Abstract—The function enhancements of different OpenFlow visions in match fields and statistics are paving the way for making OpenFlow as the most important southbound interface. However, in existing studies of software defined hybrid terrestrial-satellite networks, no attention has been paid to the multi-granularity switching used in GMPLS and performance parameters transmission of the wireless link while both aspects are of significance for the ever-increasing satellite application in mobile and rural scenarios. Therefore, an extension scheme of OpenFlow in these two aspects was proposed. By modifying the matching module, adding microwave port properties and new message type associated with microwave link parameters, the scheme was able to support the satellite multi-granularity switching and transmission parameter acquisition of wireless interfaces. The simulation prototype was built to check the feasibility of new message delivery.
 

Index Terms—Software Defined Satellite Networking (SDSN), OpenFlow, Protocol Extension, Simulation Implementation, Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Cite: Zhanqi Xu, Miaomiao Feng, Jianxin Lv, Fan Yang, and Guo Chen, "OpenFlow Protocol Extension in SDN-based Satellite Networks," Journal of Communications, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 721-726, 2019. Doi: 10.12720/jcm.14.8.721-726