Networking Advanced

What is SDN (Software-Defined Networking)?

An approach that separates the network control plane from the data plane, enabling centralized, programmable network management.

SDN decouples the decision-making logic (control plane) from the packet forwarding hardware (data plane). A centralized controller programs network devices via APIs, replacing manual device-by-device configuration.

Benefits include network automation, dynamic traffic engineering, easier policy management, and multi-vendor interoperability. OpenFlow is the most common SDN protocol. Cloud providers use SDN extensively for virtual networking (VPC, security groups, load balancers).

Related Terms

A modern, lightweight VPN protocol that uses state-of-the-art cryptography and minimal code for fast, secure tunneling.

The maximum rate of data transfer across a network connection, measured in bits per second.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

A protocol for monitoring and managing network devices like routers, switches, servers, and printers remotely.

A device or software that connects two or more network segments at the data link layer, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses.

An intermediary server that forwards requests between clients and destination servers, providing caching, filtering, or anonymity.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, securing internet traffic.

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