Centec Promotes OpenFlow, N-Flow Technologies at ONS 2013

Centec Networks introduced N-Flow technology used by its GreatBelt line of switching silicon on Monday at Open Networking Summit 2013 (ONS 2013). The event is done in cooperation with the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), which promotes the use of software-defined networking (SDN).

SDN allows admins to manage network traffic from a controller application quickly and easily without having to physically change switch settings. As a result, traffic can be controlled more efficiently to adapt to peaks in demand.

The most common protocol for providing SDN is OpenFlow, which uses a centralized approach to control switches and directing packets of data. The N-Flow technology used in GreatBelt can handle flow combinations of up to 64K L2 or IPv4 flows and 32K L2+IPv4 flows.

According to its website, the ONF is "[D]edicated to the promotion and adoption of software-defined networking (SDN) through open standards development." Events it is connected to like ONS 2013 allow vendors to showcase their products supporting SDN. ONS emphasizes providing quality content in its presentations.

Speakers are not paid to speak, nor does anyone pay to be a speaker. It allows the community supporting the event to choose content based on quality.

Based in Jiang Su Province, China, Centec offers several IP/Ethernet switching silicon products. The aforementioned GreatBelt series of chips consists of the CTC5160, CTC5163 and CTC5165 – each of which can run up to 120 Gbps.

Many estimates suggest it won't be long before global mobile traffic reaches exabyte and zettabyte levels. Managing that behemoth of data flow quickly and efficiently requires that concepts like SDN gain momentum and are implemented sooner rather than later.

Obviously, many vendors like Centec are hot on the trail in terms of getting SDN/Open Flow products to market. The burning question is whether enough of this and other hardware will be deployed in time to meet the expected deluge of demand in just a few years.