Skip to main content
  • Login
  • Support
  • Partnerships
    • Partnerships Overview
    • Solution Provider Program
    • Technology Alliance Program
    • Distributor Program
N-able
  • Request a Quote
  • Try Now
    • N-able RMM
    • N-able N-central
    • N-able Backup
    • MSP Manager
    • N-able Mail Assure
    • N-able Passportal
    • N-able Risk Intelligence
    • N-able Take Control
Request quote
N-able
  • Products
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central Automate. Tackle complex networks. Get remote monitoring and management built for efficiency and scale.
    • RMM Start fast. Grow at your own pace. Try this powerful but easy remote monitoring and management solution.
    • Backup
    • Backup Get data protection for servers, workstations, applications, documents, and Microsoft 365 from one dashboard.
    • Security
    • EDR Defend against ransomware, zero-day attacks, and evolving threats with endpoint detection and response.
    • Mail Assure Leverage mail protection and archiving to keep your users safe from email threats and downtime.
    • Passportal Adopt and enforce best practices for password and documentation management with ease.
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager Increase helpdesk efficiency with a robust PSA, ticketing, reporting, and billing management solution.
    • Take Control Help support customers and their devices with remote support tools designed to be fast and powerful.
    • View All
  • Solutions

    Solutions

    • Security Protect your customers and expand your business by offering layered security services without the complexity.
    • Monitoring Choose the right remote monitoring and management solution to meet you where you are and grow with you.
    • Operational Efficiency Boost profits by improving efficiency via automation, resources and training, and time-saving products.
    • IT Departments Keep your organization productive by easily managing IT from a single, easy-to-use, web-based dashboard.
    • Remote Monitoring Solutions Comparison Compare N-able RMM and N-central side by side. Sign up to talk to a specialist to find the right fit.
    • View All
  • Resources
    • Download
    • Resource Library
    • Product Information
    • Free Tools
    • Learn
    • MSP Institute Webinar Series
    • Daily Live Demos
    • MSP Advice Project
    • Ask the N-central Experts
    • Upcoming Webcasts
    • Connect
    • Blog
    • Security Resource Center
    • Events
    • RMM Foundations Training
  • About
    • Company
    • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Careers
    • News & Press
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Support & Policies
    • Customer Success
    • Customer Support
    • Legal
    • Security
    • Get in Touch
    • Contact
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
  • IT Departments
  • Contact Sales
    • Contact Sales
    • General Inquiry
    • Get a Quote
    • Worldwide Sales & Support
    • Talk to Specialist
    • Security Solutions
    • Monitoring Solutions
    • Operational Efficiency
  • Try Now
    • Monitoring & Management
    • N-central
    • RMM
    • Backup
    • Security
    • EDR
    • Mail Assure
    • Passportal
    • Tools & Services
    • MSP Manager
    • Take Control
SolarWinds MSP is becoming Read More
Filter Blogs
  • Filter by:
  • MSP Business
    • Automation
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • Security-series
    • Best Practices
    • Business
    • Business Growth
    • Business Risk
    • Cloud Computing
    • Customer Service
    • Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity Awareness Month
    • Data
    • GDPR
    • Internet of Things
    • IT Support
    • ITSM
    • LOGICcards
    • Machine Learning
    • Mail
    • Managed Services
    • Marketing
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • Operations
    • Podcast
    • Product
    • PSA
    • Remote Management
    • Research & Trends
    • Risk Intelligence
    • Security
    • Security Vlog
    • Service Desk
    • Services & Support
    • The Head Nerds
    • Tips & Advice
    • Training
Home Blog MSP Business Cloud Computing Understanding Software-Defined Networking
Cloud Computing

Understanding Software-Defined Networking

By Danny Bradbury
13 July, 2017

It’s here, it’s delivering real business benefits, and it isn’t going away. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is changing the way that we think about networks altogether, making them more flexible and efficient. But what is it, and how can you use it?

Moving Away From Traditional Network Controls

networking.jpgIn traditional networking, the hardware—the switches and routers that handle the network data—do two things: 

1. They handle the data plane
This is the layer that transports the network data where it needs to go. If your LAN was a rail network, this would be the trains that shuttled cargo and passengers along.

2. They handle the control plane
This is the layer that describes how and where the network sends the data. In a train network, think of the control plane as the signalling and junction switching that route the trains down one track or another. 

In a LAN, the control plane is effectively the forwarding table, traditionally housed in the switch or router. Keeping this layer in the networking hardware makes it difficult for network administrators to make decisions about traffic flow. 

Network hardware interfaces are proprietary and vary between pieces of equipment. As network infrastructures get larger and more complex, it becomes less viable to change their traffic flows. SDN provides a way to manage things more flexibly.

In SDN, the network hardware still handles the data plane, but the control plane moves into software. This lets network administrators control the flow of traffic from a central administrative console, enabling them to move the traffic signals to accommodate changes in the network. 

SDN is gaining real traction, especially among larger organizations. IDC predicts that by 2018, half of all multinational corporations will use SDN-based services. They are embracing it because of the new capabilities it brings to network management.

The Benefits of SDN

trafficflow.jpgOne example is service quality. Just as you might want to delay a cargo shipment to let passenger trains through first and then route that passenger train around a flooded track, so you might want to change the flow for your sales application as the quarterly reporting period approaches, improving its performance for staff.

SDN makes it possible to change the network configuration easily. Let’s say you wanted to segment one part of your network from another. Normally, you’d do that in the switch. SDN enables you to do it in the management console, making it easy to do many times. This becomes useful in applications such as microsegmentation, where you segment many parts of the network from each other to increase security. 

By defining network control in software, SDN also allows you to scale your network management more easily. Instead of a single network engineer controlling a couple of hundred switches, they could potential manage thousands from a single pane of glass. 

The ability to allocate network bandwidth to applications more dynamically makes it possible for network administrators to use their network capacity more effectively, serving more traffic volume without having to invest in more network capacity. For large enterprises, this could generate significant efficiencies.

So, SDN effectively recasts your network in software. 

Programming Your SDN 

A common language for controlling SDN networks is OpenFlow, from the Open Network Foundation. Equipment and management software that support this standard can work in unison as part of a larger SDN-based network management ecosystem.

Moving to an SDN Environment

SDNequipment.jpgTo do this, you’ll need to invest in capable equipment. Very large organizations such as cloud hosters and very large enterprises might find lower-cost, white box switches appropriate, but most companies will need branded SDN-capable network equipment from a reputable vendor.

You don’t have to rip out and replace a traditional network entirely to deploy SDN. In many cases, companies can use a hybrid model, implementing it only where it makes sense. This takes careful planning, and an understanding of what you hope to achieve using the technology. 

Ensuring service continuity is likely to be a key concern when you do move over, making careful planning a priority.

SDN is still a work in progress and new to many organizations. It promises next-generation network platforms to support the kinds of applications and services that companies will need to deliver in future. It isn’t something to be entered into lightly, as you’re changing the very fabric of your organization. Get it right, though, and it could supercharge your entire IT ecosystem.

 

Danny Bradbury has been a technology journalist since 1989. He writes for titles including the Guardian newspaper, and Canada’s National Post. Danny specialises in areas including cybersecurity, and also cryptocurrency. He authors the About Bitcoin website, and also writes a regular blog on technology for children called Kids Tech News. You can follow Danny on Twitter® at @DannyBradbury 

 

To find out more about how SolarWinds MSP can help you manage and control your networks, click here.

 

© 2017 SolarWinds MSP UK Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

You might also like...
Cloud Computing

Moving to the Cloud - Cloud-Based Antivirus

Cloud Computing

Moving to the cloud: Help ensure your cloud-based web security

Cloud Computing

Hyper-V Physical to Virtual

MSP Business

What to do when your customer's Office 365 service goes down

MSP Business

Why you should automate network monitoring

MSP Business

3 key steps to proactive IT management

Want to stay up to date?

Get the latest MSP tips, tricks, and ideas sent to your inbox each week.

Loading form....

If the form does not load in a few seconds, it is probably because your browser is using Tracking Protection. This is either an Ad Blocker plug-in or your browser is in private mode. Please allow tracking on this page to request a subscription.

Note: Firefox users may see a shield icon to the left of the URL in the address bar. Click on this to disable tracking protection for this session/site

Recent Posts
  • DearCry Ransomware Review 
  • PSA vs ITSM vs ESM: Part 2—Which is the right fit for your MSP?
  • 4 ways PSA software helps MSP businesses
  • PSA vs ITSM vs ESM: Part 1—What do they do? 
  • Endpoint security for Mac: What you need to know In 2021
Categories:
  • Security (252)
  • Tips & Advice (130)
  • Best Practices (97)
  • Backup & Disaster Recovery (97)
  • Managed Services (89)
  • The Head Nerds (88)
  • Business Growth (79)
  • IT Support (43)
  • Business (42)
  • Automation (41)
  • Operations (38)
  • Mail (37)
  • Cybersecurity (37)
  • Remote Management (31)
  • ITSM (26)
  • Data (23)
  • Networking (22)
  • Cloud Computing (21)
  • PSA (16)
  • Marketing (15)
  • Product (11)
  • Service Desk (7)
  • Services & Support (5)
  • Mobile (4)
  • Risk Intelligence (4)
  • GDPR (3)
  • Internet of Things (3)
  • Customer Service (3)
  • Research & Trends (2)
  • Training (2)
  • LOGICcards (1)
  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month (1)
  • Business Risk (1)
Show moreless
N-able

Products
  • N-able RMM
  • N-able N-central
  • N-able Backup
  • N-able EDR
  • N-able MSP Manager
  • N-able Mail Assure
  • N-able Risk Intelligence
  • N-able Take Control
  • N-able Passportal
  • All Products Use Cases
Solutions
  • Security Solutions
  • Monitoring Solutions
  • Efficiency Solutions
  • Identify which RMM solution is right for me
  • Drive Efficiency with Automation
  • Manage my MSP Business More Efficiently
  • Manage my IT Department More Efficiently
  • Layered Security
  • Cross-Platform Support
  • Data-Driven Insights
About
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Leadership Team
  • Upcoming Events
  • Subscription Preferences
  • COVID-19 Response
Support
  • N-able RMM
  • N-able N-central
  • N-able Backup
  • N-able Mail Assure
  • N-able Take Control
  • N-able MSP Manager
  • N-able Risk Intelligence
  • N-able Threat Monitor
  • N-able Passportal
  • N-able Take Control Downloads
  • Backup & Recovery Downloads
  • Service Status

Footer 2

  • Legal Documents
  • Privacy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Security Information
  • Sitemap

© N-able Solutions ULC and N-able Technologies Ltd.
All rights reserved.