In the field of SDN (Software-defined Networking), there are several topics which have emerged in recent years. . If you find yourself struggling to select the perfect topic, fear not! Simply share your ideas with us and we will ensure that you are presented with a plethora of novel ideas. We share a well-defined problem statement with proper explanation. In this article, we provide some of the common problem statements along with workable solutions:

1. Problem Statement: QoS-aware Traffic Management in SDN

• Explanation: Because of static routing and incapable traffic engineering, conventional networks find it hard to assure QoS (Quality of Service). To enhance QoS, SDN provides centralized management and programmability which is efficiently deployed.
• Possible Solutions:
• Design a QoS Management Module:
• Depending on specific policies, categorize traffic by executing a module in an SDN controller such as Ryu or OpenDaylight.
• Use REST API or basic configuration file to descript the policies.
• Execute a Traffic Classification Algorithm:
• Divide the traffic into QoS classes by applying ML (Machine Learning) or DPI (Deep Packet Inspection).
• Develop Flow Rules depending on QoS Policies:
• Through flow meters or queues, configure traffic preferences with the help of OpenFlow.
• Metrics to Assess:
• For various traffic classes, evaluate throughput, jitter and response time.

2. Problem Statement: Efficient DDoS Detection and Mitigation in SDN Networks

• Explanation: It results in service failures due to DDoS assaults which influence the network architecture. For the process of identifying and reducing novel types of assaults, conventional network security tools are not sufficiently portable.
• Possible Solutions:
• Anomaly Detection Module:
• Apply OpenFlow to gather flow statistics by creating a module and implement a statistical or machine learning framework to identify outliers.
• Observe and emphasize the flows as legal or harmful.
• Traffic Mitigation Tactics:
• OpenFlow-based mitigation tactics need to be executed such as rerouting the abnormal traffic, traffic shaping and blocking.
• Specifically for actual-time traffic analysis, deploy sFlow-RT.
• Network Topology Configurations:
• In order to formulate attack traffic, simulate a network by using hping3 and Mininet.
• Metrics to Assess:
• Network throughput, detection rate and false positives required to be evaluated.

3. Problem Statement: Network Slicing for IoT Applications in 5G Networks

• Explanation: To distribute resources dynamically in 5G networks, it might be difficult to consider diverse latency and bandwidth demands of multiple IoT applications.
• Possible Solutions:
• Specify Network Slicing Policies:
• Considering the diverse bandwidth necessities and latency of slices, develop a policy file.
• SDN-Based Slicing Execution:
• For the purpose of distributing IoT devices to particular slices, utilize an SDN controller to design a slicing module.
• Based on requirements, use MPLS or VLANs labels to assign resources.
• Simulation Configuration:
• Simulate 5G network slices by deploying Mininet with an OpenFlow controller.
• Metrics to Assess:
• Here, the metrics need to be estimated such as bandwidth distribution, resource allocation and network latency.

4. Problem Statement: Dynamic Load Balancing in SDN-Based Data Centers

• Explanation: As a consequence of immobile configurations and insufficient traffic visibility, conventional load balancers are not capable enough in SDN-based data centers.
• Possible Solutions:
• Design a Load Balancing Module:
• Through OpenFlow, observe the application of servers by establishing a load-balancing module in an SDN controller such as Ryu or POX.
• Implement OpenFlow rules to reroute the traffic to the least-wealthy server.
• Algorithm Execution:
• Particularly for traffic distribution, carry out techniques such as Round Robin or Weighted Least Connection.
• Simulation configurations:
• A Mininet network topology should be simulated with several servers.
• Use siege or httperf to formulate HTTP traffic.
• Metrics to Assess:
• Request latency, throughput and server deployment are the included metrics.

5. Problem Statement: Intent-Based Networking (IBN) in SDN Networks

• Explanation: Minimal-level flow rule descriptions are needed for standard SDN applications that re struggle to implement and are vulnerable to flaws.
• Possible Solutions:
• Create an Intent Parser:
• To translate superior intents into OpenFlow rules, develop a parser.
• For intent descriptions, make use of JSON or YAML.
• Network Policy Execution:
• As a means to verify intent disputes, create a policy module.
• In terms of determined intents, implement flow rules through the SDN controller.
• Test Network Configuration:
• Acquire the benefit of Mininet and SDN controllers such as OpenDaylight or ONOS.
• Metrics to Assess:
• The time duration of addressing the intents, network performance and dispute resolution rate must be exhibited.

6. Problem Statement: Secure Controller-to-Switch Communication in SDN

• Explanation: It might be exposed to spoofing and tampering assaults, while SDN networks depend significantly on controller-to-switch communication.
• Possible Solutions:
• Mutual Authentication Mechanism:
• Among controllers and switches, use TLS certificates to execute mutual authentication techniques.
• Controller Setup:
• To assist TLS for switch connections, design the controller such as ONOS and OpenDaylight.
• Switch Configuration:
• For secure communication, apply TLS in the switch like Open vSwitch.
• Test Network Setup:
• With an SDN controller, deploy Mininet and Open vSwitch.
• Metrics to Assess:
• Evaluate metrics such as attack robustness, communication latency and throughput.

7. Problem Statement: P4-Based Programmable Data Plane for Traffic Engineering

• Explanation: Regarding the effective traffic engineering, conventional network devices are constrained in programmability, which prohibits custom data plane logic.
• Possible Solutions:
• Create a P4 Program for Traffic Steering:
• To carry out traffic engineering services like load balancing, forwarding and packet filtering, execute custom P4 tasks.
• Synthesize with SDN Controller:
• Integrate the P4 switch with an SDN controller by using P4 runtime.
• Examine the Network Configurations:
• Simulate a programmable plane through BMv2 or Mininet.
• Metrics to Assess:
• The metric encompasses potential of traffic engineering, network throughput and packet processing latency.

What are some key challenges in implementing SDN?

In the process of executing SDN, you may face some common problems. To solve these kinds of issues, we offer a detailed description on crucial challenges along with encountered problems and feasible solutions:

1. Scalability

• Specification: As the network size extends, the centralized control framework results in scalability problems.
• Problems:
• Controller Barriers: Considering the malicious traffic, a single controller can become a crucial blockage.
• State Management: While the number of switches and devices expands, it could be difficult to maintain network state.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• It is required to establish hierarchical and distributed control plane models.
• Load balancing and multi-controller clustering could be beneficial.

2. Latency and Response Time

• Specification: To address network demands, control-plane decisions should be implemented.
• Problems:
• Flow Setup Time: Response time gets extended due to the time duration of original flow requests.
• Round-Trip Time (RTT): Packet forwarding is influenced by RTT among switches and controllers.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• In switches, cache is a widely used rule.
• Hierarchical and distributed control plane frameworks.

3. Security and Trust Issues

• Specification: Regarding the control as well as data planes, SDN exhibits original attack surfaces.
• Problems:
• Control Plane Security:
• DDoS or spoofing is the common controller-targeted assault.
• Illicit Access to controller APIs is one of the main concerns.
• Data Plane Security:
• Incorrect data is generated through harmful or impaired switches.
• Manipulation of flow rule.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Among controllers and switches, mutual authentication needs to be implemented.
• Encrypted communication and role-based access management.

4. Interoperability and Standardization

• Specification: It can result in compatibility problems due to diverse SDN protocols and measures.
• Problems:
• Protocol Interoperability: External protocols or various versions of OpenFlow might not be compatible.
• Northbound APIs: For SDN deployments, there is a necessity of standard northbound API.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Execute the methods such as Open Networking Foundation measures and ONF’s SDN models.
• Consider translation layers or representatives.

5. Controller-Switch Communication Reliability

• Specification: For the purpose of network management, communication is very important among controllers and switches.
• Problems:
• Network Partitioning: Because of partitioning, switches lose connection to the controller.
• Packet Loss: As a consequence of traffic or defects, control messages could be missed.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• To overcome the breakdowns, multiple redundant controllers are very essential.
• Stay-live mechanisms and consistent connections.

6. Network State Consistency

• Specification: In order to route properly and forward decisions, persistent network state is very significant.
• Problems:
• Inconsistent Views: Contradictory views of the network state or out-of-date version of controllers.
• Eventual Consistency: Regarding the eventual consistency, it seems tough for distributed controllers.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Use consensus techniques for impactful consistency.
• Dynamic state synchronization protocols should be executed.

7. Application-Controller Interaction

• Specification: Through northbound APIs, the applications must communicate with controllers in an effective and secure manner.
• Problems:
• API Security: APIs might be manipulated through illicit applications.
• API Standardization: Insufficiency of standard northbound API model.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Deploy role-based permissions for API access management.
• NETCONF/YANG and RESTCONF standardization.

8. Data Plane Flexibility and Programmability

• Specification: It finds difficult to attain a balance among performance of data plane and programmability.
• Problems:
• Fixed Functionality: Scripting is not sufficiently enough in conventional network devices.
• P4 Compatibility: P4-based programmable switches are integrated into current networks.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Programmable data plane models such as P4 should be established.
• SDN data plane abstraction frameworks.

9. Flow Table Management

• Specification: Probable overflow is caused through SDN switches which are constrained by flow table sizes.
• Problems:
• Rule Explosion: Extensive number of rules emerges as a consequence of fine-grained policies.
• Memory Constraints: TCAM (Ternary Content Addressable Memory) can be constrained and overpriced.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Wildcard matching and rule aggregation.
• It requires hierarchical flow table control.

10. Migration and Integration with Existing Networks

• Specification: Because of authentic protocols and hardware, it can be difficult to switch current networks to SDN.
• Problems:
• Hybrid Networks: Crucially, assist authenticity and SDN devices at the same time.
• Protocol Compatibility: Non-OpenFlow devices are synthesized into SDN networks.
• Aimed Suggestions:
• Apply SDN architectures with protocol transcription.
• For protocol conversions, make use of Middleboxes.