276  Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for IoT

Prerequisites: Networking Basics | SDN Fundamentals and OpenFlow

This enables: SDN Controller Basics | SDN IoT Variants and Challenges

276.1 Overview

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) revolutionizes network architecture by decoupling the control plane (decision-making) from the data plane (packet forwarding). This separation enables centralized, programmable network management - particularly valuable for IoT where diverse devices, dynamic topologies, and application-specific requirements demand flexible networking.

This chapter is organized into four focused sections:

276.2 Chapter Sections

276.2.1 1. SDN Architecture Fundamentals

~3,500 words | Intermediate

Learn the core concepts of SDN architecture:

  • Control plane and data plane separation
  • The three-layer SDN model (Application, Control, Data)
  • Limitations of traditional networks
  • Why SDN matters for IoT deployments
  • Northbound and southbound APIs

276.2.2 2. SDN OpenFlow Protocol

~3,000 words | Advanced

Deep dive into the OpenFlow protocol:

  • OpenFlow switch components (flow tables, group tables, meter tables)
  • Flow table entry structure (match fields, actions, timeouts)
  • OpenFlow message types (FLOW_MOD, PACKET_IN, etc.)
  • TCAM limitations and rule placement challenges
  • Controller placement strategies (centralized, distributed, hierarchical)

276.2.3 3. SDN IoT Applications

~3,000 words | Intermediate

Apply SDN to IoT environments:

  • SDN benefits for IoT (intelligent routing, network slicing, security)
  • Software-Defined WSN (Sensor OpenFlow, Soft-WSN, SDN-WISE)
  • Mobile SDN (ODIN, Ubi-Flow, Mobi-Flow)
  • Energy-aware routing for battery-powered devices
  • Mobility prediction and proactive flow placement

276.2.4 4. SDN Data Centers and Security

~3,500 words | Advanced

SDN for data centers and security monitoring:

  • Flow classification (mice vs elephant flows)
  • Traffic engineering and load balancing
  • Anomaly detection with flow monitoring
  • Common pitfalls (single controller SPOF, flow table overflow)
  • Worked example: Microservices vs Monolith architecture decisions

276.3 Learning Path

%%{init: {'theme': 'base', 'themeVariables': {'primaryColor':'#E8F4F8','primaryTextColor':'#2C3E50','primaryBorderColor':'#16A085','lineColor':'#16A085','secondaryColor':'#FEF5E7','tertiaryColor':'#FDEBD0','fontSize':'14px'}}}%%
flowchart LR
    A["SDN Architecture<br/>Fundamentals"] --> B["SDN OpenFlow<br/>Protocol"]
    B --> C["SDN IoT<br/>Applications"]
    C --> D["SDN Data Centers<br/>& Security"]

    style A fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff
    style C fill:#16A085,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style D fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff

276.4 Key Concepts Preview

Concept Description
Control Plane Centralized intelligence for routing decisions
Data Plane Distributed forwarding infrastructure
OpenFlow Protocol for controller-switch communication
Flow Table Match-action rules stored in switches
Network Slicing Logical networks with custom QoS per application
SD-WSN SDN principles applied to wireless sensor networks

276.5 Quick Reference

When to use SDN for IoT:

  • Managing thousands of heterogeneous devices
  • Dynamic topology changes (mobile devices, failures)
  • Application-specific QoS requirements
  • Centralized security policy enforcement
  • Energy-aware routing for battery-powered devices

SDN Controller Options:

Controller Language Best For
OpenDaylight Java Enterprise, modular
ONOS Java Carrier-grade, HA
Ryu Python Development, learning
Floodlight Java Performance

276.6 Start Learning

Recommended order: Begin with SDN Architecture Fundamentals for core concepts, then proceed through the chapters sequentially.

Already familiar with SDN basics? Jump directly to SDN IoT Applications for IoT-specific implementations.

276.7 What’s Next?

After completing all SDN chapters, continue to explore related architecture topics:

Continue to Sensor Node Behaviors