Professional Documents
Culture Documents
with SDN
Address emerging network operational challenges effectively
Contents
The advent of SDN
Conclusion
12
Acronyms 12
References 13
Business
application
API
Business
application
Applications
Business
application
SDN
controller
Network
services
Network
model
Network
analytics
API
Control
plane
Control
Data
Control
Data
Control
Data
Control
Data
Control
Data
Network
element
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
For a detailed discussion of SDN, consult the Metro Ethernet Forum SDN white paper
As a result, the data center network fabric that is static and rigid has to
become dynamic and nimble and has to scale up for the massive number of
compute endpoints. To meet the new network requirements, SDN has emerged
as the de facto data center network fabric transformation solution, rendering
unprecedented service agility to adapt to the cloud-based era.
The requirement to deliver dynamic on-demand network services has also
spread to WANs as enterprise users also want dynamic network services to
realize the benefits of cloud computing. They need the network to be more
responsive to bandwidth utilization change to optimize network performance
in real time. This presents an immense new challenge for communication
service providers (CSPs) to satisfy their customers. Thus, a significant number
of CSPs are starting to adopt or evaluate SDN to tackle the challenge.
Overlay SDN
Deploying overlay SDN over a WAN is commonly known as software-defined
WAN (SD-WAN). This deployment model allows operators to deploy dynamic
and intelligent SDN without changing or upgrading their existing networks.
The deployment is done by using an SDN gateway or network services
gateway (NSG) at all required locations. Each NSG is considered a network
endpoint. This model appeals to operators who need to expand the network
connectivity to a multitude of locations in or beyond their service areas
without having to expand their WANs and tackle the control plane scalability
and bulk provisioning challenge. When there is a lack of access link assets to
provide reachability to some locations, overlay SDN can be flexibly deployed
over a CSPs VPN service or business internet service (see Figure 2). Regardless
of whether it is through the current network, a service providers network
or the internet, SDN utilizes the same provisioning, operation and service
creation procedures to attain the highest operational efficiency.
Figure 2. Overlay SDN
SDN controller
Internet
LAN
CSP VPN
Private network
NOC
router
Network
management
Remote locations
NOC
Infrastructure SDN
Infrastructure SDN is deployed when operators need to fully control and
operate the WAN to meet the required network and service agility and attain
the necessary automation. Instead of using the traditional approach of
customizing the operations support system (OSS) code for each network
element and service type, SDN relies on abstracted information models of
network elements and services to link them back to the OSS or other network
or business applications through the open northbound API. Thus, SDN greatly
simplifies automation deployments and operations, resulting in a faster
response to new or changing service requirements. With an open approach,
SDN can be deployed in a multivendor and multi-technology environment; for
example, IP/MPLS, optical and microwave with consistent information models
(see Figure 3) that provide operators with a unified approach to automate
and control their networks.
Figure 3. Infrastructure SDN
SDN controller
LAN
NOC
router
Network
management
While operators can certainly deploy brand new infrastructure SDN, a more
practical approach is to evolve their existing WAN networks to become
software-defined networks. Through proper upgrade, a lot of recent network
equipment can be retrofitted with the required open SDN interface. If, for some
reason, operators do not intend to upgrade or cannot upgrade their networks,
they can consider overlay SDN.
IoT platform
Network change
completed in
days/weeks
Installation dispatch
Network conguration
WAN
Project coordinator
LAN (VLAN)
conguration
VLAN ID
IP address
WAN (IP)
conguration
Security
team
Firewall
conguration
Security
IoT platform
Connectivity layer
SDN
IoT devices
When a new IoT device is being activated (see Figure 6), the activation request
will trigger a dispatch order to send a technician to install the device. At the
same time, it will also trigger the IoT management platforms connectivity
manager to program SDN through the API to effect the necessary network
connectivity, services and security policy for this device. With network
connectivity now established, the IoT activation process can proceed
to the advanced phase.
Connectivity layer
API
Installation dispatch
SDN controller
Policy/security
zones
IP
address
L2/L3
VPN service
Service
chaining
WAN
interconnect
Network change
completed
automatically
API
SDN controller
IoT devices
Access
LPWA-connected
IoT (LoRa, Wi-Fi,
LTE, 5G)
Integrated
Wi-Fi AP
LTE
Wi-Fi
5G
LoRa
Sigfox
Ethernetconnected
IoT
LTE uplink
Critical WAN
LMR/LTE
SCADA
SCADA
LMR/LTE
IoT
IoT
OT slice
VoIP
IT slice
Internet
SDN
VoIP
Video
conference
Internet
Video
conference
10
A PCE, as defined in IETF RFC 4655, is a network entity or application that is capable of computing a network path
or route based on a network graph with computational constraints applied. For a technical discussion of PCE and
its benefits, please read Computing a path to more profits: Centralized PCE using Bell Labs Self-Tuned Adaptive
Routing available at http://resources.alcatel-lucent.com/asset/186905.
KPIs
2
Policies
3
PCE
85%
usage
60%
usage
11
Conclusion
Digital mine transformation is already underway. Mining companies worldwide
are embracing new technologies such as IoT and adopting bold programs like
IT/OT convergence to increase their competitiveness under volatile business
conditions. Todays market forces bring about new operational challenges
that require fresh thinking.
SDN is a vital technology for mining companies that have embarked
on this transformation journey. With SDN providing smarter end-to-end
network control, automation and service agility, mining industries
can rise to the new market challenges and will continue to flourish.
Acronyms
ADEP
AP
access point
API
BGP4-LS
CCTV
CLI
IT
information technology
KPI
LMR
LPWA
LTE
MPLS
NOC
NSG
OSS
OT
operational technology
PCE
PCEP
SCADA
SDN
software-defined networking
12
SD-WAN
software-defined WAN
SNMP
VoIP
VPN
WAN
References
1. IETF RFC 4655: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4655
2. Metro Ethernet Forum: http://www.mef.net
3. Nokia Network Services Platform:
http://networks.nokia.com/portfolio/products/network-services-platform
4. Nuage Networks: http://www.nuagenetworks.net/
5. Nuage Networks Network Services Gateway:
http://www.nuagenetworks.net/enterprise/virtualized-network-services
6. Nuage Networks Software-Defined WAN:
http://www.nuagenetworks.net/enterprise/software-defined-wan/
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mentioned herein may be trademarks or trade names of their respective owners.
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Nokia 2016
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