Welcome to CPS 590: Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN represents a new paradigm to networking that decouples the control-plane from the data-plane and allows for innovation in the control-plane to happen independently of the data-plane. Broadly speaking, we will survey a handful of recent and classic approaches to designing programmable networks. The ultimate goal of this course is to develop sound approaches for architecting, verifying, securing and debugging various aspects of programmable networks.

The course load: (1) We will cover roughly 25 papers in all and focus more on in-class "brain-storming". This will range from critiquing the idea in the paper and the evaluation, as well as applications of the ideas to other problem domains, and directions for future research in the general area. You can expect reading these papers to range from an hour to 2.5 hours depending on the size, with most papers requiring abour 2 to 2.5 hours.
(2) There will be reviews due before every class and submitted through e-mail.
(3) There will be a wide range of programming intensive course projects.




Readings: The course will be paper reading-based. See the reading list here.

Project: While readings will cover the "theory" behind software defined-networking systems, a set of 3-4 hands-on assignments, coupled with a significant A course project, spanning 5-7 wks, will help students explore the "practical" side. See a tentative outline of planned assignments here