Future networking: Reconfiguration heartland, challenge and revolution

In the context of network systems I will discuss the limits of reconfigurable systems. To this end, I will draw on examples from architectural trends, the silicon roadmap in a post Moore's law era, along with recent directions in future networking. I will then set out to map the current and future edges of reconfigurable systems in networking. In this talk I will discuss the state and future of SDN, showing how reconfiguration is an essential function of all networks. The role of reconfiguration has evolved from a prototyping technology to incorporate control technologies, and beyond this to hybrid host systems, adaptive interface design and use in the control of future network-transmission systems. As network reconfiguration must, by necessity, match the needs of both user and implementer, the emergence of SDN has, for reconfigurable systems, led to a new class of domain specific languages, a renewed interest in functional languages, and an ever-wider user base. I conclude with a discussion of current systems and ideas as future predictors for technologies beyond 100Gb/s. In particular I will talk to the opportunities enabled by tighter photonic integration. This is alongside a forecast of how technologies, limitations, and usage will impacts the future of networking reconfiguration.