Performance Evaluation of Controller Based SDN Network Over Non-controller Based Network in Data Center Network

Abstract

The issue of non-controller based data center network highlights the limitation of programmability, reconfiguration and network devices overhead which consists of both control and data plane coupling inside. This limitation causes difficulty in reconfiguration and resources management of network and devices overhead, leading to decreasing in throughput, bandwidth and losses in packet data traffic. This paper draws attention to the features of controller based Software Defined Network (SDN) network and its ability to enhance the network performance and management. Simulation using Gns3 is done for two comparison scenarios applied to simple tree data center topology: a) non-controllers based network using cisco router and switch, and b) controller based SDN network on Opeflow switch, Opendaylight controller and Openflow manager (OFM). Using Iperf tool, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) traffics generation is applied and measured in both scenarios. The result of application has shown that the controller based SDN network provides high performance in throughput, bandwidth and low value of Jitter. In contrast, the non-controller based network provides low performance in throughput and bandwidth and high value of Jitter. In addition, simulation has shown the ability of controller based network in programming, softwarizing and Application Programmable Interfaces management resources.