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SPECIFICTION
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OpenDaylight

opendaylight.org

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.6 #3 of 18 in Data Center Fabric Software

What it is

OpenDaylight is a free, open-source SDN controller for centralized, programmable network control and monitoring. Its modular design uses YANG models and MD-SAL to connect applications with network hardware through northbound REST APIs and southbound plugins. Listed protocol support includes OpenFlow, NETCONF, BGP-LS, PCEP, OVSDB, LISP, and SNMP, among others. Clustering, sharded data stores, and leader-based consensus support scaling across nodes. The project describes uses in optical transport, service-provider WAN automation, data center SDN, network telemetry, enterprise network control, and ONAP. Its AAA project provides authentication, authorization, accounting, and role-based access control for northbound interfaces. OpenDaylight is self-hosted and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows; setup requires Java 21 or later. The downloads page identifies Chromium-SR0 as the current release and lists Vanadium-SR1 and Titanium-SR3 under supported releases. Documentation, Zulip chat, mailing lists, a wiki, and weekly Technical Steering Committee meetings are listed as community resources.

Spec sheet

Purpose
OpenDaylight is an open source SDN controller for centralized, programmable network control and monitoring.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Security
The AAA project provides authentication, authorization, accounting, and role-based access control for OpenDaylight northbound interfaces.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
License
The technical charter says outbound code is made available under the Eclipse Public License 1.0, with documentation under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.opendaylight.org
Founded
2013Read 28 Sep 2026 · opendaylight.org
APIs
OpenDaylight's YANG models generate REST APIs, and the setup instructions name RESTCONF as an installable feature for REST APIs.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Architecture
Its modular architecture uses YANG models and MD-SAL to connect applications with network hardware through northbound REST APIs and southbound plugins.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Community support
The project points users to documentation, Zulip chat, mailing lists, a wiki, and open weekly Technical Steering Committee meetings.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Current download
The downloads page labels Chromium-SR0 as the current release and offers tar and zip downloads.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.opendaylight.org
Network use cases
The site describes use in optical transport, service provider WAN automation, data center SDN, network telemetry, enterprise network control, and ONAP.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Protocols
The site lists support for OpenFlow, NETCONF, BGP-LS, PCEP, OVSDB, LISP, and SNMP, among other protocols.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Release support
The downloads page lists Chromium-SR0, Vanadium-SR1, and Titanium-SR3 under supported releases.Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.opendaylight.org
Runtime
The site's setup instructions require Java 21 or later and state that OpenDaylight runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org
Scaling
The platform includes clustering, sharded data stores, and leader-based consensus for horizontal scaling across nodes.Read 3 Oct 2026 · opendaylight.org

Plans and prices

OpenDaylight Free Open source SDN platform · downloadable tar or zip · Docker images Read 3 Oct 2026 · docs.opendaylight.org

Every OpenDaylight plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source.
  • Supports a broad set of listed network protocols.
  • Clustering supports scaling across nodes.
  • Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
  • AAA includes role-based access control.

Limits

  • Self-hosted deployment is required.
  • Setup requires Java 21 or later.
  • Chromium-SR0 is labeled the current release.

Who it suits

OpenDaylight suits teams that need programmable network control and monitoring across supported protocols and network environments. It is for users prepared to deploy a self-hosted platform and meet its Java runtime requirement.

Verdict

OpenDaylight provides a modular controller with protocol plugins, APIs, and scaling features for several network use cases. Deployment requires self-hosting and Java 21 or later.

Where Specifiction places it

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