Software Defined Networking (SDN) in Enterprise Network Innovation

Why Enterprise Networks Need SDN (Software Defined Networking)?

Software-defined networking (SDN) is an approach to implementing networks that use software-based controllers to communicate with the underlying hardware and determine how traffic is routed across the network.

1. Enterprises use SDN to deploy applications faster while reducing overall deployment and operational costs.SDN allows IT administrators to manage and configure network services from a single location.
2. The benefits of SDN are greater flexibility and agility, reduced workload through automation, and reduced deployment-related downtime.

Can SDN Solve Problems of Enterprise Networks?

The enterprise network is gradually crossing into the Internet of Things (IoT) era where everything is connected. The explosive growth of various smart terminals and innovative applications in the digital economy are putting forward more demanding requirements for the enterprise office network. Drawing on the development experience of cloud data center networks, cloud-based transformation of traditional networks is the unanimously agreed solution.

However, most common cloud-based solutions are built around a comprehensive SDN controller for the entire campus network – centralizing many complex and tedious operation and deployment tasks on a unified SDN controller, and completing the operation and deployment of the entire network through a visual Web interface.

This does simplify the daily operation and maintenance work to a large extent, but the change is not thorough enough . Although a shiny SDN controller is presented to the public, the underlying network architecture is still rigid, complex and bloated traditional network architecture. Many of the troubles that traditional networks are experiencing, such as complex security policy additions and deletions, broadcast storm positioning, WiFi disconnection, difficulty in diagnosing network problems, and other problems still exist.

Ideas for Next-generation Enterprise Networks

Better enterprise network transformation ideas will go deeper into the underlying network architecture, targeting the complex and bloated traditional architecture and making comprehensive changes with advanced technical concepts in the field of cloud data centers such as Leaf/Spine, Arp-to-Host and distributed gateway.

Compared to traditional networking solutions, Asterfusion’s full layer3 network horizontal scaling solution can reduce large enterprise network construction and operation costs by more than 40%.

• Scale-out Leaf/Spine architecture using box switch. CX-M series as leaf/spine switches and CX-N series as spine/fiber switches, and these switches help us connect more than 100,000 terminals.
• IP Fabric is designed to eliminate broadcast storm problems, and every endpoint is naturally Layer 2 segregated by default.
• Wired and wireless access are converged, and WiFi roams without interference.
• Single profile template for all leaf switches, simplifying delivery with ZTP.

For more information, visit: https://asterfusion.com/enterprise_network/