Method and a controller system for configuring a software-defined network

A method for configuring a network element of a software-defined network, the method comprising:

• retrieving, for each of one or more mutually different look-up tables, a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the look-up table,
• determining, on the basis of the look-up table specific resource consumption estimates, a resource consumption estimate for at least one look-up system comprising one or more of the look-up tables and having functionality suitable for the network element,
• checking, on the basis of the resource consumption estimate of the look-up system, whether the network element is capable of running the look-up system, and
• sending, to the network element, configuration data defining the look-up system in response to a situation in which the network element is capable of running the look-up system.

A network element for a software-defined network, the network element comprising:

• a data transfer interface for receiving data and for transmitting data,
• a control processor section for maintaining at least one look-up table defining actions to be executed in conjunction with managing data frames, and
• a data forwarding section for managing the data frames in accordance with the at least one look-up table,
• wherein the control processor section is adapted to:
• read, from one or more first data frames received at the network element, descriptors of one or more look-up tables, and
• control the network element to send, to a destination determined by information carried by the one or more first data frames, one or more second data frames carrying, for each of the one or more look-up tables, a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the corresponding look-up table.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for configuring a network element of a software-defined network, the computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processing system to:

• retrieve, for each of one or more mutually different look-up tables, a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the look-up table,
• determine, on the basis of the look-up table specific resource consumption estimates, a resource consumption estimate for at least one look-up system comprising one or more of the look-up tables and having functionality suitable for the network element,
• check, on the basis of the resource consumption estimate of the look-up system, whether the network element is capable of running the look-up system, and
• send, to the network element, configuration data defining the look-up system in response to a situation in which the network element is capable of running the look-up system.

A software-defined network comprising:

• one or more network elements, and
• a controller system for transmitting configuration data to the one or more network elements so as to configure the one or more network elements,
• wherein the controller system comprises a processing system configured, concerning each of the one or more network elements, to:
• retrieve, for each of one or more mutually different look-up tables, a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the look-up table,
• determine, on the basis of the look-up table specific resource consumption estimates, a resource consumption estimate for at least one look-up system comprising one or more of the look-up tables and having functionality suitable for the network element,
• check, on the basis of the resource consumption estimate of the look-up system, whether the network element is capable of running the look-up system, and
• send, to the network element, configuration data defining the look-up system in response to a situation in which the network element is capable of running the look-up system.