WGU D415 - Software Defined
Networking - Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What is the primary function of a Software Defined Network (SDN)?
✔✔It decouples the control plane from the data plane to provide more flexibility and centralized
control.
What is the role of the SDN controller?
✔✔The SDN controller manages the network by directing traffic and configuring network
devices based on policies and requirements.
How does SDN differ from traditional networking models?
✔✔In SDN, the control plane is centralized, unlike in traditional networks where the control
plane is distributed across devices.
What is an OpenFlow protocol used for in SDN?
✔✔OpenFlow is a communication protocol used to direct traffic from the SDN controller to the
networking hardware.
1
,How do network devices in SDN behave differently from traditional network devices?
✔✔In SDN, network devices are simplified and act mainly as forwarding elements, while the
intelligence is centralized in the SDN controller.
What is a virtual network in SDN?
✔✔A virtual network allows network resources to be abstracted and segmented, enabling
dynamic and flexible management within a virtualized environment.
How does SDN help with network automation?
✔✔SDN allows automation by enabling centralized control, simplifying configuration,
management, and optimization of the network.
What is the significance of network slicing in SDN?
✔✔Network slicing allows the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical
infrastructure, each optimized for specific needs and applications.
How does SDN improve scalability?
✔✔SDN improves scalability by enabling centralized control, which allows easier network
expansion without major configuration changes to individual devices.
2
,What is a northbound API in SDN?
✔✔A northbound API allows communication between the SDN controller and the higher-level
applications or network management systems.
What is a southbound API in SDN?
✔✔A southbound API enables communication between the SDN controller and the network
devices, allowing control of forwarding and network functions.
What is the role of network virtualization in SDN?
✔✔Network virtualization abstracts physical hardware to create virtual networks, which can be
managed independently for different use cases.
What is the difference between SDN and NFV (Network Function Virtualization)?
✔✔SDN focuses on network control and management, while NFV is focused on virtualizing
network functions like firewalls, routers, and load balancers.
What is a control plane in SDN?
3
, ✔✔The control plane is responsible for making decisions about where traffic should be sent in a
network, and in SDN, it is centralized in the controller.
How does SDN enhance network security?
✔✔SDN enhances security by providing centralized control for applying consistent security
policies and quickly responding to threats.
What is the function of the data plane in SDN?
✔✔The data plane is responsible for forwarding traffic based on the rules provided by the
control plane.
What is SDN’s role in the cloud computing environment?
✔✔SDN helps manage cloud networks by enabling dynamic provisioning of network resources
and improving the flexibility of cloud infrastructure.
How does SDN enable easier network management?
✔✔SDN simplifies network management by centralizing control and providing a programmable
interface for network administrators to manage resources and policies.
4
Networking - Questions and Answers
Graded A+
What is the primary function of a Software Defined Network (SDN)?
✔✔It decouples the control plane from the data plane to provide more flexibility and centralized
control.
What is the role of the SDN controller?
✔✔The SDN controller manages the network by directing traffic and configuring network
devices based on policies and requirements.
How does SDN differ from traditional networking models?
✔✔In SDN, the control plane is centralized, unlike in traditional networks where the control
plane is distributed across devices.
What is an OpenFlow protocol used for in SDN?
✔✔OpenFlow is a communication protocol used to direct traffic from the SDN controller to the
networking hardware.
1
,How do network devices in SDN behave differently from traditional network devices?
✔✔In SDN, network devices are simplified and act mainly as forwarding elements, while the
intelligence is centralized in the SDN controller.
What is a virtual network in SDN?
✔✔A virtual network allows network resources to be abstracted and segmented, enabling
dynamic and flexible management within a virtualized environment.
How does SDN help with network automation?
✔✔SDN allows automation by enabling centralized control, simplifying configuration,
management, and optimization of the network.
What is the significance of network slicing in SDN?
✔✔Network slicing allows the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single physical
infrastructure, each optimized for specific needs and applications.
How does SDN improve scalability?
✔✔SDN improves scalability by enabling centralized control, which allows easier network
expansion without major configuration changes to individual devices.
2
,What is a northbound API in SDN?
✔✔A northbound API allows communication between the SDN controller and the higher-level
applications or network management systems.
What is a southbound API in SDN?
✔✔A southbound API enables communication between the SDN controller and the network
devices, allowing control of forwarding and network functions.
What is the role of network virtualization in SDN?
✔✔Network virtualization abstracts physical hardware to create virtual networks, which can be
managed independently for different use cases.
What is the difference between SDN and NFV (Network Function Virtualization)?
✔✔SDN focuses on network control and management, while NFV is focused on virtualizing
network functions like firewalls, routers, and load balancers.
What is a control plane in SDN?
3
, ✔✔The control plane is responsible for making decisions about where traffic should be sent in a
network, and in SDN, it is centralized in the controller.
How does SDN enhance network security?
✔✔SDN enhances security by providing centralized control for applying consistent security
policies and quickly responding to threats.
What is the function of the data plane in SDN?
✔✔The data plane is responsible for forwarding traffic based on the rules provided by the
control plane.
What is SDN’s role in the cloud computing environment?
✔✔SDN helps manage cloud networks by enabling dynamic provisioning of network resources
and improving the flexibility of cloud infrastructure.
How does SDN enable easier network management?
✔✔SDN simplifies network management by centralizing control and providing a programmable
interface for network administrators to manage resources and policies.
4
