Computer Networking › Section D · The network layer: data plane › Topic D.6
Generalized forwarding and SDN
A classic router looks at one field, the destination address, and picks an output link. Generalised forwarding lets a device match on almost any header field and then forward, drop, copy or rewrite the packet, turning routers, firewalls and NATs into one programmable kind of box.
In this topic
- From destination-based to match-plus-action
- Flow tables
- What can be matched
- What actions can do
- Worked example: reading a flow table
- One abstraction, many devices
- Worked example: a load balancer from flow rules
- Counters and programmable data planes
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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