Programmable networks and the challenges of connecting billions of devices.
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are two trends fundamentally changing networking. SDN is an architectural approach that separates the network's control plane from its data plane. In traditional networking, the control plane (the intelligence that determines how to forward traffic) and the data plane (the hardware that actually forwards the packets) are tightly integrated within each individual router and switch. SDN centralizes this control logic into a single software component called an SDN controller. The controller has a global view of the entire network and can program the forwarding behavior of the switches and routers using a protocol like OpenFlow. This makes the network programmable, agile, and easier to manage and automate, as network policies can be implemented from a central point rather than configuring individual devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the vast network of physical devices—from smart home appliances and wearable sensors to industrial machinery—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and exchange data over the internet. Networking for IoT presents unique challenges. Many IoT devices are resource-constrained: they have limited processing power, memory, and battery life. They often use low-power wireless protocols like LoRaWAN, Zigbee, or Bluetooth Low Energy. The sheer scale, with billions of devices, requires new addressing and management strategies. Security is also a massive concern, as many of these devices are vulnerable and can be co-opted into botnets.