Configuration of open vSwitch using OF-CONFIG

Abstract

Software Defined Networking (SDN) became a popular concept where a flexible network architecture is required. One of the widely used approaches to SDN is based on the OpenFlow (OF) protocol that allows controllers to configure OF capable network switches. The OF protocol is focused on a flow-based control of a switch. Besides OF itself, Open Networking Foundation (ONF) has introduced the OF-CONFIG protocol. In contrast, the aim of OF-CONFIG is the configuration of more durable parameters of the controlled switch. However, Open vSwitch (OVS), as the most popular OF switch implementation, uses its own configuration protocol instead of OF-CONFIG. This paper presents results of our analysis of OF-CONFIG and describes design and development of its missing reference implementation. Furthermore, it extends OVS with the OF-CONFIG support, so it provides an opportunity for OF-CONFIG to be more widely used. Our experiences from the analysis and implementation deliver useful feedback to ONF people for further development of OF-CONFIG.