We all know that networking plays a vital role in all modern business operations by allowing seamless collaboration and information sharing. The IT networking sector is evolving and it’s not a surprise considering the launch of newer technologies, protocols and innovations. As the importance of protocols in networking became prevalent, this has resulted in pushing networking boundaries and enhancing its capabilities.
One area that has been undergoing a major revamp is the traditional networking sector due to having become dated to modern standards. Most of you know what traditional networks and the importance of protocols in networking are but for those who don’t, this was one of the most common ways of networking that primarily used fixed-function, dedicated hardware and network devices such as switches and routers, to control traffic. If you still want to know more about how traditional networking is still relevant, what are network protocols, etc, I have covered that part in this article, read on.
Turning the tables with SDN
Difficulty in scaling network operations is one of the major problems in traditional networking. The reason behind this is that proprietary switching hardware and software are used in traditional networking and there are only limited upgrading options. Due to this, they are now in the phasing out stage by most companies in favour of a modern, dynamic network management based on software known as software-defined networking (SDN).
In the race between traditional network protocol vs modern network protocols, the latter has received widespread attention and praise from customers, business organisations, etc and has become one of the preferred ways to deploy applications and minimize costs by businesses worldwide. So, what is this so-called SDN? It is a dynamic flexible network architecture model that allows the efficient control, management and optimization of network resources. It is specifically designed to reduce operating costs and change as per business requirements.
SDN vs Traditional network: Which stands tall?
When it comes to a comparison between SDN vs traditional networking, there are significant differences in terms of communication protocols, resource allocation, etc. Let’s see what they are:
SDN consists of a northbound interface and it uses APIs to communicate with applications whereas traditional networking communicates through protocols. Being a software-based network, SDN allows users to control virtual-level resource allocation through the control plane while physical infrastructure is relied upon to establish connections in traditional networking.
SDN can communicate better with devices connected throughout the network. Resources can be allocated from a centralized location and administrators can control traffic flow from a centralized user interface. This is not possible in traditional networking as the control plane is located in a switch or router, which is something administrators cannot easily gain access to.
Traditional network protocol vs modern network protocols
Speaking about the importance of protocols in networking, these communication standards are what allow devices to effectively communicate with each other over a network. When it comes to traditional protocols, have been developed over the years and form the basis of networking technologies we all are familiar with. Some of these include TCP/IP, UDP, ICMP, etc.
So, what are the types of network protocols? You might ask. Unlike traditional protocols, modern ones are developed upon the foundation laid by traditional protocols and offer superior enhancements. HTTP/2, HTTP/3, QUIC, TLS 1.3, IPv6, etc are some of the widely used modern protocols. What about traditional networks vs IoT? there are specific protocols for IoT too which include MQTT, CoAP, and more. By now, you must have understood what are the types of network protocols used in both systems.
How Traditional networking protocols remain valuable
Despite the competition between SDN vs traditional networking protocols, the latter still has its set of flaws but even after, they remain valuable in the modern IT landscape and there are good reasons to back them up.
Long term stability
Having been in operation for decades, traditional networking protocols have been thoroughly tested and refined. This results in providing a solid foundation for communication and reliable data transfer.
Universal compatibility
Since most traditional networking and protocols have been widely adopted worldwide, almost any device using these systems can effectively communicate using these protocols thereby ensuring interoperability.
Security perks
It is worth saying that many of the newer security measures and innovations are built upon the already-established functionalities of traditional networking protocols. This process makes it easier to implement and maintain secure communication channels.
Winding up
In the SDN vs traditional network, if you are still figuring out which one prevails, I will make it easier. One thing that network engineers have trouble with in traditional networking is when trying to upgrade or make changes. Making significant changes or increasing capacity to traditional networking systems is complex and time-consuming. importance of protocols in networkingThis is where modern networking makes the process easier. As newer networking is software-based, the need to invest more in physical infrastructure is irrelevant. Take any IT networking solution company in Dubai, most of them would be following this trend. What networking system are you using for your business? Let us know in the comments.