A DevOps framework for developing, operating, and evolving SDN infrastructure and applications

软件定义网络（SDN）利用软件对网络资源进行虚拟化，使其更具可定制性和通用性。因此，SDN可以以更低的成本提供更大的能力和灵活性。事实上，SDN是许多突破性进展的核心，以更强大、更自适应、更有效的方式提供和访问数据和服务。事实上，它是几项重大技术发展（例如5G、物联网、工业4.0和智慧城市和基础设施）的关键推动者，有望产生深远的经济和社会影响。为了最大限度地发挥SDN的优势并实现这些愿景，用于开发和发展SDN基础设施和应用程序所需软件的技术必须像SDN本身一样敏捷和有效。DevOps是最近为提高软件行业的生产力和质量而提出的一组原则和技术，它非常适合满足这种需求。拟议的研究将开发一个SDN DevOps框架，即一套统一、全面的符号、技术、指南、案例研究和工具，用于捕获、实施、持续测量和改进SDN软件的生命周期，如SDN基础设施（如数据中心、数据结构、自适应网络）和应用程序（如通信提供商提供的服务）。通过与Kaloom和TELUS作为行业合作伙伴的合作，该研究将为开发人员和运营商提供急需的指导，指导他们如何为其SDN软件生命周期带来更高的灵活性和质量，尽管计算平台和环境的异质性以及支持现代和传统应用程序的需求带来了挑战。这些成果将提高加拿大软件产业的先进水平，使加拿大能够更充分地实现SDN的创新潜力以及依赖于它的技术和经济发展和愿景。此外，该研究将培训28名HQP的多元化团队，并为他们提供加拿大软件和SDN行业高需求的技能和专业知识。

Software-defined networking (SDN) leverages software to virtualize networking resources and make them more customizable and versatile. As a result, SDN can offer significantly more capability and flexibility at less cost. Indeed, SDN is at the core of many ground-breaking advances to provide and access data and services in more powerful, adaptive, and efficient ways. Indeed, it is a key enabler for several major technological developments (e.g., 5G, the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, and Smart Cities & Infrastructures) that promise to have far-reaching economic and societal impact. To maximize the benefits of SDN and realize these visions, the techniques used to develop and evolve the software required for SDN infrastructures and applications must be as agile and effective as SDN itself. DevOps, a set of principles and techniques proposed recently to increase productivity and quality in the software industry, is ideally suited to satisfy this need.The proposed research will develop an SDN DevOps framework, i.e., a unified, comprehensive set of notations, techniques, guidelines, case studies, and tools to capture, implement, and continuously measure and improve the lifecycle of SDN software as found in SDN infrastructure (e.g., data centres, data fabrics, self-adaptive networks) and applications (e.g., the services offered by communication providers). In collaboration with Kaloom and TELUS as industry partners, the research will give developers and operators much-needed guidance on how to bring more agility and quality to their SDN software lifecycles, despite the challenges that the heterogeneity of computing platforms and environments and the need to support modern and legacy applications pose. These results will improve the state-of-the-art in the Canadian software industry and allow Canada to realize the innovation potential of SDN and the technological and economic developments and visions that depend on it more fully. Moreover, the research will train a diverse group of 28 HQP and give them skills and expertise that are in high demand in the Canadian software and SDN industries.