As mentioned in a previous news story, REANNZ, Victoria University and Google are collaborating to deliver a workshop that will draw attention to OpenFlow, which is a method of implementing Software Defined Networking (SDN).

Indications so far are that SDN—and therefore OpenFlow—will be big. Already it has strong support from major network users and providers like Facebook, Google and Microsoft, as well as network equipment vendors including Juniper, Cisco, Brocade, HP and IBM. Some of the latter are already shipping commercial hardware supporting OpenFlow.

Why is it important?

A paragraph from the Open Networking Summit website nicely explains:

“It has the potential to enable network innovation and create choice, and thus help realise new capabilities and address persistent problems with networking. It also promises to give network operators more control of their infrastructure, allowing customization and optimisation, therefore reducing overall capital and operational costs.”

A real-world example of this is that it can be used to implement a Science DMZ, which allows high-data researchers to safely bypass their firewalls, increasing data throughput at the same time as reducing costs.

And this can only be good for science.

Who the workshop is for

The workshop is intended to be both detailed and technical, and therefore should be of particular interest to:

• network engineers
• computer scientists
• electronic systems engineers, and
• people who move large amounts of data.

Workshop rundown

The workshop will include:

• an introduction to SDN/OpenFlow
• a demonstration of an OpenFlow application on a Pronto 3290 switch connected to the REANNZ network, illustrating arbitrary flow/packet level control through software
• exploration/discussion of building an OpenFlow research network in NZ
• identifying key OpenFlow projects for collaboration across NZ research organisations and industry, establishing NZ as a leader in the field (and enabling lower cost, higher performing and higher reliability WAN networks versus conventional networking).

Additional details

Where: Victoria University Kelburn campus (room to be confirmed)

When: Tuesday Feb 28th 2012, 10:00am to 4:00pm

Seats: Limited—book yours now to avoid missing out.

Cost: Free

Contact: Desi Ramoo (desi.ramoo@reannz.co.nz) to reserve your place, and he’ll be in touch to let you know which room it will be in.