OpenFlow Switching Performance using Network Simulator - 3

Abstract: Context. In the present network inventive world, there is a quick expansion of switches and protocols, which are used to cope up with the increase in customer requirement in the networking. With increasing demand for higher bandwidths and lower latency and to meet these requirements new network paths are introduced. To reduce network load in present switching network, development of new innovative switching is required. These required results can be achieved by Software Define Network or Traditional layer-3 technologies.Objectives. In this thesis, the end to end (e2e) transmission performance of OpenFlow and Layer-3 switches and their dynamic characteristics are investigated using network simulation.Methods. To replicate real life network topology and evaluate e2e transmission performance, a simulation based test-bed is implemented for both OpenFlow switch and layer-3 switch. The test beds are implemented using Network Simulator-3 (NS3). A two-tire network topology is designed with specified components for performance evaluation.Results. The performance metrics like throughput, average delay, simulation time and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) are measured, results are analyzed statistically and are compared. The behavior of network traffic in both the topologies are understood using NS-3 and explained further in the thesis.Conclusions. The analytical and statistical results from simulation show that OpenFlow switching performs relatively better than layer-3 switching.