Self-configuration mechanisms for SDN deployment in Wireless Mesh Networks

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a framework conceived to make network infrastructures more programmable and more easily manageable. We explore the integration of the latter in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) through the design of an opportunistic and self-configurable SDN solution. Opportunistic to be able to cope with the intermittent connectivity and network partitioning and merging scenarios caused by the dynamic nature of the wireless medium; and self-configurable to be able to redirect dynamically SDN-enabled Wireless Mesh Routers (WMRs) to the most suitable SDN controller. This paper proposes mechanisms allowing to make automatic an SDN-based WMN deployment. Our proposed solution enables (1) for each WMR to discover the reachable SDN controllers, then to select and connect by itself to the most suitable one; (2) the setting up of new SDN controller(s) among the WMRs in case of controllers unavailability. We validated our work using NEON, an SDN solution developed by CEA LIST that supports fast devices configuration and services deployment in dynamic and unconfigured infrastructures contexts.