The key characteristics of SDN Architecture are given in the following.
9.8.1.1 Programmable
Since the network services are separated from the forwarding layer and are deployed as software applications, they are programmable and it is easy to add and update features.
9.8.1.2 Agile
The administrator has more flexibility to manage network traffic flow to meet customer demands.
9.8.1.3 Central Management
The network intelligence is centralized and software‐based. This allows it to maintain a global view of the network, appearing to applications and policy engines as a single, logical switch.
9.8.1.4 Configurable
Network management programs are not dependent on the proprietary hardware, so network managers can write programs to manage, configure and operate network resources.
Open standard-based and vendor-neutral: SDN simplifies network design and operation because instructions are provided by SDN controllers instead of multiple, vendor‐specific devices and protocols.
