Information centric networking over SDN and OpenFlow: Architectural aspects and experiments on the OFELIA testbed

Abstract

-Information Centric Networking (ICN) is a new networking paradigm in which the networkprovides users with content instead of communication channels between hosts. Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an approach that promises to enable the continuous evolution of networking architectures. In this paper we propose and discuss solutions to support ICN by using SDN concepts. We focus on an ICN framework called CONET, which grounds its roots in the CCN/NDN architecture and can interwork with its implementation (CCNx). Although some details of our solution have been specifically designed for the CONET architecture, its general ideas and concepts are applicable to a class of recent ICN proposals, which follow the basic mode of operation of CCN/NDN. We approach the problem in two complementary ways. First we discuss a general and long term solution based on SDN concepts without taking into account specific limitations of SDN standards and equipment. Then we focus on an experiment to support ICN functionality over a large scale SDN testbed based on OpenFlow, developed in the context of the OFELIA European research project. The current OFELIA testbed is based on OpenFlow 1.0 equipment from a variety of vendors, therefore we had to design the experiment taking into account the features that are currently available on off-the-shelf OpenFlow equipment.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Controller-Based Forwarding Scheme for NDN

“…The Offelia testbed [20] has been built to evaluate Information Centric Networking architecture with SDN. However, it is not a full native NDN environment as Openflow is the interface between NDN messages and the IP network.…”

Understanding the social impact of ICN: between myth and reality

“…The Overlay approach is the most popular one which has been largely investigated by the research community [39], [41]- [44], [46]- [49], [51], [52]. Implementing ICN over existing IP networks seems to be the straightforward solution for deploying ICN: it has the big advantage of reusing classical infrastructures, with the addition of few (new or upgraded) nodes, which support ICN functionalities.…”

“…A kind of "hybrid approach", which combines the overlay one with the SDN-based, has been proposed by Blefari-Melazzi et al in [44]- [46]. The suggested CONET (Content NETwork) framework, designed for OpenFlow networks, is also known as "integration approach", because it suggests to encapsulate ICN packets into IP packets, by adding the content name into an IP option in the IPv4/IPv6 header.…”

“…The latter are used to forward the packet within the SDN network to the appropriate locations. In detail, the OpenFlow controller performs path computation, and determines on which path the data packet (i.e., requested content) will be delivered [44] [46]. By using a Pending Interest Table (PIT), the border node can reverse the encapsulation, and send the response to the original requester.…”

GreenSDN: energy efficiency in software defined networks.

“…For instance, OFELIA (SALSANO et al, 2013), GENI (GENI, ) and GreenStar Network (GSN, 2010) are examples of distributed network platforms that allows researchers to experiment features in scale. While the rst two provide a general-purpose research infrastructure, the latter is designed to deliver cloudbased ICT services based entirely on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectricity.…”