Chapter 2. The Emergence of Software-defined Networking

This chapter will discuss the emergence of open protocols that have helped Software-defined Networking (SDN) solutions. It will focus specifically on the Nuage VSP SDN solution, which is an SDN platform from Nokia, formerly known as Alcatel-Lucent, which allows users to create a virtual overlay network. We will look at some of the scaling benefits and features Nuage VSP provides over and above the out of the box experience from AWS and OpenStack. It will articulate why these networking solutions have become a necessity for notoriously complex private cloud networks, by simplifying networking using software constructs while aiding automation of the network by providing a set of programmable APIs and SDKs.

This chapter will focus on the following topics in detail:

• Why SDN solutions are necessary
• How the Nuage SDN solution works
• The integration of OpenStack with the Nuage VSP Platform
• The Nuage VSP Software-defined object model
• How the Nuage VSP can support Greenfield and Brownfield Projects
• The Nuage VSP Multicast Support