A survey on transition from GMPLS control plane for optical multilayer networks to SDN control plane
Software-defined network (SDN)/OpenFlow research and development have attracted the attention of many researchers and companies. The key idea of an SDN is characterized by decoupling the control plane from the data plane. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art of SDN and latest developments in this active research area of SDN. This work also compiles a comprehensive survey of programmable networks from early ideas to recent developments. SDN architecture and the OpenFlow standard in particular are initially presented followed by current alternatives for implementation and SDN protocols and services. It is also discussed why OpenFlow/SDN can succeed where Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) failed in terms of optimal strategy transition from GMPLS control plane for optical multilayer networks to SDN control plane. At the end of the work are presented SDN applications and further research topics with some suggested open research challenges.