93667 - Laboratory of Network Programmability and Automation

Learning outcomes

The student will learn the modern network programming and automation methodologies and the related enabling technologies. The student will learn how to use a platform for virtual network programming and automation in a cloud computing environment and a control plane for software defined networks. Moreover the student will learn how to use specific data models for the design and for the programming of network services, according to the current standards.

Course contents

Network Virtualization and cloud computing

• Network virtualization: Linux namespaces, virtual bridges and virtual switches
• Virtual networking in cloud computing: examples with Docker and OpenStack

Software Defined Networking

• SDN architecture
• The OpenFlow protocol
• Examples of SDN programming with OpenFlow

Network Function Virtualization

• The ETSI NFV-MANO architecture and standards
• An example of orchestration platform: OpenSource Mano (OSM)
• Implementation of network service descriptors with OSM

Programming the data plane

• The P4 language
• Example of programming switches behavior with P4

Readings/Bibliography

Jason Edelman, Scott S. Lowe, Matt Oswalt, "Network Programmability and Automation: Skills for the Next-Generation Network Engineer", O'Reilly Media; 1 edizione (31 marzo 2018)

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical activities in lab

Assessment methods

Practical exam, requiring to develop experiments on the topics covered during the course

Teaching tools

Slides and additional readings will be made available by the teacher on the Virtuale platform

Office hours

See the website of Franco Callegati

See the website of Andrea Melis

See the website of Chiara Contoli