Software-defined networking physical controller

Abstract

Embodiments include a method, system, and computer program product for managing data flows in a network. A software-defined network controller obtains one or more attributes associated with one or more devices, such as physical layer devices. The obtained attribute(s) are stored in a table. A flow of data in the network is controlled based on the table.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A computer system for managing data flows in a network, the system comprising:
 at least one software-defined network controller configured to perform a method comprising:
 obtaining attributes associated with a plurality of devices comprising physical layer devices, the attributes being at least one device attribute among a plurality of device attributes comprising a number of supported wavelength channels, a maximum data rate for each wavelength, wavelength time-division multiplexing (TDM) support capability, a number of supported channels of TDM, channel availability, channel amplification, optical amplifier gain, a type of the devices present, a manufacturer of the devices, and model of the devices; 
 storing the attributes in a table, the table indexing the attributes to at least one corresponding device among the plurality of devices; and 
 controlling a flow of data in the network based on the table wherein controlling the flow of data includes selecting an output port that outputs data to that at least one corresponding device based on the at least one device attribute. 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the physical layers devices include at least one of: a wavelength-division multiplexing enabled device, a switch inter-switch link, a cross connect, an optical amplifier, and an electronic dispersion compensation system. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one software-defined network controller is configured to control the flow of data in the network based on service requests from one or more applications executing on one or more servers, and wherein the at least one controller comprises a plurality of controllers, and wherein a first of the controllers serves as a primary controller, and wherein a second of the controllers is activated in the event that the first controller fails.