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OpenDaylight (ODL)

OpenDaylight (ODL) is a modular, model-driven Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller platform (network automation) hosted by LF Networking for building programmable, software-based control planes across multi-vendor networks.

  • Model-driven SDN controller platform for centralized network control (network automation)
  • Northbound and southbound abstractions for integrating applications and underlying network devices (integration middleware)
  • Support for standard networking protocols such as OpenFlow, NETCONF, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), PCEP, and others as published by the project (network protocols)
  • Modular, pluggable architecture based on OSGi and YANG models for extensions and custom services (platform framework)
  • Use in multi-domain and multi-vendor environments, including carrier, cloud, and enterprise networks (network orchestration)

More About OpenDaylight (ODL)

OpenDaylight (ODL) is an open-source SDN controller platform (network automation) under LF Networking that provides a common, programmable control layer for heterogeneous IP and telecommunications networks. It addresses the problem of managing large, multi-vendor environments by exposing standardized northbound APIs to applications while interfacing with diverse network devices through southbound protocols. The project focuses on a model-driven approach, where network services and device behaviors are described using YANG data models (data modeling), enabling consistent configuration, state management, and service composition.

At its core, OpenDaylight functions as a centralized or logically centralized controller (network controller) that maintains a global view of the network topology and state. It uses a modular architecture based on OSGi (modular runtime) and a Model-Driven Service Abstraction Layer (MD-SAL) (platform framework), which allows multiple services and applications to plug into the controller and share common data stores and messaging. Capabilities include topology discovery, path computation, flow programming, device configuration, and policy-driven behavior, depending on the installed modules. The controller provides northbound interfaces (APIs) that applications can use for network provisioning, Traffic Engineering (TE), and service orchestration.

OpenDaylight supports a range of southbound protocols (network protocols) documented by the project, such as OpenFlow for flow-based forwarding control, NETCONF for device configuration, BGP and PCEP for routing and TE control, and other device and network models exposed via YANG. These southbound plugins enable integration with routers, switches, optical equipment, and virtual network functions from different vendors. Through this extensible approach, the controller can operate across IP/MPLS, data center, and access networks and can participate in broader Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and cloud architectures.

Enterprises and service providers use OpenDaylight as a controller platform (network orchestration) for SDN-based Wide Area Network (WAN), data center networking, and service chaining scenarios. It can serve as the control-plane element in solutions that automate provisioning, enforce Quality of Service (QoS) and TE policies, or integrate network behavior with higher-level orchestration systems. Because it is model-driven, operators can rely on YANG-based service definitions and device models to standardize configurations across hardware and software platforms.

From an ecosystem and extensibility perspective, OpenDaylight exposes a plugin model (platform extensibility) that allows vendors and integrators to add proprietary or domain-specific modules while retaining a common controller core. It integrates with other LF Networking projects and standardization efforts documented by LF Networking to support carrier-grade deployments. In an enterprise taxonomy, OpenDaylight fits into the categories of SDN controller platform, network automation and orchestration, and programmable control-plane infrastructure.