OpenCache: Leveraging SDN to demonstrate a customisable and configurable cache

Abstract

Efficient content delivery is a constantly evolving challenge on the modern Internet. Reducing the impact of duplicate deliveries of identical content is a key factor in reducing congestion and transit costs for smaller networks. This work leverages SDN concepts and mechanisms in order to transparently store and deliver content from a local cache to the client, thus lightening the load on the WAN and relieving the necessity for urgent network capacity upgrades. An open interface to the cache presents owners with new possibilities for cache control and maintenance. This demonstration showcases a prototype implementation in action on a large-scale OpenFlow testbed deployed across Europe.