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definition of SDN. As phase two of SDN’s evolution emerges, it’s likely organisations will better understand exactly what SDN is and how it will impact business.


Phase Two - SDN comes to market The second phase of SDN’s journey involves participation from vendors such as Cisco, HP, and Juniper. Each will create and perfect its own software-based controllers. Some vendors are creating proprietary extensions, while others are taking a more open approach to their controllers. Even some third-party independent software- based controllers are emerging from startup companies such as Big Switch Networks.


According to Kash Shaikh, Senior Director of Product and Technical Marketing at HP Networking, HP is taking an aggressive approach to SDN.5 HP currently offers 40 switches that support OpenFlow—the open-source network controller—and has sold more than 20 million switch ports that are OpenFlow-capable.


Since many features are still in their infancy, organisations adopting SDN in its early years will need to ensure that controllers and switches are from the same vendor in order to maintain consistency within the network. This may cause frustration for organisations looking to get controllers and switches for the best price, because they are tied to the same vendor.


Phase Three - SDN goes mainstream Over the next five years, SDN will continue to evolve, and more organisations will begin adopting it—at which point, controllers and switches will reach equilibrium. During this stage, organisations will be able to select controllers and switches from multiple vendors that can work in harmony with one another. This presents an advantage, because network administrators will no longer be dependent on a single vendor—as they have been in the past. They can compare costs and select the hardware that best fits their organisations’ needs. Thus, as the mass adoption of SDN technology occurs, more organisations will start to realise the benefits currently being promoted by SDN’s supporters.


Making the transition With SDN, networks finally capture the technological innovation they’ve been lacking by becoming automated, more manageable, less complex, and faster at adapting to evolving organisational needs. As with any new disruptive technology, education, and patience will be crucial in order to ensure a smooth transition to SDN.


Organisations should address the learning curve and reduce skepticism by training network managers to recognise the main features and benefits of SDN before making the leap. Since network managers need to be sure their protocols for controllers do not disrupt a network, it’s also wise to work with experts in a lab to conduct trials in a safe setting. Training and trials will enable organisations to gain support for SDN, the next-generation of network management, by the time it becomes mainstream.


Justin Hadler is Director of Engineering at Hardware.com, a global leader in networking hardware, architectures, procurement, and support. Hardware.com’s team of experienced and distinguished consultants partner with companies to identify, implement, and support advanced network infrastructures that align companies’ technological requirements with their business and economic goals.


Reference


1.http://m.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tail-f-survey-reveals-both-interest-and-confusion- about-software-defined-networking-sdn-200984791.html 2.http://www.networkcomputing.com/data-networking-management/software-defined- networking-market-to-so/240001119 3.http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-nicira-07-23-12.html 4.http://reports.informationweek.com/abstract/6/9044/data-center/research-understanding- software-defined-networks.html 5.http://www.eweek.com/networking/hp-unveils-its-sdn-fabric-to-challenge- cisco-juniper


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