Introducing T-SDN

 

Technical consultant: Huawei senior T-SDN planner Sun Jun

Foreword:

SDN is no longer a novel concept and has many interpretations. Here, we will focus on T-SDN, its application in transport networks.

How can T-SDN benefit transport networks?

Compared with a traditional transport network, a T-SDN transport network has these extra control and application layers.

Physical layer: traditional transport network consisting of NEs.

Control layer: The T-SDN controller functions as the brain of the intelligent transport network. It manages information from networkwide domains, as well as receives, evaluates, and delivers instructions from upper-layer apps to the network. It also collects and analyzes various information and reports the analysis result.

Application layer: Different user and carrier requests can be defined at this layer, accelerating new service provisioning and shortening TTM.

P.S.: This diagram helps to better illustrate T-SDN architecture.

 

When provisioning a private line service for a VIP bank customer between A and B, network operations with and without T-SDN differ greatly. Here is a comparison.

This example is simplified for ease of understanding. The actual functions of the T-SDN are even more powerful.

How did T-SDN evolve?

This timeline shows the history of SDN industry development and the progress of Huawei T-SDN.

This timeline shows:

• T-SDN emerged a while after SDN.
• Huawei is a leader in T-SDN planning and released the first prototype even before the industry thought of applying SDN to the transport network.

The Story of This Innovation

This story is based on real events that have inspired many like it.

Before we start, lets give it up for the Huawei experts! With thorough understanding of the transport network and insight into development trends, they provide optimal solutions to customers and have made Huawei the industry leader.

SDN was originally intended for switch-based application scenarios and specified that OpenFlow protocol must be used for all SBIs in order to white-box devices. This SDN was known as SDN 1.0. Huawei dismissed this concept as idealistic from the beginning because the transport network was very complex and deployed on too many live networks. A single OpenFlow protocol would certainly not have been the best solution. However, many people then lacked full understanding of SDN and therefore considered OpenFlow and SDN to be the same. They doubted Huaweis position.

George Washington said that truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light. Huaweis unwavering efforts in the research of various SDN protocols achieved the following breakthroughs:

• Confirmed through technical analysis that the PCE protocol was the best choice for transport networks.  
• Led PCE-supporting SDN product development.
• Engaged in extensive communication, partnership, and innovation with global customers to obtain widespread acknowledgement of the PCE solution. Many customers have written the innovative T-SDN solution into their future network development strategies and tender documents.

The successful testing and commercial application of Huaweis T-SDN solution has proven to the industry that SBIs cannot run with the OpenFlow protocol alone. They must be compatible with various protocols.

• Technical recognition: Third-party analysts Heavy Reading published Huaweis T-SDN innovation in their analysis report.
• Industry recognition: Third-party analysts Current Analysis surveyed dozens of carriers globally and named Huawei the best T-SDN solution provider.
• Acknowledgement from SDN Founder: After the release of SDN 2.0, Mr. Scott Shenker admitted the unsuitability of OpenFlow for SDN 1.0. 

"SDNv2 targets carrier networks. They differ from data-center networks in that theyre filled with legacy equipment that wont go away soon."

"Shenker is disappointed that SDN has matured so slowly — the problem lies with SDNs roots, he said. He and other researchers simply misunderstood the nature of carrier networks."

"Its not that the OpenFlow design is wrong. Its that it was given an impossible task, he said."

Terms:

BoD: Bandwidth on Demand       

NFV: Network Functions Virtualization

ODL: OpenDayLight

OFC: Optical Networking and Communications 

OIF: Optical Internetworking Forum

ONF: Open Networking Foundation

ONOS: Open Network Operating System    

OPNFV: Open Platform for NFV

OTWG: Optical Transport Work Group

T-SDN: Transport Software-Defined Network 

TTM: Time to Market

===Link archives (updated 2015-05-26)===

>>>Click here for the latest links

 

Amazing Microwaves	Demystifying MSTP	WDM Optical Transport
Huawei RTN: Birth and Evolution	Prelude●Overview and History	Speaking of 100G
How to Maximize BW of Air Interface (1)	MTU, MFL and Jumbo Frames	T-SDN Era Technical Poster Series: Introducing T-SDN
How to Maximize BW of Air Interface (2)	Key Technologies of EoS: GFP, VCAT and LCAS
How to Maximize BW of Air Interface (3)	PCM Ports, Boards, Services, and Application Scenarios
Unveiling OptiX RTN 910A

It is a very good illustration of the T-SDN concept. Thank you so much for sharing. Now I have some insights about what T-SDN actually is. Good Day

It is a very good illustration of the T-SDN concept. Thank you so much for sharing. Now I have some insights about what T-SDN actually is. Good Day

singaywangchuk 发表于 2015-08-14 12:20

Glad to hear that, thank you very much. There will be much more to share about the T-SDN, and we all look forward to the next T-SDN post.

Dear Faisal Khan,

Thank you for your feedback.
Your query we have received and w00133857 will reply you ASAP.
Thank you for your patient waiting.
Best wishes.

Tina.hu Posted on 2015-07-14 09:43

 

Dear,

 

Can you update on the request.

 

Faisal

 

Dear,

 

Can you update on the request.

 

Faisal

Faisal Khan 发表于 2015-08-24 22:26

Hi Faisal Khan,

Im sorry to have kept you waiting. w00133857 had sent you a mail.

Seems like there is a resource issue here or else SDN experts are not available in Huawei. No SDN expert contacted at the moment to answer simple question.

 

Sorry to make you wait so long time.

ONOS can better support carrier network, and ODL matches enterprise networks. Huawei T-SDN may support both ONOS and ODL in the future.

It is good presentation for high level understanding

If I want to introduce T-SDN in DWDM Network, then what type of equipment need to use? And what will be the method?

Dear tanjil,
The post owner will reply you later.
I told him about your question. Thanks a lot.