage and optimize these devices.
Enterprise software defined networking (SDN) was developed as a solution to this problem. In 2008, a group of researchers from Stanford University recognized the need for a more flexible and scalable approach to network management. They created OpenFlow, the first SDN protocol, and SDN has continued to evolve and gain momentum since. Today, it is widely adopted in enterprise networks and data centers, and SDN management has enabled new applications such as network virtualization, network slicing, and multi-tenancy.
The basic idea behind SDN network management is to separate the control plane from the data plane, enabling the network to be managed in a more centralized and programmable way.
SDN architectures are often used in large-scale networks, such as data centers and cloud computing environments, where managing network traffic can be a complex and time-consuming task. By automating many of these processes through SDN monitoring software, SDN can help reduce the workload on network administrators and improve overall network performance.
In traditional client-server applications communication happens between a single client and server whereas modern applications often access multiple databases and servers, leading to a high volume of machine-to-machine traffic before data is sent to the end-user device. Additionally, users are increasingly accessing corporate content and applications from a wide range of personal devices, leading to changing SDN traffic patterns.
Users are increasingly relying on their own personal devices (such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops) to access the corporate network, and IT teams are facing pressure to accommodate these devices while also ensuring the protection of corporate data and meeting compliance requirements.
The increasing prevalence of "big data" requires massive parallel processing across thousands of servers, which need to be directly connected to one another, leading to a constant demand for additional network capacity in the SDN data center.
As the need for larger data centers grows due to the rise of cloud computing and IoT, energy consumption is becoming a concern. Researchers are exploring techniques to improve energy efficiency in SDN architectures by dynamically adjusting the network data plane and control plane.
With these changing traffic patterns, cloud services, and the rise of big data, the need for a network management system is becoming increasingly important for effective SDN management.
As SDN enables more dynamic and flexible network traffic, it becomes difficult to track and identify performance issues manually. A software defined networking software provides real-time data and analysis of network traffic, which helps in identifying and resolving performance issues proactively.
Network security threats are increasing in number and complexity, making it critical for SDN networks to have effective security measures in place. A SDN network monitoring can detect and alert administrators about any suspicious network activity, enabling them to take immediate action to prevent security breaches.
With SDN's centralized management, administrators need to have complete visibility into the network to monitor and control network traffic. SDN software management provides detailed information about network topology, device status, and traffic patterns, enabling administrators to have complete visibility and control over the network.
SDN Network monitoring solutions provide historical data about network performance, which can be used for capacity planning and future network optimization. Analyzing historical data enables administrators to identify network trends and patterns, and make informed decisions regarding network capacity, topology, and configuration.
SDN networks are becoming more complex due to the increase in the number of devices and applications connecting to the network. Software defined networking management tool helps in managing this complexity by providing a single interface for monitoring and managing network performance and security.
These robust features set, seamless integration capabilities, and unparalleled network monitoring capabilities make OpManager a worthy choice for any organization seeking to SDN management.