OpenFlow® is the first standard communications interface defined between the control and forwarding layers of an SDN architecture. OpenFlow® allows direct access to and manipulation of the forwarding plane of network devices such as switches and routers, both physical and virtual (hypervisor-based).
OpenFlow-based SDN technologies enable IT to address the high-bandwidth, dynamic nature of today’s applications, adapt the network to ever-changing business needs, and significantly reduce operations and management complexity.
For historical information about the origins of OpenFlow® at Stanford University prior to the creation of ONF, please see archive.openflow.org.
Programmability
- Enable innovation/differentiation
- Accelerate new features and services introduction
Centralized Intelligence
- Simplify provisioning
- Optimize performance
- Granular policy management
Abstraction
- Decouple:
- Hardware & Software
- Control plane & forwarding
- Physical & logical config.
