PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Big Switch Networks™, the leading platform-independent Software-Defined Networking (SDN) vendor, announced the appointment of Rob Sherwood as the chair of the Open Networking Foundation’s (ONF) new Architecture & Framework Working Group (ArchWG). The ONF ArchWG will map out the scope of SDN in terms of architecture and framework for OpenFlow and other components. Rob’s appointment reinforces Big Switch Networks’ technical leadership in SDN, and underscores the joint commitment between Big Switch Networks, the ONF, and its member companies to deliver open, standards-based implementations of SDN and OpenFlow.

The ONF ArchWG is charged with defining and scoping the ONF's efforts around all aspects of SDN including terminology, motivations, use-cases, interfaces, and APIs along with their relation to the work of other standards bodies. The Northbound API (NBAPI) activity, starting with a comprehensive analysis of requirements and currently available solutions including data models, is an important component of the ArchWG and reflects a naturally high interest in the critical linking of an OpenFlow substrate with a rich, programmable control and services environment above. A new, focused activity in the ArchWG on Carrier Requirements will assure a strong voice from the service-provider community in the articulation of architectural elements and frameworks. As chair, Rob will be charged with leading all technical discussions, managing one of the ONF’s most strategic working groups, under the direction of the Board of Directors.