What this book covers

Chapter 1, OpenFlow Channel Connection Establishment

Part 1 describes the various steps and mechanisms involved in establishing an OpenFlow channel from the switch. An OpenFlow channel is used to exchange an OpenFlow message between the switch and the controller.

Part 2 shows the various steps and mechanisms involved for the controller to establish a channel to the switch. An OpenFlow channel is used to exchange OpenFlow messages between the switch and the controller.

Chapter 2, Symmetric Messages and Asynchronous Messages

Part 1 covers the list of symmetric and asynchronous messages sent and received by the OpenFlow switch, along with the procedure for handling these messages.

Part 2 contains the list of symmetric and asynchronous messages sent and received by the controller and the procedure for handling these messages.

Chapter 3, Flow Table and Flow Entry Modification Messages

Part 1 describes in detail the flow table, flow table entries, and procedures for handling flow table messages and flow entry messages, such as adding a new flow, deleting an existing flow, modifying a flow, and so on.

Part 2 demonstrates the procedure to modify the flow table; add, delete, and modify a flow entry in the flow table; and handle the response message from the switch.

Chapter 4, Group Table and Meter Table Modification Messages

Part 1 explains the group table and its entries, the meter table and its entries, and the procedure for handling group and meter modification messages, such as add, delete, modify, and so on.

Part 2 explains the procedure to add, delete, and modify the group and a meter entry, along with the procedure to handle response messages from the switch after sending these messages.

Chapter 5, Handling Multipart Statistics Messages

Part 1 covers multipart messages, in particular multipart statistic messages to get flow statistics, port statistics, group statistics, meter statistics, and so on. This chapter also contains the procedure required for handling multipart statistics messages.

Part 2 shows the procedure to get statistical information, such as flow statistics, port statistics, group statistics, meter statistics, and so on from the switch using multipart statistics messages, along with the procedure for handling response messages from the switch after sending these messages.

Chapter 6, Handling Multipart State Information Messages

Part 1 illustrates multipart messages, in particular multipart state information messages used to get the port description, table description, queue description, and so on, and the procedure for handling multipart state information messages in the switch.

Part 2 describes in detail the procedure for getting state information, such as the port description, table description, queue description, and so on from the switch using multipart state information messages. This chapter also covers the procedure for handling response messages from the switch after sending these messages.

Chapter 7, Handling Bundle Messages

Part 1 describes in detail bundle messages and the procedure required for handling them in switch, such as creating a bundle, opening a bundle, adding a message to a bundle, and so on.

Part 2 illustrates the controller procedure for creating a bundle, opening a bundle, adding a message to a bundle, and so on, along with the procedure for handling the response messages from the switch after sending the bundle messages.

Appendix, Common OpenFlow Headers, Structures, and Error Code, talks about some common message headers, structures, and procedures defined in the OpenFlow specifications.