OpenFlow for Wireless Mesh Networks

Several protocols for routing and forwarding in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) have been proposed, such as AODV, OLSR or B.A.T.M.A.N. However, providing support for e.g. flow-based routing where flows of one source take different paths through the network is hard to implement in a unified way using traditional routing protocols. OpenFlow is an emerging technology which makes network elements such as routers or switches programmable via a standardized interface. By using virtualization and flow-based routing, OpenFlow enables a rapid deployment of novel packet forwarding and routing algorithms, focusing on fixed networks. We propose an architecture that integrates OpenFlow with WMNs and provides such flow-based routing and forwarding capabilities. To demonstrate the feasibility of our OpenFlow based approach, we have implemented a simple solution to solve the problem of client mobility in a WMN which handles the fast migration of client addresses (e.g. IP addresses) between Mesh Access Points and the interaction with re-routing without the need for tunneling. Measurements from a real mesh testbed (KAUMesh) demonstrate the feasibility of our approach based on the evaluation of forwarding performance, control traffic and rule activation time.