Towards test-driven software defined networking

Abstract

To configure, troubleshoot and operate their networks, operators often have no alternatives than relying on error-prone manual procedures. The emerging Software Defined Networking paradigm opens new possibilities for more structured networking methodologies. We argue that provably-effective practices can be borrowed from more developed engineering fields, especially software engineering. In this paper, we propose an adaptation of test-driven software development methodologies to software defined networks (SDNs). To support our methodological guidelines, we propose an expressive requirement formalization language. Further, we describe a prototype tool able to check the compliance of an SDN controller with requirements expressed in the proposed language. Our evaluation of the prototype shows promising results on the practical viability of our approach.