SDN monitoring
Organizations need deep, real-time observability across network components in software-defined networks (SDNs) to maintain performance, security, and agility. That’s where SDN monitoring comes in—and Site24x7 delivers.
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Comprehensive SDN monitoring strategy
To build an effective monitoring strategy, focus on:
Controller monitoring
The SDN controller is your central brain—tracking its health, decision-making, and availability is critical.
Southbound device observability
Ensure that physical and virtual appliances (switches, routers, endpoints) are delivering traffic as expected.
Achieve end-to-end visibility with SDN monitoring
SNMP-based SDN monitoring
SNMP remains essential in networks with legacy or hybrid devices. It enables:
Periodic polling of interface stats, CPU load, memory usage, and error rates.
Trap-based alerts for real-time fault detection and threshold breaches.
Flow-level insights into bandwidth usage and application traffic.
Configuration tracking for device backups, change logs, and compliance audits.
API-based SDN monitoring
APIs open the door to powerful, centralized visibility into modern SDN environments with:
Live data from controllers like Cisco ACI.
Insights into how configurations and policies are enforced across segments.
Logical topology and segmentation visibility—including endpoint groups and tenant structures.
Real-time flow and policy insights, giving you a fine-grained view of network behavior aligned with SDN logic.
SDN monitoring benefits
Reduce MTTR
Correlate controller logic with traffic behavior to troubleshoot issues quickly and reduce the mean time to resolve (MTTR).
Boost app performance
See how network changes affect delivery and user experience.
Validate policy enforcement
Confirm that SDN intent and segmentation rules are correctly applied.
Enable predictive planning
Use traffic trends and controller data to forecast capacity needs.
Unify visibility
Monitor physical and virtual layers from a single pane of glass.
Site24x7 for SDN monitoring: Bridging traditional and modern networks
Site24x7 helps IT teams monitor and manage complex network environments with ease—including Cisco ACI and other SDN platforms.
Cisco ACI monitoring
SNMP-based network monitoring
Network traffic monitoring
Configuration management
Unified dashboards and alerts
Deep, actionable SDN observability with Site24x7
Whether you're running a traditional infrastructure, a complete SDN, or a mix of both, Site24x7 offers the tools to keep everything running smoothly.
Start 30-day free trial Try now, sign up in 30 secondsFAQ
1. What is SDN monitoring?
SDN monitoring tracks the performance and health of SDN elements, including controllers, switches, and flow behaviors. It gives you visibility into:
Control plane activity
How network decisions are made by the SDN controller.
Data plane behavior
How traffic actually moves across the network. SDN monitoring tools provide a holistic view of the network’s logical structure and real-time state.
SDN monitoring tools provide a holistic view of the network’s logical structure and real-time state.
2. What is the difference between SNMP and API-based monitoring for SDNs?
Each monitoring approach has its strengths:
- SNMP monitoring is best for traditional infrastructure— routers, switches, and firewalls.
- API-based monitoring is ideal for SDN controllers and programmable elements that change dynamically.
