Software-Defined Networking (SDN) decouples the control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized network control through software-based controllers. This separation allows for dynamic programmability, automated network policies, and greater flexibility in managing network traffic.
SDN controllers provide centralized control while maintaining distributed consistency. Key components include:
Northbound APIs: Expose network abstractions for orchestration and applications.
Southbound APIs: Interface with forwarding devices using OpenFlow, P4Runtime, and gNMI.
By separating network intelligence from hardware, SDN enables faster innovation, scalable deployments, and real-time network optimizations. SDN transforms networking into a programmable, scalable, and agile architecture. Its ability to dynamically adapt traffic flows while maintaining line-rate performance makes it essential for modern cloud, data center, and telecom networks.