Cisco is starting to lay out its software-defined networking (SDN) strategy. Rather than sticking with the definition of SDN that focuses on the separation of the control plane and the data plane, however, Cisco wants to keep the networking processes that work today and offer deeper integration with third-party software. Its answer: Open Network Environment.

The interesting aspect of SDN is that the network responds to not only application demands, but also to changes in network behaviors. Cisco's view of SDN has a control mechanism, but more importantly it includes a feedback mechanism so the network paths can be recomputed on the fly, avoiding congestion because of impending oversubscription.

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