Hardware Abstraction Layer as an SDN-enabler for Non-OpenFlow Network Equipment

Author

Belter, Bartosz ; Parniewicz, Damian ; Ogrodowczyk, Lukasz ; Binczewski, Artur ; Stroinski, Maciej ; Fuentes, Victor ; Matias, Jon ; Huarte, Maider ; Jacob, Eduardo

Author_Institution

Poznan Supercomput. & Networking Center, Poznan, Poland

fYear

2014

fDate

1-3 Sept. 2014

Firstpage

117

Lastpage

118

Abstract

This paper describes an experimentally-tested approach towards programmability for legacy network elements in the software-defined networking architecture. As OpenFlow is a leading control-plane protocol enabling SDN in modern networks, yet not all equipment is compatible with this framework. This problem is addressed in ALIEN, the FP7 research project, where Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for non-OpenFlow capable devices is introduced. This paper describes outcomes of the project, and specifically, gives a set of examples of the successful implementation of OpenFlow through the HAL on ´alien´ devices.

Keywords

protocols; software defined networking; ALIEN project; HAL; OpenFlow protocol; SDN-enabler; control-plane protocol; hardware abstraction layer; legacy network elements; non-OpenFlow network equipment; software-defined networking architecture; Computer architecture; Hardware; Performance evaluation; Ports (Computers); Program processors; Standards; Switches; Hardware Abstraction Layer; OpenFlow; Programmability; Software Defined Networking;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Software Defined Networks (EWSDN), 2014 Third European Workshop on

Conference_Location

Budapest

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/EWSDN.2014.16

Filename

6984063