OpenFlow reference standard (OpenFlow 1.5.1, wire protocol 0x06) is the latest SDN enabling technology currently being implemented in the commodity-networking hardware. In this section, we do not intend to provide a complete detailed overview of OpenFlow enabled switches and manufacturers but rather a brief list of a few options that are cost-effective and available in the market. These switches can be divided into two versions.
Software-based switches are more frequently used in test environments to run an OpenFlow test-bed or to develop and test OpenFlow-based network application. There are currently several OpenFlow software switches that can be used, some of which are listed with a brief description, including the implementation language and the OpenFlow standard, as follows:
- Open vSwitch: Open vSwitch is a multilayer and production quality virtual switch licensed under the Apache 2.0 license. It is designed to enable network automation...