In an OpenFlow network, the various control plane functions of an L2 switch — Spanning Tree Protocol, MAC address learning, etc. — are determined by server software rather than switch firmware.

OpenFlow 2.0 doesn't exist yet, but Nick McKeown, Jennifer Rexford, and other researchers have crafted their vision of what it could be. It involves even more flexible switches that ...

Why is OpenFlow needed? Vendors offer varying degrees of user programmability on their routers and switches. This can lead to limited functionality for traffic engineering and management, or ...

That TCAM using software has been modified through either a HAL or some encoder like software algorithm to expand the width of the TCAM for OpenFlow lookups. Figure 1. 12-Tuples of headers ...

In an OpenFlow network, the various control plane functions of an L2 switch — Spanning Tree Protocol, MAC address learning, etc. — are determined by server software rather than switch firmware.

Also, MPLS is a Layer 3 technique while OpenFlow is a Layer 2 method, which has particular applicability to data centers. Many feel MPLS is overly complex as well and, while standard, could be ...

This vendor-written tech primer has been edited by Network World to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitter's approach. , the exciting new networking ...

OpenFlow 1.4 improves the management of flows in multiple tables with sophisticated methods such as bundle messages, eviction and vacancy events, and synchronized tables among others.

An OpenFlow-like approach to networking was not really possible until recently, not just because the idea is novel, but because network hardware was not capable enough to handle traffic in this way.