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OpenDaylight

OpenDaylight is a modular open-source Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller platform (network automation / SDN controller) hosted by LF Networking for building programmable, model-driven network control solutions.

  • Model-driven SDN controller platform for centralized network control (network automation / SDN controller)
  • Southbound protocol integration for physical and virtual network devices (network control plane integration)
  • Northbound APIs and abstractions for applications and orchestration systems (API / integration layer)
  • Modular, pluggable architecture for extending network functions and services (platform / extensibility)
  • Ecosystem under LF Networking for collaborative development and multi-vendor interoperability (open networking ecosystem)

More About OpenDaylight

OpenDaylight is an open-source SDN controller platform (network automation / SDN controller) developed under the LF Networking umbrella to provide a common, programmable control layer for heterogeneous networks. It addresses the problem of managing and automating complex multi-vendor networks by offering centralized control, standardized interfaces, and a modular architecture that can be adapted to data center, service provider, and enterprise environments.

The platform operates as a model-driven controller, using data models to describe network elements and services and to drive configuration and control (network orchestration). It supports SDN concepts such as separation of control and data planes and enables operators and developers to implement Traffic Engineering (TE), topology awareness, and policy-based control through software. OpenDaylight exposes capabilities through northbound APIs (API / integration layer), allowing applications and orchestration systems to request network state, configure services, and enforce policies programmatically.

On the southbound side, OpenDaylight integrates with multiple network protocols and device interfaces (network control plane integration). It is broadly associated with protocols such as OpenFlow and other standards commonly used in SDN environments, as presented in its official materials, to communicate with switches, routers, and virtual network functions. This enables a single controller instance or cluster to manage diverse physical and virtual infrastructure from different vendors, providing an abstraction layer between underlying devices and higher-level applications.

OpenDaylight is built as a modular, pluggable platform (platform / extensibility). Its architecture allows additional protocol plugins, service modules, and applications to be integrated into the controller, enabling support for various network technologies and deployment scenarios. Enterprises and service providers can adopt pre-built modules or develop custom components to implement functions such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, traffic steering, or multi-domain coordination, depending on the capabilities available in the project’s maintained codebase.

In operational environments, OpenDaylight is used as a controller for SDN-enabled networks, for network function virtualization (NFV) control, and as part of larger automation stacks that include orchestration and management systems (network automation / orchestration). Its role in the LF Networking portfolio aligns it with other open networking projects, supporting multi-vendor interoperability and standardized approaches to network programmability. For enterprises, it provides a controller platform that fits into categories such as network automation, SDN control, and programmable infrastructure, suitable for integration into broader Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) and service orchestration workflows.