This book provides a comprehensive treatment of software defined networking (SDN) suitable for new network managers and experienced network professionals. It explains the importance of virtualization; discusses SDN implementation and the impact on service providers, legacy networks, and network vendors; and investigates OpenFlow, the hand-in-glove partner of SDN. By identifying the impact of SDN on traffic management and the potential for network service growth, this book instills the knowledge needed to manage current and future demand and provisioning for SDN.

Virtualization. Software-Defined Networking. SDN Implementation. Service Providers and SDN. SDN Development. Network Vendors and SDN. Google and SDN. OpenFlow. SDN Evolution.

Patricia A. Morreale is a faculty member in the Department of Computer Science at Kean University, Union, New Jersey, where she conducts research in network management and design. Since joining Kean University, she has established the Network Laboratory, building on her prior work at Stevens Institute of Technology, and has continued her research in multimedia and mobile network performance and system design. Dr. Morreale holds a BS from Northwestern University, an MS from the University of Missouri, and a Ph.D from Illinois Institute of Technology, all in computer science. She holds a patent in the design of real-time database systems and has numerous journal and conference publications.

James M. Anderson is the vice president of product management at GSL Solutions, Tampa, Florida, USA, and the president of Blue Elephant Consulting, a business communications consulting firm. Previously, he worked for Boeing, Siemens, Alcatel, Verizon, and a number of start-ups. Dr. Anderson holds a BS and MS from Washington University in St. Louis, a Ph.D from Florida Atlantic University, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. His research interests include effective network management techniques for very large networks, software as a service (SaaS) products, and software defined networking/networks function virtualization (SDN/NFV). Dr. Anderson has authored over 30 books and has numerous conference publications.