CMPE 596 - Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

Bogazici University

Department of Computer Engineering

 

CMPE 596- Special Topics: Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

(Fall 2017)

 

Catalog Data          Special topics selected to reflect fundamentals, recent technologies and trends in software-defined networks and network function virtualization as dictated by faculty member expertise and students’ interests. Software-defined networks and network softwarization/virtualization will be explored for the MS and PhD students with appropriate background in communications & networks. The prerequisite is to have taken an undergrad or grad level course on computer and data networking.

Instructor                   Gürkan Gür, Ph.D.

Credit                         3 hours 

Prerequisites             Each student should have the background in:

§  Computer networks (Mandatory)

§  Wireless and Mobile Networks (Recommended)

Textbook                    There is no required textbook for this course. The required materials will be provided during the course. Supplement articles and class Power Point slides will be provided regularly.

References   

·    William Stallings, “Software Defined Networking, Network Function Virtualization, and Quality of Experience: Foundations of Modern Networking,” Addison-Wesley, 2015.

·    Paul Goransson, Chuck Black, “Software Defined Networks: A Comprehensive Approach,” Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (June 6, 2014).

·    Pierre Lynch, Michael Haugh, Liza Kurtz, Joe Zeto, “Demystifying NFV in Carrier Networks: A Definitive Guide to Successful Migrations,” CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014.

·    Madhusanka Liyanage, Andrei Gurtov, Mika Ylianttila (Eds.), “Software Defined Mobile Networks (SDMN): Concepts and Challenges,” Wiley, 2015.

·    Patricia A. Morreale, James M. Anderson, “Software Defined Networking: Design and Deployment,” CRC Press, 2014.

·    Sassan Ahmadi, “LTE-Advanced: A Practical Systems Approach to Understanding 3GPP LTE Releases 10 and 11 Radio Access Technologies,” Academic Press, 2013.

·    Erik Dahlman, Stefan Parkvall, Johan Skold, “4G: LTE/LTE-Advanced for Mobile Broadband,” Academic Press, Second Edition, 2013.

·    Theodore S. Rappaport, “Wireless Communications: Principles and Practice,” Second Edition, Prentice Hall, 2002.

·    William Stallings, “Data and Computer Communications (10th Edition),” Prentice Hall; 10th edition, 2013.

·    ACM SIGCOMM, ICN, MOBICOM, CoNext conference articles

·    Open Networking Foundation and OpenFlow standards: https://www.opennetworking.org/sdn-resources/openflow

Course Outcomes

By the end of the term, you should be able to

  1. Understand the fundamentals of SDN. 
  2. Understand the characteristics of SDN controllers and their implications
  3. Apply SDN programming tools and approaches for programming of SDN
  4. Understand key SDN applications
  5. Understand the security of SDN
  6. Understand the Network Function Virtualization (NFV)
  7. Understand the design and implementation techniques for SDN.
  8. Understand the resilience and scalability issues in SDN.
  9. Understand the emerging trends and applications in SDN.
  10. Read and understand scientific articles through paper assignments.
  11. Work out a complete design and implementation project related to SDN.

 

Course Topics:

INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER NETWORKS, PROTOCOLS AND THE HISTORY OF NETWORK PROGRAMMING: Introduction to the OSI stack and network protocols. Understand the mechanisms of network elements (switches, routers). How do legacy networks work? Introduction to VPN and MPLS. Identify the shortcomings of today’s legacy networks. Birth of network programmability and SDN.

INTRODUCTION TO SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORKING CONCEPTS: Control and data plane separation. Centralization of control. Introduction to controllers. Southbound interfaces (e.g. OpenFlow). Virtualization.

PROGRAMMING THE NETWORK: Control plane. Understanding OpenFlow. Understanding how to control the data plane. Introduction to Mininet and OpenFlow controllers. OpenFlow enabled network elements. SDN switch/router architectures/designs.

INTERFACING: Understanding the northbound interface. Requirements posed by applications. Working in a multiple-controller environment. Eastbound-westbound interfaces. Connecting to the non-SDN world.

VIRTUALIZATION: Virtual networks, Virtual wireless equipment, Introduction to FlowVisor, Virtualization acceleration. Network on the fly, Virtual control, Virtual radio.

SDN SECURITY: How secure is SDN? Pros and cons regarding security. Using SDN for secure routing. Security challenges. Software network monitoring for security.

NETWORK FUNCTION VIRTUALIZATION (NFV): Introduction to NFV. The difference between virtualization and NFV. Relation between SDN and NFV. Reliability and scalability of virtualized network functions.

USE CASES AND THE WAY AHEAD: Software Defined Mobile Networks (SDMN). SDN in LTE/LTE-A. SDN based LTE-EPC. Virtual mobile operators. SDN’s role in 5G. SDN Support for Big Data Applications. Energy Efficient and Green software-defined Infrastructures.

PAPER PRESENTATIONS 

PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

                                   

Grading policy (Tentative):

 

Class activities                                                  25%

Midterm 1                                                         15%     

                                    Term Project                                                     30%     

Final                                                                 30%     

                                               

 

Class/Laboratory Schedule:         

Three 50-minute lecture/discussion sessions per week.

Periodic meetings for term projects