Next generation networks - The technologies and enablers
Bidot García, Anna Sofía · RECERCAT (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya) · 2015
While consumers are currently yearning for 4G smartphones, laboratories and some of the biggest companies are already working to develop its successor: the 5th generation networks. 5G will alter current technologies as we know them today. Software Defined Networking (SDN) will be the architecture used to deploy 5G. This thesis introduces the reader to the world of SDN. SDN breaks away from the conventional model of network, decoupling the network infrastructure from the applications and services it provides. The global network control in SDN is achieved by centralizing the logic function control plane. An element called 'Controller' implements the behavior rules of the switching elements. Essentially, the objective of this paper is to present an overview of both the challenges and the vision of future networks, along with the analytical explanations and the precise definitions of cloud computing, SDN and Network Function Virtualization (VTN). OpenStack, as a cloud-computing platform is also presented, as well as the OpenFlow Protocol and Mininet, a network emulator tool. Additionally, the controller OpenDaylight is utilized to exhibit the extensive capabilities and immense potential of SDN network. In this thesis, the OpenDaylight project is illustrated, implying its current projects and its technical aspects. This is in conjuntion with an in-depth view of the OpenDaylight Controller, where the Service Abstraction Layer (SAL) resides. As a result of the application oriented extensible north-bound architecture, the two Northbound APIs (OSGi services and RESTful web services) are accessible. Finally, a progressive system is delineated, which demonstrates the technique of writing an OpenDaylight application using all three different methods - either with API Driven SAL, Model Driven SAL or with RESTful web services-. Supplementary to this is a test-case called "Solving a DoS attack", in which the AD-SAL and REST API methods are utilized as solutions to the attack. This illustrates how SDN architecture, through the OpenDaylight Controller, is able to modify a network.