OpenFlow Monitor

The SDN controller UI includes several screens providing information on OpenFlow enabled switches:

When the controller is active in an OpenFlow domain, the OpenFlow Monitor enables tracking of switch traffic summaries, packet traffic per port, and applied flow rules for switches detected in the controller domain.

For a graphical view of Data Path ID assignments to individual OpenFlow switches, see OpenFlow topology .

OpenFlow Monitor screen details

The main display lists the Data Path IDs and descriptive information for the active switches and the options for viewing traffic information. To view information about a specific device, click the Data Path ID for that device and then select one of these tabs for the view you want to display: Summary, Ports, Flows, Groups.

Click Refresh to update the display for Topology changes, such as a newly discovered OpenFlow device or the loss of a device that has been disconnected.

The Main OpenFlow Monitor screen

The Main OpenFlow Monitor screen
Screen component Description
Refresh

Updates the information displayed on the screen.

Summary tab

Displays the Summary for data path view for the selected data path.

Ports tab

Displays the Ports for data path view for the selected data path.

Flows tab

Displays the Flows for data path view for the selected data path.

Groups tab

Displays the Groups for data path view for the selected data path.

Data Path ID

Identifies a detected OpenFlow switch. The OpenFlow data path identification for each detected OpenFlow switch. This ID also appears in the representation of the switch in the OpenFlow Topology screen.

Address

Identifies the IP address associated with an OpenFlow data path instance.

Negotiated Version

The version of OpenFlow in use with the corresponding data path.

Manufacturer

Manufacturer of the device.

H/W Version

Hardware version of the device.

S/W Version

Software version on the device.

Serial Number

Serial number on the device.

Summary for data path view

Summary view for a specific OpenFlow device

Summary view for a specific OpenFlow device

The OpenFlow Monitor → Summary view includes the following details related to the selected device:

  • Manufacturer

  • Hardware and software version

  • Serial number and device description of the device

  • Device identification (Data Path ID) and IP address

  • TCP port on the device

  • Negotiated OpenFlow version (latest OpenFlow version common to both the controller and the switch)

  • OpenFlow table and buffer information

  • OpenFlow capabilities on the device

Ports for data path view

The OpenFlow Monitor → Ports view includes information on the ports used for OpenFlow traffic on the selected device.

Ports view for a specific OpenFlow device

Ports view for a specific OpenFlow device

Flows for data path view

The OpenFlow Monitor → Flows view shows current flows on the selected OpenFlow device. For a given flow, traffic meeting the requirements specified in the "Matches" field is directed as specified in the corresponding "Actions/Instructions" field.

Flows view for a specific OpenFlow device

Flows view for a specific OpenFlow device

[NOTE: ]

NOTE: The Table ID applies to OpenFlow 1.3 and greater, but not to OpenFlow 1.0.


Groups for data path view

The OpenFlow Monitor → Groups view provides information on group actions, if any, defined for the device. The group actions can assign more specific forwarding actions.

Groups view for a specific OpenFlow device

Groups view for a specific OpenFlow device