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Network Virtualization & SDN: Secure & Automate OpenFlow

Coursera via Coursera

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Details

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

4 weeks, 1 hour a week
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Intermediate
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

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This course is for people with knowledege of basic networking concepts (Ethernet, switching, IP), familiarity with Linux command line, and introductory Python knowledge. After taking this course, you will be able to apply core OpenFlow commands to deploy Layer-2 MAC-based forwarding on an Open vSwitch, analyze flow-table and port statistics to identify congestion hotspots, evaluate control-plane security using TLS and role-based access controls, and create an event-driven Ryu application that automatically installs failover flows when a link failure is detected. Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) are transforming how modern networks are designed and operated. This is built for network engineers and architects who want to develop practical, job-ready skills for securing and automating OpenFlow-based SDN environments. You will move beyond static configurations to reason about forwarding intent, traffic behavior, and control-plane trust. Through guided labs and realistic scenarios, you will practice diagnosing congestion using flow-level evidence, validating security assumptions, and designing automation that reacts to real network events. What makes this course unique is its strong emphasis on why the network behaves the way it does, not just how to configure it. You will be better prepared to design resilient, secure, and automated SDN solutions that scale to real-world operational demands.

Syllabus

MAC Forwarding with OpenFlow

This module introduces how OpenFlow enables Layer-2 MAC-based forwarding in software-defined networks. Learners reason about forwarding intent, rule behavior, and validation before applying core OpenFlow commands in a controlled lab environment.

Finding Congestion with Flow Stats

This module focuses on using OpenFlow flow and port statistics to analyze traffic behavior and identify congestion hotspots. Learners practice reasoning from counters and metrics to understand where and why bandwidth contention occurs in SDN environments.

Securing the Control Plane

This module focuses on securing the SDN control plane by evaluating OpenFlow controller-to-switch communication and access controls. Learners analyze TLS configurations and role-based permissions to reason about trust, risk, and enforcement gaps in real-world SDN deployments.

Automating Failover with Ryu

This module focuses on automating network failover using an event-driven SDN controller. Learners examine how link events trigger control-plane responses and build logic that installs alternate forwarding rules to maintain connectivity during failures.