Question

Difficulty: MediumComparing Traditional Networks with Controller-Based Networking

A network operations engineer is documenting the architectural changes associated with migrating an enterprise infrastructure from a traditional distributed routing model to a software-defined controller-based network architecture. Which of the following statements correctly describe operational or structural differences introduced by controller-based networking? (Select TWO.)

  1. Control plane intelligence is centralized within the software controller, relieving individual underlying network devices from calculating global topology maps independently.Answer
  2. B
    Puppet and Chef deploy agentless SSH connections managed directly by the SDN controller to provision Northbound REST interfaces on network devices.
  3. Southbound APIs enable the centralized controller to dynamically communicate with and program forwarding behaviors on network infrastructure devices.Answer
  4. D
    Northbound REST API calls rely primarily on HTTP POST requests to retrieve and read network telemetry metrics without altering system configuration state.

Answer

The correct statements are that control plane intelligence is centralized within the software controller to relieve individual devices from computing global topology maps independently, and that Southbound APIs enable the controller to dynamically program network infrastructure devices.
In controller-based networking, the centralized controller aggregates control plane logic, freeing individual routers and switches from executing distributed control algorithms individually. To push changes down to the infrastructure layer, the controller uses Southbound protocols and APIs (such as OpenFlow, NETCONF, or RESTCONF).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the role of the control plane in traditional vs controller-based networks.
In traditional networks, each node runs distributed control plane protocols (e.g., OSPF, EIGRP). In controller-based networks, control plane processing is centralized within the controller.
Centralization reduces node overhead and establishes a centralized view of the network fabric.
2
Evaluate the interface roles (Northbound vs Southbound APIs).
Southbound APIs connect the controller to network devices (underlay/nodes), allowing configuration and policy distribution down to the data plane.
Northbound APIs communicate upward to applications and management orchestration platforms, while Southbound APIs talk downward to network elements.
3
Identify misstatements regarding configuration management tools and REST API verbs.
Ansible is agentless (using SSH), whereas Puppet and Chef generally rely on installed agents. Additionally, HTTP GET reads data, while HTTP POST creates data.
Misidentifying agent requirement profiles or HTTP CRUD mappings represents common conceptual errors in network automation.

Key Concept

Centralized vs. Distributed Control Planes & SDN Interfaces (Southbound vs Northbound)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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