Multi-Controller Architecture Design and Features in Software - Defined Networking (SDN)

Networking paradigm known as “Software-Defined Networking” (SDN) offers more flexibility with network management and is fast gaining popularity. Separating the control plane from the data plane is largely responsible for this success. In SDN-enabled networks, a centralized controller is used to translate high-level network application requirements into low-level directives that are issued to the forwarding devices. Such the controller requires limited ability to react to the request for flow processing generated by forwarding devices. Whenever an SDN-enabled network expands in terms of size or as a network traffic rises, flow processing demands can't be able to fulfill by a single centralized controller. This causes a controller's performance to decline, which eventually results in a malfunctioning SDN-enabled network. Implementing a multi-controller architecture, in which a number of controllers cooperate to manage a sizable amount of network traffic and flow processing requirements, would be a successful strategy. The introduction of a multi-controller architecture and a consideration of the problems with its scalability, coherence as well as accessibility make up the core contribution of this study. Additionally, it identifies areas where study in this area could still be done.