Section: Application Domains

Clouds

Virtual networks can be managed and configured flexibly and independently by different operators, creating thus a competitive environment for stimulating innovations. Being “dematerialized" in such a way, networks can be deployed on demand, configured, started, paused, saved, deleted, etc., like a topology of programmable objects, each representing a virtual switch, router or link. The flexibility introduced into the network provides the operator with options for topology reconfiguration, besides allowing it to play with the software stacks and protocols. Achieving such a high degree of decoupling, that leads to disruptive changes, is one of the ultimate goals of network virtualization – envisioned as a key to the `future' of the Internet.