PART A - (10 × 2 = 20 Marks)
Answer All Questions:
1. Define the control plane and data plane in SDN.
- The control plane makes decisions about where traffic is sent (routing and forwarding rules), while
the data plane forwards the actual packets based on those decisions.
2. What is OpenFlow protocol?
- OpenFlow is a communication protocol that gives access to the forwarding plane of a network
switch or router over the network. It enables controllers to determine the path of network packets.
3. List any two functions of the Southbound interface.
- Communicates between SDN controller and network devices.
- Installs, updates, and removes flow rules on switches.
4. Mention any two SDN controllers and their role.
- Ryu: Component-based controller written in Python, used for real-time control.
- OpenDaylight: Modular open platform for customizing and automating networks.
5. What is the significance of the Network Services Abstraction Layer?
- It abstracts the underlying network functions and provides APIs for applications to interact with the
network without dealing with low-level configurations.
6. Give an example of an SDN use case in data center networking.
- Dynamic load balancing in a data center using SDN to route traffic efficiently and reduce
bottlenecks.
7. Define Network Virtualization.
- It is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality
into a single, software-based administrative entity.
8. Differentiate between Virtual LANs and Physical LANs.
- VLANs: Logical separation within the same physical network.
- Physical LANs: Separated by physical devices like switches and routers.
9. Mention any two benefits of NFV.
- Reduces hardware dependency.
- Enables faster deployment and scalability.
10. What is NFV Orchestration?
- It refers to the automated management and coordination of VNFs (Virtual Network Functions),
infrastructure, and services in an NFV environment.
PART B - (5 × 13 = 65 Marks)
Answer All Questions:
Q11. (a) Explain the evolution of networking requirements and how SDN addresses them.
- Traditional networks are hardware-based and vendor-dependent.
- Static configuration, manual management.
- Difficult to scale and manage large, dynamic networks.
- Lack of flexibility in introducing new services.
Software Defined Networking (SDN):
- Decouples control and data plane.
- Centralized controller makes intelligent routing decisions.
- Uses OpenFlow to control switches remotely.
- Programmability allows automation and dynamic control.
- Vendor-neutral interfaces reduce dependency.
Benefits:
- Centralized management
- Flexibility and agility
- Efficient traffic engineering
- Easier implementation of security policies
- Ideal for cloud and data center environments
Q11. (b) Describe the SDN architecture in detail with a neat diagram.
SDN Architecture:
1. Application Plane:
- Network applications like firewalls, load balancers, etc.
- Use APIs to interact with the controller.
2. Control Plane:
- SDN Controller is the brain of the network.
- Translates app requests into network commands.
3. Data Plane (Infrastructure):
- Network devices (switches/routers).
- Executes forwarding rules set by controller.
Interfaces:
- Southbound Interface: Between controller and switches (e.g., OpenFlow)
- Northbound Interface: Between controller and apps (REST APIs)
Q12. (a) Discuss the working of the OpenFlow Protocol and Flow Table with an example.
- OpenFlow Protocol allows controller to interact with forwarding plane of switches.
Flow Table Entries:
1. Match Fields: Headers of packets (IP, MAC, etc.)
2. Counters: Track packets/bytes
3. Actions: Forward, Drop, Modify
Example:
- If packet matches: Src IP = 192.168.1.1, Dst IP = 10.0.0.5
- Action: Forward to Port 3
Controller Role:
- When no match, switch sends packet to controller.
- Controller decides and installs new flow entry.
Q12. (b) Compare Southbound and Northbound Interfaces. Also explain ONOS and OpenDaylight.
Feature Southbound Northbound
Function Communicates with switches Communicates with applications
Example OpenFlow, NETCONF REST APIs, gRPC
Direction Controller -> Switch App -> Controller
ONOS:
- Open Network Operating System
- Distributed, scalable, designed for carriers.
OpenDaylight:
- Modular SDN controller platform.
- Supports many protocols (OpenFlow, BGP, NETCONF).
- Built in Java, highly extensible.
Q13. (a) Explain SDN Application Plane Architecture and its relevance in traffic engineering.
- Contains apps using network functions: firewall, routing, QoS.
- Communicates with controller via Northbound APIs.
Traffic Engineering:
- Apps analyze network conditions.
- Adjust routes dynamically to reduce congestion.
- Implement load balancing.
Example:
- Google B4 uses SDN for WAN optimization.
Q13. (b) How is security implemented in SDN-based architectures?
- Authentication and Authorization of apps and users.
- Controller Security - protect from DDoS.
- Flow Rule Verification - prevent malicious rules.
- Isolation - tenant traffic isolation in multi-tenant environments.
- Monitoring & Logging - detect anomalies in real-time.
Example:
- FlowVisor can be used to isolate multiple network slices securely.
Q14. (a) What is NFV? Explain VLAN support and its importance.
NFV (Network Function Virtualization):
- Virtualizes network services (firewall, NAT, etc.)
- Runs on standard servers instead of dedicated hardware.
OpenFlow VLAN Support:
- OpenFlow can match on VLAN ID.
- Enables VLAN-based segmentation and routing.
Importance:
- Flexible service chaining.
- Simplified deployment.
- Multi-tenant isolation.
Q14. (b) Describe the reference architecture for NFV.
Main Components:
1. NFV Infrastructure (NFVI): Hardware + Virtualization Layer
2. VNFs (Virtual Network Functions): E.g., virtual router, firewall
3. MANO (Management and Orchestration):
- Orchestrates resources and services.
- Includes NFVO, VNFM, VIM.
Requirements:
- High availability, scalability
- Multi-vendor support
- Open APIs
Q15. (a) Explain NFV Infrastructure and its management using orchestration tools.
NFVI Includes:
- Compute (e.g., KVM, VMware)
- Storage
- Networking (virtual switches)
Management:
- Orchestration tools like OpenStack, ONAP, and Cloudify
- Manage lifecycle: deploy, scale, terminate VNFs
- Coordinate network services
Q15. (b) Illustrate various NFV use cases and SDN-NFV integration.
NFV Use Cases:
- Virtual firewall
- Virtual load balancer
- Virtual EPC (Mobile Core)
SDN-NFV Integration:
- SDN handles traffic routing.
- NFV provides services.
- Combined enables full automation, agility.
Example:
- SDN controller routes traffic to virtual firewall VNF based on policy.
PART C - (1 × 15 = 15 Marks)
Answer Any One Question:
Q16. SDN Controllers - Ryu, ONOS, OpenDaylight
Ryu:
- Python-based, simple APIs.
- Supports OpenFlow, NETCONF.
ONOS:
- Java-based, designed for scalability.
- Distributed architecture.
OpenDaylight:
- Modular, supports plugins.
- Good for enterprise networks.
Use Cases:
- Traffic engineering
- Data center management
- WAN optimization
Feature Ryu ONOS OpenDaylight
Language Python Java Java
Focus Simplicity Carrier nets Extensibility
Type Lightweight Distributed Modular
Q17. Design SDN-Based Data Center
Topology:
- Clos/Fat-tree architecture
- Leaf-Spine switches
Flow Rules:
- Match by src/dest IP
- Forward to least-loaded path
Security Policies:
- ACLs in controller
- Drop unknown flows
Monitoring:
- Real-time metrics via OpenFlow
- Controller dashboard for flows, ports
Benefits:
- Load balancing
- Traffic optimization
- Rapid fault recovery
