Configuration Solution for SDN-Based Networks Interacting with Industrial Applications

Versatile production systems are a main concept of Industrie 4.0. In order to achieve the needed flexibility and changeability of those systems, the industrial network has to become more adaptable as well. The density of the interconnection between industrial applications increases as well as the interconnection of the industrial network management and these applications. In order to configure the industrial network appropriately, a network management has to be able to identify the requirements of the industrial applications regarding their needed network services and the quality of service. Furthermore, it can be enabled to find alternative configurations, if certain requirements cannot be met, even if it has to influence the industrial process itself.</jats:p><jats:p>This paper presents a solution that uses Software-defined Networking (SDN) and OPC UA in combination and achieves a higher amount of flexibility by interacting with the industrial process. For this, the network management gets enabled to influence the industrial process if the quality of service demands of the industrial applications cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, it is able to switch network paths to alternative routes and configures them by using OpenFlow-based SDN switches. The solution is implemented according to a described industrial use case, which underlines the necessity of this solution.