Investigating The Impact Of Network Topologies On The Performance Of Openflow Protocol

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the impact of network topologies on the performance of

OpenFlow protocol. OpenFlow Protocol is a southbound protocol over Secure

Socket Layer (SSL) in Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN architecture

separates the intelligence (decision making) part (control plane) of network devices

from forwarding capability (data plane). OpenFlow protocol is the communication

protocol for exchanging control messages between control plane and data plane. The

research investigation was based on the performance of OpenFlow protocol version

1 on four topologies; unconnected switches, linear, tree, and typical DCN. POX

software was used as controller in control plane.

The motivation behind the study is based on the fact that topology in SDN is

discovered by exchanging lldp based control messages. Despite the impact of lldp

based control messages on the performance of SDN, to the knowledge of this study

the impact of network topologies on the performance of OpenFlow protocol is yet to

be explored. The research adopted mininet emulation tool to simulate four

topologies. The performance of OpenFlow protocol was measured in terms of

throughput and delay. This data was observed through wireshark. Descriptive

statistical analysis of data was done through Wireshark and Microsoft excel 2010.

It was found that the throughput of OpenFlow protocol in terms of packet per second

(pps) is highest in typical DCN and lowest in unconnected switches. OpenFlow

protocol in typical DCN topology transfers higher number of information with lower

delay than any other topologies simulated in this environment.