术语“软件定义”已应用于许多技术，包括网络，WAN，安全性，存储和数据中心。雷竞技电脑网站
One area it has yet to be associated with is the local area network (LAN). But what exactly does “software-defined” mean and should it extend to the LAN? Just because something runs in software, it doesn’t make it any different than running in hardware.
这只是一个组成部分ing software-defined. Other factors including having centralized control, being programmable and agile, and providing visibility to gain new insights. Most important, a software-defined system should be able to automate configuration changes as the applications’ needs change.
考虑软件定义X的好方法是它具有与其其他区域的相同敏捷性和自动化功能。基于此定义，肯定有一些有效性在采取这些属性并将其应用于LAN。
LAN进入软件定义的世界
Aerohive Networks'SD-LAN公告将LAN带入了软件定义的世界。该解决方案包括新的802.11ac接入点，以及几个有线接入交换机。大多数人遵循Wi-Fi的空间认为是无线纯粹的游戏。Wi-Fi肯定是他们最好的，但他们确实有一个强大的有线接入交换机的阵容。
The products are always interesting; they are the shiny new objects that people can see and ooh and ahh over. The foundation of Aerohive’s SD-LAN, however, is the latest release of HiveManager NG, the company’s cloud management system. Many Wi-Fi vendors offer cloud-managed network infrastructure, but HiveManager is the most robust management portal I have seen. There’s no aspect of network configuration that can’t be done via HiveManager NG. Many of the other cloud portals I have seen let administrators do basic function, but more advanced capabilities aren’t available or require access via the command line.
Wi-Fi industry has been software-defined for a while
In actuality, the Wi-Fi industry was software-defined long before “SD” was a thing. Wi-Fi systems have always had centralized control through what’s known as a Wi-Fi controller that pushed configurations down to the APs. Over time, the APs have evolved and become more robust, but the separation of control plane and data plane and centralized management that defines many software-defined solutions has always existed.
Aerohive的解决方案没有物理控制器就完成了这一点。相反，控制功能分布在系统上，并通过HiveManager访问。
Aerohive SD-LAN features
In addition to centralized control through the cloud management system, Aerohive’s SD-LAN meets the software-defined criteria through the following attributes:
- Application driven.As mentioned previously, the ability to adapt to application changes is one of the most important attributes of a software-defined system. Aerohive’s solution prioritizes and dynamically modifies the network based on the applications that are running. The most important applications received highest priority and the most network services, so there is no degradation of quality.
- 身份驱动。The solution has robust authentication capabilities based on context-based policy control that can automate onboarding of end points and dynamically define which users and devices can access the network and what they can do. This becomes increasingly important with the Internet of Things (IoT) where lots of non-traditional IT devices will be connected to the network, often without IT knowing.
- Adaptable access layer.Aerohive’s APs and wired switches are powered by software, making them highly agile because they can respond to changes in the environment. Features include such things as self optimization and self heading. Even the radios can be modified through software.
- 开放式API。可编程性使得网络能够成为应用程序基础架构的一部分。在数字世界中，网络将对劳动力和客户体验产生重大影响。糟糕的网络上的伟大应用程序意味着一个糟糕的经历和不幸的消费者和员工。API使开发人员能够访问有价值的网络信息以获得新的洞察力，并修改配置以支持应用程序。
In addition, Aerohive’s dashboard in HiveManager NG provides a wealth of information that network managers, operations teams and application developers can use to understand the environment and make changes before users are impacted.
Aerohive’s SD-LAN brings a level of agility, visibility and automation to the campus LAN that it never had before. Digitization has transformed almost every part of IT, and if organizations are going to maximize the investments they have made in other areas of IT, it’s time for the LAN to evolve and become software-defined.