A study of requirements for SDN switch platform

In this paper we present some requirements for a switch which is used in Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN enables network operators to control infrastructure of network by using of software and it makes possible to shorten a lead time for build new network systems and to make easy to customize their operation system. For developers of new services of SDN, the rapid service deployment and flexible development without the constraint of the specification of network equipments can be expected. To realize SDN in commercial network environment, the standardization of common APIs to SDN network switch is expected. SDN Controller can invoke some function of SDN switch by the APIs. Therefore before standardizing API, we have to specify the functions which SDN switches must commonly implement. However the specification of the functions might mean to limit SDN switch functions, thus it would restrict SDN flexibility. In this paper, we presuppose that the primary function of SDN switch is a platform of user software. It enables SDN users to develop software and service flexibly. Then we discuss the requirements for SDN switch platform, and provide the architecture and the functions of SDN switch platform.