Network element and a controller for managing the network element

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

• a processing system adapted to compose configuration data for controlling the network element to construct a configuration system for managing data to be forwarded by the network element so as to enable the network element to operate as a part of the software defined network, and
• a data transfer interface adapted to transmit the configuration data to the network element,
• wherein the processing system is adapted to compose the configuration data to comprise configuration data portions for controlling the network element to:
• configure a first portion of the configuration system to associate, with data received at the network element, a configuring entity-specific identifier identifying a configuring entity related to the data received at the network element, the configuring entity-specific identifier constituting at least a part of metadata associated with the data received at the network element, and
• configure second portions of the configuration system, which are used subsequently to the first portion of the configuration system, to use the metadata comprising the configuring entity-specific identifier when determining actions to be carried out by the network element in conjunction with the data received at the network element.

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

• compose configuration data for controlling a network element to construct a configuration system for managing data to be forwarded by the network element so as to enable the network element to operate as a part of the software defined network, and
• control a data transfer interface of the controller to transmit the configuration data to the network element,
• configure a first portion of the configuration system to associate, with data received at the network element, a configuring entity-specific identifier identifying a configuring entity related to the data received at the network element, the configuring entity-specific identifier constituting at least a part of metadata associated with the data received at the network element, and
• configure second portions of the configuration system, which are used subsequently to the first portion of the configuration system, to use the metadata comprising the configuring entity-specific identifier when determining actions to be carried out by the network element in conjunction with the data received at the network element.