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TeraFlowSDN

tfs.etsi.org

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Spec score 7.1 #18 of 26 in Software-Defined Networking Software

What it is

TeraFlowSDN is an open-source, cloud-native software-defined networking controller for smart connectivity services and networks beyond 5G. Its microservices architecture orchestrates and controls networks end to end. The toolbox supports experiments in flow aggregation, network-equipment integration, AI and machine-learning security, and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy. Southbound drivers cover NetConf/OpenConfig, gNMI/OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN and ACTN, optical interfaces, microwave, and related protocols. Northbound connectors include the TFS API, bandwidth management, L2VPN and L3VPN service delivery, topology, and network slices. The API exposes gRPC methods for contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies. Release 7 highlights P4 integration and optical-network automation with telemetry, KPI management, analytics, and self-healing. Deployment is on-premises through MicroK8s on Ubuntu Server, with a documented minimum of 4 CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC. It is licensed under Apache 2.0 and free to use.

Spec sheet

Purpose
TeraFlowSDN is an open-source, cloud-native SDN controller for smart connectivity services in networks beyond 5G.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Audience
The project presents TeraFlowSDN as a platform for telecommunications operators, vendors, research institutions, and research initiatives working on smart networks and services.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Deployment
The deployment guide runs TeraFlowSDN on MicroK8s Kubernetes and documents physical or virtual machine deployment.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
API
The TFS API exposes gRPC methods for managing contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Integrations
The project says TeraFlowSDN can integrate with ETSI Open Source MANO and ETSI OpenSlice.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Security
The site describes AI and ML-based security and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy as areas the project toolbox supports experimentation in.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Support
The project directs users who encounter deployment issues to contact its SDG team through Slack, and lists [email protected] for help.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
License
The site links TeraFlowSDN to the Apache License 2.0.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Agent interface
The TFS MCP Server exposes selected controller operations to MCP clients, including agentic applications.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Architecture
Its microservices architecture supports end-to-end network orchestration and control.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Deployment requirements
The documentation assumes a physical server or virtual machine with at least 4 cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one NIC, running Ubuntu Server and MicroK8s.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Documented limitation
The documentation marks the NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver as experimental and warns that it contains proprietary extensions.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Limitations
The documented ONF Transport API driver supports configuration of L0 optical links but does not support monitoring.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Minimum requirements
The documentation lists a minimum deployment reference of 4 CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Network interfaces
Documented southbound drivers include NETCONF/OpenConfig, gNMI/OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN, and IETF ACTN.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Northbound API
The TFS API exposes gRPC methods for managing contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Northbound interfaces
Documented northbound connectors include the TFS API, ETSI bandwidth management, IETF L2VPN and L3VPN service delivery, network topology, and network slice service.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Operating system
The deployment guide recommends Ubuntu Server 20.04, 22.04, or 24.04 LTS and says other versions are untested.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Optical automation
Release 7 describes telemetry, KPI management, analytics, and self-healing capabilities for multi-granular optical nodes.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Release 7
Release 7 adds P4-device integration, optical network automation, and expanded northbound interface capabilities.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Security research
The project describes experimentation with AI- and ML-based security and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy.Read 8 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org
Use cases
The project describes its toolbox as supporting experiments in flow aggregation and management, network equipment integration, AI and ML-based security, and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy.Read 4 Oct 2026 · tfs.etsi.org

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Open-source Apache 2.0 license
  • Cloud-native microservices architecture
  • Broad documented network interfaces
  • gRPC API for network resources
  • Optical automation and telemetry features

Limits

  • On-premises deployment requires infrastructure
  • Optical NetConf driver is experimental
  • ONF Transport API lacks monitoring
  • Other Ubuntu versions are untested

Who it suits

TeraFlowSDN is presented for telecommunications operators, vendors, research institutions, and initiatives developing smart networks and services. It suits teams able to deploy and operate MicroK8s on their own infrastructure.

Verdict

TeraFlowSDN provides a free controller with extensive documented interfaces and research-oriented tooling. Deployment has defined hardware and operating-system requirements, and some drivers have explicit limitations or experimental status.

Where Specifiction places it

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