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Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI)
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Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) is network virtualization technology.
Best Software Defined Networking (SDN) 2025
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) software is strongly related to, and frequently confused with, two other network agility technologies: Network Virtualization (NV) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV).
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What is Software Defined Networking
Software Defined Networking abstracts network management away from the physical machines that control the network and introduces a control layer that centrally manages the entire network using open APIs. This differs from traditional networks, which are managed via software that is inextricably linked to the hardware itself. Software defined networking is most often used by larger organizations that have complex networks to manage.
Traditionally, a given router or switch can only “see” machines that are connected directly to it. In contrast, software defined networking enables network administrators to easily monitor network traffic and conditions and make changes to the network when needed.
Software Defined Networking Features
SDN solutions should have most or all of the following features:
- DDoS Protection (DDoS)
- Global Load Balancing
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Content Delivery (CDN)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- VPN
- Connection Bonding
Software Defined Networking Comparison
Consider these factors when comparing SDN solutions:
- Existing vs. From-Scratch Networking: Consider whether your use case is layering SDN on top of existing hardware-based networking, or if you’re looking for a SDN solution to meet your network needs from the ground up. Solutions will vary in how well they serve each of these use cases.
- Vendor-Specific Solutions: Some solutions, particularly leading enterprise-focused solutions, are optimized to integrate with the vendor’s other networking solutions. Consider if your business has already invested in a particular vendor for networking needs, as there may be more efficiencies from staying within a single vendor’s ecosystem.
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Pricing Information
Given the complexities of setting up a network, explicit pricing information for Software Defined Networking is rarely available without first contacting the vendor for details. Pricing will range depending on the size of your network, how busy the network is, and how much hardware will be needed to get the network up and running.
Software Defined Networking (SDN) FAQs
What does Software Defined Networking do?
Software Defined Networking separates the management of networks from the physical machines that run it (as opposed to traditional networks where network management is handled through software attached to each individual machine itself). This configuration allows network administrators to manage all aspects of the network from a centralized location, reducing the complexity of management.
What are the benefits of using Software Defined Networking?
The implementation of a Software Defined Network can drastically reduce the complexity of managing high-capacity networks by allowing IT administrators to reconfigure aspects of the network when they need to without having to manage individual pieces of hardware. Centralized management should reduce the time it takes to make changes to the network, saving organization’s money and IT resources and ensuring better network performance.
How much does Software Defined Networking cost?
Software Defined Networking vendors do not typically display explicit pricing information. Prospective buyers will need to contact vendors directly for a price quote.
