Process Algebraic Specification of Software Defined Networks

Abstract

In this paper, we first present a formal specification for a part of Software Defined Networks(SDN) using a process algebra called Algebra of Communicating Shard Resources(ACSR). To provide a correct and efficient solution for forwarding packets on the Software Defined Networks, ACSR can express processes running concurrently and communicating switches and a controller. Forwarding packets can be modeled as prioritized synchronization of events in ACSR. During specifying formally, we could find the Subtle Ambiguity in the SDN specification. The central contribution of this paper is to describe how to apply a formal specification method to a part of informal SDN specification. It is important to specify SDN and verify the properties of the SDN using formal specification before implementing the systems. Furthermore, we prove the correctness of ACSR specification to show deadlockfreeness using VERSA.

Formal Modeling and Systematic Black-Box Testing of SDN Data Plane

“…Most of them model the whole SDN network. Kang et al [15] use a process algebra called Algebra of Communicating Shared Resources (ACSR) to specify the concurrent processes of both controller and switches. Then they [16] add Z notation, a formal specification language based on a set theory and a first-order logic, to supplement data packets with ACSR.…”

“…Then we can get the local test sequence of M i , which is P ath i . After all transitions are covered, we can generate the shortest preamble directly (Line [15][16][17]. For searching the…”