How can I determine whether a Software Defined network is truly open?

The rise of software-defined networks has moved the power of innovation from device vendors to development departments, but the premise is that developers and users must determine that software-defined network standards are truly open and interoperable.

Till now, vendors still occupy major markets through closed controls. They can "selectively" ignore or develop standards to maintain their market position. for developers, standards are very important. Because the standard is a unified language for developers, it can integrate the standard with other systems.

End hardware-centered Network to save the users "Bundled" by the vendor

After the decentralization, the network industry experienced another change in standardization and integration. However, every change is too fast and standards cannot catch up. As a result, the industry is scattered again, and some solutions occupy the market. With the maturity of the technology, standardization and integration will be implemented again. This is troublesome for end users. In the early stages of innovation, they were "stuck" in the process of choosing a vendor.

Software-centric network innovation can remove Dependencies by separating core functions, because hardware is already very commercial, so innovation is in software: vendors can separate hardware and software on the architecture. Core functions, such as routing, forwarding, and monitoring, can be executed by software through APIS, Which is smoother and no longer limited by standards. Therefore, software brings such expansion or innovation without relying on the core software or hardware that is very slow to update. As long as the API is abstract and the interface is stable, software innovation can develop independently. In fact, innovation can also be implemented by third-party groups, system integrators, or end users.

True Software-defined network standard logo

To truly benefit, end users must check whether the software-centric network stack interface and protocol are "standard". The following two criteria determine the real software-defined network.

Openness: a standard is only open, documented, and free. That is to say, there is no royalty, authorization, or confidentiality agreement. It restricts access or is based on innovation. If you skip these steps to become a standard, it will not become a patent, or it will not be implemented and will be eliminated.

Widely used: although the second judgment condition is not as good as the previous one, it can be used for quick judgment. If a standard is adopted by more than two highly competitive companies, this is the true standard. Because competitors generally do not use the standards of the other party or the outside world. If a company promotes it regardless of whether the competitor adopts this standard, it does not care about turning it into a standard.

Software-defined networks and standardization can play a role in the cutting-edge and stable and commercialized traditional systems of innovation. Because of this, the vendors and the customers who are "Bundled" by the manufacturers are in a dilemma, and the software-centric network is no longer limited by hardware. It adds another layer through third parties, this is undoubtedly good news for users who have long been suffering from the prevalence of innovations and standardization in the network industry.