Analysis and Performance Evaluation of OpenFlow Controller in SDN using N-Policy

The OpenFlow protocol facilitates the communication between the control and forwarding planes within a software-defined networking (SDN) framework. In SDN, the control plane is housed in a distinct entity known as the OpenFlow controller, which assumes the responsibility of making high-level determinations regarding the forwarding of network traffic. With the OpenFlow controller, network administrators can centrally program and manage network behavior, incorporating functionalities like traffic engineering, load balancing, QoS enforcement, security policies, and more. By segregating the control plane from the data plane, SDN utilizing OpenFlow empowers flexible network management, automation, and programmability. Through the utilization of the OpenFlow protocol, the OpenFlow controller interacts with the forwarding plane, typically implemented in network switches or routers. This approach offers a centralized perspective of the network and grants dynamic control over the behavior of network devices by installing flow entries into their forwarding tables. In this research, we use a single-controller N-policy finite buffer waiting queue model to investigate the system performance metrics. Numerical examples and different indices are presented to illustrate the proposed model.