Glossary

Much networking and OpenFlow specific terminology was, and continue to be, thrown around — This is where they ultimately end up. As of now, alphabetical order to the best of ability. Links to relevant info sources coming soon.

I OpenFlow terms
II Legacy networking terms
III OpenFlow and related software

I OpenFlow terms

• Datapath - OpenFlow term for a OpenFlow device.

• Datapath Identifier (dpid) - A 12-digit, hexadecimal number used to identify a virtual switch.

• Elephant flow - Long-lasting flows that carry large amounts of traffic.

• Fast path - Flows that can be processed by hardware without switch CPU intervention (and are therefore processed quickly).

• Flow - Instructions generated by the controller that specify actions to be taken on packets based on their headers. These are summarized into flow tables on the switch.

• Legacy VLANs - OpenFlow term for regular VLANs.

• Mice - Short-lived flows with respect to their setup times.

• Network Operating System (NOS) - NOX terminology for software that allows administration to monitor, manage, and configure a network as if it is a centralized entity.

• OpenFlow Protocol - A TCP-based protocol used by OpenFlow enabled network devices use to communicate with their controller.

• OpenFlow VLANs - legacy VLANs on which the virtual switches will run as overlay infrastructure.

• Slice - A group of switches under the influence of one controller.

• Slow path - Flows that require processing on the switch CPU as opposed to forwarding hardware due to incomplete hardware support of OpenFlow

• Software Defined Network (SDN) - Networks whose behaviors and algorithms can be controlled/managed by pure software means.

• Virtual switches - Switches that use OpenFlow protocol to communicate with a Controller and process packets according to flow tables. They are OpenFlow implementations of overlay networks on switches identified by the VLAN ID and the the 12-digit dpid (Datapath identifier).

II Plain vanilla networking

• Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) - Syntax used by tcpdump to describe filter parameters based on packet structure

• Bridge - a switch with very few (two) ports

• bridging - A software means to join two networks at the data link layer and under one broadcast domain. A overview form openVN.net : ​http://www.openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/miscellaneous/76-ethernet-bridging.html

• broadcast domain - Region within an [local area|inter]network for which all nodes within that region can receive broadcast traffic.

• Dot1Q (802.1Q) - A standard that provides identification of VLANs on trunk connections so they can communicate with others. A better definition: ​http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.1Q

• L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) - A technology that allows Ethernet frames to be routed around in IP headers. Allows for connection of two remote networks under one broadcast domain. Powered by vtun and brctl, it associates brx(bridge) interfaces with ethx (as specified). Details with respect to the OpenFlow project: ​http://omf.mytestbed.net/wiki/omf/L2HowTo

• PVST+ (Per VLAN Spanning Tree Plus) - A Cisco- proprietary implementation of spanning-tree on VLANs also configured by default in the IP8800

• STP (802.1D/Spanning Tree Protocol) - A protocol that generates redundant network paths in the LAN by overlaying a tree topology over networks with physical loops.

• SNMP - A network management protocol that automates information collection on a network.

• SNMP Agent - Software residing on a network device (switches, routers, printers) that collects information from the device and reports errors on the network

• SNMP Manager - Software that queries agents for information regarding a device and keeps SNMP-related logs.

• MIB (Management Information Base) - A hierarchical database organizing all of the types of information that can be collected using SNMP i.e. port status, system name, ect.

• SNMPget - Manager query for a single parameter (a leaf on the MIB tree) from the agent.

• SNMPgetbulk - Manager query for multiple parameters (a branch) from the agent. Synonymous to snmpwalk .

• VLAN - A software based construct that groups hosts into the same broadcast domain based on MAC address.

• Native VLAN - A VLAN whose frames remain as normal (native) Ethernet frames on the trunk. On the IP8800, it also refers to the virtual interface that allows you to assign an IP address to a VLAN.

• VLAN ID - A unique identifier given to VLANs when Dot1Q is used.

III OpenFlow and related software

• BigOS-CLI - The CLI to the BigSwitch controller.

• BSN-controller - A production-style controller with an administrative CLI and RESTful API for application development.

• debug shell - The underlying Linux shell to BigOS, useful for, among other things, access the controller's RESTful API.

• dpctl - A method/syntax to define and push OpenFlow flows manually.

• ENVI/LAVI - A network visualization framework to create GUIs for OpenFlow applications. Gathers topology data from controllers.

• Floodlight - The open-source version of the BSN controller. A Java-based process that does not require a VM.

• flowvisor - Network virtualization tool that allows creation/management of slices for multiple controllers on one network.

• OpenRoads - OpenFlow implementation for wireless.

• ovs-vsctl - A method/syntax to configure OVS processes.

• mininet - A VM-based SDN prototyping framework.

• NOX - A research/development platform for OpenFlow applications.

• SNAC - Management platform for OpenFlow networks. Includes NAT, captive portal, and web-accessible GUI.

• U-boot - the second-stage boot-loader used in LB9A and Netgear switches.

• XorPLUS - default switching firmware on the LB9A. OpenFlow versions exist.