Network element and a controller for managing the network element

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

• receiving, at a network element of the software-defined network, configuration data from the software-defined network;
• constructing, at the network element, interconnected look-up tables of a configuration system of the network element on the basis of a first portion of the configuration data, the configuration system enabling the network element to operate as a part of the software-defined network, the interconnected look-up tables defining actions to be carried out when managing data received at the network element under consideration;
• addressing, at the network element, at least a second portion of the configuration data to at least one first other network element of the software-defined network, the second portion of the configuration data comprising data for configuring two or more other network elements including the first other network element;
• and
• transmitting, from the network element and in accordance with the configuration system, at least the second portion of the configuration data to the first other network element so as to enable the first other network element to construct a configuration system of the first other network element,
• wherein group information identifying the first other network element is read from the configuration data, and
• wherein the addressing of at least the second portion of the configuration data to the first other network element is based on the group information.

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

• construct interconnected look-up tables of a configuration system of the network element on the basis of a first portion of configuration data received from the software-defined network, the configuration system enabling the network element to operate as a part of the software-defined network, the interconnected look-up tables defining actions to be carried out when managing data received at the network element under consideration;
• address at least a second portion of the configuration data to at least one first other network element of the software-defined network, the second portion of the configuration data comprising data for configuring two or more other network elements including the first other network element;
• and
• deliver at least the second portion of the configuration data to a forwarding-section of the network element so as to transmit at least the second portion of the configuration data to the first other network element in accordance with the configuration system constructed on the basis of the first portion of the configuration data,
• wherein group information, identifying the first other network element to be configured with the aid of the configuration data, is read from the configuration data, and
• at least the second portion of the configuration data is addressed to the first other network element on the basis of the group information.