PhD proposal: Formal Representation and Application of Forwarding Table Entries in Software Defined Networking

Mathomatic computer algebra system by Jiri Brozovsky(CC BY 2.0)

Liang Yang is due to present his PhD proposal this coming Wednesday 2nd September 2015 from 11:00am-12:00pm in the Cotton Club (Cotton 350, Cotton Building, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington).

Abstract

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging architecture that decouples the network control and forwarding functions. In SDN, the functionality of static configuration and routing table in a traditional network has been replaced by forwarding table entry (FTE). There is already some initial research on the relation and interaction among different FTEs from the mathematical perspective. However, these research works have not been fully explored, especially in terms of the correlation across multiple tables in multiple nodes. Based on the existing analysis of FTE, a controller cannot have comprehensive understanding of network status and effective management of network resources. To address this challenge, a systematic approach is proposed to analyse and utilise FTE from a networking perspective. This approach reexamines the relation and manipulations among FTEs across multiple tables in multiple nodes and formalises them with the help of logical syntax and formal semantics. Moreover, this representation will be applied and evaluated in two real-world scenarios: to perform large-scale network traffic analysis and to optimise global FTE placement.

Scholarships available to work on Software Defined Networking with us!

The Software Defined Networking Research Centre aims to foster collaboration with industry, academia and individuals as well as promote independent research and development activities promoting Software Defined Networking (SDN). SDN is a new networking technology which greatly improves network programmability and is changing how we design, build and operate networks.

Scholarship opportunities.

We are pleased to be able to offer multiple scholarships for students wanting to begin a full-time, research-focused Master’s degree. Students will carry out research into the application of SDN to improve the reliability, efficiency and security of networks.

The opportunity to take a new approach to networking based upon the application of software engineering techniques means that we are particularly interested in students with backgrounds in one or more of computer networking, electronics, software engineering, programming languages or formal methods.

Topics include performance measurement, traffic classification for quality of service or security, intrusion detection, application of software debugging and visualization techniques to network programmability as well as the application of formal methods to improve the reliability of networks.

More details about potential research topics are listed on our research group’s web page: http://ecs.victoria.ac.nz/Groups/SDN/

Conditions and Requirements.

Each scholarship consists of domestic tuition fees plus a 1-year stipend of NZ$20,000 to successful applicants. International students, other than those from Australia will be liable to pay the difference between the full international student fee and the domestic fee.

Applicants must be eligible to enrol in a Master’s degree by thesis at Victoria University. In general, this means you have a Computer Science or Engineering (Electronics/Electrical) related honours degree. Please read about this at

http://www.victoria.ac.nz/fgr/policies-and-resources#masters

Next Steps.

You should contact either Dr Ian Welch (ian.welch@ecs,vuw.ac.nz) or Dr Bryan Ng ( bryan.ng@ecs.vuw.ac.nz).

Before continuing with your final application we will provide all candidates with a set of tasks to evaluate their technical competency, programming and writing. Applicants typically have four (4) weeks to complete them. Upon satisfactory completion, we will arrange for a Skype Interview with you. Part of the interview will be centred around the tasks you have completed and the submitted report. Successfully passing these steps will result in an invitation to make a formal application via the Victoria University of Wellington’s Scholarships office.