Report: Software-defined networking (SDN) and Intent-based networking (IBN)
Software-defined networking (SDN) and intent-based networking (IBN) offer an ability to revolutionize the modern network architecture. Both of these concepts are relatively new, and your chief technology officer (CTO) has only heard them in passing. In fact, she pawned them off as the new “marketing fad” dressed up as a new concept. Since you have researched both technologies, you understand this is not a fad. When used in combination with virtualization and cloud computing, you know SDN and IBN could revolutionize how the organization operates, providing for reduced costs, efficiency, better management of the network assets, and security.
However, you need to develop a white paper for the Caduceus CTO to highlight these benefits. Given the CTO has only heard the term in passing, you must describe in this white paper, the SDN and IBN concepts, their benefits, and what it would take for the organization to implement.
Writing Your Paper
After you introduce yourself to your team and brainstorm ideas for this assignment, refer to the company highlights document for more details about Caduceus.
In your white paper, use additional sources of information but also describe the concept in layman’s terms. Use visuals where appropriate. Describe how an SDN/IBN architecture would look different than network architectures we have traditionally deployed. Compare and contrast the network architectures and discuss the pros and cons of each.
The paper should include the following sections:
introduction to software-defined networking (SDN) (discussed in Week 3)
introduction to intent-based networking (IBN) (discussed in Week 4)
discussion on how virtualizing the desktop and now back-end infrastructure are complementary and related
discussion of how SDN and IBN are related
Rubric
1.1: Create oral, written, or visual communications appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context
4 points
Key Criteria: Tailors communication to purpose, context, and target audience. Clearly articulates the thesis and purpose, and supports the thesis and purpose with authentic and appropriate evidence. Provides smooth transitions and leaves no awkward gaps from point to point. Shows coherent progress from the introduction to the conclusion with no unnecessary sections.
1.2: Communicate using appropriate writing conventions, including spelling, grammar, mechanics, word choice, and format.
4 points
Uses a format that is highly appropriate to the writing task and carefully tailors the style and tone to the specific audience. Aligns both the writing style and grammar usage to standards appropriate to the task.
1.3: Incorporate credible and relevant sources in development and support of ideas.
4 points
Meaningfully supports, extends, and informs the author’s original thesis or idea using a variety of credible sources. Evaluates information in the writing for credibility, bias, quality of evidence, and quality of reasoning, and smoothly integrates an appropriate balance of original content with supporting sources.
1.4: Make clear the relationship between information obtained from others and content created by you, and attribute all sources ethically and legally.
4 points
Accurately and appropriately identifies sources and distinguishes them from original content. Conveys source content using summary, paraphrase, and quotes as most appropriate to the task, and maintains an excellent balance of each. Cites sources correctly in accordance with disciplinary conventions.
3.3: Use quantitative data (e.g., equations, functions, graphs, diagrams, tables, or words) as evidence to support ideas.
4 points
Provides clean and error-free prepared data. Eliminates or corrects all incorrect values, excluded criteria, duplicate cases, missing data, and other outliers. Includes appropriate variables for analysis. Employs appropriate formulas and search criteria. Output is error-free and accurate, and subsequent analyses and representations are correct and can be relied upon for decision making.
4.1: Lead and/or participate in a diverse group to accomplish projects and assignments.
4 points
Produces a team communication plan that indicates a strong commitment to a coherent project that distributes the work strategically and fairly. Provides discussion in team spaces that indicates that team members identify time and resource requirements and have set up appropriate time and space to plan the project.
11.1.1: Describe the software-defined networking (SDN) and intent-based networking (IBN) concepts, their benefits, and what it would take for the organization to implement.
4 points
Clearly explains the concepts of SDN and IBN while providing a thorough justification for how they can be used in the organization.
Explains four or more benefits of SDN and IBN networking, which are well-supported and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the benefits.
Performs an in-depth analysis of the resources required to successfully implement the SDN and IBN architecture.
Introduction
The current world is driven by aggressive growth in technological performance in terms of connections, digitization, distribution, and diversity. The fact that every “thing” is possessing the power for data processing, computer models are set to becoming more distributed and networked. The more users and devices are brought into the system, the further the growth in value and importance of a network. The growth trend is thus, mandating IT leaders to put more focus on them and come up with solutions to meet the expectations of business leaders.
One of the technological revolutions that are about to be faced is the Internet of Things (IoT) (El-mougy et al., 2015). The devices that will be connected to IoT will be extraordinarily diverse and enriched with a range of functions such as sensing, actuating, processing, among others. IoT will be enabled through network automation. This process entails automation of the configuration, management, testing, deployment band operation of both physical and virtual devices in a network. It is through automation that there can be improvements in network availability and network operations as the daily tasks that consume time are replaced. Innovations such as Software-defined Networking (SDN), Intent-based Networking (IBN), virtualization, open platform controllers are the reasons for network automation (El-mougy et al., 2015). Therefore, it is pertinent that the innovations are understood so that one could identify and implement them in their organizations.
This research paper seeks to understand two innovations: Software-defined Networking (SDN) And Intent-based Networking (IBN). For a comprehensive outlook, the concepts, benefits, and what it takes for the organization to implement them will be addressed.
Software-defined Networking (SDN)
SDN is a method in which network administrators are allowed to manage, provide, and even break down networks without the need to set up physical hardware and network devices (Cisco, 2020). Networking teams manage the networks as end to end systems making the process more efficient and flexible through the separation of control and forwarding planes. This leads to the control plane being completely programmable such that underlying devices and infrastructure are abstracted from the application and network services. Programmable SDN controllers are logically centralized, dealing with network intelligence (Cisco, 2020). The initial objective of SDN was the simplification of data center environments that needed portable support, vigorous workload migrations, and server-to-server traffic. Nonetheless, from its inception, that is some years back, it has been continuously improved in terms of its abilities and capabilities (Cisco, 2020).
Figure 1: SDN Architecture (Singh & Srivastava, 2018)
The primary difference between SDN and a traditional network is that the former is software-based (Keary, 2019). The traditional network utilizes physical infrastructure to make connections and run properly. Conversely, a software-based network provides control to the user in terms of resource allocation at a virtual level. Rather than interact with physical infrastructure, one interacts with software to provide new devices. The administrator can ascertain new network paths and configure network services constantly. It has more ability in terms of communicating with devices in the whole network (Keary, 2019). This is because of virtualization that is the abstract version of a physical network that allows the provision of resources from a central location.
A traditional network will use the data plane to tell it the destination of particular data. The control plane is in the switch or router, which is an inconvenient location due to administrators not having easy access to direct traffic flow (Keary, 2019). The control plane in SDN is accessible through any connected device allowing the administrator easy access to control traffic flow. Apart from the centralized user interface of the control plane, the administrator can significantly scrutinize the data. Network configuration settings can be changed seamlessly, allowing network segmentation as many configurations happen promptly (Keary, 2019). Apart from the increased capabilities, SDN eliminated the need for substantial infrastructure investments.
The implementation of an SDN comes with the need to make a lot of changes in wh entire network infrastructure. The replacements are done to bring in the SDN protocol and SDN controller. The reconfiguration that occurs is normally expensive and time-consuming (Keary, 2019). Another challenge in the virtualization of infrastructure is the latency caused. The speed in which a user will interact can slow down due to its dependence on the available virtualized resources (Keary, 2019). At times, each active device on the network can affect the entire system, thus slowing it down. This becomes more imminent with the incoming IoT. When SDN offers centralized control, the whole focus is on it, thus making security an issue. This leads to an increasing need to procure new management tools to be used by SDN. Staff members will need to be trained so that they also become resistant to upcoming changes.
Intent-based networking (IBN)
IBN is similar to the SDN as it offers an abstraction layer that allows the network administrator to implement policy and policy and instruction in the whole network. IBN systems incorporate four elements: translation and validation, automated implementation, network state awareness, assurance, and dynamic optimization in its activities (Spencer, 2018). The elements are vital in taking inputs from end-users, configures the design based on the network and the end user’s intention, validation of the model for correction, implementation of the right network configurations, and continuously ensuring the system’s purpose is met.
IBN has similar objectives to SDN but with less focus on virtualization and more emphasis on design, implementation, and improvement in agility and network availability (Spencer, 2018). Another vital factor in IBN is its portability and vendor-agnostic nature. This means that applications designed for one SDN can be easily ported in another SDN environment without involving the application’s original developer. This ability is helpful to SDN controllers. IBN works to eliminate conflicts from the many applications sending commands to the SDN controllers (Spencer, 2018). Additionally, it also helps in better flexibility for the applications. The marrying of IBN to SDN to intelligence leads to the latter’s controllers taking a multitude of commands and expressing them as an action of low-level infrastructure.
IBN will achieve the intent through specific actions that are delivered via machine learning algorithms. Machine learning is a field in Artificial Intelligence focussed on giving machines access to data and having them learn it instead of instructing them on what to do. IBN works through permissions to perform the changes. Machine learning and Network orchestration will enable IBN to reduce the complexity levels of network policies management and maintenance; thus, making the deployment of network services more straightforward. Machine learning also allows IBN to intensely scrutinize the vast volumes of data and automatically learn from them. The process does not involve any explicit programming, as instead is the algorithms learning the data and making predictions. The more data there is, the better the process.
Figure 2: Simple illustration of how the IBN operates. (Intent-based Networking explained, 2018)
Figure 3: IBN Model (Apostopoulos, 2018)
Relationship between SDN and IBN
The existence of IBN comes from the presence of SDN. SDN is the basic building block of IBN as the latter begins at the point where SDN fails. IBN will cover up the faults of the SDN through the provision of solutions that add context, learning, and assurance abilities that join policy with intent (Apostolopoulos, 2018). While the focus of SDN is to change network functions, IBN just brings in the intention that is converted into action by the network. Automation is taken to the next level by IBN due to the use of machine learning algorithms.
Figure 3: Comparison between SDN and IBN.
Through augmentation of SDN by IBN, the networks are made faster by allowing them to figure the next move based on the user’s intent. Organizations must bring together the two systems and not one to gain maximal benefits. The financial benefits such as reduced overheads, reduced labor expenses, and other expenses, making it sound to have both. The carbon footprint of the company is also reduced, thus creating a positive impact on the environment. IBN does continuous monitoring, which is a benefit to the whole system as it prevents being caught unawares to cyberattacks. For the many benefits, enterprises should strive to scale up and use both SDN and IBN rather than using SDN alone.
Calculation of Costs
For this organization, the assumption is that the IT has 200 staff members, their respective salary is $55000thus the total labor costs amounting to $11000000. The second assumption is the device’s expenses for each user is $800. The entire prices include maintenance expenses and VPN update. It is also assumed that the organization has 2000 employees making the total device costs being $1600000.
Item Expense ($)
Device Costs 1600000
Labor Expenses 11000000
Cybersecurity Solutions 2000000
Server Updates 60000
Network Devices Updates 75000
Oracle Database 21580
License Fees 300000
Desktop Computers 2500000
Total 17556580
The implementation of both systems will lead to changes in costs as some are added, and others reduced. For instance, assuming an industry expert comes in for the implementation process, who is paid $250000 yearly. The IT department is also supposed to want only 20 staff members to get paid the initial salary amount annually. The wage costs have reduced $1100000. An SDM/IBN uses the existing hardware, so there is no requirement to purchase new ones. However, there is a need for a new software suite costing $1000000. There are also training expenses for the staff amounting to $50000.
Item Expense ($)
Device Costs 1600000
Labor Expenses 1000000
Cybersecurity Solutions 2000000
Server Updates 60000
Network Devices Updates 75000
Oracle Database 21580
License Fees 300000
Desktop Computers 2500000
IT Specialist Wages 250000
Software Cost 1000000
Training Expenses 50000
Total 8856850
Conclusion
The exponential developments in technology brought in better, faster, and automated networking through SDN/IBN. It is through these networks that efficiency has increased in networking. Since nothing is perfect, the use of both SDN/IBN means that they are better at handling flaws of each other. Nonetheless, IBN is still at its initial development stages, needing more improvements due to the increased expectations. The current and future phase of networks is characterized by cloud computing, virtualization, and machine learning. Enterprises must adapt accordingly. The expansion of cloud computing and IoT will have many more devices connected. Therefore, there will be an urgent need for an efficient network; SDN/IBN could be the start to these efficiency levels.
References
Apostolopoulos, J. (2018). Why is intent-based networking good news for software-defined networking? Retrieved from https://blogs.cisco.com/analytics-automation/why-is-intent-based-networking-good-news-for-software-defined-networking
Cisco. (2020). The 2020 Global Networking Trends Report. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cisco.com/c/dam/m/en_us/solutions/enterprise-networks/networking-report/files/GLBL-ENG_NB-06_0_NA_RPT_PDF_MOFU-no-NetworkingTrendsReport-NB_rpten018612_5.pdf
El-Mougy, A., Ibnkahla, M., & Hegazy, L. (2015, October). Software-defined wireless network architectures for the Internet-of-Things. In 2015 IEEE 40th Local Computer Networks Conference Workshops (LCN Workshops) (pp. 804-811). IEEE.
Intent-based Networking Explained. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.noction.com/blog/intent-based-networking-ibn-explained
Keary, T. (2019, January 8). What is software-defined networking (SDN), and why is it important? Retrieved from https://www.comparitech.com/net-admin/software-defined-networking/
Singh, A & Srivastava, S. (2018). A survey and classification of controller placement problems in SDN. International Journal of Network Management. e2018. 10.1002/nem.2018.
Spencer, R. (2018, January 2). SDN vs. intent-based networking. Retrieved from https://www.lanner-america.com/blog/sdn-vs-intent-based-networking/
