Several execs in Silicon Valley weigh in on the big myths confusing the issues around software defined networking

Phil Harvey, Editor-in-Chief

October 9, 2012

SDN's Biggest Myths

Several execs in Silicon Valley weigh in on the big myths confusing the issues around software defined networking

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Download this audio file


Use the play controls and links above (on the right) to play the audio now or download the audio to your computer.What are people saying about software defined networking (SDN)? Well, it's a technology that certainly threatens the status quo and anytime you do that, the marketing departments of major router and switch manufacturers will likely step up and confuse the heck out of us.

Is software defined networking the same as network virtualization? Is it the same as OpenFlow? Does it have the same security requirements as a traditional network? Is it going to make network hardware less important and more of a commodity?

We asked the following SDN execs to give us their perspective on what they think are the biggest SDN myths.

First we hear from Ankur Singla, CEO of Contrail Systems . Next, we get an opinion from Embrane Inc. CEO Dante Malagrinò and vArmour CEO Michael Shieh. Then we hear from Saar Gillai, the CTO of HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) Networking and we end the podcast with a comment from Extreme Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR) CMO Dave Ginsburg. Once you hear from them, let us hear from you on the boards below.

To subscribe to The Philter Podcast on iTunes, please click here.

For more

  • The Myths About SDN

  • Embrane CEO Dante Malagrinò

  • The Importance of SDN



— Phil Harvey, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Phil Harvey

Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

Phil Harvey has been a Light Reading writer and editor for more than 18 years combined. He began his second tour as the site's chief editor in April 2020.

His interest in speed and scale means he often covers optical networking and the foundational technologies powering the modern Internet.

Harvey covered networking, Internet infrastructure and dot-com mania in the late 90s for Silicon Valley magazines like UPSIDE and Red Herring before joining Light Reading (for the first time) in late 2000.

After moving to the Republic of Texas, Harvey spent eight years as a contributing tech writer for D CEO magazine, producing columns about tech advances in everything from supercomputing to cellphone recycling.

Harvey is an avid photographer and camera collector – if you accept that compulsive shopping and "collecting" are the same.

Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes it's completely free.

You May Also Like