Synopses & Reviews
Network professionals have often been told that today's modern control planes would simplify their networks. Precisely the opposite has happened. Technologies like SDN and NFV, while immensely valuable, have exacerbated complexity instead of solving it. Navigating Network Complexity is the first comprehensive guide to managing the deployment and operational complexity associated with today's large scale networks.
Russ White and Jeff Tantsura begin by characterizing the concept of network complexity in both measurable and non-measurable ways, and introducing the critical ideas of state overload and unintended consequences in large systems. They examine specific techniques and technologies associated with network control planes, including SDNs, fast reroute, segment routing, service chaining, and cloud computing, revealing how these impact network design and complexity, and helping you anticipate causes of failure in highly complex systems.
In Part II, they turn to modern control planes, examining the fundamental operating principles of SDNs such as OpenFlow and I2RS, network function virtualization, and other service virtualization models, content distribution networks, layer 2 fabrics, and service chaining solutions. The authors explain each from a protocol level, exploring how they may both resolve and increase complexity in network design and operations.
From start to finish, Navigating Network Complexity helps network professionals get past the hype associated with SDN, NFV, and other new control planes, assess their true impact, and gain more of their benefits with fewer problems.
Synopsis
Design your networks to successfully manage their growing complexity
Network professionals have often been told that today's modern control planes would simplify their networks. The opposite has happened: Technologies like SDN and NFV, although immensely valuable, are exacerbating complexity instead of solving it. Navigating Network Complexity is the first comprehensive guide to managing this complexity in both deployment and day-to-day operations.
Russ White and Jeff Tantsura introduce modern complexity theory from the standpoint of the working network engineer, helping you apply it to the practical problems you face every day. Avoiding complex mathematical models, they show how to characterize network complexity, so you can understand it and control it.
The authors examine specific techniques and technologies associated with network control planes, including SDNs, fast reroute, segment routing, service chaining, and cloud computing. They reveal how each of these affects network design and complexity and help you anticipate causes of failure in highly complex systems.
Next, they turn to modern control planes, examining the fundamental operating principles of SDNs, such as OpenFlow and I2RS, network and other service function virtualization, content distribution networks, Layer 2 fabrics, and service chaining solutions. You'll learn how each of these might both resolve and increase complexity in network design and operations and what you can do about it.
Coverage includes:
- Defining complexity, understanding its components, and measuring it
- Mastering a straightforward "state, speed, and surface" model for analyzing complexity
- Controlling complexity in design, deployment, operations, protocols, and programmable networks
- Understanding how complex network systems begin to fail and how to prevent failure
- Recognizing complexity tradeoffs in service virtualization and service chaining
- Managing new challenges of complexity in virtualized and cloud environments
- Learning why constructs such as hierarchical design, aggregation, and protocol layering work and when they work best
- Choosing the right models to contain complexity as your network changes
From start to finish,
Navigating Network Complexity helps you assess the true impact of new network technologies, so they can capture more value with fewer problems.
Table of Contents
Section 1. Complexity
1. Defining Complexity
2. Components of Complexity
3. Network Complexity
4. Operational Complexity
5. Managing Operational Complexity
6. Design Complexity
7. Managing Design Complexity
8. Protocol Complexity
9. How Complex Systems Fail
Section 2. Modern Control Planes
10. Software Defined Networks
11. Software Defined Networks and Complexity
12. Service Virtualization and Service Chaining
13. Service Virtualization, Service Chaining, and Complexity
14. Cloud Computing
15. Conclusion