SDN and IBN Assignment (Due Week 4)
Software-defined networking (SDN) and intent-based networking (IBN) offer an ability to revolutionize the modern network architecture. Both concepts are relatively new, and your chief technology officer (CTO) has only heard them in passing. In fact, she pawned them off as the new marketing fad dressed up as a new concept. Since you have researched both technologies, you understand this is not a fad. When used in combination with virtualization and cloud computing, you know SDN and IBN could revolutionize how the organization operates, providing for reduced costs, efficiency, better management of the network assets, and security.
However, you need to develop a white paper for the Caduceus CTO to highlight these benefits. Given the CTO has only heard the term in passing, you must describe in this white paper, the SDN and IBN concepts, their benefits, and what it would take for the organization to implement.
Forming Your Teams
In addition to submitting your individual white paper here in the SDN and IBN Assignment, you will also begin to work with your team for the upcoming collaborative projects. You should meet your team, brainstorm ideas for your white paper together, and begin planning your upcoming work.
Writing Your Paper
After you introduce yourself to your team and brainstorm ideas for this assignment, refer to the for more details about Caduceus.
In your white paper, use additional sources of information but also describe the concept in laymans terms. Use visuals where appropriate. Describe how an SDN/IBN architecture would look different than network architectures we have traditionally deployed. Compare and contrast the network architectures and discuss the pros and cons of each.
The paper should include the following sections:
- introduction to software-defined networking (SDN) (discussed in Week 3)
- introduction to intent-based networking (IBN) (discussed in Week 4)
- discussion on how virtualizing the desktop and now back-end infrastructure are complementary and related
- discussion of how SDN and IBN are related
Company Highlights
The organization currently maintains 2,000 Microsoft Windows desktop computers for the workforce. As you recall, these desktop computers were about to be refreshed. The organization is currently considering the Dell Optiplex series. Specifically, each computer would have a Intel Core i5 processor, run Microsoft Windows 10, contain 8GB DDR4 RAM, and have a 256GB solid state drive. The rough estimate for each PC is $1,250, which equates to a $2,500,000 upgrade cost to the organization.Microsoft Office runs on each of these computers. The license fee for each computer is $150, which equates to a $300,000 outlay. The organization typically upgrades all PCs with the latest version of Microsoft Office when it is released.The organization used multiples instances of Oracle Database. These databases are distributed across 10 Dell PowerEdge servers. These servers cost a minimum of $2,159 each, for a total cost of $21,580.The organization maintains an additional 20 Dell PowerEdge servers for a variety of reasons to include email, file backup, remote access, etc. The total cost to refresh each of these servers is $3,000 for a total cost of $60,000.The organization maintains various networking devices. The total cost of this equipment is $3,000,000 and yearly refresh costs are $750,000.The organization maintains a suite of network security hardware and software solutions. They include a DMZ configuration, multiple firewalls, VPN hardware, antivirus solutions, intrusion detection and protection devices, and log management solutions. The total yearly hardware and software costs for the organization cybersecurity efforts are $2,000,000.The organization also allows users to access the network via their company-issued Android phones, or iPads. Employees receive a mobile device with VPN software installed so that they may remotely access company systems when they are at home, or traveling.Because this is a notional example and assignment, you may make further assumptions about the organization IT environment. There is no need to ask your instructor for permission. Simply make explicit your assumptions in the white paper. For example, you are free to assume the number of IT professionals, their specialties, and more importantly the cost to run the IT department.
