Smart Contract Based Solution for Secure Distributed SDN

Abstract

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) separates network data plane and control plane, thus facilitates the introduction of control approaches in centralised and distributed modes. In this context, data plane should be remotely accessible for software-based control. In addition, physically-distributed control plane architectures should maintain secure communications between the SDN control plane elements. Securing distributed SDN is one of the applications that can take benefit from the use of Blockchain technology. In this paper, we achieve the security between the SDN controllers using Blockchain based smart contracts. We propose the use of smart contracts that embedded the SDN rules. We show different scenarios invoking smart contracts that are developed to secure the distributed SDN and to avoid unauthorised access and DoS attacks.