How to “direct” the controller?

Northbound interface allows for Northbound protocols.

Allows applications and orchestration systems to program the network and request services.

Provides a network abstraction interface to applications.

The abstraction is important when managing dissimilar network elements.

There is nothing standardized, but there are “types” of protocols used.

REST (web based) API – applications that run on a different machine or address space on the controller.

Web Browser.

• http://<SDN Controller IP>:8080/ ….

WebSockets.

OSGi framework is used for applications that will run in the same address space as the controller.

• Open Service Gateway Initiative.