Introduction:

Infonetics Research released market size and forecasts from its new Data Center and Enterprise SDN Hardware and Software report, which defines and sizes the market for software-defined networks (SDN). The report provides data for important SDN market characteristics including product categories, definitions, and worldwide and regional market size. Notably, the report tracks and forecasts SDN controllers and Ethernet switches in-use for SDN – the ‘real’ market for SDN – separately from SDN-capable Ethernet switches.

The report also includes SDN market analysis, trends, vendor announcements, and a tracker of SDN products currently shipping. 

ANALYST NOTE:

“The important question that everyone wants answered is, ‘What’s the real market for SDN?’,” says Cliff Grossner, Ph.D., directing analyst for data center and cloud at Infonetics Research. “It’s still early days, but our research over the last two years confirms that SDN controllers and Ethernet switches in-use for SDN will play a role in enterprise and data center networks, growing to a $3.1 billion market by 2017.” 

“Wide scale in-use SDN deployments will occur first in the data center with large enterprises and cloud service providers, followed closely by the enterprise LAN,” continues Grossner. “We’re already seeing significant use cases for SDN in the enterprise LAN providing security and unification of wired and wireless networks, and enabling BYOD (bring your own device).”

DATA CENTER AND ENTERPRISE SDN MARKET HIGHLIGHTS:  

• SDN is going through a classic market adoption cycle, with many new entrants looking to gain a toe-hold, and the majority of enterprises still kicking the tires.    
• Vendors shipping SDN products in 2013 include Alcatel-Lucent, Big Switch, Brocade, Cisco, Cumulus, Dell, Extreme, HP, Huawei, IBM, Juniper, Midokura, NEC, Pica8, Plexxi, Plumgrid, VMware and others.    
• The few early deployments for SDN-Google, NTT, AT&T, Verizon, DT, BT, and China Mobile-are in large data centers of cloud service providers and large enterprises.    
• 10% of Ethernet switches will be in-use for SDN by 2017.    
• North America is where SDN got its start, and the region will claim nearly 50% SDN revenue market share through 2017

To learn more or buy the report, contact Infonetics: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp

Jan 8, 2014 ComSoc SCV meeting on Open Networking will address SDN and other approaches to “Open Networking”….

Session Abstract:

“Open Networking” is a very popular industry initiative that aims to make networking equipment programmable and efficient while also lowering costs, especially OPEX.  

In this new paradigm, network operators may choose the software to control their networks- independent of their choice of networking hardware.  There have been several architectures proposed to realize “Open Networking,” including: Software Defined Networking (SDN)- with strict separation of data and control planes, Overlay models, Network Virtualization (& ETSI NFV), Linux based Network OS’s -with embedded control plane software- running on bare metal switches, and many vendor proprietary solutions.

In this highly informative session, executives from three “Open Networking” vendors (all private companies with no installed base to protect) will address the topic from different perspectives.  

-Big Switch Networks CEO will present an overview of recent developments in SDN, describe architectures and use cases and give examples of recent production SDN deployment models; 

–Arista Networks CTO will higlight the benefits of a Linux based network OS, including  “closed Linux”, “Bare linux”, and “Open Linux”

-Plexxi Co-founder will describe an open policy control and state implementation facilitating true open networking (more than just “programming” network equipment).

The three presentations will be followed by a lively panel session where both pre-submitted and live audience questions/issues will be addressed.

Session Chair:  Saurabh Sureka, ComSocSCV Vice Chair

Session Organizer:  Alan J Weissberger, ComSoc Community Content Manager

For meeting details and RSVP instructions, please visit:  http://comsocscv.org/

Please submit any questions or panel discussion topics to session chair Saurabh Sureka : [email protected]