Comprehensive Exploration and Performance Assessment of SDN Controller

Abstract

SDNs provide flexible and intelligent network capabilities by dividing traditional networks into a centralized control plane and a programmable data plane. Network performance improvement relies on the intelligent control plane, which establishes flow paths for switches. Within the control plane, the controller serves as the core component for all data plane management operations, underscoring the significance of its performance and capabilities. Additionally, it is crucial to utilize accurate and efficient tools for assessing various evaluation parameters. Specifically, based on their capabilities, we identify and categorize 14 controllers, offering a qualitative comparison of their features. Furthermore, we investigate the capabilities of benchmarking tools used to assess controllers for SDN.