200-301 Question 477
Select 3A network engineer is designing a software-defined networking (SDN) architecture for an enterprise data center. The goal is to enable centralized management and improve scalability by separating the control plane from the data plane. Which of the following statements correctly describe the functionality of this architecture?
- A
The control plane is responsible for making routing decisions and pushing policies to the data plane.
- B
The data plane is responsible for forwarding packets based on the instructions from the control plane.
- C
The separation of the control plane and data plane eliminates the need for physical network devices like switches and routers.
- D
Centralizing the control plane allows for simplified network management and faster policy deployment.
- E
The data plane manages the routing protocols and updates routing tables dynamically.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, D
Explanation
In SDN architectures, the control plane and data plane are separated to improve scalability and simplify network management. The control plane makes decisions such as routing or policy enforcement, while the data plane handles packet forwarding. This separation allows for centralized control, which enhances flexibility and operational efficiency without removing the need for physical network devices.
- A. Correct.
Correct: The control plane handles decision-making, such as routing and applying policies, which are then enforced by the data plane.
- B. Correct.
Correct: The data plane executes the forwarding of packets based on rules and policies provided by the control plane.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect: While the control and data plane separation enables more efficient use of physical network devices, it does not eliminate the need for them.
- D. Correct.
Correct: A centralized control plane makes it easier to manage the network and apply changes or policies quickly across the infrastructure.
- E. Incorrect.
Incorrect: The data plane does not manage routing protocols or routing table updates. These are managed by the control plane.