Page 962 - Cloud computing: From paradigm to operation

6 Monitoring

7.1.5 Software-defined networking

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a concept that enables network operators and data centres to flexibly
manage their networking equipment using software. SDN introduces new levels of flexibility and automation
without manual interaction for networking.

7.1.5.1 Software-defined networking-based network
Network setup in SDN is now separated from a network engineer's regular activities; network issue
troubleshooting and diagnosis have become more complex. The availability, performance, utilization and
capacity of SDN monitoring can enable a cloud computing provider more confidently to adopt SDN in cloud
computing.

See Table 7-5

Table 7-5 – Parameters collected to monitor a software-defined networking controller

Metric name Description Unit
latency of topology discovery Latency of topology discovery ms
latency of connection from switch to
Latency of connection from switch to controller ms
controller
number of active switches Number of active switches switch
incoming packets of the same source Numbers of incoming packets with the same packet
addresses incoming source addresses
incoming packets of the same Numbers of incoming packets with the same packet
destination addresses incoming destination addresses
outgoing packets of the same source Numbers of outgoing packets with the same packet
addresses outgoing source addresses
outgoing packets of destination Numbers of outgoing packets with the same packet
addresses outgoing destination addresses
incoming packets of the same source Numbers of incoming packets with the same packet
port incoming source port numbers
incoming packets of the same Numbers of incoming packets with the same
packet
destination port incoming destination port number
outgoing packets of the same source Numbers of outgoing packets with the same
packet
port outgoing source port numbers
outgoing packets of the same Numbers of outgoing packets with the same
packet
destination port outgoing destination port numbers

7.1.5.2 Service chain
Cloud computing provides not only computing and storage resources to consumers as a resource pool, but
also as a network resource pool. According to appointed service logic, network traffic passes though several
service points (generally reference is made to firewall, load balance or any other network functions (NFs)). A
service chain (SC) links these service points together. A cloud computing provider should consider
the ’performance and status of an SC when it provides service to consumers.

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