VIRTUALIZED SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORK

1 . A method, comprising:

identifying a set of devices in a software-defined network (SDN);

determining a set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN;

generating a set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics;

sending the set of instructions as a control message to the set of devices in the SDN via a control plane that is isolated from a packet forwarding path;

receiving monitor data via the control plane from at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN, the monitor data being based on the at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN monitoring of the set of characteristics substantially in real-time;

determining a change to a set of parameters of the SDN;

generating a policy, based on the change to the set of parameters of the SDN; and

sending the policy to the set of devices in the SDN, wherein an execution of the policy at one or more of the set of devices in the SDN adjusts the monitor data to more closely match a template.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN is a virtual device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN comprises:

determining a first set of characteristics for a first device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the first set of characteristics to one or more devices of the first device type; and

determining a second set of characteristics for a second device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the second set of characteristics to one or more devices of the second device type.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN comprises determining to monitor at least one of: an anomaly, performance data, location data, payload data, carrier data, data related to an application, and network characteristics.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the change to the set of parameters of the SDN comprises comparing the monitor data with the template and determining at least one difference between the monitor data and the template, wherein the change to the set of parameters of the SDN is determined to adjust the monitor data to more closely match the template.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitor data received via the control plane is encrypted, the method further comprising decrypting the monitor data.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN comprises selecting a subset of devices of the set of devices in the SDN.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein generating the set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics comprises generating the set of instructions for the subset of devices,

wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the set of instructions as the control message to the subset of devices via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes computer-readable instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to perform or control performance of operations comprising:

identify a set of devices in a software-defined network (SDN);

determine a set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN;

generate a set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics;

send the set of instructions as a control message to the set of devices in the SDN via a control plane that is isolated from a packet forwarding path;

receive monitor data via the control plane from at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN, the monitor data being based on the at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN monitoring of the set of characteristics substantially in real-time;

determine a change to a set of parameters of the SDN;

generate a policy, based on the change to the set of parameters of the SDN; and

send the policy to the set of devices in the SDN, wherein an execution of the policy at one or more of the set of devices in the SDN adjusts the monitor data to more closely match a template.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN is a virtual device.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation to determine the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN comprises:

determine a first set of characteristics for a first device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the first set of characteristics to one or more devices of the first device type; and

determine a second set of characteristics for a second device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the second set of characteristics to one or more devices of the second device type.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation to determine the change to the set of parameters of the SDN comprises comparing the monitor data with the template and determining at least one difference between the monitor data and the template, wherein the change to the set of parameters of the SDN is determined to adjust the monitor data to more closely match the template.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation to determine the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN comprises selecting a subset of devices of the set of devices in the SDN.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the operation to generate the set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics comprises generating the set of instructions for the subset of devices,

wherein the operation to send the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the set of instructions as the control message to the subset of devices via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path.

15 . A system comprising:

a memory; and

one or more processors, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising:

identify a set of devices in a software-defined network (SDN);

determine a set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN;

generate a set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics;

send the set of instructions as a control message to the set of devices in the SDN via a control plane that is isolated from a packet forwarding path;

receive monitor data via the control plane from at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN, the monitor data being based on the at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN monitoring of the set of characteristics substantially in real-time;

determine a change to a set of parameters of the SDN;

generate a policy, based on the change to the set of parameters of the SDN; and

send the policy to the set of devices in the SDN, wherein an execution of the policy at one or more of the set of devices in the SDN adjusts the monitor data to more closely match a template.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN is a virtual device.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein when determining the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising:

determine a first set of characteristics for a first device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the first set of characteristics to one or more devices of the first device type; and

determine a second set of characteristics for a second device type, wherein sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path comprises sending the second set of characteristics to one or more devices of the second device type.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein when determining the change to the set of parameters of the SDN, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising comparing the monitor data with the template and determining at least one difference between the monitor data and the template, wherein the change to the set of parameters of the SDN is determined to adjust the monitor data to more closely match the template.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein when determining the set of characteristics that the set of devices in the SDN are to monitor within the SDN, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising select a subset of devices of the set of devices in the SDN.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein when generating the set of instructions for the set of devices in the SDN to monitor the set of characteristics, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising generating the set of instructions for the subset of devices,

wherein when sending the set of instructions as the control message to the set of devices in the SDN via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path, the one or more processors are configured to perform operations comprising sending the set of instructions as the control message to the subset of devices via the control plane that is isolated from the packet forwarding path.